This post was written in partnership with Ohio. Find It Here. As always, all opinions and pictures are my own unless noted otherwise.
It’s road trip season and the weather is warm, making it the perfect time to get outdoors and explore. What better thing to plan your outdoor travel around than art and food?
How does grabbing a coffee-to-go and drinking it as you look at outdoor murals, followed by fueling up at a German restaurant with a stunning outdoor Biergarten, and then finding all the sculptures on the African American Sculpture trail sound? Look no further than this day trip to Downtown Columbus! I’ve created an itinerary for you and your family (of all ages) to enjoy all of this and more.
From iconic museums to inspiring murals to eating locally made cheesecake on a rooftop with views of Downtown, there’s art and food for every kind of adventurer to be found in Columbus.
Stop 1: Fuel up at The Roosevelt Coffeehouse
Before a day of exploration, especially with kids, the first stop must be a local coffee shop. You have to fuel up for the day ahead. The Roosevelt Coffeehouse, located in The Discovery District of Downtown Columbus, is a great start. They have great high-quality coffee drinks made with coffee that they roast themselves and tea/soda/juice/snacks.
One thing I really love about them is they donate to organizations fighting the injustices of hunger, unclean water, and human trafficking. You can read more about their mission here.
Once you’ve grabbed your drink of choice, walk across the street to check out the colorful Blockfort mural located at N. 6th St. & E. Lafayette St.
Address: 462 W Broad St, Columbus, OH 43215
Parking: On-street
Stop 2: Columbus Museum of Art
When thinking of Art in Columbus, a stop at the Columbus Museum of Art must be on your list. On the outside, the building is a stunning work of art with its eye-catching colors, modern lines and shapes, and overall architecture. On the inside, an incredible collection that includes outstanding late nineteenth and early twentieth-century American and European modern works of art.
The Museum has outdoor artwork just outside its entrance in both the front and back and the sides. You can view and explore these sculptures without admission to the Museum. There is also a sculpture garden located on the north side of the Museum. The garden features four sections: the patio located off the Museum’s restaurant, Schokko Art Café, the Sycamore Grove, the Event Lawn, and the Birch Walk.
Karnak (Sculpture Court)
Julian Schnabel
Golem
Patinated bronze
Robert Murray
Wasahaban
After you’ve viewed the outdoor pieces, make sure you stop inside. The museum is very family-friendly, with areas focused on families with children. Two of our favorites are the Think Outside the Brick exhibit and The Wonder Room gallery in the JP Morgan Chase Center for Creativity.
Think Outside the Brick
The Creative Art of LEGO exhibit features an enormous model of Columbus built collaboratively by the Ohio LEGO User’s Group. The exhibition includes the return of familiar landmarks and imaginative creations. It’s always fun to spot a few of your favorite places around Columbus, like Highline Coffee Shop in Downtown Worthington.
The Wonder Room
The Wonder Room is an experimental, one-of-a-kind gallery in the JP Morgan Chase Center for Creativity – an area of the museum dedicated to being family-friendly. Works of art are displayed in unexpected ways. You’ll find hands-on activities around the gallery.
Address: 480 E Broad St, Columbus, OH 43215
Parking: Lot, On-street
Tip: The museum is free on Sundays. You do need to make reservations online before visiting.
Stop 3: Lunch at Gemüt Biergarten
Gemüt Biergarten is a German-style Biergarten and brewery located in a renovated firehouse space in Olde Towne East, Columbus, Ohio. The old Engine House #12 dated back to 1897 and had a previous life as the home of the Columbus Music Hall, which closed in 2008.
On the menu, you’ll find a little bit of everything. I had a delicious Peach Sangria that comes in a Goblet. It was very refreshing and perfect for a summer day. Stephen enjoyed a War Boar Dry-Hopped Pils. Suggests ordering the litre instead of the 16oz. I suggest getting the Bavarian Pretzel with honey mustard and Bier Cheese. The kids will love it and it pairs perfectly with your adult-friendly drinks.
Bavarian Pretzel – Jumbo fresh baked pretzel topped with salt
We shared the Paprika Schnitzel, and I highly recommend it. Chicken schnitzel, topped with a creamy gravy flavored with sweet and smoked paprika and a sweet and spicy pepper relish. The perfect crunch and wonderful flavor combinations. Kasespatzle w/ Bacon and Mushrooms + Pomme Frites make excellent side dishes to the Schnitzel.
Paprika Schnitzel 
Kasespatzle w/ Bacon + Mushrooms and Pomme Frites
You seat yourself when you walk in and order in a super convenient way. You scan the QR code, pick your food and give them your table number. A short time later, your drinks and food are delivered to your table. Food comes in to-go containers. If this doesn’t make dining out with kids easy, check out the kids area. A table, chairs, blocks and books.
