My kids get two weeks off for winter break and there is only so much we can do inside during that time. Before we all got cabin fever, I decided to take the family to Columbus to explore a city we had never really experienced.
What’s great about Columbus is that it is only about an hour and thirty minutes from Cincinnati so it is a quick and easy trip where you can squeeze in a lot of sightseeing in just a few short days! Here are 5 fun, family friendly venues that you can add to your Columbus bucket list!
Legoland Discovery Center Columbus
If your kids are lego fans like mine, this is a must visit! It is located in Easton Town Center which is a fabulous spot for fine dining, shopping and entertainment so while you are there grab a bite to eat or check out your favorite movie!
My boys range from 10-4 and Legoland Discovery Center Columbus has something for all ages! Even my husband and I had a great time.
They have two rides that all of us were able to ride on, so even your littles will enjoy them. There are several areas you can be as creative as you would like with Legos. They also have a Lego workshop with classes throughout the day so the lego possibilities are endless. They have an awesome Miniland which is an entire world made of legos. I really enjoyed the 4D Cinema and you can choose between a few different shows so if you stay long enough you can see them all. My littlest guy LOVED the Lego City Play area with Duplo Legos and a lot of slides! My older boys favorite area was the Build and Test Area. You can create your own lego cars and race them down different tracks and build lego towers and see if they can stand up to an earthquake. There really is something for everyone!
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Our next stop was the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. In the winter they have Wild Lights which is similar to The Cincinnati Zoo Festival of Lights if you live in the Cincinnati area like me. We had never been to the Columbus Zoo and I was very impressed with how everything was laid out. Every area has a theme: Asia, Australia, Congo, Africa, North America and they even have their own Aquarium! Wild Lights was GORGEOUS and really did not disappoint. It was such a fun way to celebrate the holidays.
There is a lot closed down during Wild Lights since it’s not safe for the animals to be out in the cold temperatures so I am looking forward to taking the boys back in the Summer to see all of them out and about. They have a FABULOUS kids play area that opens in warmer weather and a waterpark! I really could not believe how much the Columbus Zoo had to offer whether you choose to go in the winter or warmer weather months.
COSI
This was one of my FAVORITE places to go when I was a kid, but I hadn’t taken any of my kids yet so I could not wait to experices COSI through their eyes. There are 3 floors, all of which are covered in interactive exhibits. Some of them are traveling exhibits so they change throughout the year, but a majority of them stay the same so you can go back and play with your favorites time and time again!
There is so many other additions to the exhibits that you can check out, making each visit unique and interesting. We enjoyed the Planetarium and the Motion Theater, but there is also a giant screen as well. I honestly can’t believe our kids can learn about Science and Technology in a place so amazingly COOL! We were there for over 6 hours and still didn’t see everything so we are looking forward to going back soon!
Chinese Festival of Lights
I wasn’t sure what to expect, but when we arrived, I was blown away! They had authentic shows throughout the night that immersed you in the Chinese culture and then a lighted path outside with absolutely GORGEOUS and stunning traditional Chinese Lights. Each of them told a story about the Chinese culture. It was a great way to teach the kids about a different culture and experience a new tradition. Each year the displays are different so you can enjoy it year after year and be WOW’d every time.
Hotel
I knew we wanted to stay somewhat central so that we were close to all of the places that we were visiting. I found the absolutely stunning Hotel LeVeque which is located in Downtown Columbus. It is located right near COSI and not far from all the other places we explored on our trip. We were actually able to visit all 4 places with in 2 days and that includes driving to and from Cincinnati so this hotel was a perfect spot to rest our heads for the night.
The LeVeque tower once served as an aerial lighthouse for Amelia Earhart. It is a historic landmark and it’s history lives even through the renovations over the years. I was amazed at it’s beauty and style from the minute I pulled up. It was so pristine, I was actually scared to bring my 3 hooligans inside LOL! However, the staff was so welcoming and took great care of us from the minute we checked in.
You can check out a full tour of our room in my video below or in my Instagram story highlights. Our suite fit the 5 of us very comfortably. There was a pull out couch and two beds, along with 2 bathrooms. Our entire family could fit in the shower if we wanted it… it was FAB! The art deco decor set it apart from any hotel I had ever stayed at. They also bring chocolates and a star machine in before bed so you can feel like you are sleeping under the stars and end the night with a sweet treat. The boys absolutely LOVED this!
We had such a wonderful experience in Columbus. There is SO much you can do in the winter in Columbus that is family friendly. My family had a great time exploring the city. We weren’t able to squeeze in The Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Conservatory, but I am putting that on my list for our next visit. Hopefully we will make our way back in the summer months and do some of the outdoor activities Columbus has to offer since it is so close to Cincy! It would make for a great weekend trip when the kids have a 3 day weekend or in the summer months when they are driving you bonkers!
I would love to hear what your favorite things are to do in Columbus that we could try out when we go again. How do you make the most of a short trip?
This was a hosted trip. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks for reading!
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