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Staycation Cincinnati | Things to Do With Kids in Downtown Cincinnati

Downtown Cincinnati Kids activities

Staying in Downtown Cincinnati or NKY with kids? Whether you’re vacationing in Cincinnati or doing a Cincinnati staycation downtown, here are some fun things to do with your kids and tweens.
First, it’s important to note there are 3 distinct sections of Downtown Cincinnati: 

  • The Banks which is the Riverfront section and is home to the Reds and Bengals stadiums, The Freedom Center, Smale Park and all things south of 2nd street.
  • Downtown district which is the center of town and home to Fountain Square and many businesses.
  • Over-The-Rhine (OTR) which is home to Washington Park, Findlay Market and many amazing restaurants and shops. 

Getting Around Downtown Cincinnati with Kids

Downtown Cincinnati, The Banks and Over the Rhine (OTR) are walkable, for sure. Especially if you have a stroller. You can always call an uber, but here are a few other options:

Things To Do With Kids in Downtown Cincinnati

For non-walkers to tweens, here are some things to do with kids in Downtown Cincinnati. I note age range, season and location below. 

Go Duckpin Bowling at Pins Mechanical

Downtown Cincinnati Family Friendly

📍1124 Main St (OTR) – PINS MECHANICAL WEBSITE
🧒🏽 Under 21 welcome until 8PM daily. My kid loved playing as young as 3.
❄️ 🌷 ☀️  🍁 Great year-round

Play Duckpin bowling, which is basically the marriage of skeeball and bowling. Small balls, short lanes and the pins are connected. My kids love that you sit on couches while you wait your turn. Kids bowl FREE on Sundays with an adult.
Bring your quarters for pinball & arcade games (they have a change machine too)! You can also play ping pong, foosball and Bocce on the rooftop in the summer! They don’t have food, but you can order food deliver or grab something nearby.

Soak In The Fun at Washington Park

📍1230 Elm St, (OTR)– Washington Park WEBSITE
🧒🏽 Open Daily. All ages welcome and there truly is something for everyone. Great for littles to adults.
❄️ 🌷 ☀️  🍁 Great year-round

There are tons of things to do here and the options change year round. Be sure to check the calendar of events at Washington Park so you know what’s happening! Otherwise, check out the:
👶 Playground: For the young kids, there is a fenced-in park with a baby swing and a fun saucer swing, a slide and other fun things. There is also a sand area, FYI, if you want to avoid it like me.
💦 Splash Pad: During late spring, summer and part of fall, the interactive water fountains are on which are great for kids to run through in their bathing suits, or clothes if you’re daring. There is a bathroom nearby to change clothes.
🐕 Enclosed dog park: My kids love to watch the dogs play from behind the fence.
🧺 Large open field: Bring a picnic lunch with goodies you find at Findlay Market. Or enjoy one of the local food trucks parked on the surrounding streets. There are tables available or bring a blanket. After, bring a soccer ball to play.
🍺 The Porch: a great place for parents to grab a drink (local brews, etc) and kids can play giant connect 4 or run and play nearby in parents view. 
**There is an affordable parking garage underneath the park and can serve as a great central point if you’re exploring OTR and downtown.

Game Time Fun at The Play Library

📍1306 Main Street (OTR)- The Play Library website
🧒🏽 Something for every age. Thurs – Sat 10am – 5pm & Sun 12 – 5pm
❄️ 🌷 ☀️  🍁 Great year-round

An AWESOME library of games and fun things to PLAY with! You can borrow and return puzzles, games, toys, etc. Stop by here to grab a game to play at Findlay Market or Washington Park as you watch the world go by. And be sure to check out The Play Library Events here!

Travel The World at Findlay Market

📍1801 Race Street (OTR)- Findlay Market WEBSITE
🧒🏽 Something for every age. Closed Mondays.
❄️ 🌷 ☀️  🍁 Great year-round

Findlay Market is Ohio’s oldest continuously operated public market. It’s free to look, but come hungry to try unique cuisine, gelato, market shops and of course the OTR candy shop! Book a cooking class, listen to some live local music, or schedule a findlay market tour. Click here –> to check out all the fun Cincinnati Food Tours. 

Make Your Own Candle or Room Spray

📍1325 Vine St, (OTR)– The Candle Lab WEBSITE
🧒🏽 Open Daily. All ages welcome but best for ages 3+
❄️ 🌷 ☀️  🍁 Great year-round

Reservations are encouraged. Click website to get info. This is a fun project for families to do together. You pick your candle, spray or diffuser and choose from tons of different scents. We had a great time laughing at some of the rather interesting ones, like ‘old books’. They have something for everyone. You can mix scents and create your own label to name your scent. Candles are ready to pick up within a few hours or less. 

Splash, Slide, Ride and Play at Smale Park

📍Smale Park – 166 W Mehring Way, (The Banks) – Smale Park WEBSITE
🧒🏽 All ages welcome but best for ages non-walkers to @10.
❄️ 🌷 ☀️  🍁 The park is open year-round but the fountains are seasonal.

Carol Ann’s Carousel is a fun indoor carousel. We love starting there in our dry suits and then enjoying the splash pad with a view of the NKY riverfront. There’s a bathroom to change right there. We then head down to the park (down the stairs and across the street) to play on the slides, giant food keyboard and all the other fun stuff. I usually pack a picnic lunch or pick up Jimmy John’s on the banks to enjoy on the open field there under my favorite bridge, The Roebling. There are plenty of other restaurants to eat indoors too. 

The Unmuseum at the Contemporary Art Center

📍44 E 6th St (Downtown)– Contemporary Arts Center WEBSITE
🧒🏽 Great for non-walkers (lots of visual stimulation) to teens. Open Wednesday – Saturday, but hours may change. Check here. 
❄️ 🌷 ☀️  🍁 Great year-round

We love the UnMuseum as a great option to play and discover interactive art, like the flashlight room, the colored music boxes and the found object fun. During normal times, they host a fun event on Thursday mornings with art, yoga followed by unstructured play. Perfect for kids up to 10. The other exhibits in the museum are great for all ages, including teens. **NOTE: construction efforts underway and the museum is expected to fully open in Aug.

