What if your favorite subject could plan your next getaway? Don’t worry, there won't be any quizzes or homework. Instead, consider this your syllabus for exploring Ohio's capital.
Columbus earns top marks for world-class attractions, a food scene gaining national buzz and signature Midwestern hospitality. As students head back to the classroom, we're taking a cue from the school year to help you plan the perfect visit. Discover the best things to do in Columbus, based entirely on your favorite school subject.
Columbus Booklovers Trail. Source: Birdie Books
If English Was Your Favorite
Find your next chapter here. Columbus is home to more than 15 independent bookstores, dozens of Columbus Metropolitan Library locations and a thriving literary scene. Start with the Columbus Booklovers Trail, which leads readers to literary landmarks across the region. Unlock a special souvenir—a cozy, collectible pullover—by checking in at each participating location.
If you enjoy getting lost in a good book, consider getting lost IRL at The Book Loft of German Village, one of the nation's largest independent bookstores and one of Columbus' most beloved attractions. Tucked inside a pre-Civil War building, the bookstore features 32 rooms filled with bargain-priced books, creating a maze where visitors can happily browse for hours. Bonus: small, leashed dogs are welcomed inside!
Just down the street, visit Thurber House, the restored former home of celebrated humorist and cartoonist James Thurber. Today, the Victorian landmark hosts author talks, writing workshops and exhibits honoring one of Columbus' most influential literary voices.
Looking for your next vacay read? Pick up a book by Columbus-connected authors like R.L. Stine, Maggie Smith or Hanif Abdurraqib, and take a piece of the city’s literary legacy home with you. After all, every great trip deserves a great ending.
German Village. Source: Experience Columbus.
If You Loved History
Step back in time with experiences that bring Ohio's past to life. Settled largely by German immigrants in the mid-1800s, German Village is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and remains one of Columbus’ most treasured neighborhoods. Its charm lies in its brick streets, beautifully restored homes and independent shops, offering a glimpse into the community's character and Columbus' early history.
Explore the Ohio History Center, where interactive exhibits trace everything from prehistoric Ohio to modern innovation. Located just outside, Ohio Village, a re-created 19th-century town spanning 8.5 acres, is undergoing a major renovation with plans to open in 2027. The upgrades will extend historic interpretations into the early 1900s.
Step into Ohio’s political past with a free, guided tour of the Ohio Statehouse, one of the oldest operating statehouses in the U.S. Look closely as you explore. Fossils millions of years old are embedded throughout the limestone walls and floors, and exhibits highlight Ohio's outsized role in American history, including its distinction as the birthplace of seven U.S. presidents.
As the nation's only museum dedicated to honoring veterans from all branches of the U.S. military and every era of service, the National Veterans Memorial and Museum shares the personal stories, sacrifices and experiences of those who served. Its striking architecture and deeply moving interactive exhibits make it a must-visit stop for history buffs.
COSI. Source: Experience Columbus.
If STEM Was Your Thing
Curious minds will find no shortage of discoveries in Columbus. Start at COSI, voted the No. 1 science museum in the country six times by USA TODAY 10Best. Each morning begins with the museum's signature Cloud Ceremony, where liquid nitrogen creates a dramatic, room-filling cloud that turns science into spectacle before your visit even begins. From there, explore hands-on exhibits, experience live science demonstrations and catch a show inside Ohio's largest planetarium beneath its spectacular 60-foot dome.
Keep the learning going at The Ohio State University. The Orton Geological Museum, one of Ohio's oldest museums, houses more than 54,000 fossils, minerals and meteorites, including fragments of the Allende meteorite, one of the oldest known rocks in our solar system. Just outside Dreese Laboratories, snap a photo with Garden of Constants, Barbara Grygutis' striking public art installation where mathematical formulas become works of art.
If life sciences are more your speed, head to the world-renowned Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Home to more than 10,000 animals representing over 600 species, it offers a deep dive into global wildlife conservation and animal care. Enhance your visit with a behind-the-scenes animal experience, where you can meet a baby elephant or koala, get up close with a cheetah and more.
Round out your STEM adventure at Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, where horticulture and environmental science take center stage. Explore biomes showcasing more than 400 plant species from around the world, then dig deeper with hands-on classes covering everything from beginner beekeeping to sustainable cooking and vegetable gardening.
Interior Huntington Atrium. Source: Columbus Museum of Art.
If You Were Always in Art Class
Creativity is everywhere in Columbus. From world-renowned paintings to bold contemporary works, the Columbus Museum of Art offers a creative introduction to the city's thriving arts scene. Admission is free for visitors age 25 and younger, adult caregivers accompanying children 16 and younger, and for everyone on Sundays.
Continue your museum tour at the Pizzuti Collection in the Short North Arts District, where rotating exhibitions showcase works by contemporary artists from around the world. Afterward, explore the neighborhood's independent galleries, colorful murals and local studios.
Next, head to The Ohio State University, where two renowned arts destinations sit just steps apart. Explore the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, home to the world's largest collection of cartoon and comic art, then visit the Wexner Center for the Arts, affectionately known as “The Wex,” an internationally recognized hub for contemporary visual art, film and performance.
Continue west to Franklinton Arts District, where former warehouses have been transformed into artist studios, galleries and creative spaces. If you'd rather make your own masterpiece, sign up for a hands-on workshop at the Columbus Glass Art Center.
Before you leave, stop by Topiary Park, where Georges Seurat's iconic painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte comes to life through more than 50 life-size topiary sculptures, creating one of the city's most distinctive artistic landscapes.
The Scioto Mile. Source: Experience Columbus.
If Gym Class Was Your Favorite
If you're happiest on the move, Columbus is your playground.
Stretch your legs at more than 20 Metro Parks, where 230 miles of trails wind through forests, wetlands, prairies and riverfront landscapes. For even more outdoor adventure, download the Columbus Outdoor Trails Pass, a free mobile guide featuring dozens of hiking, biking and paddling experiences across Central Ohio. Check in at participating locations to earn points and redeem prizes.
Sports fans will have a ball here. Cheer on the Columbus Crew, Columbus Blue Jackets or Columbus Fury, tour iconic Ohio Stadium and discover why Columbus has become one of the nation's leading destinations for major sporting events.
Put your own skills to the test with duckpin bowling at Pins Mechanical Co., pickleball at Pickle & Chill or one of the city's many active entertainment venues, where games, sports and friendly competition take center stage.
Source: Don't Tell Comedy
If You Were the Class Clown
If making people laugh was your favorite extracurricular activity, you'll fit right in.
Columbus' comedy scene continues to grow with stand-up shows and improv performances nearly every night of the week. Grab tickets to the Funny Bone Comedy Club, Hashtag Comedy, The Attic Comedy Club or one of Don't Tell Comedy's surprise pop-up performances.
Visiting in late August? Don't miss the third annual Columbus Comedy Festival, returning Aug. 27–30, 2026, with comedians performing across the city.
Extra Credit
If you can't pick just one favorite subject, that's okay. Columbus has a little bit of everything. Spend the morning exploring a museum, the afternoon shopping or hiking, and the evening discovering why the city's food scene continues to earn national recognition.
No matter what was on your report card, your next favorite lesson just might be discovering Columbus.
