Boredom Busting Summer Activities for Kids Around Cincinnati
10 Boredom Busting Summer Activities for Kids Around Cincinnati
Summer is here! And if you’re in the Cincinnati area and looking for kid friendly things to do, there’s no shortage of activities and adventures to keep boredom at bay all summer long. From playgrounds to parks, museums to festivals, there’s something your kids are bound to enjoy. Keep in mind this list is just the tip of the iceberg of fun things for kids to do in Cincinnati- so let’s dive in!
Water parks
Coney Island/Sunlite Pool
4.5 ★
2023 opening day is on May 27! Sunlite Pool is America's largest recirculating pool with 4 slides totalling ¼ mile and a whole acre of shallow water for your little ones! Come to the 2023 Balloon Glow July 3rd: more than 10 colorful tethered hot air balloons, fireworks, food, fun and more!
Oxford Aquatic Center
4.3 ★
Zero-depth activity pool with kiddie area, aquatic play structure with slides, family slide, lazy river, basketball hoops, large open-flume slide, separate 8-lane competition pool, and diving boards.
Soak City Water Park
4.5 ★
Soak City is the premier water park in the Cincinnati area and is included with your Kings Island admission: 50+ water activities, including 36 water slides with options galore for all ages!
Indoor Play
Run Jump-N-Play
4.0 ★
A local favorite, this huge indoor playground has inflatable arenas, swing sets, basketball goals, trampolines, monkey bars and rock walls, a Toddler Zone and Fun Fridays.
EnterTRAINment Junction
4.8 ★
Very popular indoor attraction in West Chester should be on your list for train-loving kids. Featuring a huge model train display, funhouse maze, and a large play area with slides and climbing structures.
Beechmont Rollarena
4.4 ★
My favorite place to roll around as a kid, the Beechmont Rollarena is still going strong! Open skating hours and public/private parties.
Rock Quest Climbing Center
4.6 ★
My favorite place to roll around as a kid, the Beechmont Rollarena is still going strong! Open skating hours and public/private parties.
PARKS & NATURE
Mt. Airy Forest
4.6 ★
Mt. Airy Forest is the largest Cincinnati Park at 1,459 acres and situated between Mt. Airy and Westwood. Miles of hiking trails, many picnic areas, disc golf course, and multi-use mountain biking trail. Has a beautiful arboretum, and an enclosed dog park, and Ohio’s only wheelchair accessible public treehouse.
Krohn Conservatory
4.7 ★
Krohn Conservatory opened in 1933 and is located in Eden Park. Exhibits include: the John Carroll Bonsai Gallery, Fern House, Plm House, Orchid House, Desert House, Children's Activity Area, Koi Pond and the BUTTERFLIES OF THE MEADOW exhibit available March 25 - JUNE 18, 2023.
Cincinnati Nature Center
4.7 ★
Nonprofit dedicated to providing opportunities for kids to play, explore and discover nature via programs, field trips, camps and their Nature Schools.
Sharon Woods
4.7 ★
A 730-acre park with a 2.6-mile paved trail around the lake, a 1.0-mile fitness trail, and the 0.7-mile Gorge nature trail. Their Heritage Village Museum recreated from a 1800s community and features historic buildings in Sharon Woods. The Visitor Center has nature exhibits and live wildlife. The Harbor has a large playground, water feature play area, and lots of seating for a picnic.
Smale Riverfront Park
4.8 ★
The John G. and Phyllis W. Smale Riverfront Park connects downtown Cincinnati to the Ohio River and the existing riverfront parks. Lots of water play features, splash pads, giant swings, an interactive foot piano, pollinator gardens, and a carousel.
Little Miami Scenic Trail
4.5 ★
A paved trail running 78 miles and follows the Little Miami River from Newtown to Springfield. Great for biking or hiking with kids, lots of scenic views and rest stops.
Miami Whitewater Forest Trail
4.5 ★
This Hamilton County trail is 7.8-miles and winds through forests and fields, with many opportunities for viewing wildlife. Ideal for a family hike or bike ride.
THEME PARKS
Kings Island
4.8 ★
A local favorite since the early ‘70’s, huge theme park home to The Beast roller coaster, rides galore for nearly every age, dining, live entertainment, Planet Snoopy Kids Area, and Soak City Water Park.
Great Wolf Lodge
4.3 ★
Family friendly resort, indoor water park, and lodge with themed rooms.
FESTIVALS
Summerfair Cincinnati
4.8 ★
June 2, 2023 - June 4, 2023; This 56th Annual Summerfair Summerfair features more than 300 fine artists and craftspeople and is one of the oldest continuous art fairs in the country, Select artists exhibit in 12 categories including photography, painting, drawing/printmaking, wood, metal, sculpture, glass, ceramics, fibers. Live entertainment from regional performers, and a large variety of great food and drinks.
