We visited this zoo during our cross-country road trip with our two young boys, ages 4 and 5. We didn't visit the water park, so I can't comment on that portion of the attraction, but the zoo itself was one of the highlights of our trip. Admission and parking were definitely on the expensive side, and we initially questioned the cost. However, once we got inside, it quickly became clear that the experience justified the price. This is an exceptional zoo with beautifully designed exhibits, an incredible variety of animals, and excellent viewing opportunities throughout the park. One thing we especially appreciated was the food selection. There were several good dining options, and a special shout-out goes to the restaurant near the Savanna exhibit for serving fresh watermelon slices--a perfect treat on a warm day. The zoo also features small playgrounds scattered throughout the grounds, interactive learning experiences for children, and even a small aquarium, which was a pleasant surprise. There's so much to see that you could easily spend two full days here if you wanted to explore everything at a relaxed pace. The only areas that gave us pause were the penguin and tiger habitats. We felt the penguins would benefit from a larger, more enriching environment. The tigers also seemed eager for additional stimulation--they repeatedly ran alongside the glass as our kids moved, almost as if they wanted to play. While it was fascinating to watch, it also made us wonder if additional enrichment opportunities would be beneficial. Overall, this is a spectacular zoo and one of the best we've visited. The thoughtfully designed exhibits, wide variety of animals, family-friendly amenities, and engaging experiences make it well worth a visit. If you're traveling through the area, this is an attraction we would highly recommend. read more

There are other zoos/aquariums in the area. This facility is not accommodating to special needs children. Whilst signage and platitudes say they accommodate, they do not. Further (and worse), they shift interpretations of their policies, depending on which staffer one speaks to. As a father of one autistic child and grandfather of another, it's disgusting to realize their employees have no training for special needs children, and they can be downright verbally and actionably abusive against these children. I've also recently learned they are suing a parent for speaking out about how HIS child was mistreated at this facility. Find somewhere else, somewhere more inclusive. read more

Columbus zoo is one of my favorites! It's such a clean and well kept zoo overall. We visited early in the season so some of the animals weren't out yet but we still got to see and experience so much. I enjoy getting to chat with different staff members in different areas. They are always so knowledgeable about their area and the animals in it. Columbus zoo has several hands on experiences with animals and several areas for the kids to play and get their wiggles out. We can't wait to return! read more

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The Columbus Zoo has always been the best, but it has really exceeded expectations with the new upgrades! We love the new string ray encounter, the sea lion exhibit, and the otters. Can't wait to see the next phases of the renovation! read more

We visited the Columbus zoo recently and we loved it! The zoo itself is huge, and thoughtfully laid out. There is ample signage, and plenty of benches throughout to take a rest from all the walking you'll be doing. Seriously, we were there for 3.5 hours and didn't even see everything. You can tell that a lot of thought went into the habitats; animals seemed to have plenty of space and enrichment. The map on the mobile app is also great, letting you know where you are and what's around you. Would return if we're ever back in the area. read more

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium - Sand cat having a snooze - Zoos Near Me - Powell, Ohio

The Columbus Zoo has definitely been updated to view many animals and in some spaces interact with as well. The zoo hosts are very knowledgeable about the animal spaces that individually oversee which makes for wondered questions to be answered. Leave space to make it an all day experience or do one side then the other next time. Plenty of foods stops and food side stations. Definitely wheelchair access to everything and there is even a train ride you can take too. Lots of clean family fun to be had and they're STILL expanding the zoo for more animals to see. You will not be disappointed read more

