Columbus Ohio zoo or COSI?

[java]

As part of our road trip we are thinking of spending a day in Columbus Ohio. I saw the zoo and COSI as ideas for us (kids aged 17,13,8,6)
Which one? And anyone know if there will be fireworks on the 4th anyplace there? Should we not bother with Columbus?

 

[design_mom]

My kids (10 and 7) enjoy both the zoo and COSI. I don't think you'd go wrong with either one. We live near the zoo, and go often, so COSI would be "more special" to them... but the zoo is really nice, too. Are either of them similar to anything you have near home or something else you'll visit on your trip?

Columbus's big fireworks display, Red White and Boom, is on Friday, July 1 this year... but lots of suburbs have fireworks on the 4th. Here's a local listing: http://www2.nbc4i.com/special_section/redwhiteandboom/fireworks/
We usually go to Dublin or Westerville. (Dublin has a big festival with a free concert, etc. so it's more of an "event." Westerville is less crowded.) Upper Arlington has a good parade in the morning on the 4th and nice fireworks, too.

 

[mbedwell]

I would definitely go to the zoo. We have family in C'bus, and head to the zoo every time we visit. I would skip COSI though, your older teens would be bored to death. And, if you are interested, there is a water park right across from the zoo. We have never been, but it looks like a fun place.

 

[design_mom]

I would definitely go to the zoo. We have family in C'bus, and head to the zoo every time we visit. I would skip COSI though, your older teens would be bored to death. And, if you are interested, there is a water park right across from the zoo. We have never been, but it looks like a fun place.

That's Zoombezi Bay. (It actually shares a parking lot/entrance with the zoo). We've never been either, but I've heard it's fun.
http://www.zoombezibay.com/

 

[pilotwife_02]

I would definitely go to the zoo. We have family in C'bus, and head to the zoo every time we visit. I would skip COSI though, your older teens would be bored to death. And, if you are interested, there is a water park right across from the zoo. We have never been, but it looks like a fun place.

I was thinking that the zoo would bore the older kids, but forgot about the water park near it! That's a great idea!

 

[java]

There is an alert on the home page of the hotel telling me of road closings in the morning of the 4th(it's in dublin) but we'll get there after all that I'm assuming it's a parade! How cute.

Ok COSI is out now it's a water park/zoo toss up. Later in the trip we will be at Cedar Point, but my kids do love a good water park and there can never be too many. Hmmm......decisions.
Oh and my oldest is a huge photographer, so he would enjoy the zoo. My 13 year. Old is pretty easy going depending on the day.lol
Thanks for the tips!
Wow thanks for the link! We're going to Star spangled Smokey! With Smokey Robinson! Who knew Ohio would offer us too much to chose from!

 

[charming23]

I would say the zoo. There is so much to see there and it is absolutely gorgeous. They have a fairly new Polar Bear exhibit that is wonderful.

 

[beachcomber]

Could you fit both in? COSI wouldn't necessarily take all day...we've done it in a couple of hours. And it's inside and air conditioned. Do the zoo in the morning until it gets really hot?

(Of course, with our crazy Ohio weather this year....it may not actually BE hot on the fourth this year!)

 

[MomofKatie]

We used to live in Columbus and one of the many things we miss is the zoo. It is fabulous!! The manatee exhibit is amazing, and the kangaroo area is really cool, too. We had an annual pass the whole time we lived there, and DD and I used to go at least once a week to just stroll around and enjoy the animals.

COSI is fun, too, but I think a group with the age range you have would all enjoy the zoo.

 

[tzolkin]

We're actually leaving tomorrow for Columbus.

It's about half-way to my husband's family. So we're spending the day at the zoo on Monday and then leave Tues to visit his grandparents for the week.

Of course now it looks like it's going to rain a bunch. Hopefully the zoo can be enjoyed in the rain. I just pulled out our Disney ponchos and need to look for umbrellas.

We do not seem to have very good luck with trips and rain. We were at Disney for the 12 days of non-stop record rain a few Mays ago and last year our campsite at Mammoth Cave flooded from the downpours.

 

[fhtpdw20]

Lately the rain has been burst then clears off. There are plenty on building you can duck in to wait it out. There is the aquarium, mantee, reptile, gorilla, and elephant barn just off the top of my head. We don't go as often since ds has grown up. From the ads on TV, it looks like the polar bear exhibit might have a building as they show you can see them in a tunnel over head.

 

[caaraa]

There is an alert on the home page of the hotel telling me of road closings in the morning of the 4th(it's in dublin) but we'll get there after all that I'm assuming it's a parade! How cute.

 

[DisneyMissy318]

We drove to Columbus last summer, from VA - specifically to visit the zoo! The zoo is amazing! If I remember it's the 2nd largest zoo in the US - behind San Diego. You post reminded me that I have never printed our pictures from that trip! Off to Snapfish to take care of that.

I'm sure you will have fun whatever you decide - but my vote is for the zoo!

(Local Kroger stores had discount tickets and we Pricelined our room in Dublin and stayed for $40 a night!)

 

[java]

We drove to Columbus last summer, from VA - specifically to visit the zoo! The zoo is amazing! If I remember it's the 2nd largest zoo in the US - behind San Diego. You post reminded me that I have never printed our pictures from that trip! Off to Snapfish to take care of that.

I'm sure you will have fun whatever you decide - but my vote is for the zoo!

(Local Kroger stores had discount tickets and we Pricelined our room in Dublin and stayed for $40 a night!)

Thanks for the info on Kroger!

 

[Colleen27]

We really enjoy both, and I disagree about teens being bored to death at COSI - my brother & I were 16 & 14 the first time we went and had fun, and if your teens are anything like mine they'll enjoy having fun with their younger siblings.

Personally, I think both are great attractions so I'd just play it by ear based on the weather - if it looks like you'll have a nice day, hit the zoo. If it is raining or sweltering, go with COSI.

 

[ttfn3]

Definitely the zoo - especially if you are staying in Dublin - and Zoombezi Bay is fun for kids. Dublin does have a great 4th of July celebration - really nice parade and a good fireworks - with Smokey Robinson this year (they always have some "big name" entertainment). Here's a link to the independence day happenings in Dublin.
http://www.dublin.oh.us/events/independence/

Love the frisbee dogs!

If you are near "downtown old" Dublin - make sure to stop in at Jeni's ice cream
http://jenisicecreams.com/
Really unique and wonderful ice cream!

 

[Magalex]

Columbus zoo is wonderful. COSI is cool but it depends on the children's interests.

 

[java]

Definitely the zoo - especially if you are staying in Dublin - and Zoombezi Bay is fun for kids. Dublin does have a great 4th of July celebration - really nice parade and a good fireworks - with Smokey Robinson this year (they always have some "big name" entertainment). Here's a link to the independence day happenings in Dublin.
http://www.dublin.oh.us/events/independence/

Love the frisbee dogs!

If you are near "downtown old" Dublin - make sure to stop in at Jeni's ice cream
http://jenisicecreams.com/
Really unique and wonderful ice cream!

OOH Jeni's is now on the list too! Wow thanks all great ideas! I am excited!

 

[design_mom]

OOH Jeni's is now on the list too! Wow thanks all great ideas! I am excited!

Jeni's is delicious -- very unique flavors. If you'd rather go to Jeni's right after the zoo, there's a location in Powell, too.

 

[DisneyOHFan]

Definitely the zoo and doing Zoombezi Bay. COSI is great, but the zoo has more things to do in my opinion. They also have a great golf course.