Lou Berliner Sports Park – Area Bucket List

Columbus is the state capital of Ohio and a popular destination for travelers heading to the Midwest. Attending an athletic event at the Lou Berliner Sports Park will put you in an ideal spot to experience all that Columbus has to offer.

The city is lively and has no shortage of attractions and activities to offer its visitors. When you head to Columbus, you’ll want to have a plan of all the places you want to visit. Spend time at some of the best spots in the city and make the most out of your trip. Below is a bucket list of all the top sights you should visit when you are at Lou Berliner Sports Park.

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and Zoombezi Bay

The Columbus Zoo has been through many changes throughout the years. Those changes have certainly paid off because it is consistently ranked among the top zoos in the United States.

When the Columbus Zoo first opened in 1927, it was nothing but a small collection of animals. Once Jack Hanna became the director in 1978, the zoo began its turnaround. Jack Hanna went above and beyond to tackle every challenge, bring in new endangered animals, and improve the lives of the animals in the zoo. By taking a 33-minute drive from the Lou Berliner Sports Park you can be at the zoo and see the result of this dedicated work.

Admission to the zoo also grants you access to the aquarium at no additional charge. Between the zoo and aquarium, there are over 120 different species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. They have some animals that are quite common in the wild. However, they do place a high value on conservation so there are endangered or threatened species in the zoo as well. These animals include the Amur tiger, Aruba rattlesnake, Asian elephant, black rhinoceros, bonobo, cheetah, dama gazelle, grey-crowned crane, eastern hellbender, flame hawkfish, Mexican wolf, and many more.

You receive access to the aquarium with your admission to the zoo, but you must buy a separate ticket for the attached Zoombezi Bay waterpark. There are 14 attractions to experience at Zoombezi Bay. After hours walking through the zoo, laze about on a raft in the Croctail Creek with a cocktail in hand. Or seek out some thrills on the Sea Snakes ride where you whip through a snake-like slide before plummeting into a splash pool.

Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

If you love nature, gardening, or just want to take some beautiful photos of landscapes and architecture, you should add the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens to your bucket list. Located roughly five miles from the Lou Berliner Sports Park and two miles from Downtown Columbus, this conservatory has been around since 1993.

In total, the park and gardens span 13 acres. It is comprised of the conservatory building, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden, and the Grand Mallway. Within these areas you’ll come across botanical biomes, gardens, art and horticulture exhibits, and glass works by American glass sculptor Dale Chihuly. Check their website for seasonal exhibits as well.

Admission to all of these areas costs $19, $16 for seniors, and $12 for children. Discounts are available for AAA members, college students, and active or retired service members.

Adjacent to the conservatory and gardens is The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Community Garden Campus. This four-acre garden is free to the public and consists of an apiary, rose pavilion, berry house, and community gardens.

Topiary Park

The seven-acre Topiary Park used to be the site of a school for the deaf. In 1953, the school relocated to the north side of Columbus. Years later, in 1981, a fire destroyed almost all the school buildings. One building remained, and thanks to preservation efforts, the building was left standing and became part of the Old Deaf School Park. The area was also named a historic district. By 1992, Columbus artist and Columbus Parks and Recreation employee James T. Mason proposed and succeeded in turning this space into the Topiary Park it is today.

The topiary is what makes this park so famous. It is actually a representation of Georges Seurat’s Post-Impressionist painting, A Sunday Afternoon on the Isle of La Grand Jatte. You can view each shrub figure individually, but to see the painting that Mason was depicting, guests should view the living art from the easternmost hill.

However, there is more to Topiary Park than just topiary statues and shrubs. There are walks throughout the park that will take you past flowerbeds and over 200 trees. Additionally, there is a pond that represents the Seine river in Paris. When you visit, stop in the gatehouse, which compliments the former deaf school building that remains in the park. The gatehouse serves as the Visitor’s Center, and it is also where the restrooms and gift shop are located.

This park is definitely worth a spot on your bucket list for its gorgeous, well-kept landscape. Whether you want to bring lunch and sit by the pond or snap some photos, it’s a perfect way to escape the city for a few hours. Self-guided and docent-led tours available. It is only three miles from the Lou Berliner Sports Park, and admission to the park is free.

Thurber House

If you love literature, put the Thurber House on your bucket list! This was once the home of James Thurber, a cartoonist for The New Yorker, and the author of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and nearly 40 other books. Thurber lived there with his family while he was attending Ohio State University. It is a nine-minute drive from the Lou Berliner Sports Park.

The Thurber House underwent extensive renovation before opening to the public in 1984. Now it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has become a gathering place for writers, readers, and fans of Thurber in general.

Taking a self-guided tour of this beautiful and well-maintained building is free. Guided tours, which cost $4 for adults and $2 for students and seniors, run on Sundays. Special events, lectures, and educational programs also take place there. Over the years, many authors, including Sharon Draper, Diane Ackerman, T.C. Boyle, Lee Child, and Amy Tan, have visited the Thurber House to give lectures or take part in Summer Literary Picnics.