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Went on a Sunday all day and the crowds weren't bad. Tickets were about $34 at Kroger each plus $12 for parking. The North American trek is mostly remodeled so the Mexican wolves have a new enclosure as did the trumpeter swans and others. Looked like the moose will be next. The walkways are weirdly much larger than before, may be due to the increase of scooters. There's even parking areas for scooter pals (ride-on scooters dressed up like animals). Not a ton of water dispensers, but there was an increase of aluminum drinks in gift shops. Still mostly plastic and non eco items, but there were a few items even in organic cotton and 1 wood sticker. Most mugs were not microwave and dishwasher safe. Looked like the vending machine were mostly plastic still, which are pricey at $4.75. Trash cans still greatly outnumber recycling bins, but there are a good number of bins. Vegetarian options includes fries, veggie burger, and salads or pizzas. So limited, but they exist. No customizations to make them vegan. Only vegan options are fries. The food was well portioned and flavorful. The animals seemed mostly in good health, engaged, and happy. The bird enclosures seem the happiest, nectar available for $3. The kangaroos need a pool. Artic fox seemed the unhappiest. Elephants had a very spacious enclosure. Be sure to wear sunscreen and sunglasses as there isn't much shade in many areas. The plants are very pretty with a large number of native plants including firewheels and sumac trees. The green roofs are a lovely addition as well, support pollinators. The zoo was very clean and staff was very friendly. Overall the zoo is working on itself and is a great experience. read more

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Came in for zoo after 2pm. Always a great time with plenty of attractions. Worth the price at this time and it's not overcrowded during this season. Very pricy food of course. 3 meals will cost you over 100$. read more

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Beautiful zoo. Animals seem to really be taken care of and the facility is nice. Bummed that we went at the end of March where a lot of exhibits were closed due to renovations and the animals were up because of the cooler weather (totally understandable). We walked the entire zoo (9k steps) and saw maybe 20 animals? So it would've been nice to have a reduced rate because of this. Still a great zoo and I can really tell that when everything is open, it's unbelievable. read more

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CZaA is a very good zoo (with the water park right there, it's a great little weekend getaway for out-of-towners). Some of the zoo areas have recently been refurbished and animal care as well as enclosures are well maintained -- most of the time. However, I'd have to say that the zoo administration should do a little better job of keeping tabs on cleanliness throughout the park every day. Restrooms can get a bit neglected and dirty/smelly, sticky/dirty benches and railings can be a turn off - surfaces should be regularly wiped down - like continuously and repeatedly. Keeping walk ways swept and neat should be a priority. Hire more maintenance staff if need be, but by all means don't let it become run down by lack of maintenance and cleaning. Keep the zoo a great attraction all the time. read more

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium - Beautiful healthy animals everywhere! - Zoos Near Me - Powell, Ohio

We went to the ColumbusZoo the weekend before Halloween, and it was a great time to visit. We were visiting from Pittsburgh for a long weekend, and we decided to try out the famous Columbus zoo. In the end, it was completely worth it! We were at the zoo for almost 4 hours walked many miles and got to see every single animal that you could think of. There were not a lot of workers walking around but anytime you need said something someone was there. We loved the little extra, added, touches all over the zoo of Halloween as well as the places small kids could get candy if they dress up in their costumes. read more

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The good: EVERYTHING! This is the best zoo in the country in my opinion. The experiences they offer, the massive grounds, the diversity, the staff are all so amazing. They have senior volunteers that are there by their choice to help and love what they do. The animals are well taken care of. We have season passes for years now and will for the rest of our lives. The bad: It's an hour drive from me (not their fault) read more

We went today and had a great time. We didn't go till midday so some of the animals were hidden away in their enclosures where it was cooler. All of the exhibits were well thought out and nice. read more

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If you don't have a zoo pass, this can be really expensive to go to. I highly recommend buying an annual pass as it would be worth it to go here all year round. Came to leave this review with regard to one thing that I had not realized about the zoo and that was these zoo animal scooters. Whoever invented these was a genius and my kids that are not little kids mind you, loved it. After watching my 21-year-old right around on this thing all night long I was thinking to myself that I wish I would've gotten one as well, lol! Great job Columbus zoo. read more

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium - Zoos Near Me - Powell, Ohio

