Top things to do in Dublin, Ohio with Teenagers

Dublin, Ohio is a great place for a getaway with teenagers. There are so many fun activities in the area that are perfect for the whole family.

I’m sharing more about the top attractions, adventures, and places to eat during your stay.

Thanks again to Visit Dublin Ohio for hosting our visit. All opinions are my own.

Over the years I’ve found that the best things to do on a roadtrip with teens involve attractions with lots of play, great food, and down time in between.

Jump and Play at Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park

7679 Plain City-Dublin Rd., Dublin, OH

Burn calories and have a blast doing it!

Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park has an assortment of fun attractions including battle beams, climbing walls, ninja courses, a slam dunk zone, tumble track, dodgeball and more!

I’d encourage you to make memories and enjoy the park WITH your kids.

Challenge them on a battle beam, the ninja course or have a slam dunk contest.

I’d also recommend trying the Sky Rider that’s like a zip-line on a track that’s really fun!

All guests are required to wear the Urban Air socks with grips on the bottom and you can choose between Ultimate or Deluxe tickets.

If you get hungry or thirsty during your visit there is a cafe onsite.

Build Your Dream Hot Dog Combination at Weenie Wonder 

6562 Riverside Dr. Dublin, OH

Kids and adults will love dining at Weenie Wonder, a fast casual dining option serving up nostalgia with a modern twist.

Picture the hot dog version of Chipotle. You can create your ultimate hot dog combination with over 35 toppings to choose from.

The best part is that the price doesn’t change when you add toppings to build your dog.

If you are a little overwhelmed with all of the options, check out the signature dogs with popular combinations made up by the in-house chef.

For sides you’ll definitely want to try the Jo Jo seasoned potato wedges with house made wonder sauce similar to Cane’s or a fry sauce. Other side options are tater tots, coleslaw, and Mac and cheese.

For dessert, their milkshakes are made with real ice cream. I tried the strawberry flavored milkshake that had real pieces of strawberries in it.

You can place your order at the counter and have the option to take it to go or dine in.

Realistically you’ll want to dine in because Weenie Wonder is sandwiched between PINS Mechanical Co. and 16-Bit Bar & Arcade which are both all ages until 8pm.

You can easily walk between all 3 businesses without going outside.

You can also place an order online or at the kiosk in PINS Mechanical Co.

Play at PINS Mechanical Co.

6558 Riverside Dr, Dublin, OH

PINS caters to all ages (with adult supervision) before 8pm and 21+ after 8pm.

You can play foosball, pinball, duckpin bowling, ping pong, and indoor bocce ball.

Duckpin bowling is similar to regular bowling but has a smaller ball and pins and no bowling shoes are required to play.

Lanes at PINS are on a first come, first serve basis.

Kids roll for free when playing duckpin bowling every Sunday with a paying adult.

Play at 16-Bit Bar & Arcade

6564 Riverside Dr, Dublin, OH 

16 Bit caters to all ages (with adult supervision) before 8pm and 21+ after 8pm.

You can play over 40 classic arcade games at 16-Bit Bar and Arcade for FREE! Pinball and foosball are $1 to play.

Even though this is a bar, you’ll find family-friendly options for kids including a mocktail list, energy drinks, and soda.

I also want to note the bathrooms at 16 Bit are really cool with references from popular movies! I can only vouch for ladies room but I’m assuming that the mens room is pretty fun too.

Fun Public Art Photo Stops

There are several IG worthy stops when it comes to public art around Dublin, Ohio. You definitely don’t want to miss these popular stops for public art.

Field of Corn
4995 Rings Rd, Dublin, OH

Leatherlips  

7377 Riverside Dr. Dublin, OH

Watch House  

5200 Emerald Parkway, Dublin, OH

Daily Chores  

Bridge and High Street, Dublin Ohio

Sweet Treat at Kilwins

4549 Bridge Park Ave. Dublin, OH

Satify your sweet tooth with specialty chocolate or choose from 32 flavors of original ice cream in a house-made waffle cone at Kilwins.

You can’t go wrong with Toasted coconut or “Kilwin tracks.”

Dine Around the World at North Market Bridge Park 

Bridge Park 6750 Longshore St, Dublin, OH

You might be familiar with the North Market in Columbus and now you can experience an extension of the North Market at Bridge Park in Dublin, Ohio.

