Columbus, the capital city of Ohio, is home to Ohio State University. Many of Columbus’ family-friendly cultural attractions, such as history and art museums, are located inside the university’s campus. Families who want to get outdoors together will find networks of biking trails throughout the city. Sports fans can go with their family members to see professional hockey and soccer teams in Columbus. Even though Columbus is a populated city, families can find facilities to watch animals in the Central Ohio city.
Parks
In Columbus, families can spend the day at parks with facilities for people who are looking for a challenging hike, a casual game of basketball or softball, or a relaxing day of fishing. Many parks have paths for people who want to go for a walk, jog or bike ride. Younger and older individuals can play a variety of sports at Antrim Park, such as cricket, rugby, basketball and volleyball. On the Olentangy River Greenway, a 13.8-mile-long trail that goes by the park’s pond and runs into the downtown area, visitors can take a bike ride or go for a hike. Families can try to catch rainbow trout while fishing off the shore or the dock of the park’s public fishing pond.
Amusement Centers
In Columbus, families with younger or older children can have fun together, racing around on go-kart tracks, playing a game of laser tag or challenging each other in interactive video games. Magic Mountains Fun Centers’ Polaris center features go-kart tracks for older children and adults. On one of the tracks, younger children can ride with adults in go karts. The center also has a laser tag arena and two 18-hole miniature golf courses for families.
Water Parks
Although the city does not have ideal weather for swimming outside during the fall, winter and early spring, families can venture to Fort Rapids Indoor Waterpark Resort to enjoy water activities during the colder months of the year. The western-style water park resort features an adult-only hot tub that can hold up to 30 people and a children’s play area with children’s water slides. Different members of the family can play around on a 40-foot-tall tower with a dumping bucket feature, ride twisting tube slides that go indoors and outdoors, or venture to an activity pool with water basketball games.
Animal Attractions
Families can see a wide assortment of animals, especially mammals, inside Columbus’ parks, zoos and aquariums. At the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, children can see rare and endangered animals from different parts of the world, such as kangaroos, a black rhino, Siberian tigers, an African elephant and gorillas. The zoo also features shows with animals performing unexpected feats, such as kangaroos blowing up tires. The facility offers children opportunities to interact with snakes, sheep and other animals. The aquarium boots a tank where children can touch sea creatures, such as sea stars or horseshoe crabs.
Cultural Attractions and Museums
Parents can find learning activities in Columbus in places such as museums, art galleries and theaters. The Columbus Children’s Theatre features performances of popular fairy tales and children’s stories. Plays at the theatre have been adapted from works such as Doreen Cronin’s book “Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type” and Douglas Evans’ “The Elevator Family.” During the fall, the theatre hosts classes for children from ages 3 to 16, where they can learn acting and singing techniques. At a number of different museums and historic sites, including the King Arts Complex and the Kelton House Museum and Garden, children can learn more about different aspects of Columbus’ black history, including its underground railroad sites and jazz scenes.
References
- Greater Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau: Multicultural
- Great Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau: Family
- Greater Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau: Recreation
- The Weather Channel: Monthly Averages for Columbus, Ohio
- Columbus Recreation and Parks Department: Antrim Park
- King Arts Complex.