On our first week of summer we traveled to Columbus, Ohio with the kids to experience one of the many fantastic offerings the city has for families. We got a chance to get our walk on, enjoy the sun and see so many breath taking animals all in one spot!
Where was this? If you are following me on Instagram you might have guessed that we visited the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium! If you are not following me there, you should be! I am getting more active there and sharing lots of my adventures!
We visited the Columbus Zoo on a perfect June day. As soon as we arrived and decided on a path, we were able to take in the sights of the Black Rhino enjoying his morning munch.
The mom in me swooned over the swans with the eggs in their nest.
My son and I loved the Camels!
The sheer number of exhibits and animals at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium makes it well worth the trip to the city,
The flamingos made a great group to photograph!
We have visited the Columbus Zoo numerous times over the years. I am never disappointed and I am always very impressed with the continuous effort to make this one of the best places for families to visit for a zoo experience! Add in a Chicago dinner cruise afterward, and it can be even more magical!
I wanted to share a few tips with you to make your next trip to the Columbus Zoo even more enjoyable, if you are traveling with the kids.
Make sure your children wear comfortable shoes. There is a lot of walking and this is a good thing! Kids will get plenty of activity and hopefully sleep wonderfully that night, but folks, do you really want to be carrying a 20+ pound child for several miles?
If your kids are not accustomed to walking very far, take them on a few walks around the block as preparation for the Zoo.
Pack a few drinks and snacks for the kids to sustain them in between meals and exhibits!
Sunscreen! Enough said!
Bring a pack of travel Baby Wipes. Even if the kids are a bit older these are so handy for freshening up in the summer!
Make sure your phones and cameras are ready for lots of great photo ops!
Grab a map, if the kids are really little, like mine are, decide what exhibits are most important to see and aim for those first, seeing what you can on the way. You never know how much a small child can take in terms of walking in the summer sun.
Take advantage of the play areas for the kids. Give them a break and a chance to let loose. You can rest on a bench and bask in the sound of happy children at play for a little while!
Have you ever visited the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium? If not what is your favorite Zoo?
I love zoos. I don't care how much I go, I still see something different or enjoy something different. I love the ape and polar bears! It looks and sounds like you had such a FAB day!
ReplyDeleteWe haven't ever been to the Columbus zoo, but usually visit the St.Louis Zoo a couple times a year. Wonderful tips for a zoo visit with the kids. My seven year old always wears out before we do, and wipes are a great idea. I am loving that gorilla pic too by the way! Sounds like your family had a fun time. ;)
ReplyDeleteWe are in California, so never visited the Colombus zoo, but we go a few times a year to the one near us. It is definitely a favorite place. Loved the picture of the alligator by the way!
ReplyDeleteThey have so many things to see here. I am planning to get my boys to the zoo before the summer is over.
ReplyDeletegreat pictures. I love taking the kids to the zoo and seeing how excited they are to see all of the animals
ReplyDeleteI've never been to the Columbus Zoo, though my parents did live there for a few years. It looks like you had a great time! My favorite zoo is the Brookfield Zoo in Metro Chicago. Chicago is the museum place! It's a great vacation spot for young families because there is so much to see and do. I think they have CityPass, too!
ReplyDeleteI am following you on Instagram! You need to share more there! I love it. There are tons of Instagram photo challenges to get you motivated.
My husband and I were just discussing a trip to the Columbus Zoo the other day, but decided we wanted to wait another year until our boys are little bit bigger. I'm excited to see what a great time you had as well as your tips, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletePerfect "vacation" for the kiddos. I have a picture of when my sisters and I were older and we were riding a camel there.
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