Location: Discovery District
Top Things to do in Discovery District
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Top 10 Things to do in Discovery District, Ohio (OH)
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. Columbus Metropolitan Library
2. Saint Patrick Church
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5 reviews
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. Columbus Museum of Art
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 460 reviews
Reviewed By sabinebaby - Detroit, United States
First whomever is suggesting 2-3 hours, it’s far too short, especially if you do the special exhibits and have lunch at the delightful cafe. The special exhibit currently is Alice Shille, who was from Columbus but lived worldwide with friends like Gertrude Stein. Her watercolors varied with the area she was in and were so well done. Some looked more like oils then watercolors and they have various notes on her thought process on drawing and personal letters. The rest of the museum was much larger than I thought and filled with a huge variety of different pieces from the masters to a textile room that had knitted blankets being used as art. Tons of interactive activities also. The cafe had delicious food, super friendly helpful staff and a beautiful courtyard to eat in if the weather is nice with a water /sculpture feature. Everyone at the museum was wonderful and I can’t wait to visit again next time I’m in Columbus
5. Platform Beer
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 19 reviews
Reviewed By P1985OUscottk
Good atmosphere. Friendly staff. Good selection of craft beers. My wife enjoyed their Rosellini cider very much.
6. Thurber House
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 44 reviews
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Thurber House is a literary center, museum, and bookstore located in the restored 19th century home of famed author, humorist, and New Yorker cartoonist James Thurber. Thurber House hosts events with bestselling authors, writing classes, literary picnics on the lawn, and education camps and classes for children in preschool through high school. Other programs include the John E. Nance Writer-in-Residence Program, the Children’s Writer-in-Residence Program, and the Thurber Prize for American Humor — one of the highest recognitions of humor writing in the United States. Thurber House is open for tours four days a week (except major holidays). Free self-guided tours are offered on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 1:00–4:00 pm. Drop-in guided tours are offered on Sundays from 1:00–4:00 pm. Be sure to visit our historical marker, dog garden, and unicorn in the garden!
Reviewed By eatinglunchallbymyse
We happened by here on a chilly fall day - and were not disappointed! Our docent, Steve, was quite knowledgable about James Thurber and shared several anecdotes about the house and author as well as artists. If you like history and literature - this is the place for you!
7. 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.
8. Columbus Landmarks Foundation
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1 reviews
We were founded in 1977 by historic preservationists and residents to preserve Columbus’ heritage. It has been over 30 years that our tours have told the stories about the history, people, neighborhoods and buildings of Columbus. Led by local researchers, authors and historians our events include: bus tours, walking tours, pub tours, seasonal ghost tours, free art walks and other events.
