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Stroll the quaint, uneven brick streets of Columbus' German Village or bask in the splendor of downtown's mix of riverfront skyscrapers and storefronts.

Home to Ohio State University's Buckeyes, Columbus, Ohio boasts quality education, museums, art, and pedestrian friendly pockets. Park your car at the Short North and peruse unique shops, eateries, and galleries or join the Gallery Hop the first Friday of the month. Or make your way to the historic German Village for authentic brawtwursts and sausage at Schmidt's.

The capital and largest city of Ohio, Columbus has a reputation for a varied economy of politics, education, and a thriving retail history. Leslie Wexner started his career with the successful apparel chains The Limited, launching a retail conglomerate including Victoria's Secret, Bath and Body Works, Henri Bendel, among many more. While Columbus is often overlooked as a family destination, its collection of economical entertainment and attractions options has created an influx of tourism over the years.

 Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
9990 Riverside Drive
Powell, OH 43065
800/MONKEYS or 614/645-3550
Nestled in the northwest corner of the city, over 660 species from all regions of the planet frolic, nap and wander in their naturalistic habitats at the Columbus Zoo. The Shores, only one of the three outside Florida, is home to three female Florida manatees. Other attractions are the gorillas in the African Forest, the Pachyderm yard (the world's largest indoor elephant exhibit), Australia, and North America, where visitors can see Bald Eagles, Cougars, and stroll through the Migratory Songbird Aviary.

Easton Town Center
160 Easton Town Center
Columbus, OH 43219
614/416-7000
Easton Town Center opened its doors in 2000 as an unusual shopping, entertainment and recreation experience. It features an AMC 30-screen movie theater and a Discovery Channel Store. There is also the Shadowbox Cabaret, Funny Bone Comedy Club and GameWorks and Gymboree for toddlers. In a city with such chilly winters, here's an indoor entertainment destination where families can play, eat, drink and socialize in a series of dynamic "zones."

Magic Mountain Fun Centers
East Center
5890 Scarborough Road (Brice RD & I-70)
Columbus, OH 43232
Polaris Center
8350 Lyra Drive (Polaris PKWY & I-71)
Columbus, OH 43240
614/840-9600
These centers are like mini amusement parks, with arcades, KidsGym playgrounds, mini-golf, go-karts (including Rookie Karts for younger drivers), and other amusements at each location like laser tag, bumper cars, and bumper boats. The Polaris Center also has an all-you-can-eat Italian buffet while the East Center has a Cafe.

The Short North
1126 1/2-A North High Street
Columbus, OH 43201
614/299-8050
Adjacent to the Arena District, The Short North boasts a variety of shopping, galleries, kid-friendly restaurants and more. It's easily walkable, making it convenient to park the car and let the kids go exploring or play at Goodale Park. For a special treat, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams (614/294-5364) has a dazzling array of original creations from salty caramel to cocoa zin for more adventurous eaters. Art loving families can check out the gallery hop the first Saturday of every month where galleries open their doors to the public and the streets bustle with excitement.

Columbus Clippers- Minor League Baseball
Cooper Stadium
1155 West Mound Street
Columbus, OH 43223
614/462-5250
Playing through early April until early September, the Columbus Clippers are a Triple A team of the Cleveland Indians. For $6 for adults and $3 for children, the family can enjoy hot dogs, cracker jacks and the ballgame. In between innings, Lou Seal and Krash will entertain the kids with wacky games and entertainment. Themed nights include Fun Run, where fans can take a lap around the diamond, and Party-at-the-Park.  Note: The Clippers will be moving to the new Huntington Park in Columbus for the 2009 season.  Ticket prices have not been announced yet.