My family of 4 were first timers to the zoo today and had a great experience. We came on a Thursday in mid April--the weather was mild and the animals were super active. We were impressed with all of the exhibits especially Africa. The kids also enjoyed the train and carousel ride. The zoo is huge so it was alot of walking for the kids for an entire day so we did rent a double stroller ($15) for the day. There were many picnic areas so I recommend bringing lots of snacks and lunch. You can tell much love and care goes into making this zoo beautiful and family friendly. read more

Visiting from New Hampshire Would recommend Would return You do not have to print your tickets. You can purchase them online and put them in your Apple wallet or Google wallet Parking is $10 to enter The park opens at 9 AM. We got there at 9 AM and we ended up leaving at four and there were some areas that were closed off, but I would plan on spending from open to close there. There is lots of food and vendors and merchandise throughout the entire park. I personally didn't purchase anything. I brought my own stuff. They do allow you to bring your bag in with your food or whatever it is you need with no questions asked. Clean very family oriented lots of shows and other events going on during the day if you wanted to do those things instead of just walking around and seeing the animals for yourself The volunteers were very informative of the animals A great day read more

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Great time today at the Columbus Zoo. If you have the opportunity, I recommend purchasing the two small pieces of fish and feed the sting rays. It's an interaction I won't soon forget. We could have spent an hour watching and petting them as they sped past us. read more

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I last reviewed the Columbus Zoo in 2018. We are fortunate to have such an exceptional zoo here in Columbus and I would give the ZOO ITSELF a 5-star rating. It is clean, welll-maintained and has a great collection of animals and wildlifd - organized by georgraphic area (Asis, Australia, North America, etc.). The animals are housed is natural habitats and you get to see them sort of like they were appear in the wild. The ZOO ITSELF is excellent. The ZOO EXPEREINCE, however, is not as positive. Admission is $34.99 for adults ($24.99 for Franklin County residents), $32.99 and 23.99 for seniors and $27.99 and $19,99 for kids under 12. That's reasonable. As Franklin County residents, we pay about $5/year in taxes to support the Zoo so a $9 per head (seniors) discount seems reasonable. BUT -- there's a $10 charge to park. The ONLY reason you would park in the Zoo lot is to go to the zoo. And, if you're going to the Zoo, this is the ONLY option for parking. SO -- WHY IS THERE AN EXTRA CHARGE - it's just one more way to get revenue. Then, once inside, the prices for concessions (food and beverages) and for souvenirs are outrageous. A hot dog is $12, a hamburger is $15, a bottle of water or a soft-drink is $5. Just for my wife and me, lunch was $32 (1 burger, 1 basket of fries and 2 beverages) - these prices border on criminal. If you're coming to the Zoo with a family, between admissions and any food or souvenirs - you're well over $100-$150. My grandkids wanted a souvenir and my son obliged -- it was $60 for two stuffed animals (not large stuffed animals). SO -- if you look just at the Zoo itself (the animals and stuff), this should get a 5-star rating. I think the admission fee is fair. My rating, however, is based on the overall ZOO EXPERIENCE and I am downgrading my overall rating by 2-stars due to outrageous prices INSIDE the zoo. read more

We were visiting the Columbus Zoo as part of my wife's office family day on May 2, 2026 when we we were among the crowd evacuated due to a bomb threat/active shooter called in that afternoon. The Zoo's Facebook page stated that those guests affected would be able to return on a future date. Fast forward to Friday, May 28 and my wife calls to get details for us to return the following weekend. She has our ticket stubs from May 2 but the customer service team member asks her for the total of the group attendees and the original reservation confirmation. My wife is in the medical records department, does not have that information nor was she part of the planning of the event. She is then informed that she has to send an email to the appropriate person in her office with the email address for a person at the zoo and ask to have some form submitted. We have the ticket stubs clearly showing we were there on the day the evacuation took place. Why do we need more? Come on Columbus Zoo, you're better than this read more

