I love our Great Parks.
For just $10, you can get into over 20 parks, playgrounds and preserves in Greater Cincinnati. For a few dollars more, you can get admission into an expansive Discovery Garden, spots in educational kids’ classes and tickets to loads of family friendly events. Your kids can take golf lessons, learn archery or go fishing. Little ones can attend themed story times, do fun crafts and take tractor, horse and pedal boat rides. (And many of these things are totally, 100% free.)
As summer break approaches, it’s so important that you slather sunscreen on your kids and go outside! We all need to be outside more. And Great Parks are a great place to do just that.
So, this month, I’m taking my kids to three, new-to-us Great Parks. Be sure to check back in the coming weeks for those features!
In the meantime, here are links and highlights from the other Great Parks of Hamilton County I’