If you are home with the kids for spring break and wondering what to do, not to worry we have you covered! There are many places around town that have special spring break times you can take advantage. We also included fun day trips to make, and any tips that we have for each. Additionally, our main events webpage is full of events this week, as is the CALENDAR.
Local Ideas:
Check our Kids and Family Event CALENDAR for a list of events happening daily. Many local places are open daily or have special deals especially for spring break - like Gym Skills, Star Lanes, World of Bounce, SuperGames, Michael's (daily kids crafts the week of March 28th), Sky Zone, Westerville Community Center Pool, ZenKidz Play Cafe (has classes for kids through 3rd grade this week!) and others - we've loaded all into our CALENDAR with the full details and also loaded all to the main weekly events page.
Also, be sure to check out our Indoor Play Area resource article that includes both FREE and play to play places for children of ALL ages. There are many great ideas of things to do in this article.
COSI is open every day through April 2nd (except Easter day), and it's a lot of fun. Tip: upon arrival, go up to the Gadgets Cafe to book a session before they fill up for the day {just in case you didn't know this!}
The Works, is in Newark and also a lot of fun. It's smaller than COSI (50% off reciprocal benefits to COSI members*), but still fun. I found it easier to keep track of my kids when they were younger, than COSI.
The Columbus Art Museum is also fun. The lower level has the Wonder Room which has some hands on activities for the kids. Also, in the halls surrounding it, they have several art stations set up for promoting creativity at any age. My kids love doing all the different activities on this level. Tip: Sundays are free.
Everyone loves the Columbus Zoo, my family included. Tip: Did you know that on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays Franklin County residents receive 1/2 price admission? Valid drivers license or state ID, or current utility bill is needed.
And, don't forget our amazing Metro Parks - which are FREE! If the weather is nice, venture out to a different one every day. Many have natural play spaces now, where you can get off trail and play in nature - build things, explore and more. We also love the Grange Insurance Audubon Center downtown. They have a pond where you can typically see many critters (frogs, turtles, fish), walking paths, a small indoor play room (best for kids 8 and under), and a playground.
Day Trip Ideas:
Lancaster:
AHA is another option if you have kids 10 and under. It has many fun hands-on activities.
Dayton:
Boonshoft in Dayton is a lot of fun. It's a smaller museum but there's a fair amount to do. I'd say it's best for ages 10 and under. There are a few shows, like COSI, and a lot of hands-on fun. Tip: don't miss the Discovery Zoo which has live animals (upstairs)!
National Museum of the US Air Force: We have not yet been here (amazingly!) but I have heard great things about it. Admission is FREE and they are open seven days a week. On the kids page they have a printable seek and find for young kids and a scavenger hunt for older kids (or you could read to your younger child), both of which would add to the fun there.
Cleveland:
About two hours away would be Cleveland's Great Lakes Science Center which is kind of like COSI (good for all ages) - my kids still love the kids space with shooting balls and climbing structures. The Museum of Natural History has lots of dinosaur bones (good for all ages), rocks and other cool stuff. Tip: if you have children 8 and under, don't miss Smead Discovery Center on the lower level which has a lot of hands-on fun.
Also, the Cleveland Art Museum is FREE. Unfortunately their play room (Studio Play) for kids 8 and under is closed for renovations March 1st - May 27th, but keep it in mind for future trips as it's a lot of fun.
If you have a Franklin Park Conservatory pass, consider going to the Cleveland Botanical Gardens (they reciprocate 100% still according to the list). This is smaller than FPC, or seems so, but they did have a few live animals (birds, iguana, turtle, etc) loose in the rooms which was neat. They also have a children's garden outside where kids can play/explore if it's warmer (it's super fun!). It looks like they also have a special spring children's exhibit with lots of hands-on activities as well (though it looks to be ticketed separately).
