Fun Family Things to Do in Columbus, Ohio This Weekend

The skyline of downtown Columbus, Ohio along the Scioto River
The skyline of downtown Columbus, Ohio along the Scioto River

Columbus, Ohio offers a wide variety of fun family activities including parks with trails, several museums, and a range of unique sites. The state’s capital may be small compared to other cities, but there are plenty of things to do. 

Come with us and we’ll show you some of the best places for your family to see in Columbus this weekend including museums, outdoor adventures, and unique venues. 

What Are the Best Family Friendly Places to Visit in Columbus?

If you want to make your family’s weekend the best it can be, check out these awesome family friendly locations in Columbus.

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is home to hundreds of different species. Be sure to check out the cheetah run and giraffe feedings that occur daily. Marvel at the sea lions, polar bears, and sea turtles in the aquarium. You could spend the whole day here and not be disappointed!

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

Visit the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens and explore the amazing collection of plants and flowers right in the heart of Columbus. There are more than just plants here too – enjoy the model train collection and the miniature sized flowers in the Kids Garden. 

Franklin Park Conservatory, Editorial credit aceshot1 and Shutterstock.com
Franklin Park Conservatory, Editorial credit aceshot1 and Shutterstock.com

If you want to combine fun and education, the Ohio History Center is the perfect place to learn everything there is to know about the history of the state. With several floors of interesting exhibits, you’ll walk away knowing more about your state than you ever thought you would.

Ohio History Center
Ohio History Center

For the family that is looking to delve into the culture and feel of the city of Columbus, Easton Town Center is where you need to be. There are tons of shopping plazas, entertainment opportunities, and restaurants to explore to have a great day out on the town. 

Easton Town Center
Easton Town Center

Does Columbus Have Any Family Friendly Museums?

If your family loves to explore museums of any and every kind, Columbus is the best to go this weekend. 

The Columbus Museum of Art offers all kinds of art to view from famous artists around the world. Your kids can even tap into their inner artists and create masterpieces out of all kinds of available materials in the Wonder Room. 

The National Veterans Memorial and Museum is a great place to learn about the brave men and women who sacrificed everything for our country’s freedom. Listen to their stories and take a tour through history through the eyes of those who served. 

The Center of Science and Industry Museum is one of the most impressive science museums in the state. Your kids can conduct their own experiments and view amazing exhibits from dinosaur skeletons to antique cars. If you have some comic book fans in your crew, you’ll definitely enjoy the new Marvel exhibit. 

The Otherworld is an experience unlike any other. If you and your family enjoy the fantastical and the weird, check out this museum dedicated to the bizarre, the strange, and wonderful workings of the imagination. 

What Unique Places Should I Visit With My Family in Columbus?

If you want to make your trip to Columbus one that the kids will talk about for years to come, we have got the sites for you to see!

Legoland Discovery Center should be number one on your list. This amusement park features rides and life size Lego creations. You’ve never seen so many Legos in your life and you will be amazed at the works of art that line the park. 

Legoland Discovery Center
Legoland Discovery Center

For the sweet tooths in your family, stop by the Anthony-Thomas Candy Factory for a tour. Home of the famous buckeye candy, you’ll get to see how some of your favorite sweets and treats are made and you’ll have a great selection of confectionery souvenirs to take home. 

Anthony-Thomas Candy Factory
Anthony-Thomas Candy Factory

If you’re looking for the perfect picture opportunity, stop at the World’s Largest Gavel. It is 30 feet long and 13 feet high standing outside the courthouses in Columbus. 

World’s Largest Gavel
World’s Largest Gavel

Take a tour of the American Whistle Corporation – the only manufacturer of whistles in the United States. Learn how they make whistles and see all the different kinds that you never even knew existed. 

American Whistle Corporation
American Whistle Corporation

What Outdoor Activities Does Columbus Have to Offer for Families?

If your family enjoys finding adventures in the outdoors, Columbus has a lot of great places for you to visit. 

For hot summer days, Zoombezi Bay is the perfect place to cool off. Enjoy this popular water park equipped with seventeen water slides, a wading pool, and raft rides for the whole family. There are places for little kids to play while the bigger kids enjoy the crazy, curvy flumes that drop into pools of refreshingly cold water.

Zoombezi Bay
Zoombezi Bay

Take a zipline canopy tour through the treetops of Hocking Hills. There is plenty of fun for the entire family including a zipline for kids. Explore the natural rock bridges and the beautiful sights of nature deep within the forests near Columbus. 

zipline canopy tour
zipline canopy tour

Check out the Topiary Gardens in the Discovery District and find your favorite animals and characters among the dozens of sculptured bushes and trees. Have a picnic while you enjoy the sunshine and amusing greenery around you. 

Topiary Gardens
Topiary Gardens

Walk the Scioto Mile that snakes through Genoa Park, North Bank Park, and Bicentennial Park. On hot days, there is a jet spray to run through and cool off. There are also summertime concerts you can catch in the park, or simply enjoy the scenery with your family as you walk along the Scioto River. 

The skyline of downtown Columbus, Ohio along the Scioto River
The skyline of downtown Columbus, Ohio along the Scioto River

Summary 

Let Columbus, Ohio give you the weekend you and your family have been waiting for. Explore the zoo and aquarium with its plethora of animal enclosures or have fun at Legoland Discovery Center. 

Let your artistic side show at the Columbus Museum of Art or wander among the many different flowers at the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. No matter where you choose to visit, Columbus is waiting for you and your family to get out there and explore all that it has to offer. 

See Also

Things to do in US Cities

Things to do in Columbus with Kids

Hi and welcome to my travel blog! Based in London, I work in investment banking in a quantitative field and although I am not part of the travel industry, I have a ton of passion for travel. My blog is a reference guide for my fellow travelers with the same passion as me. Hopefully the blog is easy to navigate and my aim is to bring the most relevant and interesting information before you begin your journey!