By Melissa Lewis
Activities for Kids in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio, may not be the most visited city in the
United States, but it is a fun and enjoyable place to go and stay. There are many public parks in Columbus, as well as markets, theaters and restaurants that will keep the whole family busy. Fortunately for the kids, there are several places that they will especially enjoy, remember for a long time and possibly want to return to the next year.
Center of Science and Industry
The Center of Science and Industry's goal is to provide fun and informative exhibits, demonstrations and activities for kids of all ages to learn more about the environment and our scientific accomplishments. Permanent exhibits include "Space," "Big Science Park" and "Gadgets." There is also place for smaller children to discover science. On Fridays after 5 p.m., there is a discounted rate for families.
Center of Science and Industry
333 West Broad Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
888-819-2674
cosi.org
GameWorks
Members of the whole family will enjoy a meal and some games at GameWorks. There are many games from which to choose: racing games, Virtual Bowling, Primeval Hunt and Deal or No Deal, just to name a few. Gather your earned tickets at the end of the night to trade in for some prizes.
GameWorks
165 Easton Town Center
Columbus, Ohio 43219
614-428-7529
gameworks.com
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Children will enjoy visiting the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium to see tigers, pythons, koalas, rhinos, sharks, elephants and many other land and marine animals from all over the world. At the Columbus Zoo, you can purchase a separate admission ticket to Zoombezi, a water park featuring a wave pool, slides and interactive water play area for kids of all ages.
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
4850 West Powell Rd.
Powell, Ohio 43065
800-666-5397
columbuszoo.org
Franklin Park Conservatory
Located on 88 acres in Franklin Park, the conservatory hosts approximately 400 species of plants. There are workshops available for families with kids. For example, the second Saturday of each month, families can participate in an activity, such as creating paper Macchias and exploring herons, frogs and anemones. From mid-March through early September, the conservatory becomes a butterfly haven, with "Blooms and Butterflies" is in full swing. In fact, every day at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., children will enjoy watching some of the butterflies being released into the wild.
Franklin Park Conservatory
1777 East Broad Street
Columbus, Ohio 43203
800-214-7275
fpconservatory.org
About the Author:
Melissa Lewis is a former elementary classroom teacher and media specialist. She has also written for various online publications. Lewis holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Maryland Baltimore County.
Photo Credits:
happy kids image by Marzanna Syncerz from
Fotolia.com
