Columbus Zoo---worth Going to?

[Alexle2007]

Thinking of going to the Columbus Zoo and water park for a mini vacation. We're about 7 hours away. Anyone ever been? Is it worth going to? How many days are needed? Favorite lodging in the area? Anything else to do in the area? Need to quickly plan for 8/17.

 

[Snooks23]

For sure! It's amazing, pretty big too. You could easly do a whole day at the Zoo & a whole day at Zoombezi bay. I get season passes every year & never get bored going. We have lots of shopping around here too. Easton mall just opened an American Girl Doll store. Not sure if you have any girls that would like it.. If not there's still plenty of things there. Polaris is another really nice mall. I may like shopping a little too much though.

We also have an amazing Science museum.

http://www.cosi.org/

"In 2008, COSI was named America's #1 science center for families by Parent Magazine. Since 1964, COSI has engaged with over 30 million people from all 50 states and around the world, both on-site and through its award-winning outreach programs."

 

[CuteAndFluffy]

LOVE the Columbus Zoo. Love Columbus, for that matter. The zoo is great, lots of shade, well designed exhibits.

Also love: North Market, Schmidt's Sausage House, Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream, the COSI...

We've never stayed in the same place twice...usually we get a hotel from Hotwire on the north side of town. Haven't been disappointed yet and have been upgraded to suites at least twice---it's a very business centric district, so weekends are a ghost town and you can often find some good rates.

Enjoy the trip!

 

[karatemom2]

We went last year and loved it. We spent the whole day and didn't do any rides, just the zoo. Have fun!

 

[PGHDisneyfan]

We drive over from Pittsburgh, its a great zoo that's really well thought out and a cool water park attached. They have a nice webpage to! We also drove up to Toledo and Michigan which have great zoos

 

[jimandami]

We went to Columbus over 4th of July and had a great time. We stayed at the Embassy Suites in Dublin for $86/night off Hotwire, which is a fantastic rate, especially with the free breakfast and manager's reception. It was walking distance to a couple restaurants also, and we drove to a really yummy Japanese steak house one night (House of Tokyo? House of Japan?). We went to COSI one day (got in free because we are members of our home museum) and to the zoo the other day (half price because we are zoo members) and we really enjoyed them both. DS loved the new Dino exhibit/ride at the zoo. We also went to Easton the next day to AG/Lego store and saw a movie at the Fork and Screen. It was a really, really fun, fairly inexpensive trip!!

 

[DznyGal]

We drive over from Pittsburgh, its a great zoo that's really well thought out and a cool water park attached. They have a nice webpage to! We also drove up to Toledo and Michigan which have great zoos

We live about an hour 15 min from Pittsburgh Zoo, aout an hour and a half from Erie Zoo, about an hour and a half from Cleveland Zoo, about an hour from Akron Zoo, and about 3.5 hours from Columbus Zoo. Our son will be 2 next week and we haven't done any zoo's yet. I can't wait as he LOVES animals.
Now to choose which one to try first... ;-)

 

[mssong85]

We live about an hour 15 min from Pittsburgh Zoo, aout an hour and a half from Erie Zoo, about an hour and a half from Cleveland Zoo, about an hour from Akron Zoo, and about 3.5 hours from Columbus Zoo. Our son will be 2 next week and we haven't done any zoo's yet. I can't wait as he LOVES animals.
Now to choose which one to try first... ;-)

Go to Living Treasures in New Castle!! I used to have season passes to Pittsburgh zoo and living treasures. Now I just have passes for living Treasures. My DD is 3 and loves it. I love how close you cms get to the animals. You can also feed a lot of the animals.

 

[DznyGal]

Go to Living Treasures in New Castle!! I used to have season passes to Pittsburgh zoo and living treasures. Now I just have passes for living Treasures. My DD is 3 and loves it. I love how close you cms get to the animals. You can also feed a lot of the animals.

Thanks we are planning a trip there too, and one up to DeerPark in Jamestown (both are about 45 min away).
Also over in Ohio there is a place called Wagon Trails which we went to last year, it was fun but he was really still to young. I can't want to take him this year.

