Columbus has an easy mix for little kids: a science center with a space built for ages 0–6, a big zoo and aquarium, free Metro Parks and one of the largest public library systems around.
Not this week’s events, just the reliable stuff. Where to eat with a toddler, where to burn off energy when it rains, where to splash, what’s worth the admission, and where to spend a night without going far.
Places where a dropped fork is no big deal and nobody minds a little noise.
A German Village institution known for sausages and cream puffs.
A German Village deli with a long sandwich menu.
A longtime Columbus family pizza place.
Pizza and a salad bar, with an indoor Adventure Zone and kid-height arcade games. No admission fee to eat.
For rainy mornings, cold afternoons and anyone who needs to run in circles for an hour.
A part of COSI set aside for the youngest visitors.
A play cafe in Newark with coffee for parents.
Last hour: $3 · Monthly pass $40
Pools, fountains, zoos and theme parks: the big all-day outings.
The water park next to the Columbus Zoo in Powell.
Summer 2026 online price; $47.95 at the gate · Includes the Columbus Zoo
A large zoo in Powell. Bring the stroller.
Starting prices; Franklin County residents pay less
“because the Columbus Zoo is so large, folks on average spend about five hours at the zoo”
A free interactive fountain on the downtown riverfront.
A big theme park in Mason.
Online price; $119 at the gate
Museums, animals and farm days that hold a little one’s attention.
Columbus's big hands-on science center, on the Scioto riverfront.
Online price, plus 5% arts fee
Botanical gardens and glasshouses, warm in winter.
Free first Sundays for Franklin County residents · Includes the city arts fee
A family farm in Pataskala for pick-your-own fruit and fall pumpkins.
Seniors, military & first responders $11 · Wagon ride $4 · U-pick apples $25 small bag, $40 large; $15 car fee waived with a bag or pumpkins
An art museum downtown.
Sundays free · Ages 17–25 free · Thursdays 5–9pm $5
A night away without a long drive. New bed, same bedtime.
An indoor waterpark resort about 1.5 hours away.
A huge indoor waterpark resort in Sandusky.
A hotel in Newark, close enough for one night away.
Cabins and a lodge near the Hocking Hills trails and waterfalls.
These don’t change week to week. Last checked . Hours and prices change, so check the place’s own site before you go. Know a spot we missed? Tell us at hello@littlesweekly.com.
Where a family can go in Columbus without paying for admission. For free days, free events and this week’s free outings, see every free thing to do in Columbus.
DowntownScioto Mile FountainA free interactive fountain on the downtown riverfront.Free
DowntownColumbus Metropolitan Library, Main LibraryFree, with books, a children’s area and no ticket to buy.FreeIndoorPlain CityGlacier Ridge Metro ParkFree Metro Park, with open space for a toddler to run.FreeGroveportThree Creeks Metro ParkFree, with flat riverside paths that work for strollers.FreeFree or cheap for babies and toddlers, and easy with a stroller.
Baby storytimes, places where babies get in free, and where to change and feed. For rainy days, see indoor play places; for zero-cost ideas, see free things to do.
Mondays at 10am; Tuesdays at 10am and 11am · Canal Winchester branchFamilies with babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Bring the entire family for books and fun activities to build reading skills.
Storytime calendar ↗Tuesdays at 11am; Saturdays at 10am · Dublin branchFamilies with babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Bring the entire family for books and fun activities to build reading skills.
Storytime calendar ↗Tuesdays at 10:30am · Delaware Branch LibraryBabies. Caregivers are guided through interactive rhymes, songs, and stories with their little ones!
Storytime calendar ↗Wednesdays at 10:30am · Liberty Branch LibraryBabies. Caregivers are guided through interactive rhymes, songs, and stories with their little ones!
Storytime calendar ↗Tuesdays at 10:15am · Lane Road BranchBirth to 24 months. Enjoy books, rhymes, music and more at a storytime designed especially for children 0-24 months and their caregivers.