Become the Town Fire Chief at the Cincinnati Fire Museum

📍315 West Court Street (Downtown)– Cincinnati Fire Museum WEBSITE
🧒🏽 All ages are welcome, kids 6 & under are free.
❄️ 🌷 ☀️  🍁 Great year-round. Closed Sunday & Monday.

The history of fight fighting is explored in this old firehouse. ‘Drive’ a fire engine, slide down a fire pole, try on the uniform, see how they used to use buckets to put out fires and much more. This is perfect for anyone interested in history or loves firetrucks. Learn about my friend Stephanie’s experience on her blog Consistently Curious.  

See The "Queen City" at Fountain Square

📍520 Vine Street (Downtown)– Fountain Square WEBSITE
🧒🏽 Great for all ages. Probably best for ages 3+.
❄️ 🌷 ☀️  🍁 Great year-round, but activities vary based on weather. 

In the winter, try the ice skating rink and bumper cars with various theme events like DJ skate. See them here –> Fountain Square event calendar.  In the spring, summer and fall, there are events like salsa dancing and live music from the stage. It’s a great place to sit and watch the city go by as you enjoy the famous Graeter’s Ice Cream located there. 

Brunch with The Family at Sleepy Bee Cafe

📍8 East 4th Street (Downtown)– Sleepy Bee WEBSITE
🧒🏽 All ages welcome, open daily
❄️ 🌷 ☀️  🍁 Great year-round

A local brunch spot that has expanded locations all over the city. The breakfast sandwiches and pancakes are legendary.

See The Sharks at Newport Aquarium

📍1 Aquarium Way (Newport, KY – across the river)– Newport Aquarium WEBSITE
🧒🏽 All ages welcome, open daily. Admission is $18-$28/person
❄️ 🌷 ☀️  🍁 Great year-round

The coolest part is you can walk across the ‘purple people bridge’ from Cincinnati to Kentucky to get here. See sharks, stingrays, turtles and more at this awesome aquarium. If you have littles, check their calendar to make sure strollers are allowed that day. If not, we would bring the hiking backpack for our toddler so she could easily see all the fun and she was ‘contained’ ;). Your daring kids and tweens in your life might enjoy crossing the shark bridge – a rope bridge over the open-water sharks. Santa scuba dives here in December.

Located at Newport on the Levee, there is also a movie theater, shops and restaurants and a candy store that calls your name when leaving the aquarium. They also host tons of seasonal events, so be sure to check it out. If you’re hungry, be sure to try Tom + Chee and their famous s’mores or grilled cheese donut. 

The Reds Hall of Fame Museum

Downtown Cincinnati Family Friendly

📍100 Joe Nuxhall Way, The Banks – Reds Hall of Fame WEBSITE
🧒🏽 All ages welcome, open daily, 10a-5p. Kids 12 & under and Military Veterans Free. Adults are $12.
❄️ 🌷 ☀️  🍁 Great year-round

The museum has fun interactive exhibits and memorabilia from Reds players and teams throughout the years. Kids can record themselves ‘calling the game’ in the booth and you can email the audio file to yourself. Even my not-so-baseball-loving 9 year old had a good time. It’s worth a visit.  

And of course, go see a Reds Game if they are in town. Checkout the Reds Baseball Schedule to see. 

Other Notable fun in Downtown Cincinnati

Downtown
–Take in the view of all of Downtown and NKY from the Carew Tower Observation Deck.
—National Underground Railroad Freedom Center – an educational experience where the heroes of freedom, from the Underground Railroad to now, are celebrated. 

The Banks
–Rent Red Bikes (see above for details) and explore Sawyer Point, riding around and down along the river to International Friendship Park. The shortest bike they have is 22in, I believe. BUT, exploring The Banks to Sawyer Point (walk east – left if you are facing the river) is totally walkable and great for burning energy on a warm day. 
—The Escape Game is great for ages 13+. They do allow younger kids to participate but the content might be too difficult for them if they don’t have help from other kids. 
—Taft Museum of Art offers a unique art experience with rotating exhibits. This is open to all ages, but if your kids have no interest in art, I wouldn’t explore here. Be sure to check out the family events too, during normal times. 

Nearby but not walkable – car transportation is required.
—Cincinnati Museum Center is home to the Children’s Museum and many other exciting things for families, including an Omnimax theatre and an epic train display during the holidays. Please double check which exhibits are open and that the Children’s Museum is open before you visit.
—Cincinnati Art Museum is in Eden Park, a beautiful Cincinnati Park to enjoy! The museum has an art climb, which offers some great exercise while looking at beautiful outdoor sculptures. Walk the steps to the art museum, taking breaks on a bench when needed to enjoy the surroundings of nature and art. General admission to the museum is FREE for everyone, but specific exhibits have a cost. There is plenty to see and a nice artisan-style cafe (not your average cafeteria lunch) if you want to plan lunch there. We LOVE the Rosenthal Education Center (REC) for the unassisted fun and exploration as well as all the programming. Check out all the event options for tots to tweens on the REC event calendar here. 
—American Sign Museum is a warehouse dedicated to neon lights and storefront signs of old. Check this out for visual stimulation and unique art forms. 

Rosenthal Education Center at the Cincinnati Art Museum
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The Wiz Jr | Presented by The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati

The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati

THE WIZ JR is the LAST TCT MainStage show of the 21-22 season. And as they say, I think they saved the best for last! 😉 Don’t miss this one. “Ease On Down The Road” to grab your tickets before they sell out!

See THE WIZ JR at The Taft Theatre

WHEN: April 2-11, 2022
WHERE: The Taft Theatre, 317 E 5th Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
RUN TIME: 60-minute
AGE 4+, K-8
TICKETS: $10 – $50 each

BUY TICKETS HERE

🌈 Expect iconic songs like “Ease On Down the Road” and “Brand New Day,” as well as exciting dance numbers which blend traditional movement from African culture with ballet, jazz, and modern dance! 

6 Reasons to Take Your Family to See a Show from The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati

Watch THE WIZ JR Promo Video

Broadway and Local Artistic Influence on Stage

THE WIZ JR. features two artistic influencers straight from Broadway, making this a great opportunity to introduce your kids to Broadway quality at a price and show length that’s right for them!

