Wexner Center For The Arts
The Wexner Center, part of The Ohio State University, is all about contemporary art and cultural experiences. Here youll find art exhibitions, movie screenings, performances, artist residencies, and education programs. You can visit the exhibitions for free on Thursdays after 4 p.m. and on the first Sunday of each month.
Location: 1871 N High St, Columbus, Ohio 43210
Grab The Popcorn For A Film At The Wexner Center For The Arts
Take a seat in one of the worlds largest university art centers, Wexner Center for the Arts, and immerse yourself in an impressive range of film screenings, lectures by visiting scholars from around the country cutting-edge dance performances, and exhibitions that have been shown far and wide!
Proudly fueled by creative expression, its considered one of the top things to do in Columbus for artsy people.
Get Building At The Legoland Discovery Center Columbus
A perfect family outing for young and old, this 30,000 square-foot center located in Easton Town Center is a must although not to be confused with the outdoor LEGOLAND theme parks.
Boasting a replica of Columbus made from over 1.5 million LEGO bricks, plus a 4D theater as well as countless play areas where kids can use their imagination, theres truly no better way to spend a rainy afternoon with your little ones!
While youre there, dont forget to hit the LEGO Cafe for a bite to eat and be sure to check out the LEGO store for some one-of-a-kind souvenirs.
Also Check: Things To Do With Kids In Cleveland
Jenis Splendid Ice Creams
With several locations throughout the city and surrounding area, youll want to stop and get a scoop at Jenis! You wont find any artificial flavorings or premade mixes at Jenis, but what you will find is a beautiful shop and delicious ice cream flavors!
Jenis shops offer a nice mix of artisan ice creams made with whole ingredients to make quality products from quality ingredients, including grass-grazed Ohio milk from Northeast Ohio and a specially created yogurt from Defiance, Ohio.
Visit the Jenis website for more information about the award-winning creator, Jeni Britton Bauer, or just stop in for a scoop or two of Lemon & Blueberries Parfait or Blackout Chocolate Cake on your next visit to Columbus!
Jenis Splendid Ice CreamsMultiple Locations
Best Things To Do In Columbus Ohio
Set almost slap bang in the center of the state, Ohios capital Columbus has a wealth of awesome tourist attractions. As well as a thriving arts and culture scene, it boasts interesting museums and historic sites, while its state-of-the-art stadiums host incredible sporting spectacles.
Named after Italian explorer Christopher Columbus, the cosmopolitan city lies at the spot where the Scioto and Olentangy rivers meet, with parks, trails and green spaces all along their banks. An important center of business and technology, it also contains one of the largest university campuses in the States with a sizeable student population lending the city a very dynamic feel.
With a delightfully diverse range of things to do in Columbus from art and architecture to animal exhibits and outdoor activities, Ohios largest city certainly has something for everyone to enjoy.
Also Check: Healdsburg Things To Do
Trails To Help You Explore Columbus:
Columbus is home to several trails : from food to fairies. Grab a passport and make your way through one of these local themed trails!
Visit 4 coffee shops on the trail to receive a free t-shirt or visit all of them for a collectors coffee mug! Pick up your passport at any participating coffee shop!
Pick up a Guidebook or print one online and visit each of the destinations listed. Turn in or mail in your completed Guidebook and receive a koozie or Celtic Cocktail Trail t-shirt!
Grab A Cup Or Cone At Jenis Ice Cream
Jenis ice cream is one of those quintessential Columbus experiences, and if you havent tried it yet, nows your chance.
The locally-based company, founded by Columbus native, Jeni Britton Bauer, has expanded to numerous stores across town and been delighting taste buds across the city with their delicious artisanal pints since 2002 from classics like salted caramel to cult favorites such as Mexican Hot Chocolate, Sugar Plum, or Cognac with Gingerbread, their creative flavor combinations will have you hooked in no time.