FARM & PICKS
Gorman Heritage Farm
4.5 ★
Enjoy a self-guided tour of their 122-acre farm which has a variety of gardens: flowers, wildflowers, an interactive Children’s Garden, Market Garden, and a Woodland Garden. Interact with a variety of farm animals including a zebu cow, sheep, goats, mini horses, mini donkey, mules, and chickens. Explore their H=hiking trails through the woods and see some historic structures including a rehabilitated Bank Barn.
Blooms and Berries Farm Market & Garden Center
4.6 ★
U-pick Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and potatoes! Produce stand, market barn, garden center, play yard and petting farm: Scottish Highland Cows, Sheep, Goats, Miniature Ponies, Donkeys, Alpacas and Llamas.
Liberty’s Best
4.6 ★
Pick your own strawberries late May through June. Red raspberries available from June through September.
Education & Culture
Cincinnati Fire Museum
4.5 ★
Located three blocks north of the Cincinnati Convention Center “The Birthplace of Professional Firefighting” exhibits include The Safe House, and a Multimedia Theater: “A Day in the Life of a Firefighter”. They also offer Junior Firefighter birthday packages.
Duke Energy Children’s Museum
4.5 ★
Houses an indoor play area for younger kids with interactive exhibits and play areas focused on science, history, and culture. Kids can explore The Woods, Little Sprouts Farm, and spend A Night at the Museum for Bricktionary: the ultimate LEGO® A–Z and the OMNIMAX® Theater.
The Creation Museum
4.6 ★
Walk through this 75,000-square-foot state-of-the-art museum through biblical history, garden of Eden and Flood exhibits, botanical gardens, a planetarium, zoo, zip line adventure course, Buddy Davis’ Dinosaur Den, Dr. Crawley’s Insectorium, Noah’s Ark exhibit, Dragon Legends, a 4-D special effects theater, and their full size allosaurus named “Ebenezer”.
Cincinnati Art Museum
4.8 ★
Kids get to explore art and culture in a dedicated Family Center with hands-on art activities, storytelling, and other exhibits.
The Ark Encounter
4.7 ★
The family-friendly Ark Encounter theme park (sister to the Creation Museum) near Cincinnati features a life-size Noah’s Ark, zoo, zip lines, and timber-frame restaurant. Experience bible history and meet Noah, his family, and the animals on the Ark.
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
4.7 ★
Kids can explore the history of the Underground Railroad and slavery in America. Has interactive exhibits and programming designed for kids.
Taft Museum of Art
4.7 ★
An art museum in a historic mansion with lots of exhibits and programs for kids, including a dedicated family gallery with hands-on activities and interactive exhibits.
Oxford Museum Association
5.0 ★
Museum Properties and Points of Interest include:Township House, Doty Homestead, DeWitt Log Home, Black Covered Bridge, Pioneer Barn, Doty Cemetery. Events and Activities: Arts & Crafts Fair, Summer Programs, and Pioneer Day.
Loveland Castle
4.6 ★
Harry Delos Andrews built this fascinating castle in 1929 “as an expression and reminder of the simple strength and rugged grandeur of the mighty men who lived when Knighthood was in flower.” Ever since, thousands have enjoyed “Chateau Laroche” which is the World headquarters and Residence of the K.O.G.T. (the Knights of the Golden Trail). Activities include Castle Gardens, picnicking, games and puzzles, exploring the castle’s unique architecture and sword and weapons. Groups can even stay overnight at the castle!
Zoos
Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden
4.6 ★
The Cincinnati Zoo is the second oldest zoo and one of the largest animal collections in the United States, with more than 17,000 specimens. Events and activities include: Wildlife demonstrations, giraffe feedings, a Safari Train, Carousel, and Scooter Pals. Events coming up: Kids, Cultures, Critters, and Crafts Festival June 21, 2023 and Ice Cream and Hippos July 30, 2023.
Newport Aquarium
4.5 ★
A local favorite since 1999, the Newport Aquarium is a state of the art facility that lets you discover the underwater world with penguins, white alligators, stingrays and more! Encounter sharks at Shark Bridge, where you can cross inches above a tank full of sharks on a rope bridge. Try their new exhibit Shipwreck: Realm of the Eels!
Conclusion
There are too many activities in the Cincinnati area to list them all but I hope that this list will give you a start to family friendly fun. From exploring the beautiful outdoors to discovering artists and culture, new hiking trails and farms, water parks,animals, indoor play areas, or festivals and music, you’ve plenty of ideas to keep boredom at bay!
