Kids Activities Archives - Family Fun📍Cincinnati & Beyond

February 18, 2021February 3, 2022

11 Fun Indoor Activities for Winter

Looking for some fun ideas for the family during those cold winter days? Here are 11 ideas you can do at home with things you already have around the house!

1. Indoor Dive In Movie

Bring summer to your living room. Swimsuits, pool floats, snacks and more! Checkout my Indoor Dive In Movie blog post for all the fun including food, drinks and movies to watch.

2. Host a Snowman Dinner

Make dinner a little more fun for the family by hosting a snowman dinner with things you likely already have around the house. This idea includes place settings for the table, decor and games to make it a fun family event. Check out my Snowman dinner blog post.

3. It's Shark Week Somewhere

Sometimes a theme just makes everyone’s attitudes better, right? Try hosting Shark Week at home with this blog post, even if it’s not the actual week! There are online activities, things to watch and learn to keep the kids entertained.

4. Lego Challenge

If you have multiple kids, make it a competition and award the most creative with a treat from the pantry. Or, make it a quantity challenge. Using the 30 Day Lego Challenge from That Brick Life, see how many challenges they can do in an hour.

5. Board Game-a-palooza

I love a good board game. I’m not afraid to admit that my competitive nature comes out, even with my kids ;). See how many games you can play in a row. Here are my favorites – click the link to add them to your amazon cart!

Battleship – Kindergarten+
Sequence for Kids – 3 yrs+
Candyland – 3 yrs+
Kids Create Absurdity – 6 yrs+, a great card game for kids – it’s the clean version of Cards Against Humanity.
Headbanz guessing game – 3 yrs+
Zingo – 4 yrs+
Rummikub – 7 yrs+, this is my all-time favorite game!
Yahtzee – 8 yrs+, this helps with math skills and they don’t even know it!
Uno Flip – 7 yrs+, this is a fun twist on the classic Uno game.
Wooden Box Dice Game Kindergarten+ – I have no idea what this is really called, but it’s pictured above. You roll 2 dice to cover any combination of numbers until all are covered or you bust. This a sneaky ‘math’ game they don’t even realize they are learning because it’s fun!

6. Take an Online Art Class

Want to draw a famous book character? Learn origami? Make robots from upcycled materials? There are tons of great art resources out there that are FREE! Try one of these free art tutorials!

7. Dance With 'The Stars'

Check out my blog post and have a dance party with a celebrity at home with the family. Dance with JoJo Siwa, tWitch and the Kidz Bop team. Choose from several different options.

8. Kids Yoga Online

Yoga for tots, tweens and everything in between. If your kids need to get their wiggles out, you want to do something as a family or something you can turn on for the kids to be engaged while you relax. Check out all the options on my Yoga for kids online blog post.

9. Bring A Disney Vacation Home

This is a fun one from my friend at Consistently Curious. If you can’t GET to Disney, BRING it home! She includes Virtual Disney Rides on YouTube, Parades and more fun!

Check out her blog post How To Create A Disney World Experience In Your Own Home

10. 'Go' To The Zoo

‘Take’ your kids to the zoo! Get up close and personal with animals and their caregivers from The Cincinnati Zoo. They recorded and archived over 100 videos of different animals in their habitats with Q & A from fans! It’s on their YouTube page here –> The Cincinnati Zoo Home Safari.

You can watch the video and find a craft or educational resources that pair with the video here on The Cincinnati Zoo website.

11. Restaurant Week at Home

Turn your play kitchen into a restaurant. Or, rest-ter-re-raunt as my kids call it. This is something your kids can likely do unassisted.

Give your restaurant a name and create a logo
Make a menu featuring the specials
You can even create a kids menu with games or activities for the kids to do while they wait for dinner
Make placemats for your guests with the name and logo you created for your restaurant
Get in uniform and have the guests dress up for dinner
Take turns being the chef and the server and see who creates the best dish
Don’t forget a music playlist to create the right atmosphere

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January 14, 2021January 22, 2021

Fun Kids Dinner Idea

Spending a lot of time at home with the family this winter? Turn a regular winter dinner into a fun kids dinner event with a few easy steps! Here’s how to host a snowman meltdown dinner.

