Bored kids? Here are affordable places to take them within an hour of Columbus
As Alice Cooper once famously sang, "school's out for summer".
It will be months until kids' days are occupied by hours of school and extra curriculars.
In the meantime, Columbus-area children and their parents are staring down heaps of free time. So much time will likely lead to bored children, so here's a few affordable things for them to do in and around Columbus during summer break.
Columbus Clippers games
Columbus's own minor league baseball team, the Clippers, has baseball games throughout the summer. Kids with valid student IDs can get reserved seats and $5 in Clippers cash to use at the game for only $10 on Thursdays and Fridays.
Also, Sunday home games have family bundles, which include two adult and up to four children or senior bleacher, standing room, or lawn seats for only $18. You can upgrade your bundle to reserved seats for $27.
Find out more about tickets and season passes by visiting the team's website.
Columbus public pools
The city operates a number of public pools around the area. They only cost $1 per person to enter, but you'll need to get leisure cards for any children over the age of three.
The pools are open 1-7:30 p.m. on weekdays, 12-6 p.m. on Saturdays and 12-5 p.m. on Sundays.
The Columbus Recreation and Parks Department has everything you need to know about staying cool and swimming this summer.
Columbus public parks
Columbus and its neighboring suburbs have dozens, if not hundreds, of public parks available to visit for the low, low price of $0.
There's Goodale park, conveniently located near the Short North. There's the scenic Schiller Park that takes up a few verdant blocks in the German Village. Along the Scioto River, there's the Scioto Mile Trail that runs between multiple parks. And those are just a few of the hundreds of public parks around Columbus.
Need to know which one suits your kids' needs, or simply want to explore parks you've never visited before? The city's parks and recreation has got you covered.
State parks
If you're looking to get away from the capital city, there are dozens of state parks within an hour's drive of Columbus, including the scenic Hocking Hills in Hocking County.
Just north of Columbus is the Alum Creek State Park, perfect for kayaking and hiking. Just a bit further north than Alum Creek is the Delaware State Park that features dense woodlands and expansive meadows, according to its website. And to the east is Ohio's oldest state park, Buckeye Lake State Park, which is centered around a 3,100-acre lake.
And those are just the three state parks closest to Columbus. There are dozens more out there.
All of the state parks are free to enter.
Museums
For a little one interested in history, Columbus has a number of free museums. The Ohio Craft Museum, the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum and the Ohio Statehouse are all free historical attractions. If you're willing to travel a bit, the National Museum of the United States Air Force near Dayton is also free.
Columbus library culture pass
The Columbus Metropolitan Library regularly offers free tickets to otherwise paid events and museums to residents with library cards. Supplies are limited, though, so check the library's culture pass catalog here. With a culture pass, you can get into the following events or locations for free.
BalletMet performances
CAPA summer movie series
Columbus Children's Theatre performances
Columbus Clippers games on Sundays
Columbus Gay Men's Chorus performances
The Columbus Museum of Art
Columbus Symphony Masterworks performances
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
The Dawes Arboretum
Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Ohio History Center and Ohio Village
National Veterans Memorial and Museum
ProMusica Chamber Orchestra performances
@NathanRHart
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Affordable places an hour from Columbus to take bored kids this summer
