Last month I told you about the Roar and Explore vacation package in Columbus, Ohio and even had a giveaway for a lucky family. My family and I went to Columbus last year and just a few weeks ago we returned from our second trip there. The Roar and Explore package is a great vacation for the entire family and includes tickets to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Zoombezi Bay and COSI (Science Center). It also includes two nights at the Drury Inn.
We opted to stay at the Drury Inn downtown right next door to the Convention Center. This is the same one we stayed at last year. Both times we stayed were fantastic. The hotel is very clean and well maintained and the staff is extremely friendly and social. What my family really enjoys about the Drury Inn is the Kickback in the evening and breakfast in the morning which is included with your stay. The Kickback is a casual dinner which includes up to 3 alcoholic beverages for the adults. Soda is available for the little ones. The breakfast is a great way to start the day and not having to get in the car and drive to a restaurant or walk somewhere nearby is a great convenience. The Drury Inn also has an indoor/outdoor swimming pool as well as a hot tub.
The first place we visited was the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. The picture above was taken in the Polar Bear area. There is an underwater viewing area, but unfortunately when we were there, the polar bear was taking a nap in the sun, but we did get to see a lot of fish swimming around. The Zoo is a very large one that includes a bunch of hands on exhibits and you could definitely spend all day there. My daughter really enjoyed the flamingos as well as the Aquarium. One of the highlights was getting to watch a stingray eat because it was pressed up against the glass, which was something none of us had ever seen. We did not get to visit all of the areas of the Zoo and Aquarium because Zoombezi Bay, the water park right next door was calling us.
The weather the day we visited Zoombezi Bay was perfect. The temperature was in the upper 80s so getting wet and splashing around was a welcome treat. My daughter and I immediately went to the kid's area which includes what is pictured above. We went down the slides several times, but we were not brave enough to stand under the big bucket. My daughter also loved playing on the pirate ship. While we were doing this my husband went to the "big kid's" area and went down the body slides several times. There are 4 different body slides and each provide their own unique ride. There are also several slides that you have to use a tube on. Zoombezi Bay also has a large wave pool as well as a lazy river. The lazy river has a number of access points so my daughter came up with the idea that instead of walking from the kid's area to the wave pool and back we use the lazy river to get around. It was actually a great idea because we could keep cool and relax and float instead of walk. Zoombezi Bay has water activities to keep the entire family entertained.
On our second day in Columbus and after having a relaxing dinner at the Drury Inn the previous evening and a big breakfast that morning, we got in the car and drove a little less than a mile to COSI, the Center of Science of Industry. We had a lot of fun at COSI last year but knew this year would be even better because our daughter is older and can understand and enjoy more of the hands-on activities. The picture above was taken in her favorite area, Ocean. She clearly remembered it from last year and refers to it as the Little Mermaid area. We got to COSI before they opened but still got to have fun because the area outside in front was taken over by a bunch of large farm equipment and other vehicles. My daughter was given her own hard hat and was allowed to climb up on some of the tractors and pretend she was working. Then when we went inside she got to see and walk through a real cloud which is something she is still talking about. The time really flies when you visit COSI because there are so many exhibits to see and experience. Plus, they have an Omnimax Theater. Just like Zoombezi Bay, there is something for everyone at COSI, including a kid's play area that my daughter did not want to leave.
Right now you can get the Roar and Explore Package for a family of 4 starting at $361 plus tax. It includes the 3 attractions I described above as well as the 2 nights in a Drury Inn.
I am sure we will return to Columbus, Ohio again to take advantage of the great attractions they have there. Plus one thing my husband and I notice every time we visit is how clean and new the city is. The drive from Springfield, IL to Columbus, Ohio is a really quick and easy one and can be done in about 6 hours.
Thanks to Explore Columbus for my sample for review. Opinions are honest. Personal photos used in this review belong to My Springfield Mommy and may not be used without written permission from My Springfield Mommy.
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