Visiting Cincinnati with Kids

Hannah Scott said:  Featured in too many national publications and “Best Of” lists to count (including Alton Brown’s top picks!), Holtman’s Donuts is a hometown family bakery with creative flavors like the maple bacon, s’mores, and red velvet. What started as one tiny bakery has evolved into several locations across the city so you can get your sugar fix wherever you are!

Hannah Scott said:  Founded by Buddy LaRosa over 40 years ago, LaRosa’s pizzeria features a delicious menu of pizzas, calzones, hoagys, and other Italian favorites. Their hand-tossed crust is a perfectly balanced thickness and their sauce is sweeter than your average pizza sauce — which is a very good thing in my book! Most locations feature dine in, carry out, or delivery options, but some locations don’t have a dining room. Check online in advance to confirm!

Lunch and Dinner

Hannah Scott said:  Tucked away less than 45 minutes from downtown Cincinnati is a stunning 1,000 acre preserve of Eastern deciduous forest, fields, streams, and ponds. Visitors can choose from over 16 miles of hiking trails (conveniently rated for difficulty and elevation, so you can choose one that's appropriate for the age and ability of your family). Children will love the enclosed Nature Playscape, carefully designed to promote interactive, imaginative play in nature.

Cost: $9 adults, $4 ages 4-12

Hannah Scott said:  The Great Wolf Lodge is the ultimate indoor water park -- and then some! Your family will enjoy plenty of water fun with pools and slides, but that's just the beginning. Great Wolf Lodge also boasts bowling, arcade games, a spa (for adults AND kids), pajama parties, glow golf, and more!

Cost: rooms from $169.99 per per night

Hannah Scott said:  Kings Island is the largest amusement and water park in the Midwest! Check out the record-breaking roller coasters, daily shows, huge children's area, and the Soak City water park to round out your visit.

You can leave and be readmitted for free, so pack a picnic lunch in a cooler and enjoy your food in one of the grassy areas of the parking lot to save a TON of money. You may also consider buying a souvenir drink cup to take advantage of $1 refills all day!

Katie G. said:  If you are your little one(s) are up for a tasty road trip then you can't miss out on the Butler County Donut Trail. Before you venture out to one of the 12 donut shops along the trail, download a map and passport. Have your passport stamped after visiting each store. Once you've completed the trail (does not have to be done in one day), submit your passport to the Butler County Visitors Bureu to receive a free t-shirt and Donut Trail discounts.

Katie G. said:  Grab your little fossil hunters and head to Trammel Fossil Park in Sharonville. Kids and adults alike will love climbing the big hill in search for cool and unique fossils, some dating back the age of dinosaurs. Most of these fossils have been undisturbed over the years and are very unique to the area. Spend 10 minutes or spend hours there. You won't be disappointed in the treasures you'll find. Don't forget your buckets and shovels!

Cost: Free

Beth Wood said:  Known as the world's largest recirculating pool, Coney Island, is a must visit! Their two-acre Sunlight Pool features diving boards, an acre of shallow water, swimming lanes and more. Four water slides, the Typhoon Tower with 73 interactive play stations, numerous dining options, cabana rentals, large seating areas and more make your visit more fun. Head over to the amusement park area where you'll find thrill rides, kid's rides, family attractions, live shows and more. Tickets can be purchased for pool only, amusement park only or combo of both attractions.

Cost: $6.95 - $21.95 per person

Hannah Scott said:  One of the most successful businesses to land an investment deal on the popular TV show Shark Tank, Tom+Chee features a variety of fun, nontraditional grilled cheese fillings and tomato soup varieties. Kids meals come with a grilled cheese, soup, and a drink but you can substitute chips or fruit if soup isn't their thing. The Newport location is located right next to the Newport Aquarium, so you can easily visit both in the same outing.

Tip: Be sure to save room for the famous grilled cheese donuts! We always purchase a few different flavors when we go so everyone can try a bite of each.

Lunch and Dinner

Hannah Scott said:  It may be called “chili,” but Cincinnati-style chili is actually a sauce with Greek origins, and tastes way different than anything you’ve ever had! Locals crave it, and visitors either love it or hate it. To order like a local, start with a cheese coney (hot dog with chili, cheese, mustard, and onion) or a 3-way (spaghetti with chili and cheese). More Skyline locations are all over Cincy, so be sure to give it a try and see what you think!

