# Things to do with toddlers and little kids in Columbus: the parent guide > 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. - Last checked: 2026-10-18 - 18 places for ages 0–6, with admission and menu prices from each place’s own site - Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/columbus/guide/ - This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/columbus/index.md - Visiting guide (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/columbus/visiting/index.md - City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/columbus/llms.txt ## Kid-friendly restaurants ### Schmidt's Sausage Haus (German Village) - A German Village institution known for sausages and cream puffs. - Price level: $$ - Menu prices: kids’ meals $5–$6, sandwiches ~$12–$16 · entrées ~$16–$22 - Good for: A German Village dinner with kids’ meals at $5–$6 and a cream puff to share. - Skip if: you have a very picky eater; the menu leans hard on sausages. - Price source: https://order.toasttab.com/online/schmidts-restaurant-und-sausage-haus (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://schmidthaus.com ### Katzinger's Delicatessen (German Village) - A German Village deli with a long sandwich menu. - Price level: $$ - Menu prices: kids’ meals ~$6–$7, sandwiches ~$15–$18 - Hours: Mon–Fri 10:30am–8pm; Sat–Sun 9am–8pm - Good for: A weekend deli lunch from 9am, with kids’ sandwiches around $6–$7. - Skip if: you want something quick and cheap for grown-ups; sandwiches are $15–$18. - Price source: https://katzingers.com/locations-menus/katzingers-german-village/menus/ (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://www.katzingers.com ### Tommy's Pizza (Upper Arlington) - A longtime Columbus family pizza place. - Price level: $ - Good for: Easygoing family pizza in Upper Arlington. - Skip if: you want to see prices before you go; we couldn’t confirm them on the ordering page. - Website: https://www.tommyspizza.com ### Chuck E. Cheese Columbus (Easton area (Morse Rd)) - Pizza and a salad bar, with an indoor Adventure Zone and kid-height arcade games. No admission fee to eat. - Price level: $$ - Menu prices: personal pizza $9.49 · large pizza $19.49 - Kids usually order: Personal pizza, Wings, Salad bar - Why kids like it: Trampoline zone for kids under 56 inches and kid-height arcade games - Good for: A cold-day outlet with a trampoline zone for kids under 56 inches, and no fee just to eat. - Skip if: noise and flashing games make your toddler melt down. - Price source: https://order.chuckecheese.com/menu/chuck-e-cheese-columbus/ (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://www.chuckecheese.com/columbus-oh/ ## Indoor play & trampoline parks ### Little Kids Space at COSI (Downtown) - A part of COSI set aside for the youngest visitors. - Price level: Included with COSI admission - Good for: Ages 0–6 who get swallowed up by the big exhibits. - Skip if: you’re hoping to skip COSI admission; it’s only inside the museum. - Website: https://cosi.org ### Little Arrows Play Cafe (Newark (about 40 min)) - A play cafe in Newark with coffee for parents. - Price level: $ - Tickets: Child day pass $5. Last hour: $3 · Monthly pass $40 - Good for: A $5 day pass and coffee for you, worth it if you’re out Newark way. - Skip if: you’re in central Columbus. It’s about 40 minutes away. - Price source: https://laplaycafe.com/prices/ (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://laplaycafe.com ## Amusement parks, water parks & pools ### Zoombezi Bay (Powell) - The water park next to the Columbus Zoo in Powell. - Price level: $$$ - Tickets (last season): Closed for the season; Day pass from $35.95; Under 3 free. Summer 2026 online price; $47.95 at the gate · Includes the Columbus Zoo - Good for: Summer water-park days that include the zoo; under 3 is free. - Skip if: it’s outside summer; the water park is closed until next season. - Price source: https://www.zoombezibay.com/hours-and-rates (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://www.zoombezibay.com ### Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (Powell) - A large zoo in Powell. Bring the stroller. - Price level: $$ - Tickets: kids 3–9 $27.95; adults 10–59 $34.95; Under 3 free. Starting prices; Franklin County residents pay less - Good for: A full stroller morning; under 3 is free and Franklin County residents pay less. - Skip if: you only have an hour or two. It’s big, and parking and walking take time. - In their words: “because the Columbus Zoo is so large, folks on average spend about five hours at the zoo” (Tom Schmid, president and CEO, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, quoted by WOSU 89.7 NPR News (All Sides): “Columbus Zoo and Aquarium President and CEO Tom Schmid”, Jun 2026: https://www.wosu.org/show/all-sides/2026-06-25/columbus-zoo-and-aquarium-president-and-ceo-tom-schmid) - Price source: https://www.columbuszoo.org/hours-and-rates (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://www.columbuszoo.org ### Scioto Mile Fountain (Downtown) - A free interactive fountain on the downtown riverfront. - Price level: Free - Good for: A free warm-weather splash downtown, after a COSI morning. - Skip if: it’s cold out; the fountain is a warm-weather thing. - Website: https://www.sciotomile.com ### Kings Island (Mason (day trip, about 1.5 hrs)) - A big theme park in Mason. - Price level: $$$ - Tickets: Day tickets from $49. Online price; $119 at the