Just shy of 3 hours from Indianapolis, Columbus, OH is an affordable, convenient and adventure-filled option when it comes to a family weekend getaway! Prior to this trip, we had never been to Columbus and it didn’t take long for us to realize that this vibrant city is filled to the brim with exciting things to do for all ages. We didn’t have to look far for affordable things to do! I’ve rounded up some of my must-visit spots to eat, play, and stay in this Columbus, OH weekend itinerary, the same itinerary I used during our weekend family trip this spring. It has a little something for everyone and plenty of ways to relax and recharge this spring as a family in Columbus.
If you need one reason to visit Columbus, OH…then the culinary scene should be THAT reason! Around every corner downtown, and sprinkled throughout the outskirts of the city, is one local restaurant after another. You don’t have to walk or drive far to experience incredible food in Columbus for every meal, and there’s something for everyone.
After visiting and trying out as many places as we could, my top four places to eat in Columbus are: 1) The Lox Bagel Shop – recently named one of America’s best bagels by Food and Wine Magazine, and I can see why. 2) Cap City Diner – this is my number one must-visit place so far…the food, atmosphere, pricing, everything made it so enjoyable for our family and it was incredible! We will definitely be back each time we visit. 3) Third and Hollywood – a great place for a romantic night out as they had the coziest ambiance and more of a fine-dine feel. 4) Freedom a la Carte Café and Bakery – I loved this modern coffee shop vibe for breakfast and there is the prettiest mural on the side of the building that’s perfect for pictures. Here’s a few more options for some of the best places to eat in Columbus, OH.
- My pick – The Lox Bagel Shop
- My pick – Third and Hollywood
- My pick – Cap City Diner
- My pick – Freedom a la Carte Café and Bakery
- Family – Rusty Bucket
- Couples – The Whitney House
- Family/variety of foods – Budd Dairy Food Hall
- Café – Fox in the Snow Café
- Vegetarian – Comune
- Breakfast – Brekkie Shack
- Contemporary – Forno Short North
- Distillery/Dinner – Watershed Distillery
The wonderful thing about Columbus, OH is that it appeals to every reason for visiting…for us, this was a family weekend getaway! But, in our hotel lobby we saw couples, families with older kids, retired couples, and even a dance team. So if you’re asking yourself “what kinds of things are there to do in Columbus, OH?”, then be sure to check out Experience Columbus’ website for all the best recommendations on what to do based on your reason for visiting!
The first day of our trip was our arrival day, where we had a few hours to have some fun before dinner and then bedtime. After being in the car for over three hours, it was time to burn some energy so we stopped at one of Scioto Audubon Metro Park, just one of Columbus’ 20 different Metro Parks! This park is perfect to visit in the spring and has a playground, a marsh walking trail, and the largest free outdoor climbing wall in the country. We spent quite a bit of time here running around and enjoying our first evening in Columbus.
On the second day of our weekend trip to Columbus, OH, we tackled the number one must-do on our list, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium! It’s the largest zoo in America and during our spring visit, the weather was perfect for exploring all day without being too hot. The zoo is HUGE with multiple different “continent destinations”, and it took us around 5 hours to experience the whole zoo with a lunch break. It was so convenient to stay in one place the entire day without having to load up the car again!
The last activity on our itinerary was visiting the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens to experience their Blooms and Butterflies exhibit (ends 5/29/23). This Conservatory is incredible in itself and the best part is that admission includes entry to all the different locations within it, so you don’t need to pay any additional cost other than the general admission ticket. Again, the convenience of having such a large place to explore for the day made it really relaxing for us as parents but kept our little one entertained the entire time…a win win! If you are able to make it to the Blooms and Butterflies exhibit, I highly recommend it! The immersive experience is captivating and definitely forces you to slow down and enjoy the moment while you stroll, searching for colorful wings as they flutter from flower to flower.
Whether you prefer an Airbnb condo with views of the city or a beautiful hotel downtown, Columbus is guaranteed to have something for you. We ended up choosing the Canopy by Hilton Downtown Short North in Columbus for a few reasons: great reviews, convenient downtown location and valet parking. They also have a 12:00 PM checkout which I think is perfect for weekend trips and going to breakfast on the last morning of the stay. When you’re thinking of where to stay in Columbus, OH, it’s always great to have options, so here’s a few more places to consider:
- Our stay (toddler friendly/convenient downtown location) – Canopy by Hilton Downtown Short North
- Unique – Graduate Columbus
- Airbnb – Luxe Downtown Columbus Home
- Couples – The Westin Great Southern Columbus
- Convenience – Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph
- Pet friendly – Moxy Columbus Short North
- Airbnb – The Garden Villa
All images taken at Canopy by Hilton Downtown Short North
If you’re thinking of planning a trip to Columbus, OH, then be sure to head over to my Instagram and check out the highlight “Columbus” for a full itinerary re-cap with even more images and videos!
Please note: All of the images within this blog post are sole property of Indiana Hannah and cannot be used without permission from said owner. This blog post is part of a paid promotion (AD) with Experience Columbus, OH, all opinions are written by Indiana Hannah.
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