Director Zhailon Levingston comes to Cincinnati straight from Broadway, directing Chicken & Biscuits, as well as Hadestown, and Tina: The Tina Turner Musical. Choreographer Tislarm Bouie has appeared in numerous Broadway shows, commercials, movies, and live events like SNL and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Local artistic influences come from Seth Howard, Scenic Designer and recent graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. And Jason Alexander Holmes, renowned music educator, performer, and Artistic Director of the Cincinnati Boychoir, serves as the Music Director. Contributing spectacular costume designs to the show, Dr. Daryl Harris is a professor teaching diverse interdisciplinary theatre courses at the Northern Kentucky University School of the Arts (SOTA). 

THE WIZ JR Showtimes

School performances of THE WIZ JR. will be held April 5-8 and 11, 2022, during the daytime hours.   

The sensory-friendly performance of THE WIZ JR. on Wednesday, April 6 at 1 PM is intended for individuals on the autism spectrum, as well as children (and adults) with other special needs who may benefit. To create a sensory-friendly performance, the show is performed in a welcoming, supportive environment for those with sensory challenges. Slight adjustments to lighting and sound are made, and effects such as fog, strobes, and lights that extend into the audience are minimized.  

All The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s Broadway-style MainStage productions, including THE WIZ JR., are performed in the historic Taft Theatre, at 5th and Sycamore Streets in Downtown Cincinnati. Tickets start at $10. Visit https://thechildrenstheatre.com/shows/the-wiz-jr/ for tickets.   

Don’t miss a show! Regular subscriptions for the 22-23 MainStage Season are on sale now and start at just $43. All subscriptions and single tickets remain refundable during the pandemic if you are unable to attend due to COVID-19. Find out more about subscribing at https://thechildrenstheatre.com/subscribe/.  

COVID Safety Protocols at The Taft Theatre

  1. Masks are required for ALL ticketholders age 2+, regardless of vaccination status. 
  2. All patrons ages 12+ must provide proof of *full COVID-19 vaccination or proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result administered within 72 hours of show start time. A negative rapid antigen test administered within 24 hours or proof of natural immunity via antibodies will also be accepted — that test would need to have occurred within six months from the date of the show you are attending. Self-reported negative test results that are not from a test provider, a laboratory, or a health care provider cannot be accepted. This rule applies to teachers and chaperones during our daytime school performances and at all public shows. 
  3. If you are experiencing symptoms (i.e., fever, chills, cough), please stay home and do not attend the event. Instead, contact the Box Office at 513-569-8080 x10 to discuss your ticket options. Read about their refund policy here. 
  4. Public performance seating will not be socially distanced. Please contact the TCT Box Office with any questions at 513-569-8080 x10 or email at tickets@tctcincinnati.com. 
  5. School show capacities will be limited, and school groups will be separated from one another to the best of our ability during daytime school performances. 
  6. No concessions will be sold during any performance. No food or drinks will be allowed in the theater. No merchandise will be sold during any performance. 
  7. Autographs for subscribers and Crown Club members after public performances have been postponed indefinitely. 
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Experience Gifts from The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati

The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati

With 3 kids at home, the holidays and birthdays can be a bit overwhelming here in the gifting department. SO. MANY. THINGS. I find myself wondering where I’m going to put it all and it becomes overwhelming. That’s why, EXPERIENCE GIFTS are my favorite!

Here are some ideas for experience gifts from The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati , PLUS, cute ways to wrap a few of them! Share this with grandparents, aunts & uncles who are asking for gift ideas for your kids – literally, forward this to them! 😉

TICKETS TO A CHILDRENS THEATRE PERFORMANCE AT THE TAFT

There are TWO shows left for the 2021-22 Season:
🙎🏻‍♀️ Matilda the Musical JR. (February 5 – 14, 2022)
🌈 The Wiz JR. (April 2 – April 11, 2022)

Buy tickets to the show HERE and make a date out of it with a lunch or dinner before or after the show. It’s so important to take your kids to experience LIVE theatre. Check out my post about 6 reasons why you should take your kids to see The Children’s Theatre at The Taft! And don’t worry, they’ve got a very exciting 22-23 season coming up after that!

  • Need some restaurant ideas? Here are my favorite kid-friendly places to eat downtown:
    • Sleepy Bee Cafe – 8 E 4th St (NOTE: it closes at 3pm)
    • Maplewood Kitchen – 525 Race St (NOTE: it closes at 3pm)
    • BRU Burger Bar – 41 E 6th St
    • SUPER CASUAL OPTIONS INCLUDE:
    • Skyline Chili – 254 E 4th St
    • Chipotle, Potbelly or have ice cream for lunch at Graeter’s – on Fountain Square
    • Jimmy Johns – 600 Vine

Going to see 🌈 The Wiz JR. ? Wrap one of these with the tickets!

Going to see 🙎🏻‍♀️ Matilda the Musical JR. ?
Wrap the book with the tickets so your child can read alone or you can read together!
📕 CLICK HERE to BUY the book Matilda by Roald Dahl

GIFT VOUCHERS TO THE CHILDRENS THEATRE

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati offers gift vouchers that are like gift certificates and can be applied towards any MainStage show. They can be sent via email, and, you can schedule it to send on the date of your choice in any amount you choose. The gift vouchers expire a year from the send date and can be used for any MainStage show, so the recipient can pick from this season or the first half of next season! 

Wrap the voucher in popcorn bins, you can find them at Dollar Tree, with candy and microwave popcorn. Although there is currently no food or drinks allowed in The Taft (Dec 2021), the kids can enjoy the treats now!

GIFT A SEASON SUBSCRIPTION

Consider gifting a Season Subscription for a holiday or birthday gift. It guarantees great seats for each show and you have a built in date 3-4 times a year! GIFT IDEA FOR THE GRANDPARENTS: Gift this experience gift TO a grandparent and then make a personalized picture wall calendar on shutterfly or a similar site. Write the season show dates on the calendar so they have dates to look forward to spending quality time with your kids, the greatest gift EVER!

GIFT ACADEMY CLASSES OR CAMPS YEAR-ROUND

We can’t say enough good things about Angelo! He teaches many of the Academy classes. My kids took his class virtually and they just loved his charisma and wit. It was a Musical Theatre weekly class and the kids learned to dance, sing and add a little jazz and pizzaz to things! The Academy staff is excellent and can teach your child the fundamentals of theatre in a fun and encouraging setting.

