Guide to Family Fun in Columbus, Indiana
With some of the most innovative play-spaces in the Midwest, a three-story children’s museum, and an authentic, old-fashioned ice cream parlor, Columbus is a great place for a family adventure, and it’s an easy drive from Indianapolis, Cincinnati, and Louisville!
Zaharakos Ice Cream Parlor
329 Washington Street
812-378-1900
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About
Step back in time at Zaharakos, where stained glass, marble counters, and a century-old soda fountain create a magical setting for enjoying sundaes, sodas, and sweet memories.
Commons Playground
300 Washington Street
812-376-2681
Map, phone, reviews, photos of The Commons
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Located inside The Commons community space, this one-of-a-kind indoor playground offers safe, creative play year-round—perfect for families visiting downtown.
kidscommons
309 Fifth Street
812-378-3046
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kidscommons is Columbus’s hands-on children’s museum, where families can explore interactive exhibits, creative play spaces, and fun educational programs designed for all ages.
Modernist giants built here!
Throughout downtown Columbus – stop by the Visitors Center to pick up free walking guides to the downtown art and architecture.
Explore the public art
Explore the architecture
About
Ranked among the top cities in the U.S. for architectural innovation, Columbus offers visitors a unique collection of mid-century and contemporary landmarks, from churches and schools to parks and public art.
Anderson Falls
3699 N 1140 County Rd E, Hartsville, Indiana – Map it
About
A forty-four acre park featuring a cascading waterfall (amount of water can vary significantly by local rain patterns) and two hiking paths of about two miles each.
Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum
4742 Ray Boll Boulevard
812-372-4356
Map, reviews, photos of the Air Museum
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The Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum honors military aviation history with exhibits, artifacts, and personal stories that preserve the legacy of those who served.
Bartholomew County Historical Society
524 Third Street
812-372-3541
Map, reviews, photos for the Historical Society
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The Bartholomew County Historical Society preserves and shares the stories of our community through engaging exhibits, events, and free educational programs for all ages.
Bartholomew County Public Library
536 Fifth Street
812-379-1255
Map, photos for the library
See lots of library events on the calendar
About
Serving all ages, the Bartholomew County Public Library provides access to knowledge, technology, and countless free programs that enrich the lives of our community.
Blue's Canoes
About
See also Pathfinder Outfitters for more kayaking adventures
Ceraland Park
3989 S 525 E
812-377-5849
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Ceraland Park is a family-friendly destination filled with outdoor recreation, camping, sports, playgrounds, and perfect for relaxing, playing, and exploring together.
Claw Crazy Arcade
2334 25th St,
(812) 679-1755
Website for Claw Crazy Arcade
About
Experience the thrill at Claw Crazy Arcade, featuring brand-new games, classic favorites, and ticket rewards with every game you play.
Columbus Bowling Center
3010 State Street
812.372-7857
Visit Website
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Columbus Rocks Gym
About
Columbus Rocks Gym is the local climbing destination with walls for all skill levels, offering fun challenges, fitness, and community in every climb.
David Zinn Art
About
David Zinn’s temporary creations of fantastical creatures were scattered around downtown Columbus and hidden, in plain view – three of them have withstood weathering and are still looking good! Can you find them?
Escape 812
Website
325 Fifth Street
812-269-6888
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Test your skills and solve your way out at Escape 812, an appointment-only escape room experience perfect for friends, families, and groups.
Hamilton Center and Ice Arena
2501 Lincoln Park Drive
812-376-2686
Visit Website
Map, reviews, photos of Hamilton Center
About
The original Swiss chalet style building was designed by Harry Weese as a community building with warming house and changing rooms for an outdoor ice rink. The building exterior features rough-hewn granite boulder battered walls and glass with views to the exterior. The interior features triple-peaked roof with wood beams and planking. A central granite fireplace, highlighting the spacious interior, is surrounded by wooden benches, an inviting sight to chilled skaters.
