Fun in Cincy!
/Make the most of your free time. For newcomers, find new ways to explore the city. For lifers, reconnect with friends and family through new venues. For parents, get ideas of how to entertain the kiddies. There is something for everyone.
If you have a must-share idea, please email!
Update
on 12/18/2017
Fun for all ages
Findlay Market:Ohio's oldest continuously operated public market and one of Cincinnati's most cherished institutions. Open Tuesday through Sunday, Findlay Market is home year-around to about two dozen indoor merchants selling meat, fish, poultry, produce, flowers, cheese, deli, and ethnic foods. On Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from April to November the Market also hosts a thriving farmers market, dozens of outdoor vendors, numerous street performers, and lots of special events.
The Cincinnati Public Library: Branches throughout the city and downtown is the Main Library in a beautiful building and containing special book collections. All branches now offer downloadable books as well. At your local branch, find story time programs for kids, puppet shows, etc. Ti find a branch near you, click on the title!
Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden: Founded in 1873, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is the second oldest Zoo in the United States. It was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1987 due to its significant architecture including the Reptile House which is the oldest existing Zoo building in the country! The botanical gardens are worked in between animal exhibits. There are also carousel and train rides. Plan your trip at
Cincinnati Museum Center:A complex of 3 museums located at Union Terminal: Cincinnati History Museum, the Museum of Natural History & Science, and the Duke Energy Children’s Museum, and additional special exhibits and an Omnimax Theater. Family passes are available.
The Children’s Museum is consistently ranked in the top 10 children’s museums in the U.S. Kids can literally climb, crawl, and explore as they learn in a multitude of exhibits including the water works station, the ball room, Kids’ Town, and the best treehouse fort EVER!
Cincinnati History Museum has a model of the city from 1900-40s with working trains and inclines, as well as interactive computer stations!
At the Natural History Museum go exploring in a life-sized replica of a lime-stone cave, stroll through the ice age and meet the dinosaurs.
Union Terminal was originally built in 1933 as a train station and is now a National Historic Landmark.
Newport Aquarium: Play with penguins, pet a shark, and behold many different critters from jellyfish to gators in this well-designed aquarium that gets you up close and personal with under-the-sea life.
Kings Island: A large amusement park includingrollercoasters and other rides. Has a annual spooky Halloween event.
Update
on 12/18/2017
Family Oriented Activities
Parky’s Farm at Winton Woods:A 100 acre educational farm with live animals, wagon and pony-rides, outdoor playground, indoor Parky's Playbarn, children's birthday
parties and more. Big Halloween event (fun, not scary) each year. Many activities are seasonal, so be sure to check the website before heading out.
1000 Hands playgrounds: Large, fun playgrounds throughout the city including at Sawyer Point, Northside and Mt Washington. Look for one in your neighborhood: just click on the title.
Coney Island: attractions include rides (including rides appropriate for 2-3 year olds), a pool complete with water slides, miniature golf, kid-sized mining town, live shows and such goodies as hot dogs, cotton candy and funnel cake!
Jump Zone: in Milford, think of this as a series of indoor bounce-houses. Go for family night, plan a birthday party or play date. Typically $10-12 for a 3-4 hour jump session.
Kings Island:rollercoasters and other rides, Planet Snoopy which has won the Golden Ticket Award for “Best Kids Area in the World” for last 11 years, an animatronic dinosaur park with over 60 life-sized and moving dinosaurs, live shows, and a Halloween event (that IS scary although smaller kids may appreciate trick-or-treating with dinosaurs or Howl-o-fest).
Totter’s Otterville: an educational entertainment center (with both indoor and outdoor exhibits) geared towards children ages 10 and under, complete with areas for pretend play, art, a dinosaur dig and a giant outdoor playground.
Entertrainment Junction: “the world’s largest indoor train display (that’s 25,000 sq. ft. of model trains on an enormous train layout), bounce, climb and crawl in a spectacular children’s play area, discover at our imaginative railroading museum, engineer your own locomotive around a track in a hand-cranked railroad car or ride our narrow gauge train ride, and enjoy the greatest funhouse on earth. It’s like an theme park and it’s all indoors!”
Cincinnati Nature Center: in Milford, OH. Has a unique “playscape” designed for kids to foster learning and playing in nature, a nature preschool (Sept thru May for 3-5 yr olds), and over 16 mi of hiking trails in Rowe Woods.
Update
on 2012-10-10 20:50 by Megan Rich
Enjoy the Great Outdoors!
Festivals:
Taste of Cincinnati - over Memorial Day weekend, located downtown
Riverfest - over Labor day weekend, located downtown, includes a huge fireworks show
Oktoberfest - in late SEPTEMBER, located downtown
Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park: Located on the winding banks of the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati, Great American Ball Park serves as the home of the Cincinnati Reds, baseball's first professional franchise. Catch a game this weekend -- just click the heading above.
Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium: Also located downtown, along the banks of the Ohio River. Catch a Bengal’s game or other special event.
