Kids in Columbus are lucky. There are so many parks, museums, attractions, and historic sites that there is something for any interest and age.
Columbus Museum of Art
The Columbus Museum of Art is an art museum located in downtown Columbus, Ohio. It was formed in 1878 as the Columbus Gallery of Fine Arts and it was Ohio’s first art museum.
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is located near Powell in Liberty Township, just north of Columbus, Ohio, along the banks of the O'Shaughnessy Reservoir and the Scioto River.
COSI
COSI, or Columbus Center of Science and Industry, was established in 1964 with the goal of combining fun with learning about science. It has over 300 hands-on exhibits, the largest Planetarium in Ohio, a big screen theater, and frequent live shows.
Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Located in a large public park just outside downtown Columbus, Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is a historic botanical landmark as well as a horticultural and educational institution with gorgeous indoor and outdoor gardens, exotic plant collections, exciting nature-based exhibitions, and world-famous artwork.
Easton Town Center
Easton Town Center is a popular indoor-outdoor shopping center in northeast Columbus, Ohio. It is designed to look like a small American town from the early 20th century, and it is charming, self-contained, and relaxed.
North Market
The North Market is a public market located in Downtown Columbus, Ohio. It is Columbus’ only public market and a great place to shop, eat, mingle, and people-watch. North Market is home to dozens of unique independent merchants and farmers, butchers, bakers, candy makers, fishmongers, grocers, and restaurateurs.
Ohio History Center
The Ohio History Connection, known before as the Ohio Historical Society, is a network of historic museum and historic sites across Ohio, one of the largest in the States. This statewide history organization was established in 1885 in order to encourage interest in the history of Ohio and its rich stories.
The Ohio History Connection is focused on sharing and preserving the state’s history, including housing the headquarters of Ohio History Connection, the state historic preservation office, the official Ohio archives, local history office, and over 50 museums and historic sites across Ohio. Part of the Ohio History Center is the Ohio Village, a vivid recreation of an original 1860 town.
Ohio History Center, 800 E. 17th Ave, Columbus, OH 43211, Phone: 614-297-2300
Ohio Village
Ohio Village is an interactive living history museum located in Columbus, Ohio. It is part of the Ohio History Center and managed by the Ohio Historical Society.
Ohio Village, 800 E. 17th Ave, Columbus, OH 43211, Phone: 614-297-2300
Scioto Greenway
Scioto Mile is an urban green oasis in downtown Columbus that consists of over 175 acres of lush verdant parkland along the riverfront. It stretches from the lively Arena District to the beautiful lush Whittier Peninsula. The Scioto Mile links Columbus downtown to the Scioto River through a system of parks, bikeway,s and pedestrian trails.
The Scioto Greenway includes some of the city’s most popular attractions such as a 15,000 square-foot fountain, the largest outdoor climbing wall in the country, and the tranquil 120-acre Scioto Audubon park and bird sanctuary.
The Ohio State University Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum
The Ohio State University Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum in Columbus, Ohio houses the largest and most comprehensive collection of cartoons, comics, and related materials in the world. It also has a number of galleries that feature diverse cartoon-related exhibitions open to the public.
Dirty Frank's Hot Dog Palace
Dirty Frank's Hot Dog Palace is a quirky, fun hot dog spot in downtown Columbus that will grab you with its bright colorful façade and chairs before you even try the dogs that are taking Columbus by storm.
Alum Creek
Alum Creek is a large 4,630-acre park in central Ohio just a short drive from Columbus and a popular spot where families like to spend a hot weekend.
Big Fun
To call Big Fun a toy shop would not do it justice.
Big Fun, 672 N. High St., Columbus, OH 43215, Phone: 614-228-8697
Book Loft of German Village
A heaven for book lovers, The Book Loft of German Village is a giant 32-room bookstore located in German Village neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio, just a short walk from the state capitol building.
Book Loft of German Village, 631 S 3rd St, Columbus, OH 43206, Phone: 614-464-1774
Katzinger’s Deli
Katzinger’s Deli is a popular eatery in the German Village neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio, serving superb deli sandwiches such as Reubens, matzo ball soup, and smoked fish to locals for the last 30 years.
Katzinger’s Deli, 475 S 3rd St, Columbus, OH 43215, Phone: 614-228-3354
Scioto Audubon Metro Park
Scioto Audubon Metro Park is a 120-acre heaven for birds of all kinds.
Scioto Audubon Metro Park, 400 W Whittier St, Columbus, OH 43215, Phone: 614-202-5197
Topiary Park
Topiary Park is a 9-acre public park in the Discovery District of Columbus, Ohio that includes a fascinating topiary garden.
Topiary Park, 480 East Town Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215, Phone: 614-645-0197
Columbus Metropolitan Library
The Columbus Metropolitan Library is a public library in Columbus, Ohio with a collection of 1,483,433 volumes, circulating 17,262,267 items every year. Besides the Main Library, there are also 22 branches located in various neighborhoods in Franklin County.
Columbus Metropolitan Library, 96 S. Grant Ave.,Columbus, Ohio 43215, Phone: 614-645-2275
Columbus Commons
Columbus Commons is a 6-acre park in downtown Columbus, Ohio occupying the space of the former Columbus City Center mall.
Columbus Commons, 160 S High St, Columbus, OH 43215
Inniswood Metro Gardens
Inniswood Metro Gardens is a 123-acre natural woodland and a home to native wildflowers, diverse wildlife and waterways at the outskirts of Columbus, Ohio.
Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S Hempstead Rd, Westerville, OH 43081, Phone: 614-895-6216
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams is a veritable ice cream empire that makes frozen delights so delicious that people wait in line for them even in the middle of the winter.
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, 714 N High St, Columbus, OH 43215, Phone: 614-294-5364
Highbanks Metro Park
Highbanks Metro Park is a 1,159-acre park in Columbus, Ohio and one of the most popular in the Metro Parks System.
Highbanks Metro Park, 9466 Columbus Pike, Lewis Center, OH 43035, Phone: 614-906-3149
Pins Mechanical Co.
Pins Mechanical Co. is a massive entertainment spot located in a huge industrial building in Columbus, Ohio.
Pins Mechanical Co., 141 N 4th St, Columbus, OH 43215, Phone: 614-464-2255
Blue Jackets Hockey
The Blue Jackets is a professional ice hockey team in Columbus, Ohio, a member of the Metropolitan Division, the Eastern Conference of the NHL-National Hockey League.
Blue Jackets Hockey, 200 W Nationwide Blvd, Columbus, OH 43215, Phone: 800-645-2657
Columbus Crew MLS
Columbus Crew Soccer Club is a professional American soccer club from Columbus, Ohio. The club competes in Major League Soccer for the league's Eastern Conference. Columbus Crew began playing in 1996 as one of the league’s charter clubs.
Columbus Crew MLS, Phone: 614-447-2739