There are 16 different food vendors and local merchant shops to choose from.

What’s nice is that everyone can pick their own restaurant of choice while in the same building.

If you have adventurous eaters/food sharers with you, I would suggest trying menu items from several restaurants and eat family style.

During our visit we tried:

• Eggs rolls from Lan Viet
• Chicken quesadilla from Dos Hermanos Tacos
• Chicken suqarr with mango ginger habanero with spicy rice from Hoyo’s Sambusas & Juices (Somali street food)
• Spicy peanut butter cookie and zebra cake from Bake Me Happy

Watch the Game While You Dine at Beer Barrel Pizza & Grill 

7482 State Route 161, Plain City, OH 3064

You can’t go wrong with pizza when it comes to traveling with teens. Beer Barrel Pizza Grill has been a local favorite since 1964 with made-from-scratch family recipes. The menu features pizza, pastas, burgers, wings, and more.

If you are traveling with sports fans, they will love all of the screens throughout the restaurant playing the games.

We enjoyed the fresh baked garlic bread knots, Jameson Irish whiskey sauce wings, Chicken Alfredo and the Italian hot honey pizza.

The portion sizes are generous and we ended up boxing some of our food to enjoy later.

Parents can enjoy the “Ring of Kerry,” their craft cocktail on the Celtic Cocktail Trail.

There are 12 stops on the Celtic Cocktail Trail and you can sign up online. If you complete 6 stops you can redeem for a commemorative koozie; you’ll receive an exclusive Celtic Cocktail Trail t-shirt with 12 completed stops.

See a Hidden Waterfall Near Downtown Historic Dublin

W North St, Dublin, OH

You don’t have to travel far to see a waterfall in Dublin, Ohio. There is a parking garage across from the entrance to the Indian Run Falls trail.

The .9 mile hike is an easy out-and-back trail that takes an average of 23 minutes to complete.

There are several observation areas along the trail providing different vantage points of the falls along the way.

Discover Riverboxes by the Dublin Arts Council

Riverboxes are artistic discoveries in nature inspired by geocaching and letterboxing. You can test out your map-reading and GPS skills on an art treasure hunt. You can download a Riverbox Passport and collect a stamp at each challenge you complete.

We decided to try the Fissures and Fractures Riverbox Challenge by artist Andrea Myers at Donegal Cliffs Park. (4460 Donegal Cliffs Dr., Dublin)

Searching for Riverboxes is an adventurous way to enjoy the scenic views at local parks in the area.

This park is open from dawn to dusk and has limited parking, a nice playground, tennis court, and basketball court if kids want to play before or after.

Enjoy Brunch at North High Brewing

56 North High St. Dublin, OH

Enjoy a great meal at Historic Dublin’s local brewpub located inside a former historic house.

Be on the lookout for Historic Business Time Trek signs telling more about the buildings you pass in the Historic Business.

You can’t go wrong with their Breakfast burger, biscuits and gravy and their hot chicken and honey wheat waffles.

I also recommend their Irish coffee. If the weather is nice there is patio area with outdoor seating too.

Another Sweet Stop at Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream

1 W Bridge St, Dublin, OH 

While you are on the Historic Dublin side, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream is another must try in the area. The ice cream flavors are really unique and often pair well together.

I like to try a few samples and get recommendations from the staff for the best combination of the flavors I’m leaning toward.

Play for Hours at Scene75 Entertainment Center

5033 Tuttle Crossing BlvdDublin, OH (Inside Tuttle Mall) 

Scene75 Entertainment Center has 16 attractions and 200+ arcade games. The hardest decision you’ll have is deciding what you want to try first.

There are two floors of fun to explore. Highlights include go-karts, laser tag, mini golf, a drop tower and an indoor roller coaster! 

The most popular attraction at Scene 75 is the go-karts which was where we decided to start.

All of the attractions are priced individually and use a reloadable game card for purchases. Check out their deals and specials page for the best value during your visit.

Black light mini golf is another great option for all ages.

Dining options at Scene75 are fast casual or you can dine at Illusions if you want a quieter place to enjoy a meal. At Illusions, you order first and then your food is brought to your table but you don’t have a waitress.