Invite friends and family to purchase GIFT CERTIFICATES FOR CAMPS for Spring Break or Summer that can be applied to a camp of your child’s choice! Camps start at age 7 and the themes are always relevant and exciting to kids.

photo cred: The Children’s Theatre

For ages 18 mos to 18 years, The Children’s Theatre offers performing arts classes, introducing children to all elements of live theatre. Your kids learn educational lessons, move and grove and pick up some important life skills along the way.

Bonus, if the gift giver lives in town, they can drive the recipient to the lessons on Red Bank Rd and make it a weekly date! Or, sign up with friends and carpool. The winter session registration closes 1/31 and run about $250 for the session. SIGN UP FOR TCT ACADEMY CLASSES HERE!

  • Classes include:
    • Theatre Tech Crafts – learn to build theatre props
    • Voice Lessons – ages 7-18
    • Musical Theatre Medley – ages 4-12
    • Acting Through Song – ages 10-12
    • Drama Club – ages 7-18
    • TCT TOTS! – for 18mo – 24mo kids and their guardians
    • Audition Prep – work on audition songs & receive feedback, starting at age 10
    • And a TON more!
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6 Reasons to Take Your Family to See a Show from The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati

As a mom of 3 who is busy and often stretched way too thin, I often think adding MORE things to our list is a bad idea. But I can say for certain, this IS something you NEED to add to your family’s to-do list! The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati usually offers 3-4 shows per season which run roughly from September – April, so the commitment is minimal, but the return is huge. Keep reading to find out why.

  1. Kids are NEVER too young to learn ‘theatre manners’. Theatre manners go way beyond the theatre and it’s a skill for a lifetime! Young ones learn to sit patiently, keep quiet and pay attention. The key word is LEARN! Your littles won’t have a chance to learn this if you don’t expose them to these situations. Shows are about 60-70 minutes so if your child can sit through a short Disney animated movie, they are ready to go.

    I took my kids at 2 years old and we didn’t get kicked out 😂. Know that your kids won’t be perfect but the sound system usually ‘out volumes’ them and there is always a chance to make a quick exit to regroup. Be prepared for lots of lap surfing if there’s more than one adult!
  2. The set design and costumes at The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati are inspiring. The costuming and set designs can spark inspiration in kids of all ages. Even young kids love the colors, sounds and dancing that happens LIVE on-stage. There is so much to catch their attention as they engage in live performances as see the costumes, set and sounds come together on stage.
  3. Seeing peers on stage builds confidence and respect for the arts. Elementary and junior high kids are inspired to see their peers in performing roles on stage. They see them confidently on stage delivering lines, songs and dance routines among other peers and adults. I know this has inspired my daughter to try performing arts and although it’s not my son’s calling, he has gained the respect for those that do!
  4. The learning and exploring continues after the show. If the story line or performance sparks a conversation in your house, you can keep the conversation going after the show! There are study guides for each show, so elementary age kids can learn more about the performance, costumes, set decor and more! Or listen to one of their podcasts before the show! This is a much better way to spend 30 minutes on the weekend besides more screen time! You can also listen to the TCT Podcast, Audio Footlights by The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati here and wherever you get your podcasts. 
  5. See LIVE creativity in action! We are so programmed to watch things on demand – when we want, where we want. There is something to be said for making a commitment to go to the theatre and watch a LIVE show! Seeing a ‘show must go on’ moment, or the fact that someone is coordinating lights to sync with the actors’ movements or lines. All of this is lost when you see a typical movie or TV show. You can only find experiences like this in LIVE theatre. If you see a moment where a mistake happens on stage, it’s a great talking point with kids to show that the actor or actress took it in stride. We all make mistakes and whether it’s in front of 1 person or 1000 people, we just keep going!
  6. It’s a family bonding experience like no other. We make each show a date! We get dressed up and make a reservation for lunch or dinner after the show so it’s built-in quality time during our busy weekends. Sometimes, we make it a downtown Cincinnati day and ride the streetcar, ice skate during the holidays or just explore the city and stop for a treat. A season subscription is the best way to schedule these days in advance on your calendar.
Main Stage productions from The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati at Taft Theatre.


The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati shows are such a great experience for families with kids of all ages. Each of my kids have experienced them multiple times and they are still thrilled to go to shows after many years.

Consider asking for a Season Subscription for a holiday gift from the grandparents, or gift that to your family! It guarantees great seats for each show.

See their current season here.

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Cincinnati Icons | LaRosa’s Pizza and The Mural Tour

Cincinnati Murals

Looking for some good food and unique fun? LaRosa’s and the Artworks Mural tour have you covered. In partnership with LaRosa’s, I’ve mapped out a fun and TASTY way to explore the gorgeous artwork throughout the Downtown Cincinnati and OTR. 

LaRosa's Mural Tour

LaRosa's Picnic in the Park

We started the Artworks Mural Tour with a picnic in the lawn across from Carol Ann’s Carousel at 8 E Mehring Way, Cincinnati, OH 45202 in front of the iconic ‘Sing the Queen City’ installation. 

Pack a blanket or just take a seat on the letters ;). You can either grab LaRosa’s curbside pickup on your way down, or there are 2 locations that will deliver to the Carousel at 8 E Mehring Way. Order on the app, online or by calling 513-347-1111. But first, check out the  LaRosa’s Menu. 

Pro-tips for a great picnic: 

  • Ask for paper plates and napkins when ordering.
  • Order boneless wings (we like BBQ) or the pepperoni rondos if you plan to take some snacks on the road with you. They are easy to eat right out of the box or on the go!
  • Hoagies and kitchen chips with BBQ are a perfect alternative if you’re not in the mood for pizza (that NEVER happens to me, but I hear that happens sometimes 😉
  • Also, add some chocolate chunk cookies to your order to enjoy on the drive and score extra fun points with the family.
LaRosa's Picnic

Start At The National Underground Freedom Center

If you can, park on the street near the National Underground Freedom Center, 50 E Freedom Way, Cincinnati, OH 45202. You can walk to the first mural from there and enjoy your picnic from there. 

