outdoor activities Archives - Family Fun📍Cincinnati & Beyond

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!

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 😉

May 21, 2020June 10, 2020

Fishing With Kids

Looking for a great outdoor kids activity to do during socially distancing? Try fishing with kids! It’s an outdoor adventure for kids of all ages that the whole family can enjoy. Yes, it’s a slow-paced, but I have some tips to make it enjoyable for all. Looking for a spot? Check out the best places to fish with kids in Cincinnati.

What to bring fishing with kids

Papa Jake is our go-to fishing expert with over 50 years experience fishing and most of the tips below are from him. I’ll go into more detail, but you need a:
– tackle box (see below for what’s needed inside)
– fishing poles
– proper bait
– a fishing license (see below for how to get one)
– camp chairs for the kids
– plus a few other tricks

Camp chairs for kids are key because fishing requires ALOT of waiting. Speaking of waiting, bring lollipops. It gives them something to do as they sit there and watch the line for a bite.

Bubble machines keep the littles entertained. Just make sure you’re not on a dock chasing the bubbles because that’s a good way to end up in the lake.

Other musts for our family:
– sunscreen
– sunglasses or a hat
– a fishing vest to look the part – which can also be used for ALL your outdoor adventures.
– snacks, hand sanitzer and drinks are also necessary.

Best Bait for fishing with kids

Looking for the best bait for fishing in a lake? Fishing bait is a key to catching fish, obviously.

Sometimes the bait is the most fun part of fishing for kids! Seriously, my girls played with the bucket of minnows for 75% of the time. And it was fun to see that the youngest one was the first to ‘catch’ a minnow in the bucket and had no fear holding it. She held it a little too long…oops!

Minnows, wax worms and nightcrawler worms are best. If you can’t find that, hot dogs work too! Parents, bait the hook for your kids. No one needs an ER visit!
** Pro Tip: if you leave a hook on the fishing pole, push the hook into a wine cork so no one gets hurt!

Best Fishing poles and equipment for kids

New to fishing? Have a 4 or 5 year old who wants to cast by themselves, but needs help? This pole has a casting button which is helpful for the ‘I do it myself’ kind of kids. Just give them space and stay away from the hook!

This is a great option for a beginner who is too old for the ‘kid rod’. The reel is great for ease of use.

A tackle box with hooks, bobbers and fishing line is essential. It’s always good to have a small pair of scissors for when the lines get tangled and a needle nose pliers for the hooks when you snag a fish!

This rod is a family favorite! There’s no reel so you just bait the hook and drop it in the water. It’s good for the new fisherman.

Fishing lessons for kids

No clue where to start? Try a fishing lesson from Bass Pro Shop or Cabela’s. There are fishing classes for kids and fishing seminars for 2 select weekends at Bass Pro Shop each year, usually the first weekends of June. Bass Pro Shop has a FREE catch and release pond event with fishing pros there to give you tips and crafts for kids to pique their interests.

Fishing not your thing? There are tons of other Outdoor Activities With Kids to be had as a family. Give Disc Golf a try!

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January 14, 2018May 21, 2020

Outdoor Activities With Kids

Looking for some outdoor activities with kids in Cincinnati? Here are some of my favorites. These adventures will burn energy, make memories and help your family stay busy.

BEYOND HIKING WITH KIDS

Depending on your child’s ages, hiking might look more like a stroll with lots of stops. 😉 So, I like to have ideas of what to do once you find the right hiking spot. Speaking of the right spot, be sure to check out my favorite Cincinnati Hiking Trails with Kids.

The kids love to collect treasures as we hike and keep them in a kids gardening bag or look the part and hide treasures in the pockets of their hiking vests. But, as my oldest daughter and self-proclaimed nature expert says, nature stays in nature. So after we collect, we return before we leave. No one seems to fight me on this because I tell them BEFORE we collect and they make the connection that nature

Explore nature with various scavenger hunts. We love these:
NATURE COLOR WHEEL
NATURE SCAVENGER HUNT WITH PICTURES – good for non-readers
ALL ABOUT BIRDS SCAVENGER HUNT
LIFE AT THE POND SCAVENGER HUNT – good for non-readers
NATURE BINGO CARDS – good for non-readers

Don’t forget to bring a clipboard and pencil.

“Playing together in nature is as much about us as it is about the child. Children get to celebrate and be themselves, while we are reminded of our inner child – the essence of who we are.”

Nicolette Sowder

Adventure Beyond the Hike

There are plenty of outdoor adventures in Cincinnati worth exploring. Depending on what you’re in the mood for, you can choose your own adventure. My favorite outdoor adventures include:

The driving range to hit golf balls with the family.
Frisbee golf, also known as disc golf to some, is a great adventure to try as a family. Find a Disc Golf Course in Cincinnati.
Putt-putt golf courses at the local parks. They are nothing fancy, but a great way to work on your putting skills for the real course!
Fishing with the family is fun for ages 4+. I have found that kids younger than that don’t have much patience for it.
Paved trails in Cincinnati
Biking trails in Cincinnati

January 13, 2018May 8, 2020

Frisbee Golf with Kids

Have you ever played frisbee golf with kids? If you’re fancy, you call it disc golf ;). It’s surprisingly fun, but can be a bit frustrating unless you are willing to laugh and not take yourself too seriously.

Most Cincinnati courses are 9 holes and its just like regular golf except you throw your frisbee from a ‘tee area’ toward a basket. As is true with golf, don’t expect to get a hole in one. Throw the frisbee to get close to the basket, then try to land it in the basket. Tally the number of throws, lowest score wins. Check out the official rules for disc golf here.

Disc Golf Courses in Cincinnati

Want to try out disc golf with the family? BYOD – bring your own disc – and head to one of these courses in Cincinnati.

