Another outdoor destination downtown is the Topiary Park, located on East Town Street. You can literally step into Georges Seurat’s famous painting, “A Sunday Afternoon on the Isle of La Grande Jatte.” The artwork’s people and animals are sculpted in larger-than-life evergreen bushes. A great time to visit with youngsters is Sept. 8, when the Columbus Jazz Orchestra hosts “PBJ & Jazz,” a concert filled with toe-tapping tunes designed to turn tots into jazz fans. The Santa Maria ship, berthed downtown on the east bank of the Scioto River, lets young explorers learn what it was like to sail the ocean blue in 1492. This museum-quality replica of Christopher Columbus’ flagship welcomes guests aboard seasonally for tours and events. Practice your best “Ahoy, matey!” for Talk Like a Pirate Weekend Sept. 15-16 and get ready to shiver your timbers during the Haunted Ship Sept. 25-27.
fOCus On fun There’s plenty of indoor fun for kids, as well. At Easton Town Center, a popular shopping and entertainment center on the city’s northeast side, KDB is a massive arcade filled with more than 200 interactive games and top-prize machines. Easton also is home to stores made just for kids, such as Build-A-Bear Workshop, where you can create a fuzzy friend. And check out the LEGO Store, which has a giant Pick-A-Brick Wall, an interactive play area and model displays. If you’re in the mood for a movie, check out Easton’s super-sized theater, as well as the Arena Grand Movie Theatre downtown, Gateway film Center near Ohio State’s campus and Marcus Cinema Pickerington, east of Columbus. More chances to challenge one another can be found at Magic Mountain fun Center. Both the east side location and the one near Polaris fashion Place mall feature arcade games as well as play areas, miniature golf and go-karts. Bowling is another fun outlet for friendly competition; nab a lane at sequoia Pro Bowl on the north side or Ten Pin Alley in Hilliard. If laser tag is more up your alley, take the gang to Lazer Kraze in Lewis Center. For family fun involving ghouls and ghosts head to scareATorium, located in the northwest suburb of Dublin. Most nights this Halloween attraction is open are guaranteed to be truly scary, but Sunday Lights-on Family Tours are milder. Friendly guides take kids and their parents on tours free of scary monsters, taking the focus off fear and putting it on fun. Now that’s a concept everyone can agree on. | Kimberly Byce
Let’s Explore
the engaging new exhibits in the Museum at the Ohio History Center! Museum & Store open: Wed.-Sat. 10-5, and Sunday 12-5.
Exhibit is free with paid admission. Follow the Flag See actual Civil War battle flags and experience stories in the words of Ohioans who carried the flags.
CONTROVERSY
PIECES WE DON’T TALK ABOUT
EXHIBIT NOW OPEN • Free with paid admission
Visitors under 18 years old must be accompanied by an adult.
Ohio History Center 800 E. 17th Ave. (I-71, exit 111)
Ohio Historical Society
Columbus, OH 43211 800.686.6124 | www.ohiohistory.org
OhioHistory
Call 1-866-397-2657 for more information
018-034_WVG.indd 27
27
10/24/12 11:08 AM