Fun Family Weekend in Columbus, Ohio

Summer time is all about the road trips for our family of five. Last weekend, we rallied up our band of brothers and headed down to enjoy a weekend in Columbus, Ohio. The boys were so excited that they packed their suitcases days in advance. I wish I had their motivation to tackle my never ending to-do list, ha!

Thanks to Experience Columbus, we enjoyed a weekend full of excitement! Through their current Roar & Explore Family Package, we visited three amazing attractions in Columbus, Ohio:

• Columbus Zoo & Aquarium
• Zoombezi Bay
• Center of Science & Industry

Also included in this family travel package is a two night stay at Drury Inn & Suites. The two room suite was the perfect size for all of us. I even got to sleep alone on Saturday night. B L I S S.

Read below to see our fun family weekend in Columbus, Ohio: where to eat, where to play, and where to sleep!

EAT

With three kids in tow for a short weekend trip, we opted to keep it simple as possible while maximizing our time. It was so convenient to have the full service breakfast at the hotel. We didn’t have to rush out the door and we all filled up on good food for our day of adventures!

We enjoyed a delicious dinner at The Rusty Bucket on Saturday night. From the drinks, apps, to meals, everything was delicious! We tried the fried pickles, doubled chicken quesadilla, fish tacos and grilled salmon salad. D also ordered a Sicilian pizza to take back to the hotel. Yum!

On Sunday, we stopped by North Market in downtown Columbus. There are a great variety of eateries and local vendors selling fresh fruit and vegetables. Definitely a spot to stop by on a trip to Columbus.

Just before we packed up the car to head home, we made an important ice cream stop at Jeni’s Ice Cream in downtown Columbus. O M G. I’ve tried my share of ice cream cones and Jeni’s was SO, so delicious. The boys loved their cones and even Baby B got a taste of daddy’s delicious dessert.

PLAY

We spent all of Saturday exploring the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium and swam the day away at Zoombezi Bay. The weather was just right for a summer day trip to the Zoo. The boys were SO happy that we got to see so many different animals. I’ve done my fair share of zoo visits, and the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium did not disappoint. The grounds were well kept, access to everything from food to shops to bathrooms and animals/attractions were perfectly placed throughout the entire zoo.

Zoombezi Bay

The water park is located right next to the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium. It’s a convenient stop and filled with so many different things to do! For kids (and adults) of all ages, Zoombezi Bay has over 17 water slides, lazy rivers, and several (younger) kid-friendly spots, including Baboon Lagoon. This is where we spent the majority of our afternoon. The weather cleared up just in time for the boys to enjoy lots of water time.

COSI

On Sunday, we headed downtown to explore the city and visit the Center of Science & Industry. The boys were so excited for the new Dinosaur Gallery that featured a 40-foot T-Rex skeleton! There are over 300 hands-on exhibits! It’s such a great place for kids to explore and learn about so many different things.

SLEEP

We stayed in the 2 room suite at the Drury Inn & Suites in Dublin. From the space to the sleeping arrangements, it was the perfect set up for our family of five. It’s super family friendly, with an indoor/outdoor pool, breakfast, and even a happy hour on the weekends for parents! The location was perfect for us to spend the first day at the zoo and then the second day in downtown Columbus. It’s about a ten minute drive in each direction.

We had a blast on our weekend trip last weekend! My brother and sister in law moved there last year, so we’ll definitely be back for another fun family weekend in Columbus, Ohio. I can’t wait to bring the boys back to explore more of the other local attractions and re-visit our new favorite spots.

Thanks to Experience Columbus for sponsoring this trip. As always, all content and opinions are my own.

Fun Family Weekend in Columbus Ohio