Outdoors

Things to Do

Powell

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

Central Ohio's big-day zoo about 25 minutes north of downtown, with habitats you can wander for hours and an aquarium that still surprises first-timers. Pack snacks, wear walking shoes, and treat it like a full outing rather than a quick stop.

Downtown

COSI

Hands-on science on the Scioto riverfront, built for curious kids and adults who still like to push buttons. It is the indoor Columbus plan when weather turns, school breaks hit, or you want a downtown day that is not another restaurant reservation.

Downtown

Scioto Mile

Downtown's civic front yard: fountains, river paths, and lawn space that still feels like a real park. Walk it at lunch, bring a bike at dusk, or camp out near Bicentennial Park when the city turns the water features on.

East Side

Otherworld

An immersive art maze on Columbus's east side, about nine miles from downtown near I-70. Block out a couple of hours, put your phone away sometimes, and let the rooms do the weird work.

Near East Side

Franklin Park Conservatory

Glasshouse biomes, Chihuly glass, and garden grounds a short hop from downtown on the Near East Side. It works as a calm weekend reset, a plant-lover pilgrimage, or an easy place to take visiting relatives who want beauty without a hike.

Downtown

Columbus Museum of Art

The city's art museum on East Broad, sized for a focused two-hour visit instead of an exhausting marathon. Strong collections, thoughtful special exhibitions, and a downtown location that pairs cleanly with lunch nearby.

Arena District

North Market

Vendors, coffee, and a lunch that does not require a reservation, steps from the Arena District. Graze, people-watch, and treat it as Columbus's easiest food hall plan when everyone in your group wants something different.

Lewis Center

Highbanks Metro Park

Ravines, forest trails, and Olentangy overlooks about 25 minutes north of downtown. It is the Metro Park you pick when you want elevation, shade, and a hike that feels removed from the city without leaving the 614.

Powell

Zoombezi Bay

Ohio's big zoo-adjacent waterpark in Powell, where summer tickets usually include Columbus Zoo admission too. Slides, rivers, and kid zones make it the splash-day plan when the humidity wins.

Downtown

Columbus Commons

Nine acres of downtown lawn, carousel days, and free summer programming in the middle of the city grid. Bring a blanket, chase kids across the grass, and treat it as the easiest family reset between museum stops.

Campus

Wexner Center for the Arts

OSU's contemporary art laboratory on High Street, where exhibitions, film, and performance lean experimental on purpose. Go when you want Columbus culture that looks forward instead of only polishing the classics.

German Village

Schmidt's Sausage Haus

A German Village institution where Bahama Mamas, bands, and old-world dining rooms still deliver a night out that feels like an attraction. Come hungry, bring visitors, and save room for the giant cream puff.

Franklinton

Land-Grant Brewing Company

A Franklinton brewery campus with taproom energy, food, and enough space to linger after a gallery walk across the river. It is the easy Columbus beer destination when you want local pints without a tiny bar squeeze.

Arena District

Nationwide Arena

Home ice for the Blue Jackets and the Arena District's big-stage box for concerts and events. Even on non-game nights the plaza energy around Nationwide Arena is part of how downtown Columbus does sports culture.

Campus

Ohio Stadium

The Horseshoe on the Olentangy: Ohio State football Saturdays, marching band tradition, and a stadium experience that defines fall in Columbus. Even non-alumni feel the scale once the crowd finds its voice.

Arena District

Huntington Park

The Clippers' downtown ballpark, scaled for a relaxed night of minor-league baseball with skyline views and walkable pregame food. It is Columbus sports at a friendlier volume than an NFL or NHL sellout.

Campus

Newport Music Hall

A legendary High Street rock room where the floor still feels like a proper club show. Check the calendar, get there early for a rail spot, and remember ear protection if you like your hearing tomorrow.

University District

Ace of Cups

A beloved independent music bar north of campus with patio energy and a calendar that rewards locals who actually read listings. Smaller than the big rooms, louder in personality.

Arena District

KEMBA Live!

The Arena District's indoor-outdoor PromoWest complex (formerly Express Live!) for bigger concerts that still feel closer than a stadium bowl. Check the bill, then make a night of the surrounding district.

Powell

Wildlights

The Columbus Zoo's holiday lights season, when pathways glow and cold nights suddenly feel worth the drive north. It is the 614's signature winter tradition for families and date nights alike.

