Things to Do With Kids in Columbus - Top Picks

If you're looking for things to do with kids in Columbus, this indoor attraction features LEGO-themed rides, a 4D theater, building areas, and a jungle gym.

Franklin Park Conservatory is a favorite Columbus family attraction home to indoor gardens with over 400 plant species inside the glass conservatory greenhouse. There are several traveling exhibitions and a stunning display of Chihuly glass artwork. Be sure to check out the 2-acre Children's Garden, where a myriad of programs and activities for kids and families are offered and included with the price of admission.

Inniswood is a delightful collection of botanical gardens and trails that span 123 acres. You'll find over 2,000 species of plants as you explore the grounds, including native wildflowers and wildlife. Families will love the children's garden with its interactive water stations and other outdoor play areas designed to inspire the imagination.

Hannah Scott said:  The Topiary Park is a truly unique Columbus gem! The plants in this public garden are sculpted to recreate Seurat's famous painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of LaGrande Jatte. It's beautiful, whimsical, and a lovely place to spend a couple hours with your family and a picnic.

The Columbus Park of Roses is one of the largest public rose gardens in the U.S. with more than 7,500 rose specimens and 13 acres to explore. The Formal Rose Garden reaches peak bloom in June and September. Picnicking on the park lawns is permitted.

Kelly R said:  Part of the Metro Parks system, Slate Run Living Historical Farm allows you to experience an authentic 1880s Ohio farm. Volunteer staff members dress up in time-appropriate farm clothes while they complete daily chores like plowing the fields, milking cows and splitting wood. There are plenty of animals to observe (and sometimes touch), including pigs, geese, turkeys, cows, Percheron horses, and more.

The Columbus Zoo is a family favorite with immersive exhibits like Heart of Africa and Polar Frontier, where kids can observe lions, giraffes, and polar bears up close. With stroller-friendly paths, plenty of shaded rest areas, and several kid-focused play zones throughout the park, it’s easy to spend a full day exploring.

Kelly R said:  We were lucky to live just down the road from the Columbus Zoo for years, and I spent many hours there with my kids. It truly is a world class zoo with beautiful exhibits, many hands-on opportunities, and fun play areas sprinkled around. One of the essential things to do with kids in Columbus, whether you're a local or a visitor! I appreciate the convenient suburban location, so no navigating of city traffic is required, and you can see a lot without feeling like you're doing a ton of walking.

Katie G. said:  With over a dozen slides and water attractions (including a wave pool!), Zoombezi Bay offers Columbus family fun for groups of all sizes. Plus, admission to the seasonal, outdoor water park also includes entry into the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium on the same day!

This dynamic science museum is one of the most kid friendly things to do in Columbus, offering hundreds of hands-on exhibits, a planetarium, a giant screen theater, and engaging live shows. It's a fun and interactive way to explore science and technology for all ages.

Tour the Olentangy Caverns' winding (and chilly!) underground passageways, which were formed millions of years ago by the flow of an underground river and likely used as a haven by the Wyandot tribe. There are also plenty of other things to do with kids, including gem mining, mini golf, a petting zoo and a maze.

Kelly R said:  This is such a cool and unique thing to do. We toured the caverns extra-carefully with a little one in a baby carrier and a preschooler, and it worked out fine.

The Newark Earthworks are the largest set of geometric earthen enclosures in the world, built by the ancient Hopewell Culture between 100 BC and 500 AD. They are believed to be part cathedral, part cemetery, and part astronomical observatory. A self-guided tour of the site is a fun family activity, or check the schedule for the next free guided tour.

Brigitte Nohra Miller said:  The Scioto Mile Fountain at Bicentennial Park has it all, including a fun splash pad area with unique architectural designs. By night, this marvelous fountain displays special effects with lighting and fog!

Kelly R said:  Find the magical fairy door at each of 11 Historic Dublin businesses, record the name of each resident fairy, and turn in your completed passport at the Dublin Visitor & Information Center to receive a free fairy door t-shirt. All participating businesses are family friendly and within 3 blocks of each other, so this is a great way to explore Dublin with your kids!

Katie G. said:  Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park is one of the largest Metro Parks in Columbus, stretching 13 miles along the Big and Little Darby Creek rivers. The nature center, which blends in with the landscape, overlooks the park's enclosure of roaming bison. Inside the nature center a 53-foot "living stream" flows through the exhibits and is stocked with several kinds of creatures (fish, turtles, frogs) that can be found in the Big Darby Creek. There is also a variety of educational and interactive exhibits to learn about the park's ecosystems.

The Columbus Clippers at Huntington Park offer an exciting and family-friendly outing, with room for kids to play in the splash pad and interactive zone before or during the game. With promotions like “dime-a-dog” nights, fireworks on select Saturdays, and the chance for kids to run the bases post-game, it’s a fun and affordable activity.

Katie G. said:  The Columbus Clippers are the AAA affiliate for the Cleveland Indians. Games are played at the beautiful Huntington Park in downtown Columbus. There are a variety of inflatables for the kids to play on, delicious and healthy kids meal options and lots of entertainment from mascots Krash and Lou Seal.