The Columbus Zoo in amazing. It's super walkable, with well laid out exhibits. In addition, they have a lot of special events through the year, like the Lantern Festival, Wildlights, and Boo at the Zoo. I've also seen several 5K races, and fundraisers. The Africa exhibit has an event center that was lovely, and right up against the exhibit - so cool. One downside is that the zoo and the waterpark are on the same-ish property, so the parking lot is just MASSIVE. You're going to walk a lot and then still have to walk to your vehicle. I really feel like this zoo was planned with families in mind, and while that's not my first consideration when I'm looking for an activity, it may be yours. The paths are wide and pretty smooth for strollers or little legs. There aren't any terribly steep hills (again, strollers and littles), and there are frequent sitting areas and there's a decent amount of shade. They have a new security check at the entry that is a bit frustrating. I had to go through 3 times because my car keys set it off, and the guy had me leave items out of my bag on his table and go back. So I can see this getting clogged when the zoo is crowded if there are a lot of keychains in the mix. read more

This was an incredible day. The zoo had every corner of the earth covered. From land to sea it was amazing the variety of wildlife and sea creatures I saw today. So much love and care has been put into the zoo. Every person I encountered was kind and considerate. It was super clean and well organized. Tons of food options . Was fun to have an afternoon beer. What a great experience. I recommend this to anyone visiting Columbus Ohio to take a day and enjoy yourself at the zoo. You'll be so happy you went. read more

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A huge zoo with aquarium! Like some other zoos it also has a rides area that is open during the summer season. The layout is a circle with branches that pop off to see different regions of the world. Travel back in time and take a ride to see dinosaurs! Humongous parking lot but of course it will get full quickly it is a top tier zoo! Definitely worth the trip!!! read more

This zoo just keeps getting better and better. Animals I've never heard of and beautifully laid out. Love that it's divided into sections- Asia, Africa etc. wherever we went there was always a staff member, docent , volunteer standing there giving great info on the exhibit. They are sooo friendly and knowledgeable. The zoo is very clean. Heads up - it is a cashless venue and it is pricey but worth it. We had lunch at a beautiful food court I think in Australia area - they had pizza from Harvest Pizzaria . We both got 2 pizzas and 2 fountain drinks . It was over $40. Pizza didn't look good and tasted even worse. Pass on that and get a burger and fries. It's a lot of walking so wear comfy shoes and reapply sunscreen. read more

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The Columbus Zoo is always a favorite of ours to visit. The zoo is nice and expensive. Lots of different animal areas to explore. We love the newish seal and stingray area. The new North America area is absolutely beautiful. Africa is always nice as well. There are a good amount of food options from what I've seen around. The food area in the Conga area has become a new favorite of ours. It has a lot of sitting and usually not as busy as other areas. One thing is they do not have a lot of bathrooms, which is difficult with kids. I feel Cincinnati does bathroom layout better. I also was surprised at how many of their animals are not out in the colder months again I'm probably spoiled, but we visit Cincinnati a lot including during the winter and there are always a large amount of animals out. We still enjoy coming, but I feel like for the cost summer is the only time worth it to go. Parking is $10. If you have a zoo membership you can get half-off tickets, which makes it not too bad price wise. Overall it's a nice zoo and worth a visit. read more

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By far the best zoo I have been to on the East coast. Be prepared to make it a full day. I recommend getting here first thing in the morning! This place is huge!! The food here is not bad. For being a zoo I think the food is pretty good! I would recommend this zoo over Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Cincinnati. I'm not sure I can say enough about this place. It's so much fun for the whole family. If you never been here, you are missing out!!!! read more

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Don't go in fall / winter if you want to optimize animal viewing. Beautiful Friday afternoon in November in Ohio - about 60 and sunny. Went to zoo with my brother, dad, and 9 year old nephew. First, disappointed at the huge North America exhibit c construction and seemingly missing animals as a result. Next, nearly all of the Africa exhibit was closed as animals are inside for the winter. Where inside do they go? Can humans not see them there? Third, the special behind the scenes tour options are a massive waste of money at $100 per on top of expensive entry and parking costs, considering the number of animals we could not see. Even the petting zoo section was closed - why??!!!?? Other exhibits were quite cool. It's neat that the zoo had people at various exhibits talking about the animals to further educate visitors. The string ray tank where you can pet them was super cool. It was also nice to walk around as it's a bigger zoo so you get some good exercise. read more