If you want to make your own Artworks Mural tour, you will want this Artworks Mural Map. Otherwise, follow our guide below. 

Artworks Murals Near The Banks

Start at the outdoor ‘Sing the Queen City’ sculpture – 25 E Freedom Way – for some great photo ops with the skyline in the background. The kids enjoyed some wings while seated in between the letters ;).

We then ventured over on foot to ‘The Cobbler’s Apprentice Plays Ball’ – 120 E Freedom Way – and took a selfie. Beware, there is a smelly dumpster there that puts a little damper on the work of art. So, it might be best to view that one from the car!  😉

Cincinnati Murals
Fiona Mural
Cincinnati Murals
Artworks Murals
Artworks Murals
Cincinnati Murals

Artworks Mural Driving Tour

In this driving tour you will see several different styles of art. See if your kids understand the difference between the styles – is it realism, abstract, photorealism? Learn more about the different styles here.

Play along? If you follow the tour I have outlined on the map below, give bragging rights to the first person that sees the most items below:

  • Astronaunt
  • R2D2
  • A Dinosaur
  • Smiling cake
  • Butterfly
  • Tomatoes
  • Fiona
  • Nail polish
  • Elephant
  • Care bear
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FREE Indoor Play in Cincinnati

Free Play in Cincinnati

Looking for FREE indoor play for rainy day fun in Cincinnati? Too hot or cold to go outside? Check out some of my favorite places to play!

Free Play in Cincinnati

1. King Arthurs Court Dungeon Playroom

📍Oakley: 3040 Madison Road, 45209

This awesome store on Oakley square has some amazing toys to play with including kitchen and baby doll stations, a stage with dress ups, a knights tower and THE DUNGEON downstairs! The Dungeon has hanging Hugglepods, a zip line, archery area, rope climb and little climbers that are perfect for tots. Follow their facebook page for events and storytime. Often there is free popcorn and coffee, under ‘normal circumstances’.
AGES suggested: infant – 8.

Indoor Play Cincinnati
Indoor Play Cincinnati
Indoor Play Cincinnati
King Arthurs Court

2. Greaters Indoor Play Room

📍Cherry Grove: 8533 Beechmont Avenue, 45255
📍Kenwood: 8167 Montgomery Rd, 45236

This indoor play place has a giant ice cream cone slide with climbing wall, ice cream truck, banana see saw, climbing bridge and little kid area. SOCKS ARE REQUIRED and available for purchase for $1. If you’re looking to host a party, they have 2 private party rooms available for rent and you can also get exclusive access to the playroom! P.S. Besides having amazing ice cream, their donuts are delicious.
AGES suggested: infant – 10

INDOOR PLAY CINCINNATI
INDOOR PLAY CINCINNATI
Indoor Play Cincinnati

3. Jungle Jim's

📍Eastgate: 4450 Eastgate S Dr,  45245
📍Fairfield: 5440 Dixie Hwy, 45014
This is NOT your typical indoor play place, but there is PLENTY to keep your family entertained. When you first arrive there is a ‘movie’ theatre about the history of the market. The ‘port a potty’ is entertaining, and there are carnival type displays throughout the store to entertain kids. Parents, you can grab a beer while you shop too.  Gather items for a taste test challenge. Each kid can pick out a unique drink or snack to try during your family taste test at home. It’s not often you can try candy, snacks and drinks from all over the world! 
AGES suggested: infant – 10

4. Crossroads Oakley Kid City

📍Oakley: 3500 Madison Road, 45209
Closed at the time this was written, but keep this saved for when they open again!
Normally open during the week for play in a 2 floor ‘house’ with dramatic play area and slide. Plenty of room to run and play. Bring a blanket to have a picnic on.
AGES suggested: infant – 6

5. Chick-Fil-A Indoor Play

📍Multiple Locations: Click Here To Find One
Closed at the time this was written, but keep this saved for when they open again!
We love to have lunch here and play on rainy or cold days. 
AGES suggested: infant – 6

6. Contemporary Art Center UnMuseum

Downtown Cincinnati Family Friendly

📍Downtown: 44 E 6th St – Contemporary Arts Center WEBSITE

Closed at the time this was written, but keep this saved for when they open again! Admission varies from free to a few dollars a person depending on their grant cycle.
We love the UnMuseum as a great option to play and discover interactive art, like the flashlight room, the colored music boxes and the found object fun. During normal times, they host a fun event on Thursday mornings with art, yoga followed by unstructured play. The other exhibits in the museum are great for all ages, including teens. 
AGES suggested: infant – 8

7. The Cincinnati Art Museum

📍Eden Park: 953 Eden Park Dr, 45202

General admission is always free at The Cincinnati Art Museum. There are plenty of interesting exhibits and if the weather is good, climb the art sculpture steps!  The Rosenthal Education Center (REC) has great to-go art kits and come September 2021, they will have in-room activities available again.

There are always amazing programs happening there but most include a small fee like the madcap puppet shows. Click here to check out the events at the Cincinnati Art Museum. 
AGES suggested: infant – 18+

8. The Public Library of Cincinnati

📍Multiple Locations: Click Here To Find One
Head to your local library for a story times or craft or check out 1 of 4 MakerSpaces in a Cincinnati Library that you can use for FREE! Make something on a 3D printers, button maker, laser cutter, recording booth and more. There are tons of free events for all interests. Check out the event schedule at your Cincinnati Library location.
AGES suggested: infant – 18+

9. Cincinnati Childrens Discovery Center at Liberty Center

Indoor Play Cincinnati

📍Liberty Township: 7100 Foundry Row, 45069
Currently undergoing renovations and will be open fall of 2021!
A fun play area with a giant pig structure with multiple levels and an enclosed pink slide that looks like the pig’s tail. Other free play areas. The suggested age for the structure is 5+ but littles are welcome to enjoy with help. 
AGES suggested: infant – 10
Photo cred: Liberty Center

10. The Play Library

📍OTR: 1306 Main Street – The Play Library website
There is a small monthly membership fee, so it’s technically not free. But you don’t have to pay per visit. This place is an AWESOME library of games and fun things to PLAY with! You can borrow and return puzzles, games, toys, etc. Stop by here to grab a game to play at Findlay Market or Washington Park as you watch the world go by or play at their location.  And be sure to check out The Play Library Events here!
AGES suggested: infant – 18+

11. Drive The ArtWorks Public Art and Murals Tour

📍Multiple Locations: Click Here To Find The Murals You Want To See
This is NOT indoor play, but it gives you a great FREE activity to do from inside your car during rain or cold weather! Check out the art all over downtown and USE THE MAP below to visit 9 downtown mural locations. 
AGES suggested: 4 – 18+

Link to google map tour here.