Walk Across the Longest Single-tower “S” Shaped Suspension Bridge in the World

The Dublin Link Pedestrian Bridge connects Dublin’s historic district to the Bridge Park mixed-use development.

Pedestrians can easily travel back and forth between both entertainment districts.

Enjoy scenic views of the Scioto River on the bridge and at Riverside Crossing Park with lots of green space, seating and a water feature.

Get Your Passport Stamped on the Irish Fairy Door Trail

Throughout Historic Dublin and Bridge Park there are 11 businesses on the trail with a resident fairy. The Fairy Door Trail is updated annually and launched on St. Patrick’s Day. It’s recommended to visit this trail from Wednesday-Saturday from 11am – 6pm to avoid business closures.

You can get your passport at the Dublin Visitor & Information Center that serves as the starting point of the Irish Fairy Door Trail. It’s located at 9 South High Street in Downtown Dublin and is open daily from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.

To complete the passport, record the names of each fairy, fill in your passport and return your completed passport to the Dublin Visitor & Information Center for a FREE Fairy Door t-shirt.

Free Parking Garages in Historic Dublin and Bridge Park

It’s important to note that both Historic Dublin and Bridge Park have FREE parking garage options to choose from. Honestly, this blew me away.

I fully anticipated having to pay for parking each time I entered a parking garage in either one of the districts. The parking garages are conveniently located near the main streets with restaurants and shops on both sides of the river.

Several of the parking garages also have bike parking available if you choose to bring your bikes with you.

Learn and Play at COSI

333 West Broad St. Columbus, OH 43215

Dublin, Ohio is only 20 minutes away from COSI (Center of Science and Industry) in downtown Columbus.

You will run out of time before you run out of fun at the 320,000 square foot science center with hands-on exhibits and live shows.

Make sure that you download the COSI app so that you don’t miss any of the scheduled events during your visit.

COSI is a great option for families with a variety of ages. There is even a dedicated space for younger kids to play and learn.

Rat basketball is a popular live show that you don’t want to miss. Yes, Japanese Black Hooded rats have been trained to play basketball and you can watch them play live and cheer on your favorite.

COSI Special Exhibit – Marvel Universe of Super Heroes

COSI has limited-time special exhibits in addition to the permanent exhibits on display all year round.

Marvel fans- do NOT miss your chance to see Marvel: Universe of Super Heroes! at COSI.

The exhibit features more than 300 original artifacts that will be on display now until May 30, 2022. The special exhibit ticket also includes general admission to COSI. 

Tickets are timed-entry and they do sell out. You’ll want to purchase your select day in advance, especially if it’s on the weekend. 

It takes most guests between 45 minutes to 1.5 hours to go through the exhibit. 

There are several fun photo ops along the way. Make sure you also check out the “Become Iron man” interactive experience. 

Explore Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

 4850 W Powell Rd, Powell, OH

Dublin, Ohio is located less than 10 minutes from the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

With over 10,000 animals in six regions, this is an attraction that you could easily spend the whole day at. The Columbus Zoo also offers behind-the-scenes experiences and encounters for an additional fee.

You can find the best deal on discounted Columbus Zoo tickets here.

Cool Off at Zoombezi Bay

If you visit during the warmer months, you’ll definitely want to check out Zoombezi Bay located next to the Columbus Zoo.

The outdoor waterpark has 17 waterslides, a wave pool, lazy river, splash zone and more.

Enjoy the Amenities at Embassy Suites During Your Stay

1500 Upper Metro Place, Dublin, OH

Embassy Suites is conveniently located a few minutes from downtown historic Dublin.

If you’re traveling with teenagers, a hotel room that has plenty of space AND that has complimentary breakfast is a MUST for the best value during your stay.

The separate space from the bedroom is nice if the kids want to stay up later to watch tv.

You can also bring your own snacks and drinks and have access to a mini fridge and microwave in your room.

Embassy Suites has a complimentary hot breakfast with made-to-order omelets. Each evening there is also a reception with complimentary drinks and snacks from 5:30-7:30 pm.

There is an indoor pool and weight room if they need to burn off some extra energy too.

Win 2 Tickets to Urban Air Adventure Park

Ready for an adventure in Dublin, Ohio?

I’m giving away two Basic Attractions Passes to Urban Air Adventure Park in Dublin, Ohio. (not valid Friday-Sunday)