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium - Zoos Near Me - Powell, Ohio

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Columbus zoo is the best in the nation, hands down! I always said I didn't care about the zoo, then I had kids, and it is one of my favorite outings with them. Suuuch an amazing experience and gorgeous animals, clean facilities, kind staff read more

Great time at the zoo! The zoo is clean and was able to accommodate those in need of scooters in our group. The staff were patient and knowledgeable. The staff at the exhibits were fun to talk to, we learned a lot about the animals. We went on a relatively hot day. Fortunately there is enough shade throughout the zoo so we were comfortable throughout the day. Highly recommend!! read more

Repeatedly, I've drove half an hour and wasted my time, as always just about all of the animals are unavailable for viewing. Why waste time and money just to be disappointed. What a huge disappointment. read more

This review is based off the fact that we went to check out the 'Lantern Festival'. We had seen pictures of this event in social media so pretty excited about checking them out in person. I have to admit that the lighted displays were super cool in person. It's crazy how many people were there. I'd highly recommend to not show up when they reopen the gates at 730p. Let's say past 8p for a better experience. That is, unless you enjoy the whole to wait and enjoy the 'life in action' when there are five massive lines and you've chosen the slowest? No clue how'd you get to the show at the Jack Hanna building that's slated to start at 730p unless you're 1st in line? Back to the lights, they are very cool. There are a few that seem to be ultra realistic and others that aren't nearly as detailed. About half way thru the night, my lovely Mrs asks me what I'm thinking... and honestly, this was what was in my mind. I'd been to another zoos Christmas lights and they had the ability to go in and see the normal habitats so you could see real animals. Here at Columbus, they had everything closed and since it is dark, you can't see them in the outdoor areas. No elephants. No lions. No Giraffes. We did get to see the sea lions at the entrance. Then we saw a random skunk wandering out of the side of a building and walked across the waking area by the koala area. That was interesting. Again, the lanterns were super cool. The place is super crowded in some areas which would make one who doesn't like crowded areas a little uncomfortable. Okay, this is me. read more

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My friends and I had a wonderful day at the Columbus Zoo! They came in from out of town and this was a must visit. It was a warm day and school had just gotten out, so it was busy, but I never felt crowded or annoyed because the place is so large. The only downside was quite a bit of construction which somewhat took away from the experience at times. Other than that, you really need the entire day to see all there is to see. We bought our tickets and parking ahead online which I would recommend! There are many keeper talks and several shows such as the Cheetah run during the summer. It was also nice to find many knowledgeable volunteers near exhibits. We were at the lion exhibit and the volunteer told us so much about each animal... names, personalities, dynamics, and it really enhanced our experience. At every turn the animals had a ton of enrichment items, which is important and nice to see. They all seemed very well cared for. There are plenty of places to stop and cool off or grab a drink, food, or a gift. The bathrooms were clean. We did not spend any time at the amusement park section as thats not our thing. We were just there for the animals. Make sure to go to that side of the park though, for the Jack Hannah building as well as the sting ray touch building! read more

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This is my second time visiting the zoo in the last two weeks because there was so much more to see. The Columbus zoo is a must for all families. We all must do our part to support these beautiful and amazing animals. If you're interested in doing volunteer work you only need to commit 45 hours within a full year. And the benefits are rewarding. This is a wonderful place to spend with friends and family. Host your next celebration here. read more

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium - These guys were cute - Zoos Near Me - Powell, Ohio

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Love coming here for special events or even just for a couple hours to enjoy the animals. Every time we visit its a different experience but always enjoyable. If youre going to visit multiple times in a year, look into the membership. It could easily be worth it. read more

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium - Holiday lights - Zoos Near Me - Powell, Ohio

