Location: Columbus
Top Things to do in Columbus
6 Gardens in Columbus That You Shouldn't Miss
Ohio’s capital city is full of beautiful neighborhoods, a critically acclaimed food scene and top-ranked attractions. This creative-minded destination offers something for everyone. Families will enjoy COSI, the nationally known science center, as well as the Columbus zoo and its neighboring water park. Art lovers will savor the collections at the Columbus Museum of Art and revel in Gallery Hop, a monthly celebration in the Short North Art District. Columbus is a city that invites exploration.
Restaurants in Columbus
1. Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,607 reviews
A botanical landmark just two miles east of downtown Columbus, Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens features exotic plant collections and displays, seasonal exhibitions, outdoor gardens (including community and culinary gardens) and a variety of educational programming. All set within the 88-acre Franklin Park. Inspired by horticulture, Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens elevates quality of life and connects the community through educational, cultural and social experiences. All ages can partake in a variety of special events and activities throughout the year. A full menu of classes, workshops and camps are offered in gardening, cooking, fine art and wellness. With its natural surroundings, both indoors and out, the Conservatory serves as a premier venue for special events and corporate gatherings.
Reviewed By 612BarbaraH612 - Worcester, United States
The botanical garden is a small portion of Franklin Park, so you have the opportunity to wander the grounds outside the botanical garden in addition to enjoying the outside gardens and indoor exhibits of the botanical garden itself. There's a very nice children's garden, a small formal garden area with a beautiful sculpture, an area devoted to community garden education, a conservatory with a variety of exhibits, a glass blowing demonstration, an excellent gift shop and a cafe. June 1, 2019 marked the start of a Chihuly exhibit that will be throughout the garden areas until the end of March, 2020. We just missed the Chihuly exhibit, but we will return to see it!
2. Whetstone Park / Park of Roses
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 279 reviews
One of the largest municipal rose gardens in the U.S., this 13-acre park features more than 11,000 gorgeous rose bushes and specialized gardens for herbs, daffodils and perennials.
Reviewed By lovelylainey - Columbus, United States
Beautiful park which includes trails, a lovely rose garden, open fields, playgrounds, a community center with rec room and a very well-stocked and well-staffed library.
3. Kelton House Museum & Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 78 reviews
Experience urban life and the decorative arts, as they existed in the second half of the 19th century, through the collection of the Sophia and Fernando Cortez Kelton family. Learn about the Underground Railroad and the people that bring the history to life.
Reviewed By 680ewaldg - Cuyahoga Falls, United States
It is an actual house on the Underground Railroad. They provide a self guided audio tour through 18 stages in the house on three levers. You become familiar with the family and their attempts to further abolition following the war. The lower level is one of the hiding places for through travelers. One young girl was too ill to continue, and was raised as a member of the household for ten years.
4. Chadwick Arboretum
5. Columbus Commons
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 86 reviews
Reviewed By JGJerry - Springfield, United States
We visited C-Bus with our granddaughter and noticed the lights in the park while driving down High Street. After finding parking by the river we walked back up to the park to see the lights. It was worth the walk in the cold. The lights on both ends of the commons were the best and lights along the 2 sides were nice also. It’s worth your time if you are in the downtown C-Bus area and looking for Christmas Lights
6. Topiary Garden
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 286 reviews
Georges Seurat's "Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" is recreated in a sculptured evergreen garden featuring larger-than-life human figures, animals and boats.
Reviewed By Toyota1994 - Chicago, United States
Topiary Park in Columbus is an unusually beautiful garden that amazingly recreates a scene of a painting through topiaries - the scene in Georges Seurat’s famous painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. The park site previously had been the home of the Ohio School for the Deaf, and one will see placards on the history of the school along the paths in the park. One can walk among the topiary plants to view closeup how the plants are trained to all the different shapes of people, animals, and objects depicted in the painting. Visitors can compare the topiary garden with the painting looking at the relief bronze plaque of the original painting from the top of a slight hill in the park. I understand this Topiary Park is the only topiary representation of a painting in the world. We walked around leisurely covering the full park in less than an hour. Of course, one could spend more time in the park. Admission is free, though street parking is metered through mobile app. This unique attraction is worth being more well-known. Columbus should be proud of the work and should promote it more.