Fun Kids Dinner Table setting

This is a fun family dinner for all ages made from things already likely to be in your home. Here’s what you need to create the snowman dinner:

white plates, 1 small salad plate and 1 dinner plate per person
red napkins, 1 per person
black construction paper
bag of chocolate chips
carrot, 1 per person
White plates are key! If you down own them, grab a set of small and large ones from your local party store. This will become the snowman’s body.
Red napkins will become his scarf. If you don’t own the cloth kind, you can purchase red cloth napkins here or just use paper ones.
With the black construction paper, you can make his top hat. If you need an outline to track, print out this top hat shape to color or trace.

Build the Place settings

Now you’re ready to assemble the snowman!

Line the small and large white plates on top of each other to make the body and the head.
Use chocolate chips for the eyes, mouth and 3 buttons on the belly and the carrot for the nose.
Roll the napkin and fold in half. Place it between the plates to serve as his scarf.
Tape the top hat to the small dinner plate.
Use the fork and knife as arms by placing them on a diagonal.

Create your own snowflake decor

My 7 year old son brought this snowflake sheet home from school and he’s completely obsessed! It was a STEM project and it was right up his alley since he loves origami (see my post on origami tutorials). Click here to print the snowflake making instruction sheet. In 5 easy steps, you’ll have some unique snowflakes!

Snowman Table Centerpiece

Find 2 boxes the same shape but DIFFERENT sizes! We bought 2 boxes from the UPS store but you can also search for something laying around your home like tissue boxes.

Wrap them in white butcher paper – you can buy here from Amazon to use for future art projects too or the white paper on the roll from Ikea.

Cut a carrot shape from orange paper for the nose. (cut 4 if you decorate all 4 sides).

Tape the top hat (from link above) to the top of the snowman’s head.

Use a black marker to draw eyes, mouth and buttons.

Snowman hot chocolate bombs

Hot cocoa bombs are a fun way to enjoy hot cocoa, but have you tried the white chocolate hot cocoa bombs?

These are perfect for melting with hot milk. We ordered ours from F & Goode Desserts. They have TONS of other flavors too!

Snowman Games, Books and Movies

Want to keep the party going? Here are some great books, movies and games you can play after dinner.

Of course, Frozen is a perfect movie to watch, because Olaf!
Rent Frosty’s Winter Wonderland from AmazonPrime Video
Check out one of these 23 Books About Snowmen from Fun With Mama.
Have an indoor snowball fight with these indoor snowballs or play the snowball toss, similar to cornhole. You can buy from Amazon below.

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October 8, 2020April 18, 2021

Mom Hacks | Dinner Out With Kids

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!

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October 4, 2020October 11, 2020

Fowling Warehouse Cincinnati | Sunday Funday for the Family

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!

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!

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!

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!

September 12, 2020September 24, 2020

Bass Island and Near with the Family

Have a Sunday Funday – or any day, really – with the family! A family favorite of ours for outdoor Cincinnati family fun is the Newtown/Mariemont area of Cincinnati! This is a MUST VISIT for families with kids of ANY age. Check out the notes and adjustments I call out for toddlers and tweens.

Choose Your Favorites For Sunday [family] funday

Choose something active, something to explore, something to eat and even a sweet treat! All are within walking distance or a short drive from the Bass Island starting point (Newtown Rd just south of Wooster Pike).

Creekin’, River float, Canoe or Kayak
Golf, Driving Range or Putt Putt Golf
Bike ride or paved stroller walk
Burgers, shakes & playing in the sand
Sweet treats – candy & ice cream!

Creekin' + River Float + Kayak + More

The Avoca Trailhead (7949 Wooster Pike, Cincinnati, Ohio 45227) is a great place to park and start a short ‘float’ down the river in a tube. If the river water is high, the rapids can be fast, so I strongly suggest lifejackets for all! You can end just after you go under the bridge (Newtown Road) and play in the water there. Skip rocks, float in the small rapids (my kids call them ‘slides’) and relax in the river.

Have littles and want to skip the float part? Park at Bass Island (Newtown Rd south of Wooster Pike) and hike down the small trail. Go LEFT at the fork to the end – that is the least steep entrance into the riverbed.