Recommended Reading: Mystic Ct Things To Do
Tap Into Your Inner Artist At The Columbus Museum Of Art
Columbus supports the arts and artists, from visual arts and music to the performing arts. Take an art appreciation day during your time in Columbus to visit the Columbus Museum of Art. The museum is a centerpiece of Columbus culture and features American and European works from the 19th and 20th centuries and various mediums, such as paintings, sculpture, textiles, and photography.
It also houses collections of works from Elijah Pierce, George Bellows, and Aminah Robinson, who are all from Columbus. Round out your art immersion with side visits to the Wexner Center for the Arts and the Pizzuti Collection in Columbus.
Address: 480 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio
Things To Do In Holmes County Ohio
Ohios Amish Country is FULL of amazing places to explore, visit, and eat. Everyone has been asking me questions about this Amish area in Ohio and I wanted to give you a quick reference of all my personal favorites! Happy Ohio Road Tripping!
To help offset the costs of running Gleason Family Adventure, youll find affiliate links throughout the site. If you choose to purchase through one of these links, theres no additional cost to you, but Ill earn a small commission. You can read the entire legal disclosure on the full disclosure page.
Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center Facebook
Read Also: Things To Do In Mystic Conneticut
Walk The Dublin Link Bridge
The Dublin Link Bridge is a 760-foot S-shaped pedestrian bridge that connects the Bridge Park neighborhood with Historic Dublin. Youll find shopping and restaurants on both sides of the bridge, and on the east side, youll find Riverside Crossing Park, which should be completed in 2021.
Location: Downtown Dublin, Ohio
Read More: Check out these great date night ideas in Columbus
Take In A Show At A Restored Theater
Columbus is fortunate to have several restored historic theaters, including the grand Ohio Theatre, which attracts Broadway shows throughout the year. The 1928 Ohio Theatre is a Columbus treasure, with Spanish-Baroque architecture and crushed velvet seating.
The Palace Theatre is another theater to consider if you want to take in a performance. It was a vaudeville house in the city in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s, with elegant French décor. The Southern Theatre and the Lincoln Theatre are two smaller restored theaters that feature entertainment and performances almost every night of the week.
You May Like: Ashland Va Attractions
Unique Cute Date Ideas
Follow the Herbal Cocktail Trail in Gahanna. You and your partner can get your passport stamped at each of the six locations on the trail in order to receive a signature t-shirt. Enjoy seasonal herb-infused libations created by local restaurants, bars, and distilleries to get a taste of the city.
Take a Cooking or Canning Class at Glass Rooster Cannery. This green and sustainable business offers classes on cooking, canning, and soap making. You can learn how to make food and snacks from fresh, local produce, and even learn about the fermenting process in order to make yogurt, tea, and kombucha.
Follow the Columbus Ale Trail. With a whopping 46 participating brewery sites, this is a beer lovers dream. After you get your first four stamps, you are gifted an Ale Trail glass you receive a custom bottle opener after 23 stops, and when you complete the trail you get a decorative Ale Trail art print to hang in your home.
Or Check Out the Columbus Coffee Trail. If youre not a fan of alcoholic beverages, this coffee trail is for you. Couples can follow the trail of 17 stops and get a taste of coffee all around the city. After four stops, you get a t-shirt, and if you complete all 17 you win a travel mug!
Franklinton Fridays. From 7 to 11 p.m. on the second Friday of each month, the city is home to a celebration of art and performances at different locations around Columbus. You and your partner can enjoy art shows, live theatre, and even science exhibits.
Soak Up The Local Sports Culture At Ohio Stadium
Jerome Strauss
This is Ohio State Universitys football stadium and the home of the Ohio State Buckeyes football team. With a large seating capacity of 104 944, its the third-largest football stadium in the US.
If your trip to Columbus coincides with game day, see the local football team in action. Mingle with the locals and root on the home team. Its a great stadium with an amazing local vibe.
Its also a very popular concert venue. Bands and performers such as Metallica, The Rolling Stones, Taylor Swift, and Beyonce have all performed here.
