Columbus, the state capital of Ohio is named after Christopher Columbus the famous Italian explorer, and it blends modernity, history, and nature seamlessly. This rustic city is known for its nearly 400 recreational parks strewn on over 13,500 acres of land run by the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department. The parks host dog and skate parks, community centers, golf courses, athletic complexes, 230 miles of nature trails, 19 nature preserves, outdoor pools, an indoor aquatic center, splash pads, and interactive fountains, and others.
Columbus today has rich German influences dating back to the 1800s when Germans settled in what is today known as the German Village, south of downtown Columbus. Art is also strongly fused into the culture of Columbus through its museums, nature parks, and institutions.
View and interact with wildlife at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Set on 588 acres of land, the award-winning, nonprofit Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has over 11,000 wildlife from 600 wildlife species from around the world. The zoo also has a 100,000-gallon aquarium, filled with coral reefs for aquatic wildlife. The animals at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium are largely endangered species.
These include:
- reticulated giraffes
- red pandas
- squirrels
- Mexican wolves
- okapi
- dama gazelle
- Asian elephant manatees
- Amur tigers
- bald eagles
- Humboldt penguin
- koala
- mandrill
- pallas' cat
- dalmatian pelican
- Madagascar tree boa
- Reeves' Muntjac deer
- Bornean orangutan
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has the Lorikeet Garden where kids can feed the giraffes or birds with nectar under supervision. At the gallon reef enclosure, the royal bluefish, zebra shark, manatee, starfish, turtles can be seen there too. Kids are allowed to pet starfish under supervision. There is also an 18 hole Safari Golf Club reserved for golfers visiting. The Zoombezi Bay Water park offers aquatic recreational activities for adults and kids.
Cost
- Franklin County Residents (Ages 3-9) $11.99
- Franklin County Residents (Ages 10-59) $16.99
- Franklin County Residents (60+) $11.99
- Non-Franklin County Residents (Ages 3-9) $16.99
- Non-Franklin County Residents (Ages 10-59) $21.99
- Non-Franklin County Residents (60+) $16.99
Soak in nature along the lush Scioto Mile stretch
Nature's therapy comes to the city courtesy of the Scioto Mile. This scenic and lush 175-acre stretch has recreation parks, biking pathways, boulevards, and walkways that dot the Scioto River environs. Along the Scioto Mile on a sunny day, families can have a splash at the 15,000 square feet, of interactive fountain that shoots over 1000 jets of water. At the Scioto Audubon Metro Park, is an imposing, light brown, and jagged 35 feet high, outdoor climbing wall, where climbers use ropes and adrenaline to scale to the summit. Climbing the wall is free, but climbers have to bring their personal equipment.
Along the Scioto River is the Grange Insurance Audubon Center, a riparian area that's a birdwatchers paradise with at least 212 bird species found there. These include ospreys, terns, American bittern, Peregrine Falcons, prothonotary warbler, and others. Other recreational activities along the Scioto Mile include boating, fishing, sledding during winter, sand volleyball, and tackling an obstacle course. During the summer, there are free concerts and festivals families can enjoy while on picnics, over meals or drinks.
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Enjoy ancient, global art at the Columbus Museum of Art
Old souls biased to bingeing on ancient art can visit the Columbus Museum of Art (CMA), on East Broad Street. Established in 1878, this community-funded museum has European and American art collections dating back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Renowned American artists like Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson, Edward Hopper, Elijah Pierce, George Wesley Bellows have their art collections exhibited at CMA. Photography and cubist, folk, impressionist, contemporary, and glass art pieces, as well as carvings, are exhibited at CMA. These pieces celebrate Columbus, its people, and its culture.
While parents enjoy the art, kids can indulge their creativity by playing with lego exhibits in the children's section. On the first floor of CMA is the JPMorgan Chase Center for Creativity, where budding artists can go to exercise their artistic chops by drawing or creating their own art pieces. After experiencing the CMA art, Schokko Cafe is where families enjoy meals together.
Cost
- Sunday admission is free
- Children: $9, Adults $18
Art meets botany at the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Creativity has no limits, and the lush Franklin Park Conservatory and Botany Gardens on the 88 acres of Franklin Park, illustrate that. Established in 1895, this horticultural and educational institution is a botanical garden with growing exotic plant collections, side by side with inanimate glass artworks, by Dale Chihuly, in a Victorian-style glass greenhouse, called the John F. Wolfe Palm House. The 4 acre Scott's Miracle-Gro Foundation Children's Garden introduces and connects young children to nature.
It stimulates them to learn while exploring rocks, art pieces, ponds, and the different herbs and edible plants, on about 40 community gardens there. The children can learn culinary skills from a demonstration kitchen there. The Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens also host corporate or social events like weddings. It opens every day except Christmas and Thanksgiving days. To visit, reserve a ticket online from the four ticket types available on the website.
Cost
- General admission $3
German Village a history buffs treasure trove
The German Village, is a leafy, 233-acre district, south of downtown Columbus, where German immigrants settled from the early to mid-1800s. The village gives a historical glimpse of how the US, German working-class neighborhood developed into the early 19th century. Today, German Village's culture, architecture, and gastronomic influences from past years are still present. The distinct, ancient brick red buildings for churches, houses, and schools from those ages, dot the German village. Shops and restaurants also sell German schnitzel, sausages, and confectioneries.
The most iconic German Village restaurant is the Schmidt's, Sausage Haus. It has existed since 1886 and still carries on German gastronomic tradition in Columbus. The pubs for beer also have German heritage infused into their architecture. Annually, the beer festival, Oktoberfest draws thousands of tourists to the German Village. The village also has Winans Chocolates for those with a sweet tooth and chivalrous lovers, and the Fox in the Snow Cafe, for coffee and pastries lovers. A tour of the German village can be concluded by a visit to the historical Red Stable Gift Shop. Available at the shop are German-themed Columbus souvenirs, jewelry, bath soaps, and body lotions, candles, T-shirts, posters, and seasonal greeting cards.