Make sure you have water shoes! Bug spray, a bucket to collect rocks and lifejackets or floaties for the littles are also smart to have. We took pool floats and boogie boards are great too!

If you’re looking to canoe or kayak, here is a map of public canoe access on the little miami. I suggest ending at Bass Island so you can grab some burgers, beers and shakes at fifty west!

If you don’t have your own, here are some places to rent:

Scenic River Canoe Excursions
Fifty West Canoe & Kayak – closed this season.

River Dogs Paddlesports– closed this season.

Loveland Canoe & Kayak

Golf, Driving Range or Putt Putt Golf

Little Miami Golf Center (3811 Newtown Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45244) has a awesome Par 3 and regulation course if your family enjoys golf. My kids prefer the driving range (heated during the winter) or the simple, throwback style putt putt golf course.

BIKE, Scooter or Walk the trail

Looking to take a long bike ride or walk? You can park at The Avoca Trailhead (7949 Wooster Pike, Cincinnati, Ohio 45227) and walk to The Birch in Terrace Park. This is about a 2.5 mile walk and is great for older kids, a day date or girlfriend adventure.

The Little Miami trail connects all the way to Springfield, Ohio – about 78 miles long. It’s great for family rides. We usually park at Bass Island (Newtown Rd south of Wooster Pike) and ride along the trail as far as we want and turn around. The trick is, there are plenty of competitive bike racers on the trail that come at a good clip, so make sure your kids know to stay to the right and listen for ‘passing on the left’ to avoid any issues. This is one of my favorite places to walk with the stroller because it’s flat, paved and the kids can play in the river or at fifty west afterward.

Great eats, sweet treats

Make sure you hit up fifty west for some burgers, shakes, handcrafted sodas and beers for the parents! There is a great sidewalk path from the little miami golf course to the little miami trail, right behind fifty west burger bar. If you golf, throw the little kids bikes or scooters in your car and scoot on over to fifty west for a little more adventure and fun.

ProTip, you can order take out (online!) if you’re super hungry and don’t want to wait! Or stay to enjoy the atmosphere, shakes and beers for the parents! There is a kids sand area for kids to play in but bring your own toys!

If you want to venture out a but for a treat, be sure to either visit the creamy whip place at the corner of Newtown Rd and 32, called Dairy Corner, or venture up into the Mariemont Strand and try all the candy classics like astronaut ice cream and unique ice creams from Groovy Gumball!

September 1, 2020September 24, 2020

Highfield Discovery Garden: Adventures with Toddlers

We love Highfield Discovery Garden! This unique park offers so many things to discover and is one of our favorite shaded playgrounds in Cincinnati.

BONUS: If you wanted to get some exercise first, there is a 1.0-mile paved trail in the Glenwood Gardens, before you enter the Highfield Discovery Garden. Bring your littles in a stroller and meet a friend to get some exercise before the garden opens at 10am.

**Note: There is an admission charged, $5.25/person or buy a family annual pass to support the Great Parks.

The Magic Treehouse Playground

This is the main attraction! So much to discover in this treehouse playground. Try your hand at the matching game on the side in the green boxes or play hide & seek in the little nooks around the base of the treehouse. The structure and surroundings offer great shade!

The back of the treehouse has a ramp to enter so everyone can see the fun! This is also helpful for parents who want to join in the play but might not want duck down in the other parts of the treehouse.

The kids can scale the steps to the top and check out the a telescope lookout.

Magical Fun & Fairy Garden

Hunt fairies, have a tea party, explore the beautiful gardens and more!

There are adorable little gardens dispersed throughout the grounds to discover and explore. If you’re lucky, you’ll find some butterflies. We loved the mazes.

There’s a little tiny house, a la Alice in Wonderland, perfect for little ones to have a tea party. BYO tea as the dishes are not out, per covid precautions.

Trolley garden

All aboard! A mini train display runs throughout the Trolley Garden and kids can walk under the bridges and find all the trains! Kids can pretend they are the conductors and press the light up buttons in the train station to make it go.

During normal operation, the nature center hosts cute nature programs as well as hands on things for kids to do. Check the Great Parks website for a calendar of events here.

Stay for lunch. You can enjoy a snack or have packed lunch at the tables with umbrellas just past Nature’s Niche Gifts & Books where you purchase your ticket to enter the garden. The gift shop has some really cool, unique gifts, so be sure to take a look around. It’s air conditioned, so it’s a great place to cool off!

