{"id":3849,"date":"2020-01-06T03:01:10","date_gmt":"2020-01-06T03:01:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/saynplaycolumbus.com\/?p=3849"},"modified":"2020-01-06T03:01:10","modified_gmt":"2020-01-06T03:01:10","slug":"25-ways-to-experience-winter-in-columbus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bestsidedesign.org\/snp\/index.php\/2020\/01\/06\/25-ways-to-experience-winter-in-columbus\/","title":{"rendered":"25 Ways to Play this Winter in Columbus"},"content":{"rendered":"

The first 3 months of the year are the longest for me! \u00a0(As I\u2019m sure they are for everyone else). This year I am attempting to shift my mindset. Instead of lamenting about the season, I am \u00a0to actually looking forward to things that I generally only do during wintertime. I have thought back on our winters with the kids and have compiled a list of outings I tend to save for wintertime. I have also thrown in a few that are on our list to try this year. \u00a0Will you join us in shifting your mindset this winter?<\/p>\n

Tried and True<\/em><\/h1>\n

Hunt for Bison at Battelle Darby Creek.<\/a><\/strong><\/em>\u00a0The bison are in the winter field which makes them closer to the parking lot and nature center. <\/span><\/span>Both the nature center and the bison are located in the Battelle Darby Creek\u00a0Metro Park near Galloway and completely free to the public. The Nature Center offers a \u201cliving stream\u201d with toads and fish that can be explored from above, below, and beside. In addition, the nature center has interactive exhibits and a variety of animal pelts for children to explore. Finding your way there can be a bit tricky, so be sure plug 1415 Darby Creek Dr into the GPS.<\/p>\n

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Enjoy a Free Sunday at the <\/span><\/em>Columbus Museum of Art<\/span><\/em>\u00a0<\/a>with the whole family. Explore the Walter Wing, play in the Wonder Room, or build a puzzle together in a gallery. There\u2019s a great experience around every corner.<\/p>\n

\"\"Take a dip in the\u00a0Momi Land<\/a> ball pit<\/span><\/em>. This indoor playground is probably one of the cleanest we have been to and features a ball pit, climbing wall, trampolines, miniature carousel, and much more.<\/p>\n

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Attend a PBJ & Jazz Concert<\/a> at the Lincoln Theatre.<\/span><\/em> PBJ & Jazz concerts are \u201c1-hour long interactive concerts designed to introduce jazz and American music to young children and their families.\u201d Admission is $5 per person, with a family max of $20 at the door, and each child receives a peanut butter & jelly sandwich, juice, and a cookie upon arrival. This winter, concerts are January 12, February 23, and March 23, with two performances at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.<\/p>\n

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Check out<\/em> Hoot: A Family Film Series<\/a> <\/span>on the last Saturday of the month at the Gateway movie theatre. Kid-friendly short films from around the world are alternated with songs played by the Shazzbots.<\/p>\n

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Create a masterpiece at Art with Anna.<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/span>\u00a0Baby & Art is offered on the second Sunday of the month from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. for children age 9+ months to 3 years. Grown-Up & Me Art is offered on the second Saturday of the month from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Click the\u00a0link<\/a>\u00a0for more details.<\/p>\n

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Spend the day at Piccadilly<\/a>.<\/em><\/span>\u00a0In addition to the traditional indoor play space, Piccadilly offers in-house babysitting, weekly classes, and a caf\u00e9. My daughter loves the Culinary Institute of Piccadilly classes. We always end up staying for some extra playtime after class and to eat the caf\u00e9\u2019s pizza bagels for lunch.<\/p>\n

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Make a trip to the <\/span><\/em>AHA! Children\u2019s Museum<\/a><\/span><\/em>.\u00a0<\/strong>While technically not in Columbus, this Children\u2019s Museum is an easy 45-minute drive southeast in Lancaster, Ohio. It\u2019s my favorite children\u2019s museum to take my children, because it is located in a building with a smaller footprint. This makes it easier for the kids to navigate (and for me to keep an eye on them), but it\u2019s still packed full of a ton of hands-on, interactive activities.<\/p>\n

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Warm up during <\/span><\/em>family Swim at Goldfish Swim School<\/a><\/span><\/em>.<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/strong>Family swim events are scheduled Monday through Thursday 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm and Fridays from 6:30 pm to 8 pm at the Dublin, Westerville, and Lewis Center Goldfish Locations. $5\/person with a max of $15\/family. Click the link for more information on dates and times.<\/p>\n

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Spend a morning exploring the <\/em><\/span>Scioto Audubon Nature Center<\/a><\/em><\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>The Audubon Nature Center is a beautiful facility located in the Scioto Audubon Metro Park. A few of the features include bird viewing windows, a small library, and two interactive children\u2019s areas. The playroom offers both climbing opportunities, dress up clothes, and interactive activities on local birds and bugs. The center also offers Pre-K story time on Thursdays and Saturdays at 10 a.m.<\/p>\n

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Explore\u00a0The Center of Science and Industry (COSI).<\/a><\/span><\/em>\u00a0Spend the day exploring the over 300 exhibits in a range of themes. Discover Ocean, Space, Gadgets, Life, Energy Explorers, Little Kidspace, Progress, Lily Pad and an outdoor Big Science Park.<\/p>\n

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Escape to a balmy oasis at the Franklin Park Conservatory.<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/em>\u00a0Take your coat off and explore three biomes (Himalayan Mountain\/Rainforest\/Desert), the Pacific Island Water Garden, the Showhouse, and the Palmhouse, to see the more than 400 species of plants on display. We enjoy taking the time to wander and often find something new each time we visit. If you are looking for something a little more structured, the conservatory also offers great\u00a0family programming<\/a>. Personally, I think the membership is worth the investment.<\/p>\n

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Volunteer with Seeds of Caring<\/a> <\/em><\/span>to help your kids realize their potential to make an impact in the Columbus community. Seeds of Caring provides opportunities specifically designed to engage children ages 2-12 in service, social action, and community-building.<\/p>\n

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Participate in a story time<\/span><\/em> at one of the many public libraries in the area. Story time is a wonderful way to promote early literacy skills through short books, rhymes, and movement. Each library system in Central Ohio offers a variety of story times for different age groups. Be sure to click the link below to find the best story time that fits your needs and schedule.<\/p>\n