Love, Actually… Looks a Lot Like a Walk Around the Columbus Zoo

By: Amanda Winget
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Some of the best conversations don’t happen across a restaurant table.

They happen while you’re walking side by side. No phones. No pressure to fill every quiet second. Just space to talk, laugh, point at something interesting, and let the moment unfold naturally.

That’s what makes the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium such an unexpectedly perfect place for a date.

Whether it’s a first meet-up, a long-overdue afternoon together, or a Valentine’s Day that trades reservations for fresh air, the Columbus Zoo invites you to slow down and enjoy each other’s company in a way that feels easy, nostalgic, and genuine.

You can walk and talk. You can stop and linger. You can share a drink, a snack, a view, or a laugh. You can sit by Conservation Lake in the Adirondack chairs, watch the birds glide across the water, and hold hands. One of the simplest, sweetest sights on grounds.

And the best part? There’s no single right way to do it.

Why the Zoo Makes a Surprisingly Great Date

Walk and Talk Without the Pressure. Walking side by side creates space for conversation to flow naturally. There’s always something nearby to spark a question or a story, and silence never feels awkward. For first dates, it takes the edge off. For longtime partners, it brings back the comfort of simply being together.

Built-In Moments to Pause. The Columbus Zoo offers plenty of places to slow down. From quiet pathways to lakeside seating, there’s room to sit, breathe, people-watch, bird-watch, and just enjoy the moment. Sometimes the best part of a date is stopping long enough to notice it.

Share a Bite, a Drink, or a Laugh. A Zoo date doesn’t revolve around a single reservation. Grab a coffee. Share a snack. Raise a glass. Keep wandering. It’s casual, flexible, and easy to make it feel like your own.

A Place Where Everyone Belongs. Love looks different for everyone. The Zoo is a welcoming, inclusive space where all couples, all identities, and all stories are celebrated. Whether it’s a first date, a fiftieth, or something beautifully undefined, you belong here exactly as you are.

Love Is in the Air… Even for the Animals!

Around Valentine’s Day, romance isn’t just happening on the guest paths. It’s happening in habitats across the Columbus Zoo, too!

Humboldt penguin with felt heart in beak

Humboldt Penguins: It's Nesting Season

Humboldt penguins are known for forming lifelong bonds. When a penguin chooses a mate, it’s not subtle. One partner presents the other with a carefully selected pebble, a small but meaningful gift that says, I choose you.

Inspired by that tradition, Zoo guests can share a meaningful message of their own through our Penguin-Tines experience. These personalized videos send a little love from the Zoo to someone special, creating a memorable keepsake while also supporting the care of the animals who make moments like this possible.

Purchase a Penguin-Tine

two bonobos kissing

Bonobos: Connection Comes Naturally

Bonobos offer a beautiful reminder that connection doesn’t come in just one shape or structure. As a female-led society, they prioritize cooperation, communication, and social bonds. Physical affection is a natural part of how they build trust, ease tension, and strengthen relationships within their group.

Their world shows that love can be expressive, varied, and rooted in mutual respect. It’s not about fitting a single mold…It’s about understanding, connection, and community.
 

polar bears playing

Polar Bears Lee and Aurora: Paws-On Romance

Polar bears Lee and Aurora are in mating season, and they’re clearly enjoying each other’s company. From playful interactions to staying close, they show that even the largest animals make time for tenderness.

Every species has its own way of expressing connection. Part of the fun of a Columbus Zoo date is noticing those moments together and maybe recognizing a little bit of yourselves in them.
 

Ways to Warm Up Together

Winter dates at the Columbus Zoo come with built-in moments to duck inside, thaw out, and keep the day feeling comfortable and unhurried.
Step into the historic reptile building, where warmth meets wonder. It’s an easy place to slow down, linger, and share quiet observations while surrounded by species that thrive in the heat.

The indoor Asian elephant habitat offers another kind of warmth entirely. Here, both baby elephants, Ollie and Rita Jean, spend time with their herd, creating a rare opportunity to watch close family bonds unfold up close. It’s calm, intimate, and unexpectedly moving.

Nearby, the indoor habitats for gorillas, orangutans, and gibbons invite you to pause and observe social connections that feel familiar in their own way. Watch interactions, exchange smiles, and let the moment breathe!

When you’re ready for something warm to hold, grab a hot chocolate or settle in for lunch at Congo Market. Then head back out refreshed, knowing there’s always another cozy stop waiting just around the path.

A Sweet Ending to Your Day

Before you head out, stop by the Zoo Marketplace and pick up a small memento. It doesn’t have to be big. Something simple that says, remember this day. A keepsake that turns a good date into a shared memory you can take home.

A Date That Feels Easy, Thoughtful, and Real

A Zoo date isn’t about impressing someone. It’s about connection.

It’s about walking and talking. Laughing. Learning. Sitting quietly together. Letting the moment unfold naturally.

Sometimes the most meaningful dates don’t need reservations or candlelight. They just need a path to walk, something interesting to notice, and someone willing to walk beside you.

Purchase Columbus Zoo tickets



Valentine’s Day at the Columbus Zoo is proudly presented by Diamond Cellar.

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Empowering People.
Saving Wildlife.

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