July 28, 2020March 3, 2021

Cincinnati Nature Center | Top 10 Things To Do

The Cincinnati Nature Center at Rowe Woods is such a treasure in our city. You can visit many times and never have the same experience twice! A yearly membership is a great investment that your family can use year-round because the center is open and there are even events during the winter. **NOTE: Make sure to check their website to see their policies on daily visit reservations and more.

Here are my top 10 favorite things to do at the Cincinnati Nature Center, in no particular order. Don’t try to do them all at once, though!

1. The Man Made Stream

This gem is inside the Nature PlayScape area, which is perfect for the littles. Even my 9 year old loves this spot. This man made stream offers mini waterfalls, a great creek stream and treasures to be found. Wear boots, water shoes or just let the kids play barefoot. Hunt for fossils, traverse down the rocks (a bit slippery) and look for creatures! There is no shade in this part, but there is a small canopy with bench nearby to watch them play.

2. The Nature PlayScape Area

The Nature PlayScape area is perfect for the littles to run and play. Kids who are just starting to walk will love this area – parents, you’ll love it too because it’s gated! Even my kids older kids (7 & 9) enjoy it, but eventually want to adventure further.

Inside the area includes:
* Little ‘trails’
* A mud pie zone (that you can easily avoid if you want)
* Benches to relax in the shade
* A cool area with logs and tree stumps to build with
*A small sand area
* Interactive maps and questions about nature, butterflies and more that you can assist with along the way

3. events in the playscape

They are often hosting really fun family friendly events in the Nature PlayScape. From nature storytime to crafty Tuesdays to nature painting and more. Heading there for an event is a great way to get familiar with the place! Check out the Calendar of Events in the PlayScape. Don’t forget to check out all the awesome events they host year round.

4. Mashburn Family Discovery Trail

We love to trek this trail starting near the parking lot of the playscape. The orange trail, the Mashburn Family Discovery Trail is a super easy, flat hike (more like a stroll, so even the new walkers can do it.) There are tons of treasures along this hike including Matt’s Pond, but be sure to hold little ones hands here because there are no railings around the deck! The trail loops around so your family will see many different things that I highlight below, including the Lotus Pond and the Log Cabin.

5. the Log Cabin & THe lotus pond

Follow the Orange trail (Mashburn Family Discovery Trail), a super easy, flat hike to find some great places to play and discover in nature including:
* Matt’s Pond
* An old log cabin. My kids could play house in this cabin for hours while I enjoy the rocking chair on the front porch.
* If you keep walking past the house and turn left, you will find the lotus pond. There are frogs for days here in this green, lilypad filled pond. And if you’re there late spring, you can’t miss them because they are loud. And I mean LOUD because it’s mating season. It’s really cool if you happen upon that timing.

6. Houses in the woods made from branches

Keep going past the Lotus Pond on the Mashburn Family Discovery Trail to find a collection of branches, sticks and tree stumps that have been made into ‘houses’. This area is nestled in the shade and really fun for kids to play and make believe in, especially if it’s hot. There’s usually an area where kids can rebuild the big houses or make teepee.

7. Classes for tots to tweens

The Covid concerns have canceled a lot of things, including some of the nature programming. But, under normal circumstances, there are weekly classes, year-round, for kids ages 1-13! Check out their schedules to see if openings are available. Also, did you know they host an accredited nature preschool? It’s a really cool hands on learning experience. Their yearly open house is usually in late January or early February if you or someone you know may be interested in learning more!

8. Hiking and creekin' on the Geology & Discovery trails

There are some really awesome hiking trails at the Cincinnati Nature Center and there’s something for everyone. If you have tots who just want a nature stroll, try the Mashburn Family Discovery Trail as I mention above.

Check out the trail map here (image below) and trail descriptions to find out which best suits your mood and skill level. My favorite trails are the pink (Wildflower) and the purple trail called The Geology Trail. They are family favorites and has a pretty easy decent into the creek. Bring water shoes or old gym shoes you don’t care get wet. Tons of fossil hunting and treasures to find in the creek.