12. Eastgate Mall Play Area

📍Eastgate: 4601 Eastgate Blvd, 45245
A VERY SMALL play area with little structures to climb on. This is a ‘get what you pay for’ situation. Great in a pinch, but don’t have high expectations. 
AGES suggested: infant – 4

13. Anderson Ferry And CVG Plane Viewing Area

📍Anderson Ferry: 4030 River Rd, 45238
📍CVG Viewing Area: 1459 Donaldson Hwy Villa Hills, KY 41018

Take the Anderson or Augusta Ferry across the river, a unique Cincinnati experience to cross the river into Kentucky in your car, on a boat. This is $5 per car. Pair this with a trip to watch the planes land at CVG from the viewing area picnic tables or from your car. Pack a lunch and stay for awhile!
AGES suggested: 2 – 12

14. American Sign Museum

📍Camp Washington: 1330 Monmouth Avenue, 45225
This isn’t 100% free, but 3 kids 12 & under are FREE with an adult admission for $15!
A unique museum collection of signs old, unique and elaborate! Neon, moving, historic and more! There is plenty to see and explore. Closed Mon & Tues.
AGES suggested: 5 – 18+

15. Recreations Outlet

📍Milford: 885 OH-28, 45150
OPEN beginning July 2021. This isn’t 100% free, but charitable play hours are Tuesday-Thursday, 9 – 11 am for just $4/child!
Play on the swing sets, trampolines and play structures. Shoot hoops or ride the little trikes. 
AGES suggested: 18mos – 14

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Take the Kids to Trammel Fossil Park Near Sharon Woods

fossil hunting in Cincinnati

Do your kids like to get dirty and hunt for treasures? If so, Trammel Fossil Park is an adventure you should try! There are a few things you should know before you go, so check this out.

Things to do with kids in Cincinnati
dig for fossils in cincinnati

Where is Trammel Fossil Park?

📍Located at 11935 Tramway Dr, Sharonville, OH 45241, Trammel Fossil Park is in an industrial neighborhood in Sharonville, Oh. It’s not what you may expect. It’s a HUGE, wide-open hill of rocks and fossils to uncover. It’s FREE to explore and you can take home all the treasures you find.

Note, the terrain is rocky, because it’s literally a mountain of fossil rocks. So if you have littles, it might be best to have them in a carrier. There are some lower areas to dig and traverse, but this is not a place for kids to run around due to the steep sections of the hill.

dig for fossils in Cincinnati
fossil park in Cincinnati
fossils in cincinnati

What to bring to Trammel Fossil Park?

Since the park is FREE to explore and you can take home what you find, be sure to bring a few things. If you arrive with nothing, you will still find treasures to line your pockets without these tools, but here is what I suggest:

🪣 buckets for collecting treasures
⛏ shovels or screwdriver for digging – gardening tools work well.
💦 spray bottle or water gun to clean off your treasures or help ‘unearth them’. 
🧻 an old rag to wash the dirt off the fossils and a towel to wash the dirt off the kids afterwards 😉
🧴hats and sunscreen – there is NO shade there!
🪨 want to identify what you found? Print this Ohio Fossil ID Guide here.
🥪 you can pack a lunch or snack – there are picnic tables there to use.

fossil park in Cincinnati
fossil hunting in Cincinnati
ohio fossil

Captain of the Kids Itinerary: Trammel Fossil Park

Plan to get dirty and have some fun! Trammel Fossil Park: 11935 Tramway Dr, Sharonville, OH 45241

There are picnic tables at Trammel Fossil Park, so pack a lunch for your crew to enjoy. Be sure to bring baby wipes to clean off dirty hands.

Or, head down the street to The Root Beer Stand (open seasonally): 11566 Reading Rd, Sharonville, OH 45241. Chili dogs, cheeseburgers and floats are what’s on the menu! Plus, there are picnic tables and a small playground to play on after you eat.

Since you’re already messy and the kids need to run off that sugar, take them for a hike at Sharon Woods: 11450 Lebanon Rd, Sharonville, OH 45241. We love the Gorge Trail. It’s a great, flat hike out and back wooded trail with places to sit and view the waterfalls. 

What's Near Trammel Fossil Park?

Trammel Fossil Park is fun and unique, but don’t expect it to be a place you spend hours. Unless your kids have a crazy attention span and they are obsessed with fossils 😉

I would suggest pairing this activity with something else like:

🧋Stop by the famous Root Beer Stand for lunch or a float. There are picnic tables and a small playground behind the stand for customer use.

Keep exploring the outdoors at Sharon Woods, just down the street at 11450 Lebanon Road Sharonville, OH 45241.
🥾Hike one of the trails: the Gorge Trail is a flat hike out and back wooded trail with places to sit and view the waterfall. At the end of the trail, you can climb down the steps at the dam for more fun and adventure. There is also a 2.6-mile paved trail around the lake called the shared use trail and a 1.0-mile fitness trail with exercise challenges along the way.
💦 Splash in the waterfall, turn left onto Buckeye Falls Dr after you enter the park and you’ll see the waterfall and creek
🛶 Rent a kayak, canoe, standup paddleboard, rowboat and more from the Sharon Woods Harbor for really reasonable prices. 

Hiking with kids in Cincinnati
Hiking with kids in Cincinnati
Hiking with kids in Cincinnati
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Trammel Fossil Park
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30+ Kid-Friendly Hidden Gems in Cincinnati

highfield discovery garden

There are so many things to do with kids in Cincinnati! I’m always on the hunt for more family-friendly places besides our staples like The Cincinnati Zoo and The Children’s Museum at the Museum Center. If you’re looking for unique places to visit in Cincinnati with kids, I have 3 categories to choose from based on what you’re looking for. CLICK HERE to PRINT THE BUCKET LIST of Family-Friendly Hidden Gems Around Cincinnati. 

things to do with kids in cincinnati

Kid-Friendly Hidden Gems in Cincinnati | Museums & such

Unique Museums & such

Duckpin Bowling & Pinball at Pins Mechanical in OTR. This place has a great rooftop area with bocce ball. Kids bowl free on Sundays.

