Discover Franklin: Nature, Culture, and Unique Experiences

Franklin combines nature experiences with museums, architecture, and unique activities. The range is apparent in its parks: Franklin County is home to 19 Metro Parks with more than 200 miles of trails in total. In addition to trails through a variety of landscapes, you’ll find destinations for activities on the water or mountain biking.

Nature in Many Forms

Quarry Trails has transformed an abandoned quarry into a recreation destination. The park’s distinctive features include a 25-foot waterfall and a challenging 0.75-mile mountain biking trail. The park thus combines the quarry’s history with recreation and a sporting challenge on two wheels.

The names and landscapes of other parks each tell their own story. Three Creeks is named for the confluence of Alum Creek, Big Walnut Creek, and Blacklick Creek. Scioto Grove offers old-growth forests and scenic bluffs overlooking the Scioto River. It also has a 3D archery course with twelve foam animal targets.

Restored landscapes are the focus at Prairie Oaks: The park encompasses nearly 500 acres of blooming prairies and grasslands restored with seeds from the Darby Plains. Walnut Woods offers a different setting, with restored wetlands and vernal pools. Two access points on Big Walnut Creek are available for canoeing and kayaking.

These nature experiences differ not only in their trails but also in their focus: prairies and grasslands, forests and river views, and wetlands shape the descriptions of the various parks. You can also choose among activities such as mountain biking, archery, canoeing, or kayaking.

Museums, Science, and History

At COSI, visitors can get up close to dinosaurs such as a T. rex in the American Museum of Natural History Dinosaur Gallery. COSI’s planetarium is the largest in Ohio. A little practical orientation can also help with your visit: an underground garage and an above-ground garage are located west of the building. Other parking options are within a ten-minute walk.

The Columbus Museum of Art’s history began in 1878, when it was founded as the Columbus Gallery of Fine Arts. At the Ohio Statehouse, the Monument Cell Phone Audio Tour offers a different way to explore history. The tour lets you explore the Statehouse and its grounds and learn about the Capitol’s architecture, history, and current use.

Gardens, Glass Art, and Market Life

Franklin Park Conservatory offers walking trails across its 88-acre grounds. The 2-acre Scotts Miracle-Gro Children’s Garden includes a Nature Play Zone and a Canopy Walk. There are also 17 installations by glass artist Dale Chihuly. Walking trails, garden areas, and glass art each offer a different highlight within the Conservatory.

For a culinary break, the North Market’s pop-up program offers a clear schedule: In 2026, it runs on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from January through December at both North Market Downtown and North Market Bridge Park. The two locations and weekly schedule can help you fit a visit into your travel plans.

Franklin is well suited to a variety of day plans: its park landscapes offer different ways to enjoy nature and outdoor activities, while COSI, the Columbus Museum of Art, and the Ohio Statehouse put science, art, architecture, and history center stage. When planning, you can first decide whether your trip will focus more on outdoor experiences, culture, or a mix of both.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Upper Arlington, Groveport, Grove City, Hilliard, Worthington, Columbus, Obetz, Lockbourne, Whitehall, Gahanna, Westerville, Reynoldsburg, Canal Winchester, Dublin.

Go to the main travel overview: Ohio.