Hey all,
We’re in the process of planning our summer vacation. We will be leaving Ottawa on July 15th for Southern Ontario. Our only plans so far is a Detriot Tigers game on July 21st.
We love zoo’s and after watching Jack Hanna on TV last night, I decided that we should go to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.
So, I need opinions on the Zoo, what to see, what to skip.
Lemme have it!
You’re thinking of including Columbus Ohio on a vacation trip? I’d say no. The Columbus Zoo is ok, but certainly not something that I’d make a special trip for. Columbus, OH has absolutely nothing to offer the vacationer. At best, it is a nice place to live, but you wouldn’t want to visit.
The San Diego Zoo in California is probably the best zoo I’ve ever been to.
I don’t think the Columbus Zoo was anything to write home about. Ok, but nothing spectacular.
If you’re thinking about southwestern Ohio at all, I’d say go to the Cincinati Zoo. The Cat House is wonderful; they have white lions; a very nice manatee display. An excellent Insect building, if you’re into crawly creatures. And the aquarium in Newport, Kentucky (just across the river) is very nice, too.
Closer to Ontario, I’ve heard good things about the Toledo Zoo, but I’ve never been.
He’s pretty much right. Although there are a few cool things here, it really depends on what interests you though.
As far as the zoo goes, it’s better than most, but not even in the same ballpark as the San Diego zoo. As far as Jack Hanna goes, I wouldn’t piss on him if he were on fire. He treats employees of the zoo as if they were far less important than the flies on the panda crap, and he damn near killed me once (he drives like other people should use ditches). I hate him.
Anyway, I’d never reccomend Columbus as a vacation destination, but given one’s interests, there are a few things worth experiencing.
July 22nd on the Columbus riverfront close to downtown is the annual Jazz and Rib Fest, great food, pretty damn good jazz. The weather’s usually pretty tolerable around that time too.
If you have any particular interests, I can reccomend a few cool things, my email is my user name at yahoo, hotmail or gmail dot com.
I trust that you have visited the Toronto Zoo, with its 287 hectatres/710 acres and 5,000 animals including 460 species: http://www.torontozoo.com/
As long as we’re hijacking zoos: I offer the Omaha Zoo as one that seems to kick San Diego’s butt (really! I’ve been to both). Check out the geodesic Desert Dome, the largest desert habitat in the world, and the Lied Jungle, largest indoor rainforest habitat. Amazing. WarrenB and friends did good. A must see. [/hijack]
I don’t know if it kicks San Diego’s butt, but it is certainly a darn fine zoo. The jungle alone is worth the admission.
nitpick - it is the Henry Doorly Zoo
Looks like we’re setting up Lady Venom a zoo tour, from Ottowa to Omaha (hell, Denver - it’s not bad either), and back.
Actually, it’s worth more – it’s $10 (adult) to get into the HD zoo, if you can believe it. And it’s so huge, you’d be challenged to see everything in one day.
The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is better, and closer, IMO. In addition to the zoo, there is an aquarium and indoor rainforest on the grounds. The rainforest is particularly cool.
Cleveland also has more tourist attractions than Columbus and, believe it or not, it’s a great place to visit with family in the summer. Plenty to see and there is most always some sort of festival or event in progress.
Thanks for all the responses!! I’ll address a couple of points.
Dorjän We went to the Cleveland Zoo last year. I LOVED it!
We are looking at just a day trip, aside from Detroit for the Tigers game. Last year it was Detroit Zoo, Cleveland Zoo & The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Looking in to it, the Omaha Zoo looks like a place I’d love to go, but too far for this trip.
Muffin I’ve been to the Toronto Zoo at LEAST 20 times in my life. Definately a great zoo, but I would like to go somewhere different this year.
dnooman I will email you in July, if that’s okay, to get some suggestions. Like I said, the zoo is only 3ish hours from Detroit, and we’re zoo people.
Cincinati isn’t that much further than Columbus, so that’s a possibility.
I have to jump in here and support the Columbus Zoo. It is one of my favorites, I could spend hours at the mantee exhibit alone. But, they are in the midst of a long term expansion and upgrade. Some areas not as good as they could be, but they are being renovated and the park will almost double in size.
The Toledo zoo is also well worth a trip. I don’t remember it being the biggest zoo I have ever seen, but it was a fun visit.
There are plenty of other activites in Columbus if you spend more time there. There is both Major League Soccer and Triple A baseball. If you are movie buff try the summer movie series downtown, http://www.capa.com/columbus/. Plus there are festivals of one sort of another along the riverfront almost every weekend in the summer. I wouldn’t plan a week long vacation, but a day or two could be very nice.
It’s been a few years, but last time I was at the Columbus Zoo, it was great. As long as we are suggesting other amusement, go to COSI! It is everything a Science and Industry museum should be. The Short North district has great art galleries. And, if you are in Ohio and love roller coasters, there is no option but to go to Cedar Point, America’s Roller Coast. If you do outdoor activities, Hocking Hills State Park isn’t too far from C’bus.
Ummm…‘yea’ would be the short answer.
another Columbus doper here . . .
The zoo is cool, I haven’t been in years. I keep meaning to go during the winter to see the lights, but I never quite make it there. I would second the Jazz & Rib Fest. I have never heard anyone complain yet. The weather should be around 80-90 during that time as well, so very warm but nice. Whatever you choose to do, have fun! If you need any suggestions, feel free to send an email!
I would recommend the Toledo Zoo over the Columbus Zoo. It’s closer to Cedar Point, too.
Plus, Toledo has the Mud Hens, if you’re into baseball. Granted, Columbus has the Clippers (NY Yankees farm), but, being a Tigers fan myself, I’m a bit partial to the Hens.
And, Toledo is home of the famous Tony Paco Hot Dog.
But why am I promoting Ohio? I hate this place. Stick to Michigan: Dearborn, Greenfield Village and Henry Ford Museum, Ford Rouge Plant tours; Holland Veldheer Tulip Farms; Muskegon, great beaches; Houghton; Mackinac Island; Grand Rapids; etc.
Go Blue!
Happy
Yet another Columbus Doper checking in. Also a Zoo fan. There really are a whole lot of things to do in the Columbus area (sometimes they’re not immediately obvoius). There’s also a strong Metroparks system here. I’ve never been to Slate Run, but among other things, they have a “Living Historical Farm”, which is supposed to be very nice. There are lots of good restaurants and more shopping opportunities than anyone deserves. Also, there’s really good ice cream at the North Market, which is near the Short North that xbuckeye mentioned earlier.
Feel free to e-mail me too. E-mail is in my profile; it’s my screen name at gmail.com.
GT
I lived there for 11 years and didn’t find them 
And this was when?
GT
Okay, I just have to say this: I played in the Columbus Zoo’s elephant house when I was a kid, and yes, I mean in the area of it where the elephants live. My dad’s company designed and installed the automatic doors for the elephants (they push a button with their trunk, the door opens and the elephant goes out) and a couple of times while they were getting them installed, he took me out there (of course, this was before they put the elephants in there) and I played around in the elephant house while he did whatever it was he did.