Ohio Theatre

The Ohio Theatre is a splendor rich with stunning architecture and detailing inside and out. With its Spanish Baroque-style architecture and glamorous decor, the building alone is a remarkable sight. You’ll be blown away by the 21-foot-high chandelier and the luxurious furnishings that were handpicked by Anne Doran, one of the first female graduates from Columbia School of Architecture.

Over 100 shows are performed at the Ohio Theatre each year. This includes live music and dance performances, Broadway in Columbus, and the Columbus Association for the Performing Art’s Summer Movie Series. To see events lined up for when you’re in the city, check their website.

Visitors are also sometimes able to take free tours of the venue to get a behind-the-scenes look. You’ll have to check with the box office to see what dates are being offered for tours. Fortunately, reaching the theater won’t take long because it is only two and a half miles from the Lou Berliner Sports Park.

German Village

In the mid-1800s, German immigrants settling south of Downtown Columbus led to the area becoming known as German Village. As more German immigrants arrived throughout the 1800s, they quickly settled in the South End of German Village, feeling at home with others who spoke the same language and shared similar customs. By 1865, one-third of the population in Columbus was German. They gained the respect of other Americans by fighting in the Civil War and improving local businesses, churches, and schools.

However, after World War I and World War II, the neighborhood went into a major decline. It wasn’t until 1960 that the neighborhood was revitalized and saved from demolition. In 1974, It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today German Village is mostly a residential neighborhood of red-brick homes and a small section of businesses on Third Street, Mohawk Street, and Whittier Avenue.

Exploring German Village is a relaxing way to spend a day. In order to reach this neighborhood, take an eight-minute drive from the Lou Berliner Sports Park. Once you’re there, you get a true sense of the tight-knit community and history associated with this area. There are also some unique businesses you will come across and restaurants that serve deliciously authentic German cuisine.

Center of Science and Industry

For over 55 years, the Center of Science and Industry, more commonly known as “COSI,” has been engaging and inspiring the local community and visitors alike. COSI is fun for everyone, no matter who you are or what you’re into. So whether you’re going by yourself, with a group of friends, or with your family, you’re bound to have an amazing time. By taking a nine-minute drive from the Lou Berliner Sports Park, you can learn more about science and take part in fun, interactive exhibits.

Temporary exhibits rotate throughout the year, but there over 15 permanent exhibits. A few of these exhibits include Big Machines, Big Science Park, Gadgets, Life, Ocean, and Space. Many of the exhibits feature hands-on experiences, such as being able to plant seeds in Farm Days or building machines in Gadgets. When buying tickets, you can choose between either the general admission or do-it-all ticket, the latter of which costs $15 more.

Short North Arts District

Nine minutes from the Lou Berliner Sports Park is one of the liveliest areas in Columbus: the Short North Arts District. With over 300 businesses, numerous galleries, and a ton of hip eateries and bars, it’s easy to spend an entire day there. Don’t miss out on visiting this vibrant neighborhood!

You can explore the district all year-round. Take your time shopping, dining, viewing public artwork, and visiting galleries. However, if you’re in Columbus on the first Saturday of the month, take advantage of the monthly Gallery Hop. Starting around 4 p.m., the neighborhood transforms into an art extravaganza. Exhibits, street performers, live music, and food and drink vendors line the streets of this neighborhood. Bars and restaurants also stay open much later to accommodate visitors. In fact, many restaurants, boutiques, and salons often become non-traditional spaces for emerging artists to exhibit their work. This is one artsy party you don’t want to pass up!

Scioto Mile

The iconic Scioto Mile is minutes from the Lou Berliner Sports Park and should be a must-see on your bucket list. In fact, you can reach the Lower Scioto Greenway from the Lou Berliner Sports Park. The Scioto Mile connects eight parks, and there are over 175 acres of parkland. If you want to start in the heart of this popular downtown destination, stop by the well-known Bicentennial Park, which is two and a half miles from the Lou Berliner Sports Park. It is easy to navigate up and down the Scioto Mile by foot or bike. All parks and the Scioto Mile itself are open year-round and free to the public.

Along the pathways that span the riverfront you will be able to stop at the following parks: Bicentennial Park, Dorrian Green, Genoa Park, Battelle Riverfront Park, North Bank Park, McFerson Commons, Scioto Audubon Metro Park, and Alexander AEP Park. All of these parks have their own unique features, such as eateries, statues, and gardens.

Some of the most notable features located in these parks include the Scioto Mile Fountain at Bicentennial Park, the Riverfront Amphitheater in Genoa Park, the Columbus Union Train Station Arch in McFerson Commons, and the climbing wall in Scioto Audubon.

There is so much to do and see that you might want to take a few hours over a couple of days to walk around the different parks. Head outside to relax and take in the stunning Columbus skyline and riverfront views.