Sometimes the openness of the road calls and beckons us out of Columbus.  For some reason, it is often Ikea that calls me to me which is lucky since it is just a quick 2 hour jaunt down 71 to the Cincinnati suburb of West Chester.  The Swedish furniture and home goods store makes for a nice kiddo outing.  For kids out of diapers there is a fun drop-in play area.  For all other children there is plenty to see and look at in this huge store.  The children’s section offers some great basic toys at very reasonable prices.  A cafeteria-style cafe offers kid-friendly food choices (baby food too) and plenty of adaptive seating.

If you go:

• Leave the stroller at home to make room in the trunk for purchases.  There are grocery-type carts for non-walkers or really curious toddlers.
• Bring reusable bags to bring small items home in, the store does not provide disposable bags at check-out.
• Plan a scavenger hunt in the store for older kids ( for example make a list of thing they should find and mark down on paper such as a red couch, a blue chair and a vegetable peeler) to keep their interest.