This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Denison chapter.
Unfortunately, within the next few weeks, the 2011-2012 school year will be coming to a close. Many of us are planning to go back home, some of us have fabulous internships in big cities like New York, L.A. or Chicago. But some Denison students will be staying here on campus to do summer research and other odd jobs. Even though this grueling work calls for 40hr weeks, students in Granville for the summer still seem to have a lot of free time. Being an Ohio resident for the past 7 years, I’ve come to know some great places to go during the summer to make sure you never get bored!
Columbus Zoo & Aquarium/ Zoombezi Bay Water Park
For a day full of fun and sun, gather a few friends and head on over to Powell, OH. A blossoming area just north of Downtown Columbus is home to The Columbus Zoo & Aquarium and Zoombezi Bay Waterpark. Now this place is definitely one of the coolest places to go in Ohio. They have polar bears, monkeys, kangaroos and a waterslide that goes uphill! For the low price of $32.99 you can have your own exotic adventure right here in Central Ohio.
Kings Island & Soak City
Do like the feeling of free falling from 315ft in the air? Does the idea of spending a day eating cotton candy, funnel cake and ice cream excite your taste buds? Then a trip to Kings Island in Mason, OH may be something you need to look into this summer! With over 80 rides and attractions including 14 roller coasters, Kings Island is definitely an Ohio summer hot spot. New this year is the remodeled waterpark called Soak City so don’t forget your swimsuit, or else you’ll be high and dry during those hot summer days. With Kings Island being a short 2 hour drive from the central Columbus area it definitely is something to check out if you’re here for the summer. Ticket Price: Online 36.99 Gate: 53.99
Short North
This little strip of high end dining, shopping and nightlife can be found right in Columbus, OH. Located on High Street you can find fabulous dining options like Jenni’s Ice Cream, Bar Louie, Flatiron Bar & Diner, & Hyde Park. If you want to go shopping the Short North has a ton of fascinating little boutique shops that have stuff for everyone’s taste. Now if you want to have a little fun, I suggesting going out at night. That’s when the place really lights up, especially during Gallery Hop. The crowd comes alive, the drinks are flowing and it’s like music is floating over the whole area of downtown Columbus. One small thing, if you want to go on an outing to the Short North, I suggest: 1. Try to car pool if a lot of people want to go and 2. Bring small change. There are a lot of parking meters around downtown but they’re only great if you can park by one.
Cedar Point
Known as America’s Roller Coast, with an amazing 17 coasters scattered around the park, Cedar Point is literally are the place to go if you’re seeking an adrenaline rush. Cedar Point offers many lodging options right on site, so the possibility of visiting the park for more than one day is easily doable. Cedar Point, like Kings Island, also has a waterpark to help you cool off during the dog days of summer. Cedar Point is definitely a capitol vacation point for many people all over the country; in fact it’s one of the many things that Ohio can boast about. With record-breaking rides like Millennium Force, Top Thrill Dragster and Magnum XL-200 Cedar Point is probably the best place to face some of your biggest fears. No worries though, Cedar Point has tons of other options if you’re looking to keep your heart from beating through your chest. Prices for tickets this summer are $51.99 but if you go online sometimes the park has really good deals!
COSI
This isn’t your average museum, it’s science museum where you can become a part of the experiment. While this place is mainly geared toward kids, it definitely appeals to the kid at heart too. COSI offers 8 different areas with their basic ticket. My two favorite areas are definitely Progress and Ocean. All the exhibits are incredibly hands on and highly themed, so that dream you had of flying to space can easily become a reality. The best part of going to COSI is being able to act like you’re 5 years old for a good afternoon. So if you’re looking to unleash the child inside of you, a trip to COSI will only cost you $16.95 but if you want to do everything COSI has to offer the ticket is 26.50 and definitely worth it if you want to spend a whole day at COSI.