North Side

Ohio Expo Center

The fairgrounds complex that hosts the Ohio State Fair, Columbus Oktoberfest energy, and a rotating cast of seasonal expos. When something big rolls through town under tents and exhibit halls, it is often here.

Downtown

Columbus Arts Festival

A juried outdoor arts weekend on the downtown riverfront where booths, food, and live performance turn the Scioto corridor into a walking gallery. Time your trip for festival weekend and wander without a rigid itinerary.

Easton

Easton Town Center

Columbus's open-air shopping town on the northeast side, with national retailers, restaurants, and a plaza culture that works for an afternoon roam. Come for errands that turn into people-watching.

Short North

Short North Arts District Shopping

Independent boutiques, galleries, and design shops under the High Street arches. This is Columbus shopping with a neighborhood heartbeat, best done on foot with coffee in hand.

Polaris

Polaris Fashion Place

A major north-side fashion mall with department anchors and a long list of national brands. When you need efficient retail coverage in one climate-controlled trip, Polaris is the practical Columbus play.

Brewery District

Shadowbox Live

Original sketch, music, and dinner-theater energy in the Brewery District from the nation's largest resident theatre ensemble. Book a show when you want a date night that is not another quiet restaurant table.

German Village

The Book Loft

A 32-room bookstore maze in German Village where getting slightly lost is the romance. Wander the rooms, trade recommendations, then continue on brick sidewalks for coffee or dinner nearby.

Short North

Garden Theatre (Short North Stage)

The restored Garden Theatre in the Short North, home to Short North Stage productions and a natural date-night anchor on High Street. Pair a show with dinner nearby and you have a complete Columbus evening without leaving the arches.

Italian Village

Columbus Italian Festival

An October weekend on the steps of Saint John the Baptist in Italian Village, where pasta booths, parish tradition, and neighborhood history still share the same map. Come for the food, stay for the procession energy, and leave with a clearer sense of why this corner of Columbus keeps its Italian name. It is one of the easiest cultural calendar blocks in the 614.

Grandview

Natalie's Grandview

Live music, coal-fired pizza, and a seated show room in Grandview where locals book bills weeks ahead. Free Happening Hour sets and ticketed evenings share the same King Avenue address.

Arena District

The Basement

PromoWest's intimate Arena District room for bands on the rise, next door to KEMBA Live. General admission energy, a hard-hitting sound system, and a calendar that rewards checking listings every week.

Downtown

Pins Mechanical Co.

Duckpin bowling, pinball, and a cashless bar on North Fourth Street downtown. First-come lanes, patio space, and a food-truck habit that fits groups who want games with their drinks at night.

Dublin

Bridge Park

Dublin's walkable riverfront district for shops, dining, and a North Market outpost, with free garages and street spaces. Treat it as a half-day browse when Easton feels too large to walk.

German Village

German Village Shops

Brick-street browsing along Third Street and side blocks: books, gifts, galleries, and specialty food in a historic neighborhood. Walk it slowly and treat parking as part of the evening plan.

Northwest Columbus

Lennox Town Center

Open-air retail along Olentangy River Road with big-box anchors, restaurants, and a large multiplex. Easy surface parking makes it a practical northwest Columbus shopping stop between campus and Upper Arlington.

Campus

Gateway Film Center

Independent and repertory cinema on High Street in the Campus Gateway district. Discount tickets for students and seniors, a $2 garage validation, and programming that beats the usual multiplex default.

Polaris

Topgolf Columbus

Climate-controlled hitting bays, Toptracer scoring, and a full menu near Polaris. Book a bay for up to six players when you want a date that doubles as a low-pressure group night out.

Downtown

Ohio Theatre

CAPA's restored 1928 movie palace on State Street for symphony, ballet, Broadway, and touring artists. Dress for the room, park under Columbus Commons, and make a full downtown night of it.

Arena District

ScottsMiracle-Gro Field

Home of the Columbus Crew in the Arena District, formerly known as Lower.com Field. Mobile tickets, Nordecke energy, and ParkMobile lots that reward booking your parking before every kickoff night.

Campus

Schottenstein Center

Value City Arena on Ohio State's campus for Buckeye basketball, hockey, and major concerts. Cashless parking lots, mobile SafeTix codes, and campus traffic patterns that reward early Ackerman Road approaches.

North Side

Historic Crew Stadium

The original Crew soccer bowl on the Ohio Expo Center grounds, still used for matches, lacrosse, rugby, and concerts. A solid north-side sports day when downtown arenas are booked elsewhere.

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