Why is it that our to-do lists, filled with places we want to visit and restaurants we want to try, always seem to grow rather than get smaller? When my fiance and I found ourselves with a free weekend recently, we decided to take full advantage and finally cross an item off our list. After much debate—yes, the list is that long—we settled on the Wilds .

Located in southeast Ohio, the Wilds is one of the largest conservation centers in the country. Rare and endangered species from around the world live in this 10,000-acre, open-range habitat. Take one of the several tours offered, and you will get an up close and personal look into this extraordinary world. Only 74 miles from Columbus, the breathtaking views—think open land and rolling hills—made it hard to believe we were still in Ohio.

Once there, we opted for the Open Air Safari, a 2-½ hour tour of the open-range animal areas. We felt like we were entering a scene from Jurassic Park, minus the dinosaurs. Buffalo, giraffe, rhinos and more roamed about freely. A curious few even ventured near enough to the bus for some great candid shots. Along the way, our tour guide shared a wealth of knowledge, fun facts and funny stories with us. At the end of the day, we walked away with more information, stunning pictures and a deeper appreciation for the Wilds’ mission to “advance conservation through science, education and personal experience.”

If the Wilds is not already on your to-do list, it should be. Complete details on tours, pricing and special events can be found here .

TORK sculptures:
15-foot-tall North American Pitcher Plants
Photo: Franklin Park Conservatory

I’ll admit, never before have I spent time thinking about meat-eating plants. As a kid, I remember seeing Venus flytraps and thinking they were cool, but it stopped there.

That is, until I saw the new exhibit at the Franklin Park Conservatory: Savage Gardens: The Real and Imaginary World of Carnivorous Plants . It runs through Nov. 14.

It’s a fascinating exhibit that is a combination of hundreds of live plants that lure, catch, kill and digest insects for energy; four larger-than-life sculptures based on these bizarre plants; a juried art show and two commissioned art works.

The group I was with had fun seeing the sculptures, then searching for the real plant. I think our favorite was the Venus flytrap. We learned that an insect has to stroke the inside of the leaf twice before the trap closes (at which point we "oohed" and "aahed" and said, "Do it again!") To make the most of your experience, I highly recommend attending the horticulturist presentation in the showroom each day at 1 p.m. Also, Family Fun Saturdays are held at 11 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month with activities and crafts.

Not being much of a gardener myself, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the exhibit. Another great surprise was the enormous sculptures, designed and fabricated by TORK, Inc. , a Columbus-based company. The sculptures, such as the brilliant seven Pitcher Plants in the courtyard, are both really beautiful art and an effective tool to better understand these little-known plants and how they function.

Savage Gardens was created by the Franklin Park Conservatory and will be made available to tour at other botanical gardens around the country.

To plan your visit to Franklin Park Conservatory and review the many programs offered there, visit fpconservatory.org .

Photo: Wexner Center for the Arts

For many people, outdoor movies carry a sense of nostalgia: childhood memories of visiting the local park—popcorn and blanket in tow—to watch a movie with friends, family and neighbors. Well, outdoor movies are back, and in a big way.

Sure, you may be familiar with the free movie screenings in NYC’s Central Park or the Screen on the Green series at the National Mall in D.C., but did you know that Columbus has plenty of its own outdoor movie options? With unique venues such as Creekside Plaza and Easton Town Center, and movie options ranging from black and white classics to animated flicks, it’s an experience that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.

To get you started, I’ve put together a list of outdoor movie series throughout Columbus. All are completely free, family-friendly events that are certain to get you out of a summer rut. Pick you favorite flick, pop some popcorn and do something different this summer! (more…)

Checking out the polar bears

The highly anticipated Polar Frontier attraction at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium opened last month. I have been to many zoos and animal parks across the country, and I can honestly say this is the coolest exhibit I have ever seen.

Polar Frontier represents a long-abandoned mining town in the Arctic Circle, and connects you to the animals that live in some of the coldest climates in the world.

When you enter, the first animals you encounter are the Arctic fox - Ice, Anana, Cassius and Brutus. Their habitat is a garden shed that sits against the abandoned mine and includes an outdoor yard and indoor den with visitor viewing at both. (more…)

Columbus Arts Festival
Photo: Randall Lee Schieber

At Experience Columbus, we hear a variety of reasons why people love Columbus. One that comes up time and time again? This city’s festivals and events. Art, music, food, games, ethnic culture, sports…we’ve got ‘em all, and then some.

