The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium isn’t just big — it’s beloved, consistently ranked among America’s very best zoos and powered by the legacy of Jack Hanna himself. With kids in tow, strategy is everything.
Arrive at opening and head straight for the newest thrills: the immersive North America Trek region, then circle to the Heart of Africa’s savanna, where giraffe feedings put little hands at eye level with giants. The Congo Expedition’s gorillas and Adventure Cove’s sea lions reward patient watchers midday, while the aquarium’s manatees — Columbus is the only zoo outside Florida with a manatee rehabilitation program — steal every heart.
Ride the train and the 1914 carousel, build in snack stops, and let the kids’ map wishes lead.
One day is never enough — which is exactly why Columbus families buy the membership.
