The gray days of January are here, but cold temps shouldn’t keep you stuck at home — especially considering there are so many fun things to do in Southwest Ohio during the winter!
If you’re looking for something fun for the family to do on cold days, snow days or just any ol’ day, here are some of our favorite local things to do during the winter with kids.
Try out a family art class at The Art Spark or the Taft Museum of Art, both located in Cincy.
Go bowling! For a unique twist, try duckpin bowling at Pins Mechanical Company or Scene75 Cincinnati.
Take a road trip to visit a new-to-you children’s museum. Cross state lines to visit The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, or keep it in-state by visiting the Akron Children’s Museum or Little Buckeye Children’s Museum in Mansfield.
Sign up for a kid-friendly food class, like the kids’ cooking classes offered at The Learning Kitchen in West Chester or The Little City Cooking School in Dayton.
Have a family game night at the Play Library in Cincy, where you can choose from more than 1,00 games to play.
Head inside for a round of glow-in-the-dark mini golf at Scene75 Dayton or Glowgolf in Cincy.
Take your little astronomers to the Cincinnati Observatory to tour the historic buildings and look through telescopes (weather permitting).
Heat up with a hot glass class. Neusole Glassworks in Forest Park offers a variety of classes for ages 5 years and older.
Lace up your skates and visit a local ice rink.
Dine in an igloo. You’ll find them all around Southwest Ohio, including at Catch-a-Fire Pizza in Blue Ash and DeSha’s American Tavern in Cincy.
Reach new heights at an indoor climbing studio, like Mosaic in Loveland or Urban Krag Climbing Center in Dayton.
Burn some energy at an indoor playground, like Wonderland Playground in Cincy, Recreations Outlet in Milford or Kid Clubhouse in Springboro.
Make a splash at an indoor pool, like Goldfish Swim School or The Swim School at Kids First Sports Center.
Play and read at your favorite local library.
Enjoy a family movie and a meal at AMC Dine-In Anderson Towne Center 9 or Cinepolis Dayton.
Visit your favorite local museum and see what’s new. The Cincinnati Museum Center is always a good idea!
Visit a nature center, like the ones at Cincinnati Nature Center or Sharon Woods.
Work out your inner ninja by parkouring around an obstacle course at USA Ninja Challenge in Cincinnati.
Discover the wonders of an underwater world at Newport Aquarium.
Warm up with a cup of coffee and cuddles from adoptable kitties at Kitty Brew Cat Cafe in Mason.
Learn about the environment at the Aullwood Audubon Center & Farm.
Not afraid of the cold? Bundle up and visit your favorite outdoor playground. You might even get the playground to yourself if it’s cold enough!
Learn about Ohio’s aviation and space history at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force near Dayton, or Cincinnati Museum Center’s Space Gallery.
Make tracks to Entertrainment Junction, home of the largest train display in the world.
Explore your neighborhood with your family by foot, or make it interesting by making it into a unique scavenger hunt around the city.
Strike a pose as a family at Picture Yourselfie, a selfie museum in Milford.
Winter is the perfect time to learn to knit. Find sewing, knitting or crocheting classes for your kids, and maybe they will make you something warm to wear!
Go sledding at one of Southwest Ohio’s favorite sledding hills, like the ones at Summit Park and Stanbery Park.
Take a road trip to go snow tubing at Perfect North Slopes in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, located only 30 minutes from Cincy.
Have an old-fashioned tea party at the BonBonerie in Cincinnati or Communitea in Dayton.
Get creative and make a wearable piece of art at Kaleidoscope Colors & Co. in Cincinnati.
Take a 3+ hour trip north to try your hand at snow tubing at Boston Mills & Brandywine Ski Resorts in Peninsula, Ohio.
Treat your family to a fun sweet treat from a local bakery like Aglamesis Bro’s in Cincy.
Give back to our community by volunteering as a family. Family-friendly organizations like Life Food Pantry in Loveland and the Bethany House in Cincinnati need your help all year round.
Bundle up and enjoy a winter hike at your favorite local park.