Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens offers world-class horticulture, art and nature-based exhibitions, and educational programs for all ages. Situated on 40 acres on the eastern side of Franklin Park, the Conservatory features the historic 1895 John F. Wolfe Palm House, 83,000 square feet of glasshouses, botanical gardens, and meeting and event spaces. The Conservatory is home to internationally recognized light artist James Turrell’s Light Raiment II, which illuminates the John F. Wolfe Palm House every evening from dusk until dawn.

COSI, the #1 Science Museum in the Country as voted by USA Today’s 10Best, is an esteemed science center that has delighted Central Ohio with all things science for 58 years, inspiring interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) topics and delivering our experiential, hands-on fun brand of learning. As a trusted educational resource for families, schools, and community partners, COSI is an essential element of our community, engaging more than one million people annually through onsite, offsite and online experiences.

The Columbus Museum of Art’s collection spans work from Columbus-born artists like Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson, George Bellows, and Elijah Pierce to the luminaries of 19th and 20th-century art. Rotating exhibits fill its recently opened modern art wing, and there are ample areas to explore and create art of your own. Take advantage of the Guide by Cell tours for a deeper experience with the artwork. Interactive stations outside many galleries also offer more ways to process and create art.

ZipZone Outdoor Adventures is a great outdoor destination in Central Ohio. ZipZone has professionally guided zip line tours and a treetop obstacle course. They provide you with a hands free, guided tour of the treetops. All of the zip line tours give you a beautiful view of Columbus that you would never have imagined! Ages 7 and older. If you are looking for a different outdoor excursion, the Adventure Park is something you don't want to miss! The Adventure Park is a self-guided treetop obstacle park where the staff will teach you to use the smart clip system to clip into the course and make your way through several obstacles. They also have a Kids Park for the littlest adventurers, ages 4-7.

Just south of downtown Columbus lies German Village, one of the most idyllic neighborhoods in the country. Built by German settlers hundreds of years ago, the area is defined by its brick homes and shops, as well as brick-lined streets. Historic charm and modern tweaks exist side by side here. Peruse local businesses that include delicious pastry and coffee shops, the truly unique 32-room Book Loft, Shakespearean performances at the neighborhood’s Schiller Park, and beautiful lights and markets.


The Brewery District can be found west of German Village, a nook of the city that became home to Columbus’s bustling beer scene. Today, it’s full of lively entertainment and dining options, including bars that are local favorites along High Street, as well as Shadowbox Live!, the country’s largest resident theater company.

As seen on National Geographic’s “Secrets of the Zoo,” the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is home to more than 10,000 animals representing 600 species from around the globe. Of these species, more than 34 are endangered, and 11 are threatened, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services. For more than 95 years, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has evolved to be a cornerstone of the community and a destination inspiring the appreciation and conservation of many of the earth's most amazing animals.