The only reason we haven't done this yet, is my DH works in recreation so summer is a tough time for him to get off work.

 

[RachaelA]

Love the Columbus Zoo!!! Its so amazing!

I live in Cleveland and we drive down to the Columbus Zoo because its so much better!

 

[RachaelA]

We live about an hour 15 min from Pittsburgh Zoo, aout an hour and a half from Erie Zoo, about an hour and a half from Cleveland Zoo, about an hour from Akron Zoo, and about 3.5 hours from Columbus Zoo. Our son will be 2 next week and we haven't done any zoo's yet. I can't wait as he LOVES animals.
Now to choose which one to try first... ;-)

We live in Cleveland, but have been to Cleveland, Akron, Columbus and Toledo. I actually like Akron a lot better than Cleveland. Yeah it doesn't have AS much, but what's there is so nice. The new grizzly/otter exhibit is AWESOME! I love that its a lot of up close glass exhibits while at Cleveland its so hard for the kids to see the animals from so far away. The train is better at Cleveland though. Akron has a carousel and Cleveland's won't be open until next year. Akron's play area is better.

 

[FencerGirl]

We live about an hour 15 min from Pittsburgh Zoo, aout an hour and a half from Erie Zoo, about an hour and a half from Cleveland Zoo, about an hour from Akron Zoo, and about 3.5 hours from Columbus Zoo. Our son will be 2 next week and we haven't done any zoo's yet. I can't wait as he LOVES animals.
Now to choose which one to try first... ;-)

For a 2 year old, the Akron Zoo is perfect! He'll be able to walk through most of the zoo. It's smaller than Cleveland and Columbus (haven't been to the others yet), but that makes it just the right size for little kids. Be sure to bring $ for the carousel and train.

 

[purplepixiedust]

We live about an hour 15 min from Pittsburgh Zoo, aout an hour and a half from Erie Zoo, about an hour and a half from Cleveland Zoo, about an hour from Akron Zoo, and about 3.5 hours from Columbus Zoo. Our son will be 2 next week and we haven't done any zoo's yet. I can't wait as he LOVES animals.
Now to choose which one to try first... ;-)

I live about 30 mins from the Erie Zoo. It is small and comparable to the Akron Zoo in size, but Akron has more to offer. We love all of the zoos you mentioned actually.

Original poster: We have been to the Columbus Zoo a few times. It is a great zoo and it really takes all day to see everything (if you wish to). The water park is great and the Jungle Jack (?) rides out front are good for younger children. The whole area around the zoo is nice, I always wish we lived in the are whenever we visit.

 

[DznyGal]

We live in Cleveland, but have been to Cleveland, Akron, Columbus and Toledo. I actually like Akron a lot better than Cleveland. Yeah it doesn't have AS much, but what's there is so nice. The new grizzly/otter exhibit is AWESOME! I love that its a lot of up close glass exhibits while at Cleveland its so hard for the kids to see the animals from so far away. The train is better at Cleveland though. Akron has a carousel and Cleveland's won't be open until next year. Akron's play area is better.

Thanks that is great advice!

For a 2 year old, the Akron Zoo is perfect! He'll be able to walk through most of the zoo. It's smaller than Cleveland and Columbus (haven't been to the others yet), but that makes it just the right size for little kids. Be sure to bring $ for the carousel and train.

Again great advice, looks like for me Akron is the clear winner!

I live about 30 mins from the Erie Zoo. It is small and comparable to the Akron Zoo in size, but Akron has more to offer. We love all of the zoos you mentioned actually.

Original poster: We have been to the Columbus Zoo a few times. It is a great zoo and it really takes all day to see everything (if you wish to). The water park is great and the Jungle Jack (?) rides out front are good for younger children. The whole area around the zoo is nice, I always wish we lived in the are whenever we visit.

Again you all have given me so much to consider. Sorry to the OT for highjacking your thread. I hope you don't mind.

 

[Alexle2007]

We leave tomorrow morning for Columbus and the zoo! Decided to stay at the Embassy Suites for the free breakfast and Happy Hour. Hopefully it's warm enough to enjoy the waterpark.