Where are you going for Spring Break? Don’t feel like breaking the bank and taking the whole family on a Disney Cruise this year? Can’t get the same time off of work that your kids are out of school? Whatever your reasoning, we’ve got you covered with an abundance of day trips in the great OH and a few suggestions just a short drive away! So, it’s time to plan your week using our Spring Break Staycation ideas!
Skip the packing, the flights, the planning, and the cost by enjoying a week in Ohio with your family. It’s a great way to have a family vacation while staying close to home.
Spring Break Staycation Ideas
Day 1: Visit a New Place in Columbus
- Pick a suburb or area of Columbus to explore: Drive down to German Village, Worthington, Westerville, Dublin, Hilliard, New Albany, Grandview Heights, The Short North, Victorian Village, Grove City, OSU Campus or Bexley and spend the day enjoying shops, bakeries, and lunch spots. You may want to try The Fox in the Snow in German Village, and Kittie’s in Bexley and now Worthington to name a few!
- Spend a day at an indoor play place: Let your kiddos burn off some energy at the variety of play places that Columbus has to offer. Be sure to check out our guide here- Guide to Indoor Play Areas.
- Have lunch at the downtown or Dublin location of North Market: You can start at a young age exposing your kids to the many great flavors that Columbus has to offer. Read more here about how to eat globally with your kids. (The downtown location is closed on Mondays.)
- Visit a new playground or park: Let’s hope the weather is warm enough to spend some time outdoors running around. It’s always fun to explore a new park or playground and we have lots of suggestions. Pack a lunch and extend the time spent outdoors. Check out the Playground Finder in our Family Directory or these posts for ideas: 10 Playgrounds to Check Out This Spring, 4 Metro Parks to Explore with Kids, Central Ohio Parks That Spark Imagination, 6 “Mud-Free” Parks.
Day 2: Take a Day Trip to a Children’s Museum
Take a look at this post- Road Trips: “Free” Science Museums
- Buckeye Children’s Museum– Mansfield, Ohio (1 hour) – $15 per person, including adults. (Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays until Memorial Day) Totally redone in 2023!
One of the many great areas at Little Buckeye Museum! - Mighty Children’s Museum– Chillicothe, Ohio (1 hour, 15 minutes)- $10 and they are closed on Mondays.
- The Works– Newark, Ohio (45 minutes) – $8 for children and $12 for adults. Closed Sundays and Mondays. Check out our post, The Works: Short Drive, Big Discoveries
Having fun exploring at The Works! - Aha Museum– Lancaster, Ohio (1 Hour) $8 per person. For lots of others on where to play and eat in Lancaster, check out this post: A Day Trip to Lancaster
- COSI– Columbus, Ohio – $20 for children and $25 for adults. Back open! The days each week they are open vary during March and April, so double check the calendar here before making plans.
- New! Candyland Children’s Museum: Open 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. | 3 floors of discovery-based learning and play designed for ages 0-10. $10 per person.
Day 3: Get Active
- Go to a Trampoline Parks: Rockin’ Jump, Get Air, Urban Air or Bounce Club to name a few!
Headstands are a way to stay active at Get Air! - Explore the Columbus Metro Parks– Take a hike at Highbanks, try out the Ninja Warrior Course at Glacier Ridge, enjoy the zip line at Blendon Woods, see the gardens at Innis Woods, or see the train at Homestead. The newer metro park at The Quarry as well! Here’s some more information on recommended Metro Parks.
Get outside and explore a new Metro Park! - Swim at a Local Recreation Center: The pool water is warm and the air is HOT so you can feel like you are on vacation, right? The best part is you don’t have to apply sunscreen. The Worthington Community Center and The Westerville Community Center both have awesome pools that you can buy day passes to attend.
- Play Laser Tag: Have a blast shooting the opposing team and earning points. Ten Pin Alley in Hilliard has a big laser tag area.
- Top Golf: Spend an afternoon at Top Golf located at Polaris. Check out the high-tech driving range!
- Have a Game Day: Go to Pins Mechanical, Star Lanes or Ten Pin Alley for games and bowling fun! Another option is Scene 75 at Tuttle Mall.
Play Jenga, Pinball or Bowl at Pins!
Day 4: Explore your Artistic or Educational Side
- Columbus Museum of Art – Explore the beautiful exhibits and let your kids get creative in The Wonder Room. (Free admission on Sundays!!)
