Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is consistently ranked at the top of all zoos in the nation and for good reason! Our family went when our son was a baby and knew we had to return once the kids were older. The commitment to conservation, animal interactions, and scenery all set the Columbus Zoo apart… not to mention it has a fullfledged water park onsite!  During our family’s trip around the world, we knew this zoo stop had to make the list!

• Conservation

One can’t walk around the Columbus Zoo for long without noticing its commitment to conservation. This comes as no surprise to families that have followed National Geographic’s Secrets of the Zoo. This show features the Columbus Zoo continuously throughout the show’s multiple seasons, and it focuses on both the animals and workers that form amazing bonds through years of care. They address questions like why they breed some animals and not others, what unique challenges each species face, and how the team at the zoo work to handle births, surgeries, and more.

Our family began watching in preparation for our visit and were immediately hooked. The care, concern, and commitment the veterinarians and keepers show are evident in each episode. It was also so much fun for our kids to feel like they knew the animals while touring the zoo! They were constantly asking, “Has the flamingo, Haleakala, had any babies yet?” “Has Emmett, the cheetah, stayed healthy?” “How is the mother manatee doing?” Watching the show before a visit to the zoo will engage kids and give them a unique, personal experience when visiting each exhibit.

• Animal Interactions

In addition to all the important stuff, the animal interactions are also just plain entertaining! Normally our family moves fairly quickly from one exhibit to the next. However, both times we have visited this zoo, we have found ourselves sitting and watching these hilarious animals for at least 30 minutes in one spot. During our first visit nine years ago, we were delighted to see their Bonobo exhibit had a full-on playground inside and laughed as these primates played tag, whapping each other and then sprinting away on the monkey bars and down the slides.

However, during this visit, the gibbons were our highlight! Our kids thought it was so funny to see them chasing each other and somersaulting to get a head start. Other highlights of the day included their petting zoo complete with grooming equipment and their African pavilion where all their animals stay in one massive enclosure together (this reminded us of our time in Kenya and Uganda!) Their aquarium is also beautiful and includes a huge manatee rescue center and stingray petting/feeding area.

• Keeper talks

In addition to being entertained by countless animals, our kids learned so much from all of the keepers available throughout the park! We have never been to a zoo that had so many workers on hand to answer questions and chat. Our advice to other families is to take advantage of the keeper’s friendliness and wealth of knowledge. Encourage your kids to ask questions!

Logistical information:
In case your kids want a little variety in the day, the Columbus Zoo also offers rides and a full waterpark! You can purchase wristbands for unlimited access to their rides on site. For more information on pricing based on season, head to their website here. For waterpark admission, the zoo offers discounted 2-day passes here. Parking is $10 so plan accordingly.

We love taking advantage of the reciprocity from our local zoo and science center membership. Although the Columbus Zoo is not part of our network, they do offer 50% off to many zoo memberships around the U.S. As a side note, the COSI science center in Columbus (also ranked as one of the best in America) also offers reciprocity with our membership so we spent a completely free day there during our weekend visit.

For our family, no trip to Ohio is complete without carving out time for the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. It’s easily a destination within itself considering everything they have to offer. So bring your swimsuit, laugh at some primates, and let your kids ask all the animal questions they want!

To see all our travel adventures during a year-long trip around the world, head over to our Instagram page.

If you have questions or tips for traveling to Columbus, let us know!  Happy Travels!