We love COSI. Not only is it a fun, nationally renowned, hands-on science museum for kids – it’s fun for the whole family. Case in point: my 40-something year old husband recently spent 30 minutes solving one of the harder puzzles in the Mindbender Mansion and Amazing Mazes exhibit – and he proudly announced to everyone once he did it! Whether you are young or old, I think everyone agrees that COSI is fun and engaging for the whole family. That’s why I am so excited to have a family 4-pack of COSI passes, which also includes the Planetarium too, to give away to one lucky subscriber! (see details below)
The other reason I’m excited is that COSI now has a new healthier food option in the café! In my family, when eating out it can sometimes be a struggle to find food the makes everyone happy. Namely, food that my kids want, and that I feel good about letting them eat. During our recent visit to COSI, we tried out Bean Sprouts, the new healthier food addition to the café, for lunch. My kids loved the kid-level visual menu that made it easy for them to pick what they wanted. They also loved all of the food options. What I liked, well there are many things, but to start – Bean Sprouts is at the entrance to the café, so it’s a natural place to order and, more importantly, miss all of the other, not so healthy food options still available further into the café. It’s kid-friendly, but adheres to some strict standards which they call the Bean Sprouts PhilosoPEA, such as never any artificial colors, preservatives, flavors or sweeteners, and never trans fats, high fructose corn syrup, MSG and added nitrates. The food is fun – seriously, all of the food is fun looking – so the kids want it. And, given the standards, I felt okay letting them order whatever they wanted from the kids’ menu, which takes some stress off of me especially since I have three savvy little negotiators on my hands when it comes to situations like this.
Bean Sprouts is not all about kids though. They also have some great adult options, which my husband, oldest child (the tween who thinks he’s an adult), and I enjoyed. We had the Great Turkado and Chicken Pesto Chango sandwiches, both of which came with a really yummy organic salad (really fresh and good!). My younger two had the P-Moji Pizza, and we shared an order of veggie tots (which are baked tots made of potatoes, broccoli, sweet potatoes - and are really good!). What was the verdict? Thumbs up all around! Next time you are at COSI be sure to try out Bean Sprouts in the café. You can also find out more on the Bean Sprouts website, and see what other café locations that they have. Bean Sprouts also has a recipe book for kids - Bean Appetit, Hip and Healthy Ways to Have Fun with Food (available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble), which has a lot of really fun looking and good tasting, healthy food for you and your children to make together. The book is loaded with pictures, games, ideas, and all kinds of great stuff.
Bean Sprouts is not all about kids though. They also have some great adult options, which my husband, oldest child (the tween who thinks he’s an adult), and I enjoyed. We had the Great Turkado and Chicken Pesto Chango sandwiches, both of which came with a really yummy organic salad (really fresh and good!). My younger two had the P-Moji Pizza, and we shared an order of veggie tots (which are baked tots made of potatoes, broccoli, sweet potatoes - and are really good!). What was the verdict? Thumbs up all around! Next time you are at COSI be sure to try out Bean Sprouts in the café. You can also find out more on the Bean Sprouts website, and see what other café locations that they have. Bean Sprouts also has a recipe book for kids - Bean Appetit, Hip and Healthy Ways to Have Fun with Food (available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble), which has a lot of really fun looking and good tasting, healthy food for you and your children to make together. The book is loaded with pictures, games, ideas, and all kinds of great stuff.
If you haven’t been to COSI in a while, you will definitely want to check out their traveling exhibit – Mindbender Mansion and Amazing Mazes – which will be there through April 30, 2017. We really had a blast trying everything. As I mentioned, my husband sat at the Tower of Hanoi for 30 minutes until he had all of the discs on one peg in the correct order. My younger ones loved the walk-thru two mazes and the disco hopscotch spelling game (which wore them out a little because they just kept playing it - alone and with other guests!), as well and the rope maze. My oldest and I were obsessed (OBSESSED) with the tilt table. I am happy to report we after many, many attempts, we figured out a strategy, worked well together and received all of the points. Victory! Which I need to brag about because we could not figure out the car puzzle at all, which had a life-sized Rush Hour game feel to it. If your family has figured it out, please share the secret with me! My family was thoroughly entertained, so be sure to check it out!
Of course, it’s not a COSI visit without the seeing the other exhibits including Gadgets and the Gadgets Cafe (our favorite!), Ocean, Progress (old town), Energy Explorers (we have to pull one of my kids out of this exhibit), Little KidsSpace (love!), and so much more. See all of the COSI exhibits. You also don't want to miss the Planetarium - so cool!
Address:
333 W. Broad St.
Columbus, OH 43215
333 W. Broad St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Admission and Parking:
General admission is $20 for ages 13 and older, $15 for youth ages 2 - 12. There are several add on and bundle options as well. See all the COSI admission options.
Parking is $5 per car for non-members, and $4 for members.
General admission is $20 for ages 13 and older, $15 for youth ages 2 - 12. There are several add on and bundle options as well. See all the COSI admission options.
Parking is $5 per car for non-members, and $4 for members.
Note: The old parking lot next to the building is under construction to make an underground parking lot. The parking lots being used are still close, but will add some walking time. They do have shuttle buses available. Click on the map to see details.
Hours:
Current winter hours: Wednesdays through Sundays 10am - 5pm. Note, during the summer COSI is open every day.
COSI is open special for President's Day on Monday, Feb. 20th from 10am - 5pm.
Current winter hours: Wednesdays through Sundays 10am - 5pm. Note, during the summer COSI is open every day.
COSI is open special for President's Day on Monday, Feb. 20th from 10am - 5pm.
For more information, see the COSI website or follow their Facebook page.
Enter to Win:
Giveaway ends Friday, Feb. 17th at 10pm. To enter the giveaway for a family 4-pack of passes to COSI AND the Planetarium, please comment telling us your favorite exhibit at COSI, OR just tell me that you want to win (required entry). Tickets are good through December 31, 2017. Winner will need to provide a valid local mailing address. You must be a subscriber of NE Columbus Macaroni Kid's FREE eNewsletter, a weekly resource of local kid and family event. Subscribe today.
Increase your chances to win with these additional entry options:
* Second entry option (optional): You can get a second entry (optional) by following us (please "like" our page) on our NE Columbus Macaroni Kid Facebook page and commenting that you'd "love to win the family 4-pack of passes to COSI and the Planetarium from @NE Columbus Macaroni Kid. #CbusMacKid" (tag our page and COSI's page please - you can tag FB pages by typing the @ in front of the and selecting it from the list of pages) Get yet another entry (4th) for sharing our Facebook post about the giveaway!
* Third entry option (optional):
Follow me on Instagram - yes, just that easy! @wendy_necbusmackid
Winners will be chosen by random.org on Friday, February 17th at 10pm EST and be notified by email. They will have until Sunday, February 19th at 8pm to confirm via email. Tickets are good through December 31, 2017. Winner will need to provide valid local mailing address. One entry per person for the duration of the giveaway. You must be at least 18 years old on February, 13, 2017 to enter. PASSES ARE NOT TRANSFERABLE AND CANNOT BE SOLD.
Bean Sprouts at the COSI Cafe:
Kid-level visual menu
Bean Sprouts PhilosoPEA:
Some of our delicious lunch!
Mindbenders Mansion and Amazing Mazes:
The tilt table we conquered!