If you’re one of the many who love Columbus festivals, you’re in luck because you have the chance to win some pretty sweet prize packages. The members of the Greater Columbus Events Council are celebrating the festivals and events season by offering up several giveaways over the next several months. And the first two start now.

Here’s the first set of prize packages to be won by two lucky readers: (more…)

With the forecast calling for good weather this weekend, it’s time to take advantage of the great outdoors! The Boy Scouts of America are celebrating their 100th anniversary this year by bringing Adventure Base 100 to the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium on May 22-23.

Adventure Base 100 is a huge mobile, hands-on exhibit that will turn 10,000 square feet of the zoo into a scout experience that is fun for the whole family. Relive scouting days with your family on the ropes course, view awesome videos on the IMAX-like Go! Dome, or participate in the on-stage activities. And that’s just to start – there are many more activities!

The event is a fantastic experience, and because it’s being held at the country’s number one zoo you can spend an entire day exploring. Check out more details here .

The Titanic Exhibit at COSI is so much more than just artifacts and information. It transports you back in time, it tells a story, and it evokes real emotion.

Prior to entering the exhibit, each person is assigned an identity of an actual passenger that was aboard the Titanic. The passenger name, age, city of origin, class (first, second, or third), names of any family members, traveling companions, reason for being on the Titanic and a passenger fact are listed.

When I approached the first artifact, a pair of glasses, I was immediately struck by what great condition they were in! It was truly amazing to think that these very spectacles were on the ship that sunk in 1912 and were submerged under water for at least another 73 years before they were resurrected (Titanic remains weren’t discovered until 1985).

However, it was not the artifacts alone that really impressed me. (more…)

Photo: Franklin Park Conservatory

Now that the snow has melted, the sun’s shining and the weather is continuing to warm up, it seems the end of winter is finally here. What better way to get in the mood for spring than a trip to the Franklin Park Conservatory ?

Now’s the time to catch Blooms & Butterflies , one of the Franklin Park Conservatory’s most popular exhibits. On March 13, hundreds of butterflies invaded the Conservatory, representing more than 100 species from around the world. This is the exhibit’s seventeenth season, and it will run through July 4, 2010.

You can visit the Conservatory daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., or Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., when hours are extended for the after-work crowd. For the bargain hunters out there, note that if you schedule your visit on the first Wednesday of the month you’ll enjoy free admission!

And while you’re there, don’t forget to check out the Conservatory Garden Café. Unique dishes, seasonal ingredients and a constantly rotating menu make this a worthwhile stop. If you plan to drop by for lunch or dinner, but don’t have time to enjoy the entire Conservatory, there’s no need to pay the admission fee. Cafe hours are 11 a.m.-3 p.m daily, and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. on Wednesdays.

Today’s post is written by Kristin Marks, a.k.a. cBus Mom . She writes a blog by the same name , which she created to offer suggestions and reviews of kid-friendly activities in Central Ohio. She also writes for Ohio Moms Blog and is a monthly contributor to Columbus Underground .

Here, she shares her experience at the Columbus Children’s Theatre , the award winning professional theater that has been entertaining families for over 40 years.

———————————————————-

Columbus Children’s Theatre: Engaging, fun and affordable
By Kristin Marks, cBus Mom

I recently went with a friend and three little girls to see Rapunzel at Columbus Children’s Theatre . We got the girls gussied up in their finest princess frocks and spent the afternoon enjoying the theater.

I have to admit, I was a bit nervous because the girls were not quite 4 years old (theater gives that as a suggested viewing age) and I worried that their attention spans would get lost in the middle, but that was not the case. Aside from a short game of musical laps, the girls did great at their first theatrical performance.

I think the elements the actors used to command audience participation helped keep the attention of little ones. The play was engaging and fun for the children because not only were the characters entertaining, but the children got to participate.

At the start of the show the audience was prompted to make certain noises or hand gestures when the witch came on stage. Each time the witch came out we all said in a scary voice "ooooohhh," and immediately there was giggling from kids - they loved being part of the production. Also, many times throughout the play there were chase scenes where an actor would run into the audience and sit in an empty seat. (more…)