Fowling Warehouse (kids 8+) It’s bowling with a football. My kids loved it and so did my older teen nephews. This is great for a mix of ages and parents too. Kids are welcome all day Sunday and until 8pm any day. They broadcast games over the sound system, so it’s a great place to watch a game too.

Take the Anderson or Augusta Ferry across the river a unique Cincinnati experience to cross the river into Kentucky. Try pairing this with a trip to watch the planes land at CVG from the viewing area picnic tables. Pack a lunch and stay for awhile!

Cincinnati Family Fun
Downtown Cincinnati Family Friendly

Behringer Crawford Museum & NaturePlay at Devou Park is a great place to play with kids 10 & under with a bigger focus on younger kid play. The museum has an admission fee and offers fun programming like Tot Tuesday and Chippie’s Sensational Science Lab. Ask for a grocery cart full of toys at the ticket counter if your littles want to play. The museum sparks imaginative play. The NaturePlay park is free and a great place to play and have a picnic. It’s mostly fenced in, so great for the little ones who wander. 

Downtown Cincinnati Family Friendly

Reds Hall of Fame Museum has fun interactive exhibits and memorabilia from Reds players and teams throughout the years. Kids can record themselves ‘calling the game’ in the booth and you can email the audio file to yourself. Even my not-so-baseball-loving 9 year old had a good time. It’s worth a visit. 

The UnMuseum at the Contemporary Art Center We love the UnMuseum as a great option to play and discover interactive art. During normal times, they host a fun event on Thursday mornings with art, yoga followed by unstructured play. The exhibits are great for all ages, including teens. 

Downtown Cincinnati Family Friendly
  • American Sign Museum is a unique museum in Camp Washington with 100 years of American history in signs. Hotel signs, neon signs and more.
  • Cincinnati Fire Museum is a trip through the history of fire fighting with interactive exhibits like old engines, etc.
  • Findlay Market & The Play Library borrow and return puzzles, games, toys, etc. from The Play Library and explore the food at the market. Often there is live music on the weekend. Grab gelato at Dojo.
  • Artworks Mural Tour there are amazing murals all over town. Use my driving route with turn by turn directions or make your own and incorporate rides on the street car, a stop in Washington Park to play. Grab ice cream at Greater’s, Simply Rolled or Pendleton Parlor. 

Unique Family Experiences in Cincinnati | Run & Play

Downtown Cincinnati Family Friendly

Smale Park is tons of fun for all ages. We love starting at Carol Ann’s Carousel (check to be sure it’s open) and then enjoy the splash pad with a view of the NKY riverfront. There’s a bathroom to change right there. We then head down to the park (down the stairs and across the street) to play on the slides, giant food keyboard and all the other fun stuff. I usually pack a picnic lunch or pick up Jimmy John’s on the banks to enjoy on the open field there under my favorite bridge, The Roebling.

Downtown Cincinnati Family Friendly
highfield discovery garden
highfield discovery garden
Highfield Discovery Garden

Kid-Friendly Hidden Gems Near Cincinnati

These trips are all within an hour of Cincinnati.

Youngs Dairy

Boonshoft Museum in Dayton

AirForce Museum in Dayton

Creation Museum

Young’s Jersey Dairy in Yellow Springs & John Bryan Park

Big Bone Lick in KY

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Mom Hacks | Dinner Out With Kids

kid friendly restaurant

Having dinner out with the kids can be chaos, rushed and often seem not worth it, right? Entertaining kids at a restaurant is not always the easiest but here are my favorite NON-SCREEN TIME mom hacks to avoid getting the side eye from a table nearby and enjoying a good meal with the family. 

The coloring kids menu works in a pinch, but these hacks are MUCH more reliable and you don’t have to rely on screen time to keep them entertained! 

Obviously the experience can vary by age and the number of kids you have, so I’ve varied the options so you can adjust to your families needs. We’ve managed to make it enjoyable with 3 young kids with the tips and tricks below. 

Have A 'GO Bag' For Dinner Out With The Kids

THIS IS A MUST for entertaining kids at a restaurant! I have a ‘go bag’ which holds my favorite activities for my kids. I keep it in the car, or hung near the garage door so my kids know to grab it when I say it as we’re running out the door. The KEY is to have toys in there that they can only play with at restaurants. Here are 20 options to fill the bag. Many work for car travel too!

10 Activities for Non-Reader Kids

I love the snap dolls or the Mr. Potato Head shown below for little hands. I throw these in one of the mesh zipper bags below so they are contained and clean up easily.

The water wow’s are great too and you can easily refill the ‘pen’ with water at your table using your straw. 

Have a LEGO lover? I LOVE these travel LEGO kits! 

Necklace kits are also a huge hit for kids of any age. I like to remove this from the container and put the parts into a small zipper bag (below).

Tegu wooden magnetic blocks are a favorite of this house. They attract and stick to each other, magnetically, to make building, stacking and creating easier. Throw them in a pencil box or zippered mesh bag below and they make great entertainment. 

Working on letters? This reusable kit is perfect because my youngest things it’s a book that she’s writing in. It’s just her size and easy to transport.

Lace and trace animals are perfect for hand/eye coordination. 

Travel Spirograph is entertainment for hours!

Wooden magnetic tangrams are so fun because they have patterns to follow or kids can create their own!

Pro-tip: These bags are AMAZING for bringing games on the go, without their box! Perfect for the snap n go dolls, Mr. Potato Head, the magnetic blocks and more. The smaller ones are great for storing markers and others things. It is sturdy and easy to keep things organized in your ‘go bag’ or at home. 

10 Activities fo Elementary kids

If you’re outside, the Taco Cat card game is so fun for families. It involves slapping cards, so if you’re at a nice place or it’s relatively quiet, this may not be the game to choose. 

Headbands is a family go-to. Even my 4 year old can easily play it. We sometimes play ‘reverse’ where you give the person wearing the card clues. This is a bit easier for kids – even a 3 year old – and can often result in laughs because they give it away too easily! I don’t bring the box, just throw the headbands and cards in one of the bags below and skip the timer. You can also download the Heads Up app, BUT all players need to be readers because there are no pictures.

