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FUN Things to Do in Columbus

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byCindy

As the capital city of Ohio, Columbus has a vast variety of things to do for everyone to enjoy. We have gathered a list of 30 great fun things to do in Columbus for families and some strictly for adults only.

vertical image with three photos of fun things to do in Columbus, Scene75, Dueling Axes, and Huntington Park. Text on the lower left is Fun Things to Do in Columbus

About Columbus

Columbus is the capital and most populous city in the state of Ohio and the 14th most populous city in the US. It is the county seat of Franklin County and it also extends into Delaware and Fairfield Counties. Columbus contains the confluence of the Scioto River and the Olentangy River. It is the largest city in the world named after Christopher Columbus.

Map of Fun Things to Do in Columbus

Cindy’s Insider Ohio Tips!

Columbus is full of fun things to do, with or without children! My family recently visited Dueling Axes which we enjoyed immensely. My boys love to spend time at Scene75, and we always enjoy a visit to the zoo. Columbus has it all when it comes to fun… whatever your idea of fun is, you are sure to find it in Columbus!

Fun Things to Do in Columbus with Kids

horizontal photo of two boys playing on the machines at Scene75 Columbus. Photo credit: Cindy Gordon of VisitOhioToday.com
Photo credit: Cindy Gordon of VisitOhioToday.com

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

Columbus Zoo welcomes more than 2 million visitors each year and is regarded as the best zoo in Ohio.

Areas of the zoo are Adventure Cove, Asia Quest, Australia and Islands, Congo Expedition, Heart of Africa, North America, Polar Frontier, and Shores and Aquarium.

You can easily spend a full day at the zoo, and the kids will love it from start to finish!

Zoombezi Bay Water Park

Zoombezi Bay Water Park has a variety of water rides such as Cyclone, Dolphin Dash, Otter Banks, and Python Plunge. Activity areas include Baboon Lagoon, Croctail Creek and The Sandbar, and Wild Tides Wave Pool. Enjoy a full day of fun here for the whole family! Located right next door to Columbus Zoo.

COSI: Center of Science and Industry

COSI combines science learning and fun, with more than 300 hands-on exhibits. Exhibits include Nature of Color, Little Kidspace, and Dinosaur Gallery. There are 3D exploration areas for kids as well as adults to enjoy. The whole family can have a few hours of fun here!

Topiary Garden Park

This unique park is a living recreation of Georges Seurat’s post-Impressionist painting, A Sunday Afternoon of the Island of LaGrande Jatte. This is a great place to have a picnic, or just go along for a rest during a busy day. Look out for the marked ‘As he saw it’ spot, which is how Seurat saw the scene as he painted it. Admission is free.

  • Address: 480 E. Town St, Columbus, Ohio 43215
  • Website

ZipZone Outdoor Adventures

ZipZone offers zip line tours, a tree-top obstacle course, and a ground-level kids’ park. Special events include Night Flight Zip Line Tours, Flight Club, and there are also Free Kids Nature Hikes.

Legoland Discovery Center

Legoland Discovery Center has a lot of fun activities for kids to enjoy. Families can easily spend a large part of the day at this center.

Rides and play at Legoland Discovery Center include Merlin’s Apprentice – pedal the cart in Merlin’s magical potions chamber to become his next apprentice. Kingdom Quest Ride – rescue the captured princess by zapping trolls and skeletons. 4D Cinema – see action-packed adventures with wind, rain, and fog effects. The Great Lego Race VR experience – can you become the next Lego Race Champion?

Learn to Build like a master model builder with hands-on workshops. Take a photo with some larger-than-life Lego characters.

Explore and interact with Ohio’s biggest cities recreated to scale in Lego. See Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati’s most well-known landmarks.

Create an ultra-fast Lego race car and race it on the test track at the Build and Test Zone.

There are events for adult fans of Lego held throughout the year. Check the website for more information.

Magic Mountain Fun Center

Magic Mountain Fun Center has miniature golf, an arcade with over 80 games, go-karts, batting cages, bumper cars, and KidsGym Climbing Playland. Passes and group bookings are also available.

Scene75 Columbus

Scene75 has 16 indoor attractions and more than 200 arcade games. Kids and adults are promised a great day out here! Attractions include Go-Karts, Laser Tag, Blacklight Mini-Golf, and a Batting Cage Simulator. There are also five eating and drinking areas within the facility.

Central Ohio Fire Museum

If your kids love fire trucks, they will really enjoy this museum! A guided tour will take you around antique fire engines, old fire equipment, and more. A play area includes a fire truck that the kids can climb into.

Columbus Museum of Art

The Columbus Museum of Art contains the Wonder Room which is a magical place for kids to enjoy. Kids can also explore artistic concepts with hands-on art activities. The JPMorgan Chase Center for Creativity offers hands-on activities for kids to explore art and they can even get to display their own works of art in the hallways.

