Fun Things to Do in Columbus With Teens

Katie G.:  The Columbus Clippers are the AAA affiliate for the Cleveland Indians. Games are played at the beautiful Huntington Park in downtown Columbus. There are a variety of inflatables for the kids to play on, delicious and healthy kids meal options and lots of entertainment from mascots Krash and Lou Seal.

Shila:  Take an art class at Glass Axis and make a keepsake glass art piece together. Available glass art forms include stained and fused glass, torch and hot glass blowing and sculpting and neon art. A variety of first experience classes create interesting ornaments, vases, paperweights and more. See calendar for a full schedule of options. Most classes cap the limit to 2-4 people.

Hannah Scott:  Buckeye football fans won't want to miss the opportunity to go behind the scenes with a guided tour of Ohio Stadium. You'll get up close and personal with the sidelines, the Yassenoff Recruit Center, the press box, suite level seats, the Steinbrenner Band Center and more!

Hannah Scott:  Breakout Games is an immersive escape room experience that allows participants to become part of a thrilling story as they try to escape in less than an hour by cracking codes, solving puzzles and following clues. Teens over 14 can enjoy this activity together as a group without an adult, but anyone under 14 requires parental supervision. Choose from a variety of themes for your story: Runaway Train, The Kidnapping, Museum Heist, Operation: Casino, Hostage, Island Escape and Mystery Mansion.

Age: All (Under 14 must have parent, under 18 must fill out a waiver in advance)

Cost: $25 per person

Hannah Scott:  

This particular age group tends to love anything "vintage," so the novelty of a drive-in theatre is likely to be a huge hit. Start planning your visit by checking out the movie listings here. Unlike most movie theaters, you are welcome to bring your own concessions without having to smuggle them in (though snacks are available to purchase on-site as well).

Age: all

Cost: adults $7.50 - $9.50, kids (5-11): $2, kids under 5: free

Hannah Scott:  Boys and girls alike will love the chance to channel their inner Katniss at Velocity Archery Range. Open shooting times are offered, as well as lessons, and even leagues for kids ages 6-16. No experience needed to have a great time!

Age: 6+

Cost: $9 per hour, $7 to rent bow and arrow

Katie G.:  Buckeye Raceway is Columbus's premier indoor electric go kart racing facility. Experience the thrills of racing as you zoom up to speeds of 45 MPH around a 1/4 mile winding and challenging track. Times will be recorded on the nearly 10 minute race so you know at the end who the winner is.

Hannah Scott:  

The youth program at Spin & Smash offers a chance for kids to experience table tennis coaching several times per week. Students learn 1-2 fundamentals of table tennis at a time (including serving, footwork, looping, defense, blocking, and more), and engage in practice matches to hone their skills. Daily drop-in times are also available for unstructured, "just for fun" play.

Age: all (under 18 for youth program)

Cost: from $5 (drop in), $10-$20 (youth program session)

Katie G.:  My 10yo recently went with a friend to Zip Zone. They did the aerial park tour and he absolutely loved it! Perfect for kids this age and older.

Hannah Scott:  Steadily gaining popularity, disc golf (also called Frisbee Golf) is a sport in which Frisbees are thrown into metal baskets across a course, often as big as 30-40 acres. Columbus has a broad network of free courses across the area (often in public parks), so you can practice this sport with your child whenever you'd like. The only equipment needed is a Frisbee!

Ages: All

Cost: FREE

Katie G.:  The largest park in the Columbus area, Battelle Darby Creek sprawls over 7,000 acres along two scenic rivers. Numerous hiking trails range from easy to difficult. The headliners are the park’s bison, returned to the native prairie where their ancestors roamed 200 years ago. Kids love to watch the bison, whether from the observation deck or the park’s amazing nature center, were they can explore interactive exhibits, including a 53-foot long living stream.

Hannah Scott:  

Trampolines are tons of fun for kids, and can cause tons of worry for safety-conscious parents. Sky Zone is a great solution as an indoor, supervised trampoline park. Open jump times are available, along with a foam zone and ultimate dodgeball. Sounds like ultimate fun to me, and I think your tweens and teens would agree!

Katie G.:  Just a short drive from Columbus, in beautiful Hocking County, kids can experience the thrill of zip lining. There are several different tours to choose from at Hocking Hills Canopy Tours, but the Original Canopy Tour is perfect for teens. Participants zip through 10 lines and 5 sky bridges before repelling down from the treetops to finish at ground level.

Katie G.:  Splatter Park Paintball Games offers an action packed day of fun and adventure. Paintball is a game of tag with a little bit of color. Players are divided into teams with the objective to capture their opponent's flag. You will be given a "gun" filled with paintballs that splatter when shot. Open play paintball games are offered on Saturdays and Sundays at two different levels - low impact and traditional. Low impact is perfect for younger kids or first timers, as the paint balls will travel at lower speeds.

Ages: 8+ (low impact), 10+ (traditional)

Cost: $25 - $45

Kings Island is the largest amusement and water park in the Midwest. With a combination of thrill rides, attractions and shows, there's plenty for all ages. Big kids can experience the thrilling roller coasters, and little ones won't want to miss the Snoopy-themed attractions. A daily admission to the park also allows access to Soak City Water Park with over 50 water attractions.