9. feeding the fish and turtles at POWEL Crosley Lake

Feeding the fish & turtles at Powel Crosley Lake is a perfect break from hiking. We like to do the purple trail and then come back up to the Rowe Woods Visitors Center to purchase the brown bags of fish food – just from the cashier there. Bonus, there is a SUPER cute gift shop here with a range of gifts for kids and adults that are unique and not something you can find elsewhere.

The turtles and fish LOVE to be fed and get super close. Be diligent with the little ones as there is no railing on the walkway. I always make my kids sit before giving them the fish food, and then of course obsessively watch them to make sure they don’t fall in ;)! Is my mom anxiety showing?! 😉

10. Adult EVENTS You WILL LOVE

There are tons of cool events for adults to enjoy the nature center. The annual event, Hoots & Hops, is a great date night or GNO option. There are food samples from local restaurants in the lodge, plus food trucks and local brews to sample along the trails. It’s a super casual event and a great way to get to see more of the nature center, without your kids! Plus, they often host events like trail yoga, nature photography walks and more!

If you love to get out and explore and want more ideas, try my favorite shaded playgrounds in Cincinnati or hiking adventures!

July 26, 2020July 26, 2020

10 Shaded Playgrounds in Cincinnati

We LOVE parks with great playgrounds. But shaded playgrounds in Cincinnati are my FAVORITE because we can all hang longer, even on super hot days! Check out one of these places next time you’re sick of the pool but it’s too hot to do much! Bonus, there are also a few places with a splash park where you can cool off after you play!

1. Land of Make Believe at Lunken Airport

4750 Playfield Lane, Columbia Tusculum
If you’re looking for some great shade, this is a great place to check out! There are trees and lots of shade, multiple playground areas, swings, monkey bars, slides, covered picnic tables, benches, and a great tall fence surrounding it making it safe for kids of all ages to roam without you worrying about them running off.

This park costs $1/person, ages 2-12, to enter as you pass through the front air-conditioned building which has clean bathrooms – always a PLUS – and concession snacks and drinks!

Nearby: bring a picnic or enjoy takeout or patio seating at the Sky Galley Restaurant to watch the planes come in at Lunken Airport!

2. Cincinnati Nature Center

4949 Tealtown Rd, Milford
Sure, this isn’t your typical playground, but this place is perfect for shade! No swings or slide, but lots of options for play. Check out the playscape for the younger kids, but expect them to get dirty! Check out my post on the Top 10 Things to Do at Cincinnati Nature Center.

3. Blue Ash Nature Park

4343 Cooper Road, Blue Ash
This park is behind the Blue Ash Recreation Center. There are 2 playgrounds as you walk through the mulch nature trail. Bring one of the nature hunt ideas on this blog post to do as you walk.
If you keep walking beyond the picnic shelters and amphitheater, you will find a shaded play area perfect for little ones and a dinosaur themed play structure! Blue Ash Nature Park has separate structures for different ages. There are several playgrounds & a ropes course.

4. Highfield Discovery Garden

10397 Springfield Pike Evendale
Tons of shade options at this unique park! Whether it’s playing in the ‘Alice in Wonderland’ style house, on the giant magic tree structure or hunting for fairies, there are some great options for shade.

Highfield Discovery Garden (admission fee is $5/adult, $4/kiddos 2-12) at Glenwood Gardens is where nature and fun intersect. They have a kid friendly tree house called the Discovery Tree in the middle of the park where they can climb and explore. They also have the most adorable little gardens dispersed throughout. My kids LOVED the water pump to fill watering cans to water the garden.

Enjoy tea in the ‘Alice in Wonderland’ tiny house perfect for little ones. Or hunt for fairies and wizards in the Fairy and Wizard Garden.

5. Juilfs Park

8249 Clough Pike, Anderson

With a shaded canopy playground for the little ones, 3 & under, and a full shaded sand area, there is tons to do here! Bring sand toys because it will be hard to keep the kids away from the giant sand area.

There is a super cute farm themed splash pad that is surprisingly shaded. Plus, the bathrooms are directly behind that area for easy changing. The larger play structure has some shaded areas, but its mostly in full sun. The swings are also in full sun.

