FREE:
Westerville Community Center: small indoor play set located in main lobby area (by pool viewing area). Best for kids 6 and under. Chairs nearby to watch kids.
Central Park Playland: Westerville. Indoor play climbing structure inside of the Westerville Christian Church. Open play during designated times throughout week, check website for hours. Best for kids 6 and under. Socks required. Benches to sit and watch kids.
Grange Audubon Center: Downtown. Has a small indoor play room with costumes, climbing structure and cave. Also has a library of books for various ages, and room is full of windows with viewing of many bird feeders (microphones on bird feeders project into the room so you may hear all the birds). Closed Mondays. Tuesday through Fri. 10am-5pm, Sat. 10am-3pm, Sun. 12-5pm.
*Vineyard Community Center: Westerville. Free two story playground - climbing and sliding for ages 4 through 11. There is also a "Noah's Ark" area for ages 3 and under. Note: the door is always locked for security purposes, but a staff member will let you in. M-F 6-8:30pm, Sat. 9am-2pm, Sun. 1:30-5:30pm. Adults need to stay.
Polaris Mall: Zoo themed play area. Best for kids 6 and under. Benches surround.
Shops at Worthington Place: (formally Worthington Square Mall) Indoor play area with a treehouse type structure and soft fake grass. When it's warmer there is also a small outdoor play area.
Libraries: All locations. Most libraries have fabulous kids areas where you can play and read to your child. There are also many great different storytime programs, you can find them in our weekly story time listing article HERE.
Pay to Play:
ZenKidz Play Cafe: Westerville. Columbus' newest play cafe full of fun things to do and create. For ages 7 and under. Food and drink is also for sale, and there is free wifi. T-F 9am-4pm and Sat. 9am-2pm.
Piccadilly: Bexley. Fun modern indoor playspace. They have open play and also structured classes (registration required), Explorers club (parents morning out) and parents date night. Wifi and healthy food options are offered on-site, as well as coffee. $10 first child, $5 per sibling (day pass entitles you to return visits on same day)
Firefly Play Cafe: Clintonville. Fun indoor playspace for kids 6 and under. Have special music, story and art times weekly. Wifi, snacks and coffee are offered on-site. Open Monday-Saturday, most of the day.
*Super Games: Worthington. Inflatables and games. Lots of different inflatables for kids of all ages. Special toddler open play times, as well as general open play, socks required. Lobby has small rock wall, pool, and other games. See website for open play times. $9 first child, $6 per sibling
*World of Bounce: Gahanna. A new bounce place! Great for kids ages 2 and up. Open bounces Tuesday - Friday, 10am-1pm each day, except Wednesday is 6-9pm. Some weekend open bounce too.
*COSI: Downtown. Of course an indoor playspace Mecca! Little Kidspace is perfect for the 6 and under crowd. Free with membership, or paid admission (remember there is $5 parking/$4 for members) - or 50% off with The Works membership.
*The Works: Newark. Small science center with hands-on activities. Has a nice little kids’ space with lots of pretend play and building. Offer Curious Kids programs on Tuesday at 10:30AM. 50% reciprocal benefits with COSI membership, or paid admission.
*Columbus Museum of Art: Downtown. The newly redesigned Wonder Room located on the first floor is a super fun space for kids ages 3-14. There’s clay building, metal mobile making, books, fort building, magnetic play, and more! Free with membership or paid admission.
*Gym Skills: Gahanna. Fun gymnastics equipment and obstacle course for stay and play open gym time Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday from 9:30-11am. Children walking through 5 years with an adult. Also, open gym every Friday 6:30-8pm for ages 6 through 18.
*Westerville Community Center Climbing Wall: Westerville. 27-foot climbing wall allows climbers to test skills on pitches ranging from beginner's slope to to challenging. Ages 5 through adult. Open some weeknights, and weekend afternoons.
*Glow Putt Mini Golf: Gahanna. A fun glow in the dark inside putt putt golf place. Multiple summer specials HERE. We've been - it's small (and cheesy), not too hard and my kids loved it. There are photos on their website.
*Magic Mountain: Polaris and Reynoldsburg. Large climbing (KidsGym Playland) structure, as well as variety of video games and laser tag. Food available on-site.
*Gahanna Lanes Bowling: Gahanna. Bowling alley. We've never been here but I've heard great things from others. 614-471-1111
*Chiller: Easton, Lewis Center, Dublin and downtown. Ice Skating fun for all ages. Open skate times and admission are listed on site by location.
Peapod Play Cafe: Gahanna. Enjoy a fun play cafe with interactive toys, modern play spaces and space for parents/caregivers to relax and surf the web, catch up on mail, or visit with friends. Ages walkers through 7 with an adult. $10 per child, $6 an additional child or $4 additional for three or more children.
*Star Lanes: Polaris/Westerville. New bowling alley. Again, we've never been here but I have heard it's fun. Kids eat free on Wednesday nights with purchase of an adult meal.
*Lazer Kraze: Lewis Center. Inflatables and laser tag. Our kids been to parties here and loved it.
*Sky Zone: Lewis Center. Indoor trampoline park. A few trampolines (huge) and foam pit. There are many events HERE for all ages, including young ones (in my opinion, it's better to bring your young ones to a time specified for them, or during a slow time - it can be crazy when it's busy and you have little ones).
*Also suitable for older children.
Membership Only Based:
Gymboree Play & Music: Gahanna. Offer great classes for children newborn to 5 years old. This is membership based and they normally have great deals every month. NE Columbus Macaroni Kid sometimes gets special discount codes so always check our main page to see. Owned by local parents!
Further out but worth listing!
AHa Children's Museum: Lancaster. A fun hands-on adventure featuring more than 25 exhibits for children ages 0-7 (and older) in a 4000 sq ft space - lots of photos on their website will give you a great look. $5 admission for all ages. Membership available.
Boonshoft Museum of Discovery: Dayton. Fun children's museum with many hands on activities throughout, as well as a live animals on display. Ideal for ages 3-8 in my opinion - if you are up for the drive (about an hour or less from Columbus). They have things younger children would love too, but not sure there are enough to merit the drive time. They offer reciprocal benefits, so if you have COSI membership, you get 50% off admission. We just visited this museum in October. I would say, if you are up for the drive, and have a COSI membership to get the discount, this would make for a fun day trip and something new to do. My kids (ages 6, 6, 8) LOVED it.
Please note: prices listed are subject to change by the facility.
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Find weekly local kid and family events happening around NE and East Columbus, Ohio on our NE and East Columbus Ohio Macaroni Kid main page, or in our Events Calendar. We gather all the events and activities happening around Columbus, along with their details, and you just need to plan you week and have fun with your kids! Subscribe today to get our eNewsletter delivered in your inbox every Monday night, and stay in the know!
OR, if you are just looking for fun learning and playing activities to do with your kids at home, check out our Learning and Playing at Home Pinterest board HERE with activities for both young and older kids.
