4 Best Sights in Columbus, Ohio

Zoo director emeritus "Jungle Jack" Hanna draws the late-night spotlight to the Columbus Zoo with his regular appearances, along with his cadre of animals, on the Late Show with David Letterman. The 588-acre zoo lies along the Scioto River, about 25 mi northwest of Downtown. Sights include a 100,000-gallon coral reef exhibit, one of the largest reptile collections in the United States and the largest manatee exhibit outside Florida. The newest exhibit is Asia Quest, which showcases fascinating Himalayan creatures like Siberian tigers, red pandas, and sun bears.

In 2006 the zoo bought the adjacent Wyandot Lake theme park from Six Flags and is renovating it in time to open for the 2008 season. The updated park will feature a theme park side and a water park side, as well as golf and, eventually, a hotel and indoor water park. The zoo and expanded theme park will share a common entrance, and visitors to both will receive discounted admissions.

More than 18 million people have come through COSI's doors since it opened in 1964. Interactive exhibits at this first-class science center allow you to explore underwater shipwrecks, discover hidden treasures, or join an archaeological dig. Find the country's only high-wire unicycle at the outdoor Big Science Park. You'll also be able to time travel in "Progress," leaping from 1889 to 1962 in the blink of an eye.

Exhibits, which span from antique dolls to modern collectibles such as GI Joe, bring out the educational, historical, and cultural significance of these toys. The collection, which numbers in the thousands, includes Disney memorabilia, toy trains, and circus items. The museum is about 15 mi southeast of Downtown.

Adjacent to the world headquarters of the American Motorcycle Association, about 20 mi east of Downtown, the museum displays the actual machines that Hall of Fame inductees rode and celebrates the accomplishments of the more than 260 men and women recognized by the Motorcycle Hall of Fame, such as Evel Knievel and the founders of the Harley-Davidson Motor Co.