Johnson Hills Park – 7950 Bridle Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45244
Woodland Mound – 8250 Old Kellogg Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45255
Burnet Woods Disc Golf – 3251 Brookline Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45220
Mt. Airy Forest Disc Golf Course – 4800 Lodge Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45223
Winton Woods Disc Golf Course – 10248 Mc Kelvey Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45231

Disc Golf Gear

Need gear? Buy the Disc Golf Set for Beginners before you invest in the fancy stuff. A regular old frisbee works too, but it’s easier to play if you have the right gear.

If you like frisbee golf, you may want to grab Kan Jam for backyard fun! It’s a similar concept and easy to store.

Need more outdoor adventure ideas? Check out my guide to outdoor activities with kids in Cincinnati.

January 12, 2018April 16, 2021

Hiking With Kids in Cincinnati

Kid friendly Hiking trails in cincinnati

You can find plenty of places to go hiking with kids in Cincinnati in many parks all over the city. While hiking with the younger kids might be more like creekin’ or hunting for nature treasures, here are my favorite places to hike with kids in Cincinnati. Be sure to bring a scavenger hunt or two from my post on outdoor adventures with kids in Cincinnati.

Kid-Friendly Hiking Trails on Cincinnati's East Side

Ault Park – 5090 Observatory Ave, Mt. Lookout 45208
There are 9 hiking trails at Ault Park, but our favorites for smaller legs are The Kids Tree Trail (with Brook Trail added) and Tree Trail. The Kids Tree Trail is super easy and short, but you can add on the Brook Trail to make it more of an adventure including crossing a stream. Note, the start of the Brook Trail is pretty steep but it levels out after that. You’ll find a great path deep into the woods and a stream to cross before turning around. Tree Trail is 0.7 miles with access from the service road off Observatory Circle near Ault Pavilion. This is great for more of a true hike, but might still be tough for the little legs. So, bring a backpack for the little one if you have it.

California Woods – 5400 Kellogg Avenue California, OH 45228
A great place to go creekin’! Park in the lot near the main house/office and you can explore the expansive creek. There’s a spot to the right of the metal bridge that offers natural clay kids can find and sculpt with. Trails are great, but they can get pretty steep for little legs since it lies right by the river bed.

Withrow Nature Preserve – 7075 Five Mile Rd Anderson Township 45230
We love this trail because it’s a pretty flat loop with a short, steep start. This is a great trail for trail runs for tweens and adults. Tons of great uprooted trees and other unique discoveries. And a great place to bring the dogs for a hike!

Johnson Hills Park – 7950 Bridle Rd, Cincinnati, Ohio 45244
The full, wooded trail is 2.1 miles with some fairly steep parts, but my 4 year old had no problem. You can also take a shortcut on the trail and and just do one side or the other. We like to head to the right from the parking lot and do that loop part of the trail for a wooded, but less steep climb. Dogs are welcomed. You can find the Johnson Hills trail map here. Be sure to check out the photo scavenger hunt at Johnson Hills Park and other self guided activities for nature hunts without the big hikes. BONUS: They have a great disc golf course here that would be perfect after a hike!

Cincinnati Nature Center – 4949 Tealtown Rd, Milford, OH 45150
Rowe Woods at the Cincinnati Nature Center is an amazing place to hike and adventure with kids. There is an admission to enter ($9.00 Adults, $4.00 kids 4-12, Free for kids 3 & under, $2.00 Dogs. They sell yearly passes for very reasonable prices and they have some of the best nature events and kids camps in the entire city. For all the details, see my 10+ favorite things to do at the Cincinnati Nature Center.

French Park Short Loop Trail – 3012 Section Rd. Amberley Village 45237
1.2 miles along a creek, so bring the boots and find treasures to play with!

Avon Woods Nature Center and Preserve – 4235 Paddock Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45229
Great moderate hiking here with rolling hill trails and a stream.

Otto Armleder Park – 5057 Wooster Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45226
This is not your typical nature hike. There is a great paved path for walking or riding bikes that leads to the Armleder-Lunken Connector trail. That trail runs along the Little Miami river to Lunken trails for even more exploring. The path is flat for the little legs!

Woodland Mound Park – 8250 Old Kellogg Rd, Anderson Township
2 pretty easy nature trails which are both less than a mile. This would be fun to do before or after playing disc golf with the family.

Sharon Woods – 11450 Lebanon Road Sharonville, OH 45241
There is a great, flat hike out and back wooded trail called the Gorge 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.

Hiking with kids in Cincinnati — Sharon Woods Trail

Kid-Friendly Hiking Trails on Cincinnati's West Side

Caldwell Nature Preserve – 430 West North Bend Rd Carthage 45216
3.5 miles of nature trails with a level-paved trail that makes it possible for wheelchair users to go into the woods. Also a great option for when we’ve seen alot of rain and you want to avoid the mud!

Farbach-Werner Nature Preserve – 3455 Poole Rd, Colerain Township, OH 45251
The Pin Oak trail is easy, less than a mile and offers the trifecta of trails. A wooded trail, open land to explore and a creek. Plenty to discover.

Mt. Airy Forest – 5083 Colerain Ave Westside 45223
3 great hiking trails for families but the main attraction is ‘everybody’s tree house’, Ohio’s only wheelchair-accessible public treehouse.

Miami Whitewater Forest Trails – 10245 Winton Road Winton Woods 45231
There are 4 nature trails that are moderate level with all of them being 1.5 miles or less. The Oakleaf trails seems to be the most popular for families with a stroll past the river.

Creekin' Adventures with Kids in Cincinnati

If you’re looking for more creekin’ adventures or hunting for nature treasures be sure to bring a scavenger hunt or two from my post on outdoor adventures with kids in Cincinnati.