Bonus fun, bring the scooters or the kids bikes. They can ride the paved path while you get a little exercise. At the start of the trail, there is a small little ‘gas station’ for kids to pretend to gas up their bike and make believe! There are also plenty of shelters around to enjoy a picnic lunch!

6. Swaim Park

Corner of Cooper and Zig Zag Roads, Montgomery

There is a decent amount of nature shade from trees on the playground area.

There is a tot lot, perfect for little ones plus a school age playground. Bonus, this park has a short paved trail for Bikes & Scooters.

7. Alms Park

710 Tusculum Avenue, Mt Lookout
This playground provides a great shaded place to play. Don’t forget to check out the long concrete slide and the amazing “castle” with views to the river & a birds-eye view of the planes take off at Lunken airport.

Sit on the long, serpentine wall to watch the planes come in at Lunken while enjoying a picnic! There is no shade in the viewing area.

8. Dogwood Park

3721 Pleasant Street, Mariemont
The Tot Lot has great shade provided by the surrounding trees. And a major bonus, the park is fenced in! Even the swings offer some shade!

Covering over 20 acres, Dogwood Park contains ball fields, playground equipment, nature trails, the swimming pool, and a memorial to the Native Americans who once occupied the area.

9. Cottell Park

5847 Irwin Simpson Rd, Mason
The playground has plenty of shaded canopies and is entertaining for all ages. There is a designated spot for toddlers. You can walk along the paved paths or run their energy out in the wide-open spaces around the park. Bonus, if you time it right, you might see the gorgeous sunflowers in bloom across the street!

10. Washington Park

1230 Elm St, OTR
The playground area of Washington Park is fenced-in and great for all ages. There is a castle-like play structure, a few swings and some outdoor musical toys to explore. There is a small sand area there also. There is natural shade in most parts of the park provided by the mature trees. Bring suits if you want the kids to play in the interactive fountain in the main area of the park.

June 9, 2020July 7, 2020

Best Places To Go Fishing With Kids In Cincinnati

With years of expertise from the fishing captain, Papa Jake, we’ve gathered the best places to go fishing with kids in Cincinnati.

Need kids fishing tips? Want to know the basics and where to find lessons? Check out my Fishing With Kids post.

Here’s hoping your kids catch a bigger fish than that one when you go fishing with kids! I’m kidding, that’s the bait!

Choosing The Right Place To Fish in Cincinnati

Don’t forget, you need a fishing license before you go fishing with kids in Cincinnati! You may purchase them at most local sporting goods stores or if you’re in Ohio, get an Ohio fishing license here.

Choosing a lake may depend on what you have and need. I’ve divided up the options by one stop shop with everything you need and places that are great to fish but BYOB(bait!)

Plus, there are a ton of great fishing activities for kids run through the Great Parks like tournaments and competitions.

One Stop Shop Fishing in Cincinnati

Lake Isabella – a great place to fish for families! During a normal fishing season, they hold tournaments for kids – complete with trophies and all! And there is often live music and grill outs on Friday nights. It’s a ton of fun for all!

You will need a fishing ticket ($3 for kids, $12.50 for adults) and state license – see above to get one. They have a bait shop to purchase gear and bait. You can fish on the bank or you can rent a boat during a normal season. This lake is stocked with fish by the parks department so the odds for catching something are good!.

Miami Whitewater Forest – You can rent boats or bring your own canoes and kayaks. You can also buy bait or tackle at the boathouse. If you don’t want to go in a boat, bank fishing is also available. Don’t forget to get a fishing license before you go!

Sharon Woods Park – a great option for fishing with the family. The boathouse rents row, pedal and pontoon boats and kayaks. Personal canoes, kayaks are permitted. Fishing is available from boats or the fishing pier.
There are also tons of other activities there, so make a day of it with my guide to Sharon Woods Park for families.

Winton Woods – the boathouse offers row, pedal, motor and pontoon boats; kayaks; and canoes for rental. You can also bring your own canoes and kayaks. Bank fishing is also available. You can also purchase bait and tackle at the boathouse. Don’t forget your fishing license!

BYOB (Bait) Fishing in Cincinnati

There are also great options to fishing, but you have to bring your own bait. Most stores like Dick’s Sporting Goods, Walmart, Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shop have a variety of bait. Chances are, the closest gas station to the lake has bait available!

