Summer's last hurrah: Here are 6 things to do in the next couple of weeks

Every year, the month of August signals the impending doom of the end of summer and the beginning of the school year. However, there is still time to enjoy the great outdoors and all that summertime has to offer.

Need some ideas? You can beat the heat and catch a movie, or visit one of Ohio's many great theme parks, or splish-splash in a splash pad.

It is, after all, a little more than a month before we see the change of seasons.

Here are some destinations to put on your bucket list before Labor Day − and autumn − arrive.

'Marvel Universe of Super Heroes' closes Labor Day

Don't miss the last chance to see the "Marvel Universe of Super Heroes" exhibit, which is open through Labor Day at COSI, 333 W. Broad St. The exhibit opened in November 2021 and was extended in May through summer.

The exhibit features life-size recreations of Marvel characters and costumes from Marvel staples such as "Black Panther," "Iron Man" and "Black Widow." With original art, props, state-of-the-art interactive experiences and the last-known surviving piece from the first Marvel comic, the exhibit promises to please both casual fans and devout followers of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The exhibit is not included with general admission and requires a separate ticket.

Also at COSI this season at the Planetarium is a showing of the documentary "Passport to the Universe," narrated by Academy Award-winning actor Tom Hanks. "Passport to the Universe" explores humanity's place in the cosmos, taking audiences on a journey from Earth all the way to the edge of the universe. This exhibit is included with general admission.

COSI is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily until Sept. 6, when the building closes until Oct. 1 for annual maintenance. For more information on tickets and programming, visit https://cosi.org/.

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium special packages

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, 4850 W. Powell Road, Delaware County, is always a great place for some family fun.

If you live in Greater Columbus, chances are you've already visited during the summer to enjoy areas such as Kangaroo Walkabout in the Australia and the Islands region, Asia Quest, Adventure Cove and more. But did you know that the zoo offers experiences for additional fees?

For $39.99 a person (for ages 3 and older, guests can purchase a VIP Experience pass that includes feedings for giraffes, stingrays and lorikeets; a 25% discount off food and beverage; and unlimited rides on the train, carousel, the Dinosaur Island boat ride and all rides in Adventure Cove. For $149 a person, those 12 and older can aid in giving an elephant a bath.

For a full list of special experiences with pricing and more information on tickets, visit https://www.columbuszoo.org.

Enjoy free things to do at the Metro Parks

For families looking for a way to have some last-minute summer fun without breaking the bank, the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks have great trails and sporting activities such as archery, disc golf and boating.

The Metro Parks also have two different way to geocache. Geocaching is the recreational activity of hunting for and finding a hidden object by means of GPS coordinates. The camouflaged containers include a log book to sign and trinkets for trading. The Metro Parks has both the GeoTrail and the GeoTour.

The GeoTour is a wheelchair-accessible year-round challenge. There are 10 caches, each at a different park, that are well-suited for beginners. Once all 10 caches are found and logged into www.geocaching.com, simply fill out the online passport to reveal the coordinates for the final 11th cache and receive a Metro Parks Path Tag prize.

The GeoTrail has new caches every year that can be found in their 2022 GeoTrail form for more experienced particpants.

For more information, visit https://www.metroparks.net/.

Glow-in-the-dark mini golf illuminates family fun

Columbus has its share of blacklight mini golf with fluorescent colors that elevate the game to more than just putt-putt.

Glow Putt Mini Golf in Gahanna and Miner 49er Mini Golf are both themed attractions with good food and even better mini golf courses. At both places, a round of 18 holes will cost less than $15 and it is a fun way to be active while also being indoors.

For those looking for more thrills than just blacklight mini golf, Scene 75 in Dublin has that and much more. From the Nuclear Rush Coaster to private karaoke booths to laser tag, Scene 75 offers something for everyone.

Located in the Tuttle Park Mall, 5033 Tuttle Crossing Blvd., Scene 75 is open from Wednesday to Sunday.

For more information on Scene 75, visit their website https://www.scene75.com/columbus/.

Scioto Mile Climbing Wall beckons

The largest free outdoor climbing wall in the country - 35 feet high - is at Scioto Audubon, 395 W. Whittier St. Climbing is free, but climbers must take their own ropes and equipment. The climbing wall opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m.

Besides the climbing wall, Scioto Audubon has plenty of other amenities to enjoy, such as a sand volleyball court, fishing and boating docks, and a 2.5 acre dog park so Fido can enjoy the last bits of summer, too.

The Grange Insurance Audubon Center provides educational programming and is closed on Monday.

For more information, visit metroparks.net.

Fly away to Urban Air Adventure Park

People interested in a way to burn off energy should look no further than the Urban Air Adventure Park. Besides mini golfing and bumper cars, the thrills also include indoor skydiving or to taking a leap of faith by trying to hang onto a bar longer than other visitors.

Tickets range from $25-$30, and there are locations in both Reynoldsburg at 6308 Livingston Ave., and Dublin at 7679 Dublin Plain City Road.

For more information on booking, visit https://www.urbanair.com/.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 6 things to do before Labor Day or the end of summer