Amanda & Michael
Things To Do in CBUS
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
This is where we got engaged! During Zoo lights. Columbus has a great Zoo affiliated with Jungle Jack Hanna. Also near here is Zoombezi bay water park and Safari Golf.
National Veterans Memorial and Museum
The National Veterans Memorial and Museum began with a vision from the late Senator John Glenn (1921-2016), Colonel, USMC (Retired), who understood the pressing need to honor the legacy of the courageous men and women who answered the call for our country. We must carefully preserve not only the names, dates, and battles but the intimate memories, personal belongings and painful losses of our nation’s Veterans. His vision is now the guiding principle for the institution he inspired.
Otherworld
Real-world art installations enhanced by VR -- to another level. It’s like a haunted house, but someone swapped out the creeps in masks for surreal, reality-defying visuals. You can walk into a cartoon, crawl inside an arcade game, or stumble into any number of rooms with jaw-dropping, 2001: A Space Odyssey-style lighting.
German Village
The laid-back German Village is known for charming brick houses built by 19th-century immigrants along Beck, Mohawk, and Deshler streets. Shops selling books, traditional fudge, and handmade jewelry mingle with art galleries, German pubs, American bistros, and artisan coffee shops. In summer, the Actors’ Theatre Columbus stages outdoor Shakespeare and other plays in Schiller Park with its fountains and flower beds. Schmidt’s Sausage Haus is located here. As seen on TV.
Short North Arts District
Short North Arts District is a hip, culture-rich area centered on N. High Street. Contemporary galleries fill converted warehouses, and the Wexner Center for the Arts hosts boundary-pushing exhibitions. Shops selling records, streetwear, and vintage clothes are interspersed with student-packed coffeehouses, craft-beer bars, and casual eateries. Programming at Short North Stage spans musicals and cutting-edge drama.
University District
The buzzing University District is centered on Ohio State University, with campus venues like Ohio Stadium, home of the Buckeyes football team, and the Schottenstein Center, hosting major music and sports events. Chadwick Arboretum has quiet paths, native trees, and a catch-and-release fishing lake. Vintage clothing shops, tattoo parlors, and divey hangouts featuring live music & bar games line N. High Street.
Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Franklin Park is a neighborhood located on the Near East Side of Columbus, Ohio. Both the historic neighborhood and landmark, the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, are named after the 88 acre park.
Downtown
The city’s central business, entertainment, and cultural hub, Downtown includes the Uptown, Arena, and Discovery districts. Corporate towers and theaters surround Capitol Square, anchored by the Greek Revival–style Ohio Statehouse. Brewpubs, cocktail bars, and diverse restaurants are nearby. The riverside Scioto Mile promenade leads to Bicentennial Park with its striking fountain and performing-arts pavilion.
Center of Science and Industry
COSI is a science museum and research center located in Columbus, Ohio. Originally opened in 1964, COSI was relocated to a 320,000 square feet facility designed by Japanese architect Arata Isozaki along a bend in the Scioto River in the Franklinton neighborhood in 1999.