Because of an increased community interest in ice skating and the need to extend the skating season, the community decided to enclose the outdoor rink in 1975. Koster and Associates designed the enclosure of the large ice arena as an extension of the existing center with similar exterior materials and architectural details, and now includes a regulation- sized hockey rink and an adjacent practice rink, so the facility offers year-round skating.
Hangar 5 restaurant at the Airport
4770 Ray Boll Blvd
812-378-4010
Visit the Hangar 5 website
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Dine at Hangar 5 in the Columbus Municipal Airport terminal, where great food meets a one-of-a-kind view of airplanes right outside the window.
Jolie Crider Memorial Skate Park
In Clifty Park – across from East High School
Map it
About
The city’s latest design destination is unique – it’s a skatepark designed by Janne Saario, a Finnish landscape architect and former professional skater.
As noted in an Oct. 1, 2019 New York Times article: “The podcast ’99 Percent Invisible’ got Mr. Saario the job: Jonathan Nesci, a designer who lives in Columbus and is the father of a skater, cold-emailed the architect after listening to ‘The Pool and the Stream,’ a 2017 episode about the connection between curvaceous swimming pools and skatepark design featuring Mr. Saario.” – read the full NYT article by Alexandra Lange
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Mill Race Park
427 Washington Street
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One of Columbus’s most beloved parks, Mill Race Park offers walking and biking trails, a playground, picnic shelters, and beautiful views perfect for family outings and community events.
People Trails
Learn more about walking and biking in Columbus
About
Anything people powered is welcome on the more than 27 miles of paved trails, and the route in and around town and into the countryside is a pleasant way to enjoy the outdoors. The paths run very close to three rivers, two creeks, plenty of green space and productive farmland. Great for leisurely exercise with a distraction or two.
Jubilee Farm Studio
11520 Moores Vineyard Rd, Columbus, IN 47201
About
Pet, paint, and grow! Jubilee Farm Studio has it all! These local homesteaders have a big love of animals and imagination. Make sure to check out their studio space and get in touch with your creative side through their variety of classes.
While on the farm, meet and greet their team of goats, pigs, chickens, and bunnies – many of whom are rescues! Their farm stand is open during harvest season and offers healthy produce like eggs and flowers.
Touch the Earth and Tangeman Woods
About
Touch the Earth
Located conveniently near State Road 46 just west of Columbus, this preserve is one of the larger protected natural areas in Bartholomew County and is an excellent spot for hiking and bird watching. Sycamore’s Tangeman Woods preserve is less than a mile away, just on the other side of State Road 46.
A mowed parking area along County Club Road provides access to two miles of mowed trails through scenic woods and former farm fields that have reverted to nature. The trail features several benches and an observation deck. Dedicated neighbors volunteer to keep the trail and parking area mowed for visitors.
Located less than a mile from Tangeman Woods
Tangeman Woods
Tangeman Woods is a beautiful mixed hardwood forest with intermittent creeks, located on the eastern edge of southern Indiana’s rugged Norman Upland. The Outdoor Lab nature trail, created by the Bartholomew County Soil and Water Conservation District in the 1970s, is still used for school field trips, including those conducted by Sycamore’s Environmental Education Program.
The Outdoor Lab trail features bridges over shallow but steep ravines, which have been repaired and enhanced by several Boy Scout service projects. Sycamore staff have worked to enhance the forest by controlling invasive bushes including privet and burning bush, and monitor annually for garlic mustard near the trailhead.
Located less than a mile from Touch the Earth
Utopia Wildlife
Open to the public only education events – check facebook for dates
Map, reviews, and photos of Utopia
About
Utopia Wildlife Rehabilitators is a 501(c)(3) state and federally permitted wildlife rehabilitation facility dedicated to providing expert veterinary care, rehabilitation, and release of native Indiana reptiles, mammals, birds, and birds of prey.
Yes Cinema
328 Jackson Street
812-378-0377
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About
YES Cinema is a nonprofit movie theater in downtown Columbus, offering comfortable seating, great concessions, and a mix of blockbusters, indie films, and special events—all supporting community programs.