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Best Day Time Leisure Activities in Columbus

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The Short North
1126 1/2 A North High St Columbus, OH 43201
(614) 228-8050
Spanning High Street from the Arena District to the foot of the OSU Campus, the Short North is the kind of artsy-fartsy bohemian destination that you only find in large cities that have a large university and/or a burgeoning arts scene. Parking here stinks, but the Short North is block after block of galleries, bars, restaurants, and interesting boutique shops. Anyone can buy a sweater at the Gap, but in the Short North can you create a bottle of wine, buy a work of art, or rent a Segway (one of these kids is doing his own thing...). Shops and galleries are open late the first Saturday of every month for Gallery Hop - a must see!
Easton Town Center
160 Easton Town Ctr Columbus, OH 43219
(614) 337-2200
Outside of Chicago's Magnificent Mile, you'll be hard pressed to find a more robust shopping experience in the Midewest. Easton is more of a shopping village than a mall with restaurants, spas, and entertainment options complementing healthy dollops of shopping. Norstrom and Macy's provide the anchors, but most of your big hitters are represented: Tiffany & Co., Guess, Banana Republic, Crate & Barrel, J. Crew, an Apple Store, the Victoria's Secret "flagship" store, and the list goes on. Even if you don't feel like spending your hard-earned ducats in this paean to capitalism, the people-watching is top notch!
Columbus Zoo & Aquarium
9990 Riverside Dr Columbus, OH 43201
(614) 645-3410
Believe it or not, this Cowtown has a pretty nice zoo. Director Emeritus "Jungle" Jack Hanna has been promoting the Columbus Zoo for decades now on the late-night talk show circuit. Besides the usual tigers and lions and bears (oh my!), the zoo has several generations of gorillas and other primates, manatees, and famous hissing cockroaches. Yes, they have a dumb petting zoo, too. If you must, please bring some wet wipes. Those goats are gross.
North Market
59 Spruce St Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 463-9664
Come hungry to the North Market, because once its aromas grab you, you're going to want to eat your face off (by the way, how did that ridiculous expression ever come about?). This indoor open air market...if that makes sense...is home to an eclectic mix of vendors including delis, fruit stands, ethnic foods, pastarias, florists, butchers, bakers, and candy-makers. The North Market is a hive of activity weekdays during lunch and all weekend hours. Barry's sandwiches, Firdous deli, and Jeni's ice creams are among our favorites, but really, everthing is good. Summer weekends are especially good when artists and artisans spill into the parking lot. Hours: Mo 9-5 / Tu-Fr 9-7 / Sa 8-5 / Su 12-5
Center of Science and Industry (COSI)
333 W Broad St Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 228-2674
COSI is a science museum that is chock full of hands-on family fun. Unlike a typical museum, you can rub your dirty paws on just about everything here. The kiddies love it, which helps to explain why COSI has been a popular field trip destination since Sneaky was a youngster. Admission is somewhat pricey ($23 for adults), but between the exhibits, films, games, and other interactive goodies, a trip to COSI is a day well-spent. Standard hours are 10-5 on Mon-Sat and 12-6 on Sunday, although there are extended hours on the last Friday of the month, New Year's Eve, the harvest moon, Yom Kippur, and whenever they feel like it. Interesting side note: COSI is located in the old Central High School building, where the movie "Teachers" was filmed. That Ralph Macchio is sooo dreamy!
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