Other options include:
Baehr’s bait and tackle shop in north Cincinnati
Latonia Bait & Tackle – in NKY

BOYBait to these great places:

Lake Barber – a great fishing lake in Newtown with a paved path around the lake great for walking and bike/scooter riding. Bring the scooters or a nature scavenger hunt (see Outdoor Activities With Kids for info). You will need to bring everything (including a fishing license) because there is no fishing support there. You fish from the bank for free in a natural lake that is not stocked. Don’t forget to see my Fishing With Kids post to make sure you have all the right gear.

Woodland Mound – A small lake with bank fishing only. This lake is stocked with fish by the parks department, so while fishing is a sport of chance and skill, your odds of getting a bite are better here. Note, you need to bring all your bait and gear as there is not boathouse. Great Parks parking permits are usually required and available to purchase at entry. There is also a boat launch ramp available if Ohio River conditions allow. Grab your bait at Shell (4525 Kellogg Ave) or Marathon (6790 Kellogg Rd)

Little Miami River at Bass Island – fishing on the bank of the river (this is a great creeking spot too). The parking lot is just past the Little Miami Golf Center. You can also bring your own Canoe or kayak. Speaking of this place, check out my golfing with the kids blog for information on their great putt putt golf course (kids 4+), Par 3 course and driving range.

Fernbank Park – You can fish from the banks of the Ohio River. BYOeverything and don’t forget your fishing license! There is a great flat path here if you want to bring scooters or bikes to ride when the kids want to take a break! And, there is a playground nearby for the really short attention spans.

Triple Creek pond – The park offers a nice neighborhood fishing pond where you get to keep the fish and no fishing license is required.

East Fork State Park – A huge lake with boat access and bank fishing. You will need a state fishing license and will have to pay for access into the park. I have a ton of information on my blog post about spending a day (or weekend) at East Fork with the family.

May 26, 2020July 6, 2020

Outdoor Movie Projector For Under $150

Getting a outdoor movie projector is a great great way to have adventure in your own backyard. Here’s how to host outdoor movie nights with the family for $150 or less.

Buying an Outdoor Projector

The more lumens, the brighter the picture, but don’t expect it to work outside during the day no matter how bright it is. There are several options out there, but after my research, I landed on this option for an outdoor movie projector. It checked the box on affordability, quality, positive reviews and easy to use.

The best part is it has a USB spot to connect our Chromecast, which expanded our movie choices to anything digital. Using the chromecast app, we can stream Disney+, Hulu and more. If you want a boost on sound, grab a headphone to headphone cable and plug into a home speaker.

Buying an Outdoor Movie Screen

You can use your garage door if it’s a light color or even a white sheet. Grey actually works best because it helps fill in the darker parts of the movie.

We scored an awesome screen that is very portable for only $15. It’s actually a pop up tent shade wall that doubles as a portable movie screen. It connects to a pop up tent, which makes it feel even more theatre like, and it’s perfect for camping.

CREATE an AWESOME Movie theatre scene

Make sure you have comfy chairs, like the anywhere chair from Pottery Barn. For the real littles, decorate an amazon box like a car and make it a drive-in movie! We did a dive-in move with our inflatable pool. It was so fun!

Really want to be a hero? Make real movie tickets for the kids on canva with this free template. While you wait for it to get dark, the kids can ‘sell these’.

Move treats are a must! Homemade popcorn in popcorn bags or popcorn buckets from the dollar store are fun. Did you know they deliver? These are great for a movie-themed birthday! If you don’t have popcorn bags, decorate a red solo cup with stripes or just decorate brown paper bag.

If you’re local to Cincinnati, RJ distillery is offering free to-go popcorn for a limited time.

S’mores on the fire pit are always a great option. We LOVE these telescoping sticks for s’mores. Looking to explore s’more? (see what I did there? 😉 Check out these different variations of s’mores with various candy and cookies! Speaking of fire pits, are you a fan of the solo stove? It’s ALL the rage because the put off less smoke but great fires for roasting!

As always, candy from the Dollar Store is always a great options. They have a huge variety of candy boxes so kids can make and visit the ‘concession’ stand to shop for their movie treats!

Grab juice boxes for the kids and parents, BYOB 😉