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.Ā
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!
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.Ā
Reds Hall of Fame Museum has fun interactive exhibits and memorabilia from Reds players and teams throughout the years. Kids can record themselves ācalling the gameā 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. Itās worth a visit.Ā
The UnMuseum at the Contemporary Art Center We love theĀ 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.Ā
- 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.Ā
Unique Family Experiences in Cincinnati | Run & Play
Smale Park is tons of fun for all ages. We love starting at Carol Annās Carousel (check to be sure it’s open) and then enjoy the splash pad with a view of the NKY riverfront. Thereās 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 Johnās on the banks to enjoy on the open field there under my favorite bridge, The Roebling.
- Explore the unique ninja inspired playground at SUMMIT PARKĀ or enjoy the nature playscape that has a small stream, rocks to play on and sand areas. We also love to bring our scooters and zip around the large paved path. There are restaurants and an ice cream shop if you’re looking for a fun treat!
- Play on the farm and see unique animals at GORMAN HERITAGE FARMĀ or BLOOMS & BERRIES
- Take a ride on The LOVELAND BIKE TRAIL and grab lunch or a treat afterwards. Make a day of it and tour this unique castle in Loveland –> The LOVELAND CASTLE
- Dig for fossils at a really cool place unique to Cincinnati –> TRAMMEL FOSSIL PARKĀ
- Play in the magic treehouse, sip tea in a Alice in Wonderland inspired house, hunt for fairies and more. Check out all the fun here –> HIGHFIELD DISCOVERY GARDEN (best for littles)
- Check out 10 ways to explore and enjoy here –> CINCINNATI NATURE CENTER
- Make it an OTR afternoon with play at the WASHINGTON PARK on the playground or at the splash pad & ride the streetcar to The Banks or Findlay Market.
- Tour BENTON FARM
- Explore PYRAMID HILL SCULPTURE PARK in Hamilton, OH on an Art (golf) Cart & stop for a treat or two on the Donut Trail
- See these unique animals at ALPACA PARADISE Ā in Goshen
- Zip lines, the coolest toys & dress ups, a castle lookout and more at The DUNGEON AT KING ARTHURS COURTĀ (best for littles) and grab ice cream for lunch next door at Aglamesis. Skyline is across the street too ;).
- Explore a stroller/wheelchair accessible treehouse at MT. AIRY FOREST, EVERYBODY’S TREEHOUSE.
Kid-Friendly Hidden Gems Near Cincinnati
These trips are all within an hour of Cincinnati.
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