gate - Good for: Older preschoolers ready for kiddie rides on a long day trip. - Skip if: you’re only buying at the gate ($119 vs $49 online) or your kids still nap. - Price source: https://www.sixflags.com/kingsisland/daily-tickets (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://www.sixflags.com/kingsisland ## Museums, zoos & farms ### COSI (Downtown) - Columbus's big hands-on science center, on the Scioto riverfront. - Price level: $$ - Tickets: kids 2–12 $25; adults $30; Under 2 free. Online price, plus 5% arts fee - Good for: Rainy mornings, with Little Kidspace made for ages 0–6; under 2 is free. - Skip if: you won’t go to Little Kidspace. Much of the rest suits older kids. - Price source: https://cosi.org/visit (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://cosi.org ### Franklin Park Conservatory (Franklin Park) - Botanical gardens and glasshouses, warm in winter. - Price level: $$ - Tickets: kids 3–12 $17.33; adults 13–59 $25.20. Free first Sundays for Franklin County residents · Includes the city arts fee - Good for: A warm, slow wander through glasshouses when it’s freezing out. - Skip if: your toddler wants to run and touch; it’s a look-don’t-grab place. - Price source: https://www.fpconservatory.org/plan-a-visit/ (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://www.fpconservatory.org ### Lynd Fruit Farm (Pataskala) - A family farm in Pataskala for pick-your-own fruit and fall pumpkins. - Price level: $ - Tickets: Maze Fest, all ages $13; Under 2 free. 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 - Good for: Fall pumpkin and apple days; under 2 is free at Maze Fest. - Skip if: you’re only picking up a pumpkin. Maze Fest is $13 a head, and the car fee is waived with a bag or pumpkins. - Price source: https://lyndfruitfarm.com/corn-maze/ (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://lyndfruitfarm.com ### Columbus Museum of Art (Downtown) - An art museum downtown. - Price level: $$ - Tickets: Ages 0–16, plus one caregiver Free; adults 26+ $22. Sundays free · Ages 17–25 free · Thursdays 5–9pm $5 - Good for: A cheap art outing, free for ages 0–16 plus one caregiver. - Skip if: your toddler won’t keep their hands off things; galleries need a gentle pace. - Price source: https://www.columbusmuseum.org/plan-your-visit (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://www.columbusmuseum.org ## Staycation spots ### Great Wolf Lodge Mason (Mason (day trip, about 1.5 hrs)) - An indoor waterpark resort about 1.5 hours away. - Price level: $$$ - Good for: An indoor water-park weekend about 1.5 hours away, whatever the weather. - Skip if: you want a calm, quiet stay; it’s loud and busy by design. - Website: https://www.greatwolf.com/mason ### Kalahari Resorts (Sandusky (day trip, about 2 hrs)) - A huge indoor waterpark resort in Sandusky. - Price level: $$$ - Good for: A big indoor water-park splurge about 2 hours north. - Skip if: your kids are too little for most slides and you’d only use the toddler pool. - Website: https://www.kalahariresorts.com/ohio/ ### Cherry Valley Lodge (Newark (about 45 min)) - A hotel in Newark, close enough for one night away. - Price level: $$ - Good for: One easy night away, about 45 minutes out. - Skip if: you need lots to do on site. - Website: https://www.cherryvalleylodge.com ### Hocking Hills State Park Lodge & cabins (Logan (about 1 hr)) - Cabins and a lodge near the Hocking Hills trails and waterfalls. - Price level: $$ - Good for: Short trail walks and waterfalls about an hour away, with a cabin to nap in. - Skip if: you’re pushing a stroller; the trails are rugged. - Website: https://www.hockinghillsparklodge.com ## Free things to do - Scioto Mile Fountain - Columbus Metropolitan Library, Main Library - Glacier Ridge Metro Park - Three Creeks Metro Park ## Best for under 3s - **COSI**: Little Kidspace is made for ages 0–6. - **Columbus Metropolitan Library, Main Library**: Board books, floor space and storytimes for the littlest. ## With a baby or a 1-year-old ### Baby and lap-sit storytimes - **Family Storytime** (Columbus Metropolitan Library): Mondays at 10am; Tuesdays at 10am and 11am · Canal Winchester branch. Families with babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Bring the entire family for books and fun activities to build reading skills. https://events.columbuslibrary.org/ - **Family Storytime** (Columbus Metropolitan Library): Tuesdays at 11am; Saturdays at 10am · Dublin branch. Families with babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Bring the entire family for books and fun activities to build reading skills. https://events.columbuslibrary.org/ - **Delaware Baby Storytime** (Delaware County District Library): Tuesdays at 10:30am · Delaware Branch Library. Babies. Caregivers are guided through interactive rhymes, songs, and stories with their little ones! https://delawarelibrary.libnet.info/events?r=thismonth - **Liberty Baby Storytime** (Delaware County District Library): Wednesdays at 10:30am · Liberty Branch Library. Babies. Caregivers are guided through interactive rhymes, songs, and stories with their little ones! https://delawarelibrary.libnet.info/events?r=thismonth - **Babytime** (Upper Arlington Public Library): Tuesdays at 10:15am · Lane Road Branch. Birth to 24 months. Enjoy books, rhymes, music and more at a storytime designed especially for children 0-24 months and their caregivers. https://ualibrary.libnet.info/events - **Babytime** (Upper Arlington Public Library): Mondays at 10:30am; Thursdays at 11:30am · Tremont Road Branch. Birth to 24 months. Enjoy books, rhymes, music, and more in a storytime designed especially for children 0-24 months and their caregivers. https://ualibrary.libnet.info/events - **Baby Storytime** (Westerville Public Library): Tuesdays at 9:30am; Wednesdays at 11am · Westerville Public Library. Birth to 24 months. Enjoy songs, activities, books, and rhymes, especially for babies ages 0-24 months and their caregivers. https://westervillelibrary.bibliocommons.com/v2/events ### Babies get in free - **Zoombezi Bay**: Under 3 free. https://www.zoombezibay.com/hours-and-rates - **Columbus Zoo and Aquarium**: Under 3 free. https://www.columbuszoo.org/hours-and-rates - **COSI**: Under 2 free. https://cosi.org/visit - **Lynd Fruit Farm**: Under 2 free. https://lyndfruitfarm.com/corn-maze/ ### Changing tables and nursing rooms - **Columbus Zoo and Aquarium**: Changing tables are in most restrooms, with nursing rooms and family restrooms around the park. - **Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens**: A private nursing pod in the Concourse. ### Stroller notes - **Columbus Zoo and Aquarium**: Outside strollers and wagons are fine, and rentals are near the entrance. - **Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens**: Strollers are allowed in most areas, with stroller parking outside the few that don’t allow them. ## Library storytimes - **Columbus Metropolitan Library**: Weekly at 20 locations; Monday–Saturday, mostly mornings, plus some evening sessions. Baby, toddler and preschool storytimes at branches across the county, including the Main Library downtown. https://events.columbuslibrary.org/ - **Delaware County District Library**: Weekly at 4 locations; Tuesday–Saturday, mostly mornings, plus some evening sessions. Free 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. https://delawarelibrary.libnet.info/events?r=thismonth - **Upper Arlington Public Library**: Weekly at 2 locations; Monday–Thursday, mostly mornings, plus an evening session. Free 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. https://ualibrary.libnet.info/events - **Westerville Public Library**: Weekly at the Westerville Public Library; Monday–Thursday. Free baby, toddler and preschool storytimes. This fall's regular sessions include Baby Storytime (Tuesdays 9:30am) and Family Storytime (Mondays 9:30am). https://westervillelibrary.bibliocommons.com/v2/events ## Happening this week - **Boo at the Zoo** (10am–6pm) at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Included with zoo admission. https://littlesweekly.com/columbus/#e-boo_at_the_zoo - **Pumpkins Aglow** (Wed, Thu & Sun 5–9pm; Fri & Sat 5–10pm) at Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Special engagement ticket; crafts extra ($5 sand art). https://littlesweekly.com/columbus/#e-pumpkins_aglow - **CAPA Haunts the Palace** (Wed 4–7pm) at Palace Theatre. Free; no tickets needed ($5 parking at LeVeque Tower Garage). https://littlesweekly.com/columbus/#e-capa_haunts_the_palace - **Columbus Symphony Halloween Spooktacular** (Sun 3pm–5pm (family activities from 2pm)) at Ohio Theatre. Concert ticket; pre-concert activities included. https://littlesweekly.com/columbus/#e-cso_halloween_spooktacular - **Halloween on the Green** (Fri 6–8pm) at Worthington Village Green. Free; no registration. https://littlesweekly.com/columbus/#e-halloween_on_the_green_worthington Full list with every outing: https://littlesweekly.com/columbus/index.md ## Holiday pages - [Santa in Columbus: breakfast with Santa, photos and Santa trains (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/columbus/santa/index.md) - [Christmas lights in Columbus for little kids (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/columbus/christmas-lights/index.md) ## About this list - Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city. - How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com). - Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list. - How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote. ## FAQ ### Is COSI worth it for a toddler? 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. ### What are the best free things to do with little kids in Columbus? Metro Parks like Glacier Ridge and Three Creeks, the Main Library and library storytimes cost nothing. All of them are listed above. ### What can we do in Columbus with a baby or toddler when it rains? COSI, the Franklin Park Conservatory and the Main Library are all indoors. Most library branches also run storytimes on weekdays. ### Are there pumpkin patches near Columbus? 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. ### Where are the free storytimes in Columbus? 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](https://littlesweekly.com/columbus/guide/#storytimes), and this week’s dated sessions are on the [Columbus weekly list](https://littlesweekly.com/columbus/). ### How do you choose the places in the Columbus guide? 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](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/). ### How much is the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium for a toddler, and who gets in free? 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](https://www.columbuszoo.org/hours-and-rates) on Oct 17, 2026. Prices change, so confirm before you go.