Mad Libs is an oldie but goodie. If you have 2 readers, they can play together or you can play as a family. I also love this Mad Libs app you can add to your phone because it reads your mad lib story back to you, which is hilarious!   

Brainflakes are great for 3 & up because you can increase the intensity level as you ages. There are a TON of them that come in the bin, so just have a ziplock bag or pencil box full in your go bag. 

We LOVE this roll the dice math game. The object is to roll the dice and then get all the numbers down on the board using 1, 2 or 3 numbers. Once you roll and can no longer ‘shut’ out a number, you loose. 

UNO Flip is a great twist on UNO. It often takes longer, but is fun because just when you think you might win, it can all change as you have to flip the cards. 

Have a spy kid in the family? These secret decoder games are fun for kids 8+ and challenge their thinking skills.

Hidden pictures was always my favorite part of the Highlights magazine and this is strictly that part! I LOVED these as a kid, so I’m happy to say my kids share my obsession.

Spot It! is a classic and they have a Jr version too so your kids can play together or with you.

Order Drinks For You, Meals For The Kids

Stagger the pace of dinner and keep their attention longer! My kids know what they want from a menu within seconds. So, we like to order our drinks and their meals immediately. We sometimes get an app too, depending on how crowded the restaurant is, etc. Then, when we order our dinner, we put in a dessert for them.

This way, their food comes out first and we don’t have to feel rushed cutting their food and trying to finish ours before the kids meltdown ;). Also, this allows us to enjoy our hot food while they eat dessert. 

Bring your own highchair

I know this seems silly, but my kids preferred sitting in their own high chair vs the one at the restaurant. If we were in a booth with the older kids, I would put the foldable one on the far end of the table against the wall so the youngest could see better and feel like she was participating. It also helps with controlling germs. I would keep this in my car at all times so I always had it.

Then grab the secure-a-toy so your infants favorites don’t drop to the floor 100 times!

This article contains affiliate links. I may make a small commission on purchases from these links at no additional cost to you. 

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Fowling Warehouse Cincinnati | Sunday Funday for the Family

Family Fun Cincinnati

Round up the crew. Fowling Warehouse Cincinnati is the ultimate activity for Sunday Family Funday! (said like Bowling, but with an F). It’s more affordable, relaxed and likely more age-appropriate than Topgolf, axe throwing and others.  Fowling Warehouse wants to treat you and 9 guests to a lane for the day and a round of drinks (Blue Moon Light Sky). Details below on how to enter the contest! 

Family Fun | Play all day

The Fowling Warehouse is located in Norwood/Pleasant Ridge at 2940 Highland Ave, near Highland & Ridge Ave. Kids can play any day until 6, including Saturday. Sunday is open ALL day for kids from 12-8pm. Open play is only $10/person and you can play ALL day!

Family Fun Cincinnati

Fowling Warehouse is Fun for kids and adults

Converted from an old warehouse, this place is HUGE! There’s not much curb appeal, but don’t let that fool you. Once you’re inside, you will see how fun it is. There are 30 lanes, so plenty of room to spread out and play. Just bring your crew and your masks (required when walking around) and enjoy an afternoon of play.

WHO CAN PLAY? Anyone, honestly. My kids (4, 7 and 9) loved it. We also played with family who had kids in middle school, high school and college. Even my parents liked it! BONUS: They have PRO footballs and smaller ones that are more kid friendly. You could even bring a smaller ball if you prefer.

This place is perfect for a birthday party! You can reserve lanes, bring pizzas and let the kids burn out all their energy!

Cincinnati Family Fun
Family Fun Cincinnati
things to do with kids in cincinnati
Cincinnati Family Fun
Cincinnati Family Fun

Fowling Warehouse | How to play

First off, you can play by the rules or you can just go have fun. We did a little of both. Your goal, knock the bowling pins down with a football.

Teammates play on the SAME side of the board, not opposites like cornhole. There are 2 lines from which you can throw – top of the board and the back. We actually let our kids (4, 7 and 9) move past the lines to throw and that helped them be more successful at knocking down the pins. 

This one of a kind game has some unique rules:
–Collateral damage happens if a football from another lane hits your pins and knocks them down. Fair game, the pins are down. Also, you can bring drinks into gates, but they are also fair game. If a football finds it, it’s not going to buy you another one ;).
–BONK HONK. Holy cow, that thing is loud! If you get a BONK, which means you hit the middle pin only, they sound the horn for the whole place to hear! Surprisingly, this happens more often than you realize. We did not BONK or even come close!

Food and Drinks At Fowling Warehouse

There are large round tables outside of the gates that hold the lanes where you can gather with family. They have snacks and slices of pizza, but you can also BYO. We brought in pizza from LaRosas on Montgomery, but you can also use Uber Eats or any other restaurant that delivers.

For the kids, grab a pitcher of Powerade, soda or water. For the adults, there is an epic selection of local and national beverages! They pour from a ‘bottoms up’ system so each drink is the perfect pour and you get one of those fun magnets to keep ;). They have a great drink cooler and a genius ‘mystery beer machine’. Choose your price, $2-$5, and the machine vends you a surprise can! Check out my reels on Instagram for the full experience!

Mystery Beer Machine
Bonk Beer
Drink local
Bottoms up pour

More Games at Fowling Warehouse

Want to take a break for a bit? They have HUGE TVs and the local games are played over the PA system making it a perfect way to watch a Bengals game.

Also, the kids can play air hockey, Golden Tee and more. Each game requires dollars or quarters to play. 

Fowling Warehouse for fundraisers and birthday parties

Looking for a way to fundraise for your school, sports team or organization? Fowling is the perfect idea because there is low overhead cost, it’s a unique event and it’s fun for all ages. 

Be a cool mom and book the Fowling Warehouse for your next birthday celebration. Costs are low and fun is high because you pay per person and bring your own food!

Be sure to tell them Captain of the Kids sent you!

CLICK IMAGE BELOW to enter to WIN a lane for 10 and a round of drinks at the Fowling Warehouse Cincinnati!

Giveaway Fowling Warehouse Cincinnati