Today while picking up my son Ivan from school, I met a Dad who just moved his family to Bexley, Ohio from Peru! He was asking with soccer program Ivan was in ... here is the quick list of our favorite places and things to do around Northeast Columbus with preschool to kindergarten aged kids with the links to make it as easy as possible!
Art with Anna, in Bexley … art classes for adults and children. She also hosts workshops, camps and other artsy programming.
Blendon Woods Natural Playground – Natural Playground is new … hike a small trail with natural obstacles to play on. My favorite part - it is undercover of the trees = shade! On a 85 degree day it is the best thing to do outdoors (other than the pool of course)! When you pull into Blendon Woods Park, follow the signs to the 'Natural Playground' (first right). There is also two traditional playgrounds nearby that are both in the SUNSHINE.
Ivan loving Blendon Woods Natural Playground
Columbus Zoo – Best zoo in the USA! We LOVE feeding the giraffes! If you make a few trips a year, a membership easily pays for itself with parking and admission!
COSI – fun kids science museum … if you make a few trips a year a membership is the way to go!
Dave & Busters – video games! And a bar ;) Not my first choice, and we've only been once, but Ivan is a RAVING FAN!
Franklin Park Conservatory – My personal favorite! Butterfly exhibit in the spring/summer and family/kid events all year long. Beautiful spot for holiday (or anytime) photos. Lot's of amazing plants and climates to explore. On nice days, we end our visit with a visit to the playground outside on the grounds. Membership pays for it’s self very quickly! More details in a past blog here
Top: Franklin Park; Bottom: World of Bounce & Columbus Zoo
Get Air Trampoline Park – great place to exercise when it’s yucky outside
Glow Putt (indoor putt putt that glows in the dark!) – weird spot, but kids seem to love it. It’s dark, lit by black lights so the balls and holes glow.
Inniswood Gardens – Beautiful grounds, often have children’s programs going on, check website for times and programs!
Bexley Library – Great resource and cute kids section, exceptionally friendly and helpful staff!
Millstone Creek Park – best outdoor playground I know of in Columbus!
Piccadilly Play Café – We visited indoor play cafe's more when Ivan was younger (walking -2/3 yrs old), but they are in Bexley and have parents night out and other programming/events that may be worth checking out for older kids.
Recreations Outlet – This place sells outdoor playgrounds and trampolines, and has an indoor playground you can visit to just play and/or check out new swing sets, etc. They even host birthday parties. The trampoline we bought there, may be the best thing we ever bought Ivan! Endless hours of great exercise & fun!!
Sky Zone – indoor trampoline park ... known to Ivan as the "orange sockie place". Make sure to register/pay online before you drive up there! They can sell out of a time slot and have limited 5 yrs and under jumping days & times.
Star Lanes – bowling alley and video games … bar ;) I'm not a video game fan, but this place had fun video games for kids, gotta give them that! Bring your wallet, not quarters ;)
Westerville Mini Golf – Two very pretty outdoor 18-hole mini golf courses in nice condition. Driving range & batting cages. Usually not crowded!
World of Bounce – Indoor inflatable playground. Open 9-12 pm weekdays, and Wednesday evenings for family night. Great spot for a birthday party or rainy day. Not my favorite spot - it's kinda darkish inside, and in my mind a germ haven, but it does the job when exercise is NEEDED! You can bring snacks and water bottles, etc. Just make sure to WASH HANDS! And bring your own socks! (there is nothing unclean about this place other than there are kids in bouncy houses, they do a nice job of keeping it clean - I'm just a WASH YOUR HANDS kinda freak)
Top: one slice of Millstone Park; Bottom: Westerville Mini Golf hole-in-one winner & Wendy's Gymnastics
Seasonal Spots:
Arnold Classic Kids Expo - March 3-4, 2018 at the Ohio Fair Grounds. Great gathering of EVERY sport I can name and more! Archery, bowling, hockey, soccer-foot-golf, bouncy houses, ninja warrior courses, volleyball, tennis, and so much more! ... All under one roof!
Fantasy of Lights, Alum Creek State Parkgrounds - Drive through Holiday light show and Santa Claus stop. We have never ventured into see Santa, the line is always too long and the cabin too small! Plus Ivan has not cared or been interested in poor ol'Santa! The light show is pretty special ... so much better when covered in snow!
Franklin Park Conservatory – Exhibits change seasonally. Butterflies in spring/summer. Beautiful décor for Christmas. Build gingerbread houses event (my personal fav)
Lynd’s Fruit Farm – Berry picking in June/July; apples & pumpkins in fall. In fall they also have a family area with bouncy houses, hayrides, hot cider, hay rides, etc. Find info on their Facebook page for fall fest
Scioto Mile Fountain– Seasonal. Downtown fountains that kids can splash through
Snow Trails, Mansfield - About an hour north of Columbus, Snow Trails has great ski programs for kids starting as young as 3-4 year olds! We had a blast last year. Ivan got to go to ski school and the Mommy's got to ski!
Zoo – Has Halloween (October) weekend and Holiday lights in December
Top Left: Lil Kickers Soccer; Top Right: Arnold Classic Kids Expo; Bottom Left: Thanksgiving Turkey cookie craft at Franklin Park; Bottom Right: Fantasy of Lights at Alum Creek State Camp grounds
Organized sports & recreation:
Bexley Pool – something for every age! Zero entry, small waterslide, 2 large waterslides, diving board
Chiller Ice Rinks – hockey or figure skating or just plain family open skate!
Lil Kickers, Gahanna – they did not hold summer 2017 classes and I’m not sure if they are going to do fall 2017 classes or not! Hoping they do!!
Locker Soccer – we have never tried, but have heard great things from friends
(Awesome soccer store in Westerville Soccer Plus)
Wendy’s Gymnastics – Ivan takes weekly classes and attends some open sessions as well. This may be his favorite! We have also attended and hosted birthday parties here ... crowd favorite. It's large and fun!
Top Left: Snow Trails ski school for 3-4 yr olds; Top Right: Columbus Zoo; Bottom Left: Sky Zone; Bottom Right: Wendy's Gymnastics
Good resources for upcoming events and other spots to make your favorites: