Things To Do
Center of Science and Industry (COSI)
We went here on an early date and had a lot of fun. We are guessing it is even more fun with kids.
Otherworld
Also went here on a fairly early date, maybe a few months in. This is a kooky one. Probably the most unique thing we have done in Columbus. Part art, part things to touch and crawl through. There is some sort of puzzle built in that you can solve if you are very dedicated. Otherwise, you can just walk around (crawling optional) and look at things and touch things. Also a fun place to take kids.
The Book Loft of German Village
A very unique, labyrinthine bookstore designed for those who appreciate long walks indoors, well-defined genres, getting lost in the stacks, and the smell of printer ink. The store is the length of a block, contains 32 rooms, and the books still manage to spill out onto the porch. If you want to make a morning/afternoon of it, there's some decent coffee next door and Katzinger's Deli is good for lunch. As of our last visit, they had free unlimited house made pickles (the deli, not the bookstore.)
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
We have heard it ranks among the top 10 zoos in the country, but it is hard to find evidence of this now, so you can decide if you trust us. My (Erin's) case in favor of the Columbus zoo is that there is an elephant, and that's all you need to know thank you very much. Shortly after we started dating, we saw a baby elephant who had recently been born, so if you want a visual representation of the length of our relationship in elephant years, this is the place to find one. Also, not to brag or anything but a kid there told Erin she looked like a princess. You can pet stingrays and stuff too. It's not bad.
Cocktail Bars (Various)
Columbus is home to a variety of breweries, distilleries, and cocktail bars. We also have a local meadery, which is fairly unique. Here are some of our favorites, chosen partly for quality choices and partly for good vibes. If you let us know where you are staying, we can probably give you a recommendation near you! Breweries: Antiques on High, Platform, Wolf's Ridge Meadery: Brothers Drake Distilleries: Watershed (also has amazing food, but you may need a reservation for dinner) Cocktails: Law Bird, The Bottle Shop (A weird place near OSU's campus where Erin celebrated earning her doctorate.)
Explore a Neighborhood!
One of the best things about Columbus is the wide variety of walkable neighborhoods featuring interesting shops, art galleries, food and drinks, coffee, ice cream, and other such delights. The Short North, located conveniently between Ohio State's campus and downtown, and Uptown Westerville (located conveniently near the site of Josh's birth) are two of our favorites to explore. If you have a car with you and fancy a bit of a jaunt, or if you happen to be out by the Zoo anyway, Downtown Powell isn't too bad either.
Events and Festivals
This is just a site that the locals use to post and browse for events, festivals, shows, and other happenings. I say "the locals" to make it sound hip and fancy. In reality, it would probably hit the top three results in any "things to do in Columbus" Google search, but I'm just here trying to save you all that typing.