Mt Airy Forest: Accessible from Mt. Airy and Westwood, Mt. Airy Forest's 1,459 acres includes miles of hiking trails and bridle trails (located off Diehl Road) for horseback riders. Mt. Airy has Ohio's only wheelchair accessible public treehouse, an enclosed dog park, and disc golf. Also has an arboretum with gazebo, ponds and specialty gardens - very picturesque! Many weddings held here.
Ault Park: in Mt Lookout. Ault Park is a public park and recreation area with world-famous gardens, trials, a large playgound, and special events like the Summer Dance Series. This park's unique and historic character makes it an ideal visiting spot for all seasons. Be sure to visit in the spring when the trees and flowers are in bloom!
Sharon Woods: In Sharonville - a popular park that features a visitor center with exhibits, gift shop and Adventure Station, an accessible two-story indoor play area for children ages two to 12. The park is a popular spot to exercise outdoors with a 2.6-mile paved multi-purpose trail around the lake, a 1.0-mile Parcours trail and the 0.7-mile Gorge nature trail.
Washington Park: Downtown and newly restored! With an iconic bandstand in the heart of the park, a fenced “dog park”, a unique playground featuring a boardwalk and stage, a sandbox, a canal boat in a water channel, and climbing walls, water jets and interactive fountains, a restroom building, and a concession building. There is a parking garage nearby. Also hosts special events - just check the website.
Burnet Woods: In Clifton. This 90-acre park near the University of Cincinnati sports hiking trails, a fishing lake, a historic bandstand, TWO playgrounds, and a disc golf course. The Audubon Society named the park an Important Birding Area. The Wolff Planetarium provides an intimate setting to view the stars.
Lunken Airport: Southeast of the city. Has a 5 mile paved loop for biking or running/jogging/walking. Also has a nice-sized playground for the kids.
Little Miami/Loveland Bike Trail: 78 miles of a paved path for runners/joggers/walkers as well as cyclist, rollerbladers and other forms of motor-less transportation. It runs along an old steam railroad line. There are multiple places to pick up the trail including Lebanon, Loveland, and just east of Mariemont at Avoca Park.
Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park: North of the city. Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum is a 265 acre sculpture park and outdoor museum combining the lure of nature with the dynamic presence of monumental art. It is a setting where landscape and art come together in natural galleries among vast meadows and woodlands. Open 8am to 5pm daily. $8 for adults, $2 for kids.
Cincinnati Nature Center: in Milford, OH. Has a unique “playscape” designed for kids to foster learning and playing in nature, a nature preschool (Sept thru May for 3-5 yr olds), and over 16 mi of hiking trails in Rowe Woods.
Find a park near you:http://www.cincinnatiparks.com/index.php/parks
Krohn Conservatory: Cincinnati Parks’ nationally recognized showcase of more than 3,500 plant species from around the world. Don’t miss the butterfly show, every spring. Visit the website for more details.
Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden: Founded in 1873, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is the second oldest Zoo in the United States. It was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1987 due to its significant architecture including the Reptile House which is the oldest existing Zoo building in the country! The botanical gardens are worked in between animal exhibits. There are also carousel and train rides.
Update
on 2013-07-30 15:07 by Megan Rich
Historical Finds
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center:Learn about the Underground Railroad as well as forms of modern slavery.
Heritage Village Museum at Sharon Woods: a recreated 1800’s community featuring thirteen historic buildings that were saved from destruction and moved to their present location. At Heritage Village, you will experience the rural simplicity of a small town life as it was during Ohio in the 1800’s.
Taft National Historic Site:commemorates the only man to serve as President and Chief Justice of the United States. The house that Taft was born in has been restored to its original appearance. Tour the restored birthplace and exhibits highlighting Taft's life and career, including an animatronic figure of the President's Son, Charlie Taft. Charlie tells stories about different family members.
Findlay Market:Ohio's oldest continuously operated public market and one of Cincinnati's most cherished institutions. Open Tuesday through Sunday, Findlay Market is home year-around to about two dozen indoor merchants selling meat, fish, poultry, produce, flowers, cheese, deli, and ethnic foods. On Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from April to November the Market also hosts a thriving farmers market, dozens of outdoor vendors, numerous street performers, and lots of special events.
Cincinnati Museum Center:A complex of 3 museums located at Union Terminal: Cincinnati History Museum, the Museum of Natural History & Science, and the Duke Energy Children’s Museum, and additional special exhibits and an Omnimax Theater. Family passes are available.
Cincinnati History Museum has a model of the city from 1900-40s with working trains and inclines, as well as interactive computer stations!
Union Terminal was originally built in 1933 as a train station and is now a National Historic Landmark.
Queen City Underground Tours: of OTR/downdown. Tour starts at the Cincy Haus 1218 Vine St.
Enjoy a stroll through the Gateway District, home to America's largest set of historical landmarks. Visit buildings that were home to over 130 saloons, bars and beer gardens, and theaters that hosted iconic entertainers Charlie Chaplin and Wild Bill Hickok. Descend below the city streets to a hidden burial vault and explore newly discovered tunnels vital to Cincinnati's brewery heritage. Warning: wear your walking shoes & prepare to get dirty!
Find out about other historical sites in and around Cincinnati: http://www.historicgreatercincinnati.org