- Visit Legoland Discovery Center at Easton– Family fun with two rides, ten Lego zones, and much more!
So man Legos! - Franklin Park Conservatory – See the Palm House, Botanical Gardens and many other exhibits. There is a great playground as well if weather permits! And of course, the Children’s Garden is something that you must experience. One contributor wrote A Love Letter to Franklin Park Conservatory so read it to see why she thinks it is such a great place.
- The Ohio History Connection – A fun and interactive spot to explore our past and present!
- Make a candle at Worthington Candle Co. (formerly Penn and Beech and The Candle Lab) – Pick your favorite scents and make a lasting memory.
We love making candles as gifts too! - Tour the State House – Free guided tours are available.
- Head to a local store to get crafty. Several businesses offer FREE crafts.
Day 5: Spend the Day at Easton or Polaris
Make new friends at The Lego Store!
- Lego Store: Easton: You can play, create, and shop in this magical Legoland!
- As mentioned above, visit Legoland Discovery Center at Easton– Family fun with two rides, ten Lego zones, and much more!
- Build-A-Bear: Easton: Make a new friend for your little one to cuddle with!
- Get a pedicure with your little ones!
Get a pedicure with your little ones! A treat for mom too 🙂 - Don’t forget lunch at all the delicious dining options too!
Day 6: Connect with Animals
- Beyond the Zoo-Best Places Around Columbus and Ohio to See Animals: Some of the ideas in this post are listed below, but there are tons of other suggestions for farms, sanctuaries, zoos, parks and more.
- Slate Run Historical Farm: Experience first hand what life was like living on an Ohio farm!
- Columbus Zoo: So many great exhibits and special events during Spring Break. Put a new spin on a zoo trip and download this free Zoo Scavenger Hunt.
- Olentangy Indian Caverns– This is such a neat experience to see the animals up close and personal! They reopen March 31, 2024.
So much to explore at the Caverns! - Visit The Wilds: A truly unique and beautiful experience to see cranes, cheetahs, and so many other animals in a breathtaking habitat.
- Ohio Wildlife Center: Many special events to see Ohio’s wildlife.
- Young’s Jersey Dairy: Take a day trip and visit with the goats, cows, and pigs!
Meeting new friends at the farm at Young’s.
Day 7: Take a Short Road Trip

Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh is a three hour trip from Columbus and has a wonderful Children’s Museum to explore. While you are there, you may want to visit the Strip District for great food and restaurants. The banana chocolate chip hotcakes at Pamela’s Diner should be on your breakfast list! If you go to the Strip District, don’t forget to visit Wholey Fish Market and Penn Macaroni. For additional ideas, check out this post; Pittsburgh: A Quick and Easy Getaway Guide.
Indianapolis: Indianapolis is two hours and 45 minutes from Columbus and also has an excellent Children’s Museum to entertain your little ones all day long!
Cleveland: Pack up the minivan and head two hours north to explore the vibrant city of Cleveland. Spots to put on our list: The West Side Market, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Great Lakes Science Center, or The Cleveland Zoo.
Cincinnati: Just one hour and 30 minutes from Columbus, you can stay the night at Great Wolf Lodge or spend the day at The Cincinnati Zoo. Here’s A First-Timer’s Guide to Great Wolf Lodge. Head a bit farther into the city for fun at the Aquarium.

Dayton: Do your kids love space and airplanes? Plan a short drive to see the US Airforce Museum. You won’t be disappointed! Be sure to see one of our past contributor’s experience at the Museum with lots of tips, here.
Yellow Springs: Visit Young’s Dairy Farm or read our article about A Day Trip to Yellow Springs
Hocking Hills: Go for a family hike and explore the outdoors at Old Man’s Cave or Conkle’s Hollow. Enjoy lunch at Millstone BBQ. Be sure to read this Family Guide to Hocking Hills for a wide variety of tips.
Mansfield: As we mentioned above, play at Little Buckeye Children’s Museum or visit the Kingwood Center Gardens. There is also a carousel and gift shop in the city center and shops to visit as well.
You don’t have to go far or pay the big bill for the plane tickets and a 5-star resort with your kiddos this year. We hope this inspires you to have a staycation with your family. Let us know in the comments what places you would like to visit or if you and your family have planned a staycation! Have fun and spring is truly around the corner!
Great ideas! I have saved this post for reference. We frequent a lot of these. It’s going to feel good to visit some familiar and new places! Thanks for posting!
Comments are closed.