The Cleveland Zoo is always fun too, they have an indoor rain forest exhibit as well (this is off to the side so don't miss it). They reciprocate with Columbus Zoo members (50% off admission). Tip: this is a very hilly zoo, so if you have little ones, bring a stroller and keep that in mind for your walkers.
Note: The Museum of Natural History, Cleveland Art Museum and Cleveland Botanical Gardens are all located in the same area within walking distance of each. Not far from the museums is a Dewey's Pizza - first one we ate at and got hooked from there (we have three in Columbus now), so if you hit dinnertime, and need to find a decent place quick (like we did), that's a great option.
West Chester (just north of Cincinnati not far from Kings Island):
EnterTRAINment Junction: We've never been here but only heard great things. They have train displays and a fun house. During March the fun house is only $1.25 with paid admission to the Train Journey. From the website: the world’s largest indoor train display (that’s 25,000 sq. ft. of model trains on an enormous train layout), slide, climb and crawl in a spectacular children’s play area, discover at our imaginative railroading museum.
Jump & Jacks: Another place we haven't been but have heard great things about. Looks like a great indoor play space for toddlers through 11 year olds.
Cincinnati:
The Cincinnati museums are also about two hours away, and are conveniently located in the same building - Cincinnati Museum Center! Duke Energy Children's Museum is a lot of hands-on fun for younger kids (8 and younger probably), though my nine year old lived in the very cool tree area for many hours (which was suitable for probably 10 and under). The Museum of Natural History & Science (good for all ages) is fun too, don't miss the cave area where you can explore a cave (there are two options if someone is afraid of tight spaces). Also, you will want to check out the Nature's Trading Post (read up on this, it's cool!) which is part of the museum where kids can bring things and/or complete a scavenger hunt to earn points to trade for things at the trading post (my kids went wild over this!). Tip: read up on the Nature's Trading Post mentioned above - as you can bring things for them to trade too.
Pittsburgh:
Depending on where you are in Columbus, this is a 2.5 to 3 hour trek. It's not likely a good option for a day trip, but if you wanted to do an overnight, it's well worth it! The Children's Museum of Pittsburgh was fun, fun, fun! Lots to do for all ages! Tip: Start on top floor with water area and bring a change of clothes - it's much easier to get wet here than COSI's little kids water feature - and it's suitable for older children too. They are on the reciprocal museum list, so if you are a COSI premium member you can get 50% off admission for those listed on your membership (up to six people). The Carnegie Science Museum is also fun, this is a science museum kind of like COSI - and yes, reciprocal for COSI premium members as the others are. There is a little kid space upstairs, if you have younger ones. Tip: DO NOT miss the SportsWorks building (outside of the museum) - it's included in admission and very fun!
Another idea in Pittsburgh is the National Aviary. My kids loved this. It's very small but they love animals, in this case birds, so we had fun. Columbus Zoo members can get 50% off with reciprocal benefits (for those on your membership, up to 6 people). Or, if you have a Franklin Park Conservatory membership, you can get in for free through that reciprocal program.
I wrote and article, A Family Fun Trip on a Budget, about our trip to Pittsburgh three years ago that you might find helpful if heading there. Please note that reciprocal benefits* changed in 2013 to 50% off for reciprocal museums, where prior to 2013 - when this article was written - you received free admission (bummer!!)
We love all of these museums, so if you want to venture out for a day trip (or overnight), any of these would be great options, especially if you can take advantage of reciprocal benefits!
*In the last two years, COSI basic family membership no longer has the reciprocal benefits at other children's museums. You need the premium family membership. Some children's museums will still reciprocate with basic family memberships, but most will look for the reciprocal sticker on the back of the card. Be sure to check the list of museums included before you plan your trip. I discovered this while at the Chicago Children's Museum... an expensive discovery!
Please note: BEFORE you take a trip, if you plan to use reciprocal benefits from memberships you have, please be sure to check the lists for each place you will be visiting to ensure nothing has changed and that your membership level does work.
Have a great spring break!
