Columbus Zoo - Where to Stay?

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Just got back from a trip to the Columbus Zoo on Sunday. We stayed at the Drury NW in Dublin. Very nice hotel, free breakfast and evening food. You also can get 3 free alcoholic drinks per person per night. Pop and popcorn are available for the kids from 3-10pm. The zoo was nice, but there are not a lot of animals compared to other zoo's we have visited. Still deciding if this is a good thing or not. We also went to a Crew game (MLS).

I thought the area of Dublin was very clean and nice and everywhere we went was just a few minutes drive.

 

[figaro2tigger]

Do you have a season pass to your local zoo? Both the Columbus and Cincinnati Zoo's show a reciprocal program with a discount for the Virginia Zoo and the Mill Mountain Zoo season pass holders.

Definitely stay in the Polaris area. Very convenient for the Zoo, shopping, and interstate access. There are quite a few business hotels on Polaris and Gemini that will be VERY competitive for your stay. I would review the hotels online and then call directly, state when you are staying and ask for their best rate. You will be shocked at how much lower they will go when they know they are competing with a neighboring suite hotel. The $400 package deal sounds VERY high. Corporate websites are almost always higher than a direct call. Local management can always work a "deal".

Kroger is located at Sancus/Polaris-get your discount tickets there for the Zoo and Cosi. Be specific as to the days you want to go-the tickets are only valid for the day on the ticket. There are quite a few discounted days at the Ohio State Fair. Check their website for details.

To go to the zoo-get on Polaris and follow it as it changes into Powell Rd, which is the road that the zoo entrance is located. Extremely easy-high traffic times are the same as in any city.

Polaris-what kind of food do you like? Kids eat free on Tues and Wed at many of the restaurants. Cheesecake Factory, Texas Roadhouse, Hoggys, tons of choices. Costco is right off of the Gemini exit for a quick pizza/hot dog/ice cream-you don't need to be a member for the snack bar and it is my niece and nephews favorite place in Columbus for pizza.

There is a Dave & Busters at Polaris Mall and Magic Mountain across the street if anyone in the family likes to play the games. An 30 screen Movie theater on one side of the mall.

Post any questions-I live approx 5 minutes from Polaris and used to work in Dublin. Easton is a very nice mall-open air style-but with 3 days, unless you need a Lego store fix, you won't travel in that direction on 270. There is a Build-a-Bear at Tuttle Crossing Mall which has much less traffic. The Olentangy Caverns are nice-cool-close to the Zoo.

Finally, have you considered going to the Cincinnati Zoo and the Newport Aquarium on the way up or back? I would seriously think about seeing the Aquarium on a travel day, spend the night riverside and then take in the zoo before coming to Columbus. You may want to check the hours and think about it. The 2 Zoos are very different and the Newport Aquarium is VERY nice. The Polaris area is only around 2 1/4 hours from the Cincinnati Zoo.

Also, if you are coming up I71 from Va., you will pass Kings Island, the exit for Ikea, and the Jefferson outlet shopping center( personally, I think you have better in your area-but ...) on your way to Columbus from Cincy- just a heads up!

 

[Mj1st]

We go to the Columbus Zoo a couple of times a month - it 's a GREAT zoo! I haven't read ahead so I'm sorry if these are duplicates!

You'll probably only want to spend 1 day at the zoo. Get there as soon as it opens, the animals seem to be the most active then. Try to go to as many of the "encounters" as you can. My kids' (ages 7 and 4) favorite encounters are the diver in the aquarium at 1:00 and feeding crickets to the birds in the Australian Aviary (not the big aviary by the kangaroos, the one at the end of the indoor area in Australia) at 1:30. The Animals On Safari show is wonderful, we go see it everytime we are at the zoo! They also really like the Habitat Hollow House, right next to the petting zoo, the new play area in the polar frontier and the boat ride just past Australia.

Outside of the zoo...in the entrance area, if you go to the left you will find Jungle Jacks Landing. This is a neat area, you'll find the Animal Encounters Village were you can "meet" different animals and there are a few rides there for the kids. (the rides cost extra)

Othere things to do in CBus:
Zoombezie Bay a big waterpark (right next door to the zoo, they share the same parking lot)

COSI - My kids absolutely love COSI! It's a hands-on science musuem...and my favorite place to eat is right behind the parking lot - The Spaghetti Warehouse!

There are great shopping centers there too. The best (IMO) ones are Easton and Polaris they both have indoor and outdoor shopping areas, a little "spray park" area for the kids and tons of great places to eat! Both also have a fun arcade/restaraunt - in Easton the have Gameworks and in Polaris they have Dave and Busters.

 

[Mj1st]

I forgot to mention area hotels!

