10 Best Family Things to Do in Columbus

The National Veterans Memorial and Museum is an attraction in Columbus you definitely won’t want to miss. It’s the only museum in the United States that honours and recognises all veterans across the board, from all branches of service and all time periods of American history.

More than a mere military history museum, the National Veterans Museum successfully attempts to uncover the stories of the individuals who experienced American history from the frontlines, both in wartime and peacetime. Don’t worry – the subject matter won’t be too heavy for your youngest kids. The museum is designed to provide educational material for all grade levels, starting with kindergarten.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Columbus is a sure bet for entertaining kids. Not just kids, in fact, but anyone of any age who just loves the art of Lego.

The Columbus LEGOLAND Discovery location includes 2 rides, 10 different build and play zones and a 4D cinema. Kids will enjoy the opportunity to learn how Lego is made, see amazing small-scale models of famous structures built in Lego and, of course, build some Lego creations of their own.

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is a must-visit attraction for any animal-loving family visiting the city. It isn’t technically located within Columbus city limits, but it’s only a short drive north of the downtown area, making it an easy enough place to visit.

The Columbus Zoo opened in 1927 with only a small collection of animals but now offers not only an expansive zoo but also a full aquarium and even its own on-site water park. If you fall in love with the Columbus Zoo during your visit, you can continue to revisit it again and again from your television, as it now has its own series on the Nat Geo WILD channel called Secrets of the Zoo.

The Columbus Children’s Theatre may be on the small size, but this venue is bringing big performances to the stage. The venue both involves local children in the art of theatre and also offers kid-friendly shows for audience members of all ages.

If you want to add an educational element to your theatre visit and you don’t live in the area, you can take advantage of one of the theatre’s online study guides, which offer educational material to go along with various shows. Previous productions have included Cinderella, Rapunzel, and Frozen, as well as more pre-teen and teen-centric shows such as Bring It On: The Musical and West Side Story.

Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens was built in 1895 and has been delighting visitors ever since. Any plant lover or just anyone who appreciates a beautifully landscaped space will enjoy a visit to this immaculate attraction that blends nature, art, and culture.

Don’t think that the conservatory is too much of a serious space for your rambunctious child, though. The conservatory offers kid-friendly programming, including nature storytime sessions, botanical arts and crafts, and all-ages yoga.

The Center of Science and Industry – known to Columbus locals as COSI – is a longstanding science and research hub right in the heart of the city. Created in the 1960s, it provides fascinating and fun experiential learning experiences for kids and curious minds of all ages.

The huge, 320,000-sq-ft facility contains more than 300 interactive experiences, 9 galleries, live shows, exhibits for small children from birth to 1st grade and even a planetarium. If it’s related to STEM in any way, you can find it at COSI.

The Ohio History Center, located on the grounds of the Ohio Expo Center & State Fair, offers families exhibits covering the state’s long history. But don’t expect to find dry exhibitions and lots of signage to read here. You’ll get hands-on with Ohio’s history, thanks to an array of real-life displays – including Ohio Village, an interactive, living history model of an 1860s Ohio town.

Learn about extinct and endangered Ohio animals and see artefacts from Ohio history. Make sure to also check the centre’s calendar for one of its family-friendly events, such as the 19th-century-style baseball games or the Dickens Christmas celebration.

Topiary Park is located conveniently in downtown Columbus, right near some of the museums and attractions you may be visiting during your trip anyway. Swing by the park for a little bit of fresh air and a look at the amusing figures created from artfully arranged greenery.

The topiaries are intended to reflect all the characters from the painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat. The park is open nearly all day, every day, giving you plenty of time to stop by and explore.

The Grange Insurance Audubon Center is a celebration of nature right in the heart of the city of Columbus. Situated along the Scioto River, this nature preserve has, over its decade of existence, welcomed more than 40,000 children for its interactive conservation programming.

The preserve is home to an array of birds and plant life, and it places a huge focus on families, with education programming for all ages, all the time. Special programmes from kindergarten up to 8th-grade focus on nature and STEM education, while adult programming focuses on conservation, birdwatching, art, and other topics.

Bicentennial Park is an urban green space outfitted with things your family could want from a walk together in the outdoors. There’s a bistro with patio seating, river views, live entertainment on an outdoor stage and the park’s centrepiece feature of a 15,000-sq-ft fountain.

The park is situated right between 2 bridges traversing the Scioto River and you’ll get spectacular city skyline views all around as well. The park is right near ample public parking and other attractions you might be interested in visiting, such as the Columbus Cultural Arts Center.