Address: 734 Oak St, Columbus, OH 43205
Parking: Lot, On-street
Stop 4: Columbus African American Sculpture Tour
The Columbus African American sculpture tour includes 11 outdoor sculptures created by African American artists. This tour highlights the works of the following African American sculptors: Omar Shaheed, Queen Brooks, Chief Baba Shongo Obadina, Andrew F. Scott, Charles McGee, and Melvin Edwards.
Kwanzza Playground, Columbus City Park
At this Columbus City Park, English Park, you will find two different sculptures – The “Baobab Tree” and African Portal. The park is designed in the shape of a human, which represents a first ancestor. The park focuses on positive African-American images based around the concept that “It takes a whole village to raise a child.”
The African Portal is by Queen Brooks, one of the seven original artists who contributed to the Kwanzaa Playground. You’ll walk under the piece as you enter the park. Brooks work symbolizes peace and tries to bring a sense of welcoming and calm to all visitors.
The “Baobab Tree” is one of two of artist Andrew F. Scott’s contributions to the Kwanzaa Playground. It is located at the back of the park. His second piece is “Adinkra Fence,” which surrounds the park.
Fun Fact: The Kwanzaa playground was developed in 1995 as a joint effort between the community and the city of Columbus. It features two structures with fun climbing features.
Address: 1277 Bryden Rd, Columbus, OH 43205
King Arts Complex
Just a short drive down the street, you will find the King Arts Complex. The King Arts Complex works to connect the community through the arts. They offer performing, cultural and educational programs of high artistic merit that increase and spread knowledge regarding the vast and significant contributions of African-Americans to the culture and history of America and the world.
Just out front of the building, you’ll find “Akua’ba Invocation Figure.” It is one of eight Invocation Figures by Andrew F. Scott. The Akua’ba fertility figure has historically been used by the Akan women of West Africa to aid in conception.
Along the south exterior walls of the King Arts Complex, you’ll see a colorful mural filled with powerful images. The mural combines work between the three artists Marcus Billingsley and AdaObinnia Ijomah and Lance Johnson.
Download the PDF to see a map of all the locations
If you want to checkmark another playground in Columbus off your list, there is a fantastic one just as you enter the parking lot. It has a few slides, fun climbing features, a unique teeter-totter, and no mulch!
Address: 835 Mt Vernon Ave, Columbus, OH 43203
Stop 5: Dessert at Budd Dairy Food Hall
Budd Dairy Food Hall is a chef-driven incubator with eight unique kitchens and a revolving pop-up. It is a wonderful spot to stop and grab an adult-friendly beverage and dessert.
For a special treat after a great day of exploring, The Cheesecake Girl is the spot to go. The Cheesecake Girl is a Columbus-based bakery that focuses on local ingredients & made from scratch baked goods. Our favorites are the mini cheesecakes, perfect for little hands, and cheesecake cookie sandwiches. With that being said, you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu.
There are bar areas, the main dining hall where all the vendors are, outdoor seating, and a rooftop with stunning views of Downtown Columbus.
Address: 1086 N 4th St, Columbus, OH 43201
Parking: Lot, On-street
Stop 6: 934 Gallery
The last stop of the day is at an outdoor art space filled with stunning murals. 934 Gallery showcases over 2,700 square feet of exhibition space in the Milo-Grogan District, just a few minutes from Downtown. The gallery features local, national, and international artists. An indoor gallery is currently open by appointment, and an incredible outdoor gallery with numerous murals you are free to explore without an appointment.
ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴀʟʟᴇʀʏ ꜰᴏᴄᴜꜱᴇꜱ ᴏɴ ʙʀɪɴɢɪɴɢ ᴀ ꜰʀᴇꜱʜ ᴘᴇʀꜱᴘᴇᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴏɴ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴇᴍᴘᴏʀᴀʀʏ ᴀʀᴛ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴇxᴄɪᴛɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ᴘʀᴏᴠᴏᴋɪɴɢ ᴇxʜɪʙɪᴛɪᴏɴꜱ, ɪɴꜱᴛᴀʟʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴꜱ, ᴘᴇʀꜰᴏʀᴍᴀɴᴄᴇꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ᴘᴜʙʟɪᴄ ᴀʀᴛ ᴘʀᴏᴊᴇᴄᴛꜱ.
The girls were mesmerized throughout the entire visit. They were excited to point out what they saw to us and explained it in their own toddler way. Exploring the outdoor gallery is a fun way to introduce the girls to different artists/types of art and watch them explore and see what they discover. It is an amazing moment of witnessing the world through their eyes.
Address: 934 Cleveland Ave. Columbus, OH 43201
Parking: Street
Outfits are by local maker Jen Sanger of Jamison & Bexley
If you plan to stay overnight after your day of adventure through Columbus, here are five places to stay.
For more ideas on how to find captivating murals and installations throughout Ohio, check out this Art Road Trip. If you’re looking for foodie fill-ups along the way, check this out.
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