Polaris has a brand new Hilton. My dh stayed there for a work meeting and said it is nice. You'd be about 10 minutes from the zoo (depending on the traffic) and right in the middle of all the shopping and restaraunts. Oh, and Sonic is right around the corner - LOL!

 

[polkadotminnie]

We visited the Columbus Zoo on our way home from Cedar Point last week. It was a great experience. My girls loved Jungle Jack's Landing and the animal encounters. We bought our tickets at the gate and got a AAA discount which was a couple of dollars off per person. We stayed at the Embassy Suites. It was about 10 minutes from the park and nice and clean. We really enjoyed our day!

 

[figaro2tigger]

The Gameworks at Easton recently closed-the company is in financial trouble nationwide-I still have a gamecard with credits-sigh.

 

[DisneyMissy318]

Thank you guys for giving even MORE info! We will be going from VA to OH next Thursday - 7/29 and leave either Sunday or Monday. We are definitely doing the Zoo and the Ohio State Fair. I think I'm going to Priceline a hotel - but still deciding on that. I'm not familiar with Drury Inn, but like free breakfast and evening snacks - might look into that further. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge with those of us headed your way!

 

[tinker&belle]

We went to Columbus with my DH for his work conference. We stayed at the Hilton in Easton. (On the company's dime, so I can't speak much to researching hotels in the area, it is where the conference was and where everyone stayed.) The hotel was really nice and when the lady at the desk saw we had two little ones she upgraded us to a room with a living room that was club level.

The Easton area was really fun to take the girls while DH was at conference. They had a splash pad which was DD's favorite thing. There was also an outdoor train model that was really cool in the little park where the splash pad was that DD wanted to watch for a long time everytime we walked by there. We also did the Build-a-Bear and they had a Barnes and Noble story hour on Monday morning that we went to. One evening after the conference we had dinner at the Cheesecake Factory with DH and his boss and bosses' wife.


The zoo was nice but we had little time since when we went it was for the conference attendees to take there families to so we had just an hour and a half or so to walk around before dinner. What we did get to see was nice though and they had some baby manatees.

We did COSI on the way home for few hours. We are museum members at home so this was free for us with our museum membership card. It would have been additional for Titanic though or any of the 3D movies if we had chosen to do that. The COSI is HUGE and we could have easily spent all day there with bigger kids and more time.

Overall it was a great area and I really enjoyed going. I would like to take the kids back when they are older for a longer time.

 

[KristiMc]

We stayed at the Drury Hotel in Dublin when we visited in June. We had never heard of the chain before but it was a great hotel.

We went to both COSI and the zoo. My 9 year old really enjoyed the Titanic exhibit.

 

[DisneyRah]

If you have time to have tickets mailed to you, Dave and Jimmy's Gimmies currently has a 4 ticket package for $27 for the zoo only, making it $6.75 a person, probably the lowest price you'll find for tickets.

 

[alicia080979]

If you have time to have tickets mailed to you, Dave and Jimmy's Gimmies currently has a 4 ticket package for $27 for the zoo only, making it $6.75 a person, probably the lowest price you'll find for tickets.

Do you know if that is a legit site? When I go to it, my antivirus keeps saying there is a trojan horse. Sounds like a good deal but I want to make sure it isnt too good to be true!

 

[DisneyMissy318]

Wanted to post an update - we have found a place to stay!! After doing some research on Priceline about hotel ratings and stars and locations - I decided to give it a try this morning.

We got the Hyatt Place in Dublin for $45/night!!! using Name Your Price. ($166 after taxes = $55/night). (Our dates are 7/29 - 8/1). This is the website! http://columbusdublin.place.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/place/reservations.jsp?start=2

I looked at the star ratings and found that the 3 1/2 star hotels such as the Sheraton, Hilton, Crowne did not include breakfast or have free internet. So I decided to start with the 3 star properties which in most cases did have those amenities. I decided to start with $45 thinking it would kick out and I would have to add another area and go again - but to my surprise - $45 was accepted!

Our plan right now is the Columbus Zoo, the State Fair, CoSI, and shopping - the only restaurant request so far is from DD - On the Border. So... I think we are set.

Thanks again to all of you who offered your tips - we look forward to spending time in your area!

 

[Sarah7401]

I couldn't find Drury Inn and Suites on Priceline. ??? Was I just doing it wrong? I haven't dealt with Priceline that much so I was pretty much flying blind.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I couldn't find Drury Inn and Suites on Priceline. ??? Was I just doing it wrong? I haven't dealt with Priceline that much so I was pretty much flying blind.

I booked Drury straight from their website. Not sure what you want to pay but using their codes, (just google Drury codes), we had a 2 room suite for $85.00 a night. The main bedroom had two queens, and the living room had a sofa sleeper and two overstuffed chairs.