Storytime calendar ↗Mondays at 10:30am; Thursdays at 11:30am · Tremont Road BranchBirth to 24 months. Enjoy books, rhymes, music, and more in a storytime designed especially for children 0-24 months and their caregivers.
Storytime calendar ↗Tuesdays at 9:30am; Wednesdays at 11am · Westerville Public LibraryBirth to 24 months. Enjoy songs, activities, books, and rhymes, especially for babies ages 0-24 months and their caregivers.
Storytime calendar ↗
Under 3 free
Admission page ↗Under 3 free
Admission page ↗Under 2 free
Admission page ↗Under 2 free
Admission page ↗
Changing tables are in most restrooms, with nursing rooms and family restrooms around the park.
Official site ↗A private nursing pod in the Concourse.
Official site ↗
Outside strollers and wagons are fine, and rentals are near the entrance.
Official site ↗Strollers are allowed in most areas, with stroller parking outside the few that don’t allow them.
Official site ↗Farms, lights and rinks that only run part of the year. Dates change every year, so check before you go.
Recurring and free. Times change by branch, so check the calendar.
Weekly at 20 locations; Monday–Saturday, mostly mornings, plus some evening sessionsBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes at branches across the county, including the Main Library downtown.
Schedule ↗Weekly at 4 locations; Tuesday–Saturday, mostly mornings, plus some evening sessionsFree baby, toddler and preschool storytimes. This fall's regular sessions include Delaware Baby Storytime (Tuesdays 10:30am, Delaware Branch Library) and Liberty Baby Storytime (Wednesdays 10:30am, Liberty Branch Library), with more at Orange Branch Library and Ostrander Branch Library.
Schedule ↗Weekly at 2 locations; Monday–Thursday, mostly mornings, plus an evening sessionFree baby, toddler and preschool storytimes. This fall's regular sessions include Babytime (Mondays 10:30am, Tremont Road Branch) and Baby Playtime (Mondays 11am, Tremont Road Branch), with more at Lane Road Branch.
Schedule ↗Weekly at the Westerville Public Library; Monday–ThursdayFree baby, toddler and preschool storytimes. This fall's regular sessions include Baby Storytime (Tuesdays 9:30am) and Family Storytime (Mondays 9:30am).
Schedule ↗
The guide is the evergreen list. Here’s what’s happening in Columbus right now.
Yes, if you go in with a short plan. Little Kidspace is the area made for ages 0–6, so head there first and leave before nap.
Metro Parks like Glacier Ridge and Three Creeks, the Main Library and library storytimes cost nothing. All of them are listed above.
COSI, the Franklin Park Conservatory and the Main Library are all indoors. Most library branches also run storytimes on weekdays.
Yes. Pigeon Roost Farm and Circle S Farms are marked as fall spots above. Both listed under-2 and 2-and-under free entry on this week’s listing.
Columbus Metropolitan Library: Weekly at 20 locations; Monday–Saturday, mostly mornings, plus some evening sessions. Delaware County District Library: Weekly at 4 locations; Tuesday–Saturday, mostly mornings, plus some evening sessions. Upper Arlington Public Library: Weekly at 2 locations; Monday–Thursday, mostly mornings, plus an evening session. Library storytimes don’t need a ticket, but times change by branch, so check the calendar first. See library storytimes, and this week’s dated sessions are on the Columbus weekly list.
Every one of the 18 places is somewhere we’d take a baby, toddler or preschooler, with a note on who it suits and when to skip it. Prices, hours and menus come from each place’s own site, and 11 of them have checked admission or menu prices. The guide was last checked Oct 18, 2026. How we choose and check.
Under 3 free; kids 3–9: $27.95; adults 10–59: $34.95 (starting prices; Franklin County residents pay less). We checked this on its official site on Oct 17, 2026. Prices change, so confirm before you go.
One short email every Friday morning: the five things worth leaving the house for in Columbus, plus what to skip.
