New to Columbus? Check Out These Local Attractions

Columbus Area Must-Sees

Columbus Zoo & Aquarium: The zoo is a beloved attraction with plenty of seasonal events to enjoy. Explore the animal exhibits, watch live shows and take a ride on the carousel. The nearby waterpark, Zoombezi Bay, is open during the summer months.

Columbus Museum of Art: There’s a wide variety of paintings, sculptures and other media on display at our city’s art museum. Along with permanent displays, temporary exhibits come and go throughout the year. You can also take art classes there.

Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens: There’s a lot more to the conservatory than the beautiful blooms that cover the grounds. You can take gardening, culinary or crafting classes or attend a special event.

Metro Parks in Columbus

The Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks is home to more than 230 miles of multi-use trails and 28,400 acres of land. There’s something for everyone at these beautiful parks, no matter the time of year.

Here are some outdoor activities you can enjoy at various Columbus metro parks:

• Horseback riding
• Backpacking
• Biking
• Cross country skiing
• Rock climbing and obstacle courses
• Archery
• Fishing
• Disc golf
• Day camps

The Short North and German Village

These two neighborhoods are well-known Columbus favorites. The Short North Arts District has art galleries, performance spaces and various culinary delights. Whether you’re looking for a cultural experience or a fun night on the town, you’ll find it in the Short North.

Don’t let the quaint name fool you, German Village is bustling with activity. There are interesting shops like The Book Loft, Three Buds Flower Market and Hausfrau Haven. And you’ll find plenty of food and beverage options at the neighborhood’s restaurants, pubs and coffee shops.]

Columbus Sports

You can’t live in the heart of Ohio without taking in a game now and then, and there are plenty of teams to cheer on. First and foremost, Columbus is the home of the Ohio State Buckeyes, and they own the fall.

Columbus also has several professional sports teams too. The Columbus Clippers are a Minor League baseball team and the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. You can also watch the Blue Jackets hockey at Nationwide Arena and Columbus Crew SC at Lower.com Field.

Family Activities

COSI: This science center has more than 300 hands-on displays, a planetarium and plenty of live shows to keep the kids entertained. You’ll find informative and fun stations about space, the ocean, agriculture and dinosaurs. There’s also a Marvel exhibition that includes all the amazing heroes and villains from your child’s favorite movies and comics.

Columbus Children’s Theatre: This local theatre immerses kids in the world of the dramatic arts. They’ll learn about acting, writing scripts, building sets and designing costumes. There are after-school classes and summer camps, and kids can also audition for seasonal productions.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Columbus: Tour the Lego factory, explore Miniland, face off with foes in Kingdom Quest and build your own set at LEGOLAND. You’ll probably end up having just at much fun as your kids.

Ardent Communities has lots of apartments in Columbus, Ohio, near a variety of restaurants, shops and nightlife. Connect with us online to learn about our communities.