Don’t Miss: Places To Visit In Mystic Ct
Drink And Dine At A Distillery
For most of Ohios fraught history with alcohol, distilleries have been tightly regulated. Thanks to newish restriction rollbacks, the states nearly 60 craft distilleries are now free to serve up food and cocktails to patrons along with their spirits. Columbus distilleries have stepped up to the plate in a big way, creating some of the citys most standout bar-restaurants in the process. Middle West Spirits Service Bar is making waves nationally with its cheeky and adventurous menu, and Watershed Kitchen & Bar has Prohibition style and flair to spare. But those are just the big names– in Clintonville, you might find pizza-flavored bourbon at up-and-comer 451 Spirits.
Admire The Collection At The Columbus Museum Of Art
Art lovers, listen up! While this may be news to many, Columbus has some of the finest collections around and one stop you wont want to miss is the Columbus Museum of Art.
Home to an impressive permanent collection thats been expanding and improving since its remarkable inception way back in 1878, as well as traveling exhibitions from all over the world , its easy to spend hours exploring what this space has on offer!
Dont forget to stop into the cafe a gift shop on the way out for a quirky souvenir or two and visit on Sunday for free admission.
Read Also: Fun Things To Do In The Summer When Your Bored
Zoom Around The City With A Segway Tour
Sick of walking around town? Well, thanks to the range of segway tour operators around Columbus, theres no need plus, youll get to try out the fun, futuristic machines that have become popular all over the world in recent years.
Friendly and knowledgeable tour guides will take you around downtown Columbus with ease on these innovative vehicles, and show off the best attractions that this unique city has to offer including everything from the Ohio State University campus to the German Village and Scioto Mile, depending on your excursion of choice.
Jet Pack Water Adventures
2715 Sugar Grove Rd SE, Lancaster
Seeking an adrenaline-packing, airborne experience? Visit Lancaster’s Jet Pack Water Adventures. Like a superhero in flight, the daring can elevate 30 feet in the air or run alongside water with the jet pack and flyboard experience.
Admission: $99 for a 25-minute experience $139 for a 35-minute experience $189 for 45 minutes and all-day experience for up to 6 people costs $1,500. Full payment is required to schedule an appointment.
Information: http://www.jetpackwateradventures.com, 740-359-8463
Also Check: Indoor Activity Nyc
Join In The Festivities At The Columbus Commons
A relaxing park space that doubles as a meeting point and event beacon, the Columbus Commons is dotted with gardens, dishes up a gorgeous Pavilion, and boasts a picturesque grand lawn ideal for an afternoon picnic.
Sitting smack-bang in the middle of the city, the Commons attracts flocks of tourists to its carousel and rotating event roster so be sure to check the calendar to see whats on during your trip.
On that note: speaking of prime location, if youre hotel hunting, the Hyatt Regency and the downtown Hilton are located just a short walk away from a plethora of attractions and restaurants!
See Whos Performing At The Ohio Theater
Sitting over on State Street in Capitol Square, a stones throw from the old Ohio Statehouse, the National Historic Landmark that is the Ohio Theater is a 1920s-era performance palace, boasting some of the most extravagant and ornate architecture in all of Columbus.
Whats more impressive than this architectural wonderland? The fact that you can step inside to catch a film or take part in one of its regular hot-shot performances: choose from classical music orchestras to modern dance ensembles, annual festivities, and traveling pop stars simply check the website to see whos gracing the center stage during your trip!
Read Also: Fun Stuff To Do In Syracuse
Soak In Some Nature At The Inniswood Metro Gardens
A hidden urban oasis just 15 minutes away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Columbus, the greenscaped Inniswood Metro Gardens is a 122-acre space dedicated to beautiful flora and fauna part botanical garden, part nature preserve.
Whether youre looking for some restorative meditation or just want an easy way to get out into nature during your stay , swing on by for some 2,000 species of plants and plenty of friendly woodland wildlife.
Best of all? Its open seven days a week, free of charge!
Fun Things To Do In Columbus Ohio
Welcome to JetSetting Fools, here you will find our best travel tips for destinations worldwide. Some of the links on this site are Affiliate Links and if you use them to make a purchase, we may earn a commission. For more information, read our Disclosure Policy.