Hannah Scott said:  Walk just inches above the sharks on the Shark bridge, enjoy hands-on encounters with sharks, stingrays, and sea urchins, and other tide pool creatures, and take in a 360 view of the water through one of several tunnel tanks. It’s a whole new way to look at the sea!

Katie G. said:  Eden Park offers a large green space which is home to the Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati Playhouse and the Krohn Conservatory. On the grounds of the park you can also find a picturesque magnolia garden with a gazebo, trees and walking paths. Families will love the amazing views of the Ohio River and Northern Kentucky, Mirror Lake, the Bettman Fountain, brass sculptures and a fun playground.

Hannah Scott said:  Parents may be apprehensive about attending a Major League Baseball game with young kids, but the Great American Ballpark makes it easy. Outside food is more than welcome (just make sure drinks are unopened), there's a playground to blow off some steam if the kiddos get a little wiggly, and the free Pampers Nursing Suite makes baby care a cinch. Every Sunday is "Family Fun Day" with extra perks like face painting and giveaways, so you may want to time your visit to take advantage of that!

Cost: Tickets from $5

Hannah Scott said:  Perhaps best known as the home of Fiona the Hippo, the Cincinnati Zoo is a must-see for any visitors to the Queen City. A host of indoor and outdoor exhibits and encounters let you get up close and personal with creatures from all over the world (without ever leaving the heart of the city). I would recommend springing for the upgraded "Ride Ticket" to enjoy unlimited carousel and train rides during your visit!

Tip: Breastfeeding moms can take advantage of the free Nursing Nest under the Base Camp Café!

Hannah Scott said:  Cincinnati was an important part of the Underground Railroad, and a gateway to freedom across the Ohio River for many slaves. This museum features permanent and traveling exhibits and programs about social injustice, both then and now. Kids who have learned about historical figures such as Rosa Parks, Sojourner Truth, and Nelson Mandela will love the interactive exhibits that bring those moments in history to life.

Note: Some exhibits could be disturbing to young children, so be prepared for lots of important discussions before, during, and after your visit.

Cost: $15 adults, $10.50 age 3-12

Hannah Scott said:  Just across the border in Northern Kentucky is Totter's Otterville, the perfect place for kids (up to age 10) to spend a day engaged in creative, interactive, and dramatic play. The Otterville "Village" consists of 30+ themed centers/stations both inside and out -- like a water table, vet's office, flower shop, grocery store, fishing pond, arts and crafts room, ball pit, slides, giant building blocks, post office, and more! Outside food is not permitted, but the food from their cafe is reasonably priced and tasty.

Age: 10 and under

Cost: $8.95 (children 1+), FREE for adults

Hannah Scott said:  Cincinnati’s ArtWorks program hires talented high school students to assist in mural projects each summer. The result is a downtown with pops of giant art everywhere you look. Get some exercise by taking a self-guided mural tour using this map.

Cost: free

Hannah Scott said:  Smale Riverfront Park is the perfect place to let the kiddos get some energy out while seeing the Cincinnati skyline and the boat activity on the Ohio River. Features include Carol Ann’s Carousel (each animal is decorated to represent a significant Cincinnati person, place, or historical event), porch-style swings overlooking the river, Ohio River Trail access, and multiple playground areas including a rock climbing canyon, log climbers, twin racing slides, a rope bridge, talking tubes, exercise pipes, a giant foot piano, seasonal water play, and more!

Cost: $2 for carousel rides

Hannah Scott said:  See the Bible come to life with the Ark Encounter, a life-sized replica of Noah’s ark! Interactive exhibits inside discuss the historical significance of and evidence for a world-wide flood. Ziplines, exotic animal viewing, and lush gardens are also on the grounds to round out your experience.

Cost: $70 (ages 18-59), $40 (ages 13-17), $25 (ages 5-12)

Hannah Scott said:  If you plan to travel to and from Cincinnati via CVG airport, consider checking out their Airplane Viewing area before you leave! Located south of the airport, kiddos can play on airplane-themed park equipment in a fenced-in area while enjoying an unrivaled view of the airport runways. If you're lucky enough to be there while an incoming flight is arriving from the east, you'll see it fly right over your head before it lands! Kids and adults alike will LOVE this hidden gem.

Cost: free