Fun Things to Do with Older Children

horizontal photo of a man throwing an axe at Dueling Axes in Columbus. Photo credit: Cindy Gordon of VisitOhioToday.com
Photo credit: Cindy Gordon of VisitOhioToday.com

Coliseum X

Coliseum X has a few fun activities for the whole family to enjoy.  Extreme Laser Tag has three arenas where combatants need to navigate through obstacles in search of the opposition. There is a choice of seven weapons and 20 missions. Children over 8 years old can participate.

Urban Axe Throwing is a trending activity and a great family event. Children must be over the age of 13 to participate.

The Arcade offers some of the most popular classic arcade games. Watch out for happy hour specials!

Nerf and GellyBall are like dodgeball but gentler and safer. Children over 8 years old can participate.

Dueling Axes

Experience the exciting sport of axe throwing at Dueling Axes. The setting is safe, comfortable, and modern, with digital scoring installed at every target. There is no specific minimum age, but Dueling Axes suggest that 10-year-olds and over do best.

Otherworld

Otherworld is an immersive art museum, with over 40 scenes of mixed reality playgrounds and secret passageways. Visitors can freely explore and interact with a surreal world of science. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Game Show Battle Rooms

Game Show Battle Rooms offer two choices of TV game show simulations, Classic Showdowns and Prime Time Showdowns. Bring your family for a fun experience, or bring your employees or teammates for some team-building time.

You can book groups of 6 to 64 for this experience. Upon arrival, your group will be split into two teams. You then play three different games and each round won earns a Battle Point. The team with the most Battle Points at the end is the winner. Gameplay is approximately one hour.

It is recommended that players are over 10 years of age, although younger children may join in with their families. All players 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

Classic Showdowns has the three games Survey Battles, Spin and Solve, and What’s That Cost?

Prime Time Showdowns has the three games Survey Battles, Match Up Wars, and Time Rush.

Buckeye Raceway

Enjoy a day out riding high-performance electric karts on this indoor karting track. The carts are capable of speeds up to 45 mph. The road course is a quarter mile long. If you want to bring the family, children must be at least 8 years old. If you have a junior in your party, all of your karts will be throttled back to half speed.

Other activities at Buckeye Raceway:

  • Buckeye Axe – try to be the champion axe thrower!
  • Buckeye Footbowl – a mashup of football and bowling.

You can book private events at Buckeye Raceway. See their website for more details.

Fun in Columbus Strictly for Adults

horizontal image of the wheels of four Segways on a pathway

SegAway Tours of Columbus

Experience Columbus on a Segway. This is a two-hour tour where you will explore miles of parkland along the Scioto River, the Short North Arts District, the Arena District, as well as historic downtown. Your guide will keep you entertained with stories throughout the tour. Training is provided.

Shadowbox Live

Shadowbox Live is the largest resident theater company in the US. Here you can see comedy shows, live rock ‘n’ roll, dance theatre, and more. There is a full bar with a bistro-style menu, so arrive early if you would like to indulge before the show! Educational programs for ages 15 and older are available.

Columbus Food Adventures Brewery Tour

This adult beverage tour takes you around the historic Brewery District of Columbus. See the stately brick buildings as well as sampling a variety of local beers.  This walking tour lasts approximately three hours and involves a leisurely one-mile stroll. Some food is provided. Guests must be 21 and older.

Take Flight Ohio

Take Flight Ohio is a flight simulation experience. You take the captain’s seat on a commercial airliner. Your flight will be tailored to your level of experience. You will fly through challenging weather conditions, practice your landing skills, and also take in the scenery through a 210-degree wrap-around visual screen.

More Fun Things to Do in Columbus

horizontal photo of an aerial view of Huntington Park in Columbus

Museums

Ohio Railway Museum

Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum

Wagner-Hagans Auto Museum

Sporting Venues

Columbus Clippers at Huntington Park

Columbus Crew at Lower.com Field

Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium

Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena

Escape Rooms

The Escape Game

Breakout Games

Lockology Escape Rooms

Escape It Grandview

Let’s Have Fun in Columbus!

Have you done any of these fun things in Columbus? Maybe you have had a fun day at a venue we have missed? Leave a comment below and share your experience!

For more things to do in Central Ohio, check out our articles Breweries in Columbus, Prairie Oaks Metro Park, Hayden Falls, and Highbanks Metro Park.

Hello! We have done our very best to ensure that the accuracy of events, hours, addresses, etc are up to date. Please know that information can change due to weather, updated health and safety challenges, etc. If you find incorrect information, please send us an email at [email protected] and we can get it updated.

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Cindy Gordon, the owner of VisitOhioToday.com, is a passionate Ohioan with a deep love for her state's rich cultural heritage and natural beauty. Her mission is to showcase Ohio's hidden gems and major tourist attractions through her website, offering visitors a comprehensive guide to all the wonders the Buckeye State has to offer. With a wealth of experience as a seasoned small business owner in the media industry, Cindy also manages four other websites in the food space, demonstrating her commitment to sharing her expertise and enthusiasm with a wider audience. Through her dedication, Cindy has become a trusted source for anyone looking to explore Ohio's diverse and vibrant offerings.

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