There are so many exciting and fun things to do in Columbus, Ohio I should know, Im a native! I loved growing up in Columbus and I enjoy the city even more visiting as an adult.
Best described as a big city with a small-town feel, Columbus truly appeals to a wide range of audiences. The city boasts top attractions, incredible arts and scrumptious eats. Columbus locals are friendly they are passionate about sports and are quick to strike up a conversation.
Columbus has come a long way from its Cowtown days, and it is no longer a flyover city. A fantastic destination for families, couples, friends and even solo travelers, we are highlighting the top things to do in Columbus!
Read Also: Things To Do Healdsburg
Day : Discover Downtown Columbus
Kick-off your first day in Columbus in the downtown district. Start off by wandering the Scioto Mile and taking in the stunning scenery of the city. An early morning start is best, as youll be able to enjoy a quiet walk along the river.
Next, pop into a downtown cafe or restaurant for breakfast. Youll find lots of options to choose from. This is a great spot to also do some local shopping. When youre done exploring downtown, head to Topiary Park. If you catch a bus, step off at E Town St & S Washington Ave stop. Spend some time checking out this unique park and taking pictures of the topiary statues.
Next up, visit The Columbus Museum of Art. The museum is just around the corner from the park so walking will get you there in under 10 minutes. Spend 2-3 hours admiring the local and world-wide art showcased.
Finish your day/night at The Short North Arts District. This district is right next to downtown, making it very convenient to get to. Catch a bus to S High St & E Broad St, and another one to N High St & E 1st Ave.
Free Things To Do In Columbus
They say the best things in life are free. Make sure you visit the following around Columbus:
World’s Largest Gavel – Satisfy your artistic and cultural cravings here and see talent and creativity at work.
Scioto Audubon Metro Park – Pencil in time to play and add some excitement to your trip here.
Rhodes State Office Tower – Stop by this local landmark and take in its unique design.
Ohio Statehouse – If you want to explore the history of the region through its landmarks, include this one on your sightseeing schedule.
Columbus Near East Side Historic District – Stop for a while in this thriving spot and imagine what life would be like as a local resident.
North Market – Well known among those who reside here, this site is worth checking out.
Columbus Commons – Revitalize your mind, body and soul by spending time in nature.
Also Check: Fun Things To Do Near Syracuse Ny
Hanif Abdurraqib To Make Appearance
The Columbus-based poet, essayist and critic Hanif Abdurraqib will appear in a free virtual event at 2 p.m. Aug. 29, at the Columbus Metropolitan Main Library, 96 S. Grant Ave. Abdurraqibs 2021 book is A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance with commentary on entertainers including Josephine Baker, Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson and Dave Chappelle. The event is part of the librarys Carnegie Author Series.
Romantic Restaurants And Cafes
Mitchells Berries. If youre looking to do something more than berry picking, Mitchells offers a farm-to-table supper served on their Berry Barn Porch. For just $50 per person, you and your partner can enjoy a rustic meal on straw bales in a quaint atmosphere and get a taste of some delicious homegrown food.
The Big Bang Bar. In addition to their expansive drink menu, this bar host live music from duelling piano players. You can make requests and dance the night away with that special someone in this eclectic venue.
Jeff Rubys Steakhouse. If youre a fan of elegant dining, this steakhouse has an exquisite menu comprised of steaks, seafood, and sushi, plus live entertainment.
Veritas. This cozy little space has a tasting menu, specialty cocktails, and a unique price-fixed that changes to fit different culinary themes.
Vaso. If you and your partner wish to dine outside but also beat the cold, Vaso offers outdoor igloo spaces to rent for dinner. They also have a rooftop bar with a breathtaking panoramic view of the city.
Jenis Splendid Ice-Cream. A great way to end your night is to stop by Jenis and grab try out some of their unique ice cream flavors. With multiple spots all around Columbus, youre sure to be able to find one close to whichever venue you chose for your date night destination.
Sassafrass. This quaint bakery serves hand-crafted treats made with locally sourced ingredients and is a great spot to hang out for a relaxing and intimate morning or afternoon date.
You May Like: Mystic Ct What To Do