The hot breakfast included, bisquicks and sawmill gravy, eggs with ham and cheese on the side to make scrambled egg omelettes, french toast, and belguim waffle makers, all the regulars - fruit yogurt, muffins, toast, bagels, etc.

The pop machine was on from 3-10pm with a popcorn machine also.

Evening snacks the nights when we were there (weekends nights are always the same) were baked potatoes, hot dogs, and chili. Also on a seperate area was celery, carrots, chips, salsa, etc. Adults get a card and can get 3 mixed drinks/beer/wine per evening. Mixed drinks were a little limited I think (I don't drink). This was all included in your room price...

Also had:

Free internet that was not too bad and ethernet cable installed in the room if needed.

A very small workout room, - 2/3 treadmills, one cycle.

A pool and hot-tub, small but adequate.

Very clean rooms.

Toiletries were provided and some extra's were offered if you asked.


We are going back for DS's bday and I was going to look around for a cheaper room, but the more I think about the perks, I am just going to book at Drury again.

 

[Sarah7401]

Thanks for the great info on the Drury!! We definitely want a suite because we're going to let our son bring a friend. Does the bedroom have a TV as well? Fridge/microwave in room?

 

[figaro2tigger]

Welcome to Columbus!

Per the current weather forecast-there are supposed to be thunderstorms on Sat-since it's the weather, consider that subject to change.

Here are some money saving tips for this weekend:

COSI : This Friday is Family Friday night-$8 per person includes all of the regular exhibits and the IMAX Dolphins etc. 5-9pm Only the last Friday of the month is Family night-check out the website to decide. There may be AAA or discount tickets at Kroger. The regular exhibits are NOT FREE unless you are a COSI member.

The Ohio State Fair
normal prices $5 to park-$10 per adult, $8 child Kroger tickets $6 good ONLY for the date on the ticket (if buying for Friday on Thursday-be certain the Kroger Customer Service person knows this.) Pick up a schedule booklet at Kroger to plan your day.
By the Dairy barns is a brick building that has DAIRY written on the concrete-this is where the butter cow and other sculptures are located and the largest scoops of ice cream for the price, made for the fair. The strawberry comes with strawberries in it-get a cup-I've never seen anyone be able to eat a cone without dripping.
There are lots of animal related activities at the fair besides the shows and barns. Purina sponsors a rescue dog show that is wonderful=they perform agility routines. The Natural Resources park has rescued/rehabilitating animals, multiple shows, fishing(which you won't want to do since they will hold/freeze your fish to take home). Petting zoo, pig races, the Annheiser Busch Clydesdales team (by the Cardinel entrance) and lots more.

Thurs. July 29th $4 per ticket with your Kroger card at the Fair entrance (you can get a Kroger card at the Kroger Customer Service desk)
Fri July 30th $4 per ticket with each losing Ohio Lottery Ticket (you can probably find these in the parking lot at Kroger's or they start at $1)
Sunday Aug 1 Military Veterans and Active service with ID enter Free (buy the other tickets at Krogers

Check the schedule for corporate activities-Ford usually has some cool freebies for playing games, Rockband was really nice last year, there are quite a few on any one day, but most don't stay for the entire fair.

There are tractor pulled seats that will take you from the parking area to the fair-remember the COLOR and # where you park
The Ohio Historical Society is also on the fairgrounds for an additional cost and the Columbus Crew Soccer stadium is at one end of the fairgrounds.

Polaris: Cheesecake Factory has promos on Thurs and Fri this week only,
if you "friend" them on Facebook, cheesecake is $1.50 per slice on Thurs only(you have to print something after you "friend". Friday, cheesecake is half price all day-you can get it to go.

Enjoy!

 

[DisneyMissy318]

HOW COOL!!!! Thanks so much for the extra info!! We will DEFINITELY be taking advantage of these cost cutters!! AWESOME!! Leaving in the morning - excited to get away for all of the new stuff we'll see! Thanks!

 

[SDSorority]

Do you know if that is a legit site? When I go to it, my antivirus keeps saying there is a trojan horse. Sounds like a good deal but I want to make sure it isnt too good to be true!

This is legit. Dave and Jimmy are 2 DJ's at WNCI- I listen to them every morning

 

[SDSorority]

OH and I loooove that there is a thread on here about Columbus! O-H! See may avatar? The Swan is my home away from home... this is ACTUALLY home!!

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Thanks for the great info on the Drury!! We definitely want a suite because we're going to let our son bring a friend. Does the bedroom have a TV as well? Fridge/microwave in room?

There is a TV in the bedroom and one in the living room. The bathroom is when you first come in so, part of the living area. In the TV stand is a small microwave and a refrigerator that will hold drinks and leftovers. Not a full size, like the $10.00 ones at Disney. But remember they are in the actual sleeping area, not a seperate kitchen area. We still really loved our room.