What a fun zoo!!! I have visited lots of zoos and this one has some very notable and special features. First of all, we visited on a Friday morning and lots of animals were out and about. Zookeepers were nearby at lots of exhibits for questions and learning. There were various babies throughout the zoo. The animals seemed happy and as if they were well taken care of. (Some highlight exhibits: polar bears, gorilas, lion, tiger, manatee, penguins, and the petting farm animals). I love how this zoo is organized, you can actually make sure you see the whole thing! A lady told me she travelled 4 hours to see this zoo because it's the best around. The photo at the entrance was well done. The photographer cared about the quality and when we went to purchase the options weren't too bad. We got the $45 package and basically is came with tons of GREAT STUFF! The refrigerator magnets are FABULOUS! There are tons of photo op locations. Lots of beautiful statues that are artsy and make great pictures! The gift shop had some fun items I have never seen before. Seriously cute stuff! The prices were high as usual, but you can bring in your own water bottles and food if needed. What a GREAT EXPERIENCE! read more

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Two words... Zoo Lights. Traffic issues turned what could have been an enjoyable night into a nightmare. 2 hours of traffic to get in, two hours of traffic to get out. Unfortunately it was so crowded once we were inside it was not an enjoyable experience. Better traffic management is needed. Would not go back for this event. read more

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My favorite zoo! They have so much for everyone. So many animals you don't always see. You have to spend all day there and still might not see everything. We bought tickets online to save time. read more

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The Columbus Zoo is a must atleast once. I've been a few times and enjoy it each time I visit. The one time that sticks out to me is going with my friend's five year old nephew. We went through the petting zoo, rode a camel and fed the giraffes! It is fun to see the zoo through the eyes of a child. Of course we stopped to eat and the food is blah and overpriced but what would one expect. It is always a different experience depending on who you go with. I'm looking forward to the holiday lights this year. read more

Review Visit: April 6th, 2013 This may be my first blog post where I don't give a score. Read why. In my years of traveling and now in my years of writing blogs, I have been to many great places and I have been to many places that aren't great. I have also been to many more that fall in between those two. It just so happens that the Columbus Zoo gets a unique rating of 'unrated'. Our visit to the Zoo was less than stellar. It was a cold and blustery early-April day. The sky was overcast. The cost to get in was higher than we expected. All of that can be overlooked. What can't be overlooked is having most of the exhibits closed. Yes, I fully understand it was cold. I understand they need to protect and keep the animals safety in their best interest. Because of this, I refuse to rate this Zoo/Aquarium out of fairness. While it sucked that a lot of the animals were put away due to the extended winter, I can fully respect their decision to not put the animals out until it was warm enough. With all that in mind, I will give Columbus Zoo a proper rating after a proper visit. My friends and I had fun while we were there despite the cold and lack of animals. I have confidence that a revisit will bring us many awesome animals to see. In the mean time, if you visit a Zoo or Aquarium, please donate beyond the admission fees. Big or small, a lot of these places operate on the generosity of everyday citizens. $5 could go a long way to help feed a few animals that day. read more

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One again this zoo has proven the only thing they care about is money. Will be cancelling my gold membership at the end of this year. 8/9/2025: Today I decided to buy ticket to the lantern festival for myself and my friends. After paying $64.99 for all 3 of us, and dealing with closed animal exhibits the Lantern Festival is not worth the price. Fix your parking lot at closing! read more

Visiting my sister, we tend to go to the zoo with the kids as they have a membership! This time, we got to visit while the lantern items were out. While we went in the middle of the day, the lanterns were still so beautiful. They had a bit of construction happening at the front of the zoo, so we were forced to go to another area than we anticipated, we still had a great time to walk around. The zoo is very big and has a lot of different animals to see, the kids loved seeing the lanterns and had a blast! It's definitely out of the city area so probably over 45 minutes away from my sister's but still a great spot to visit to see animals and experience the different events they have throughout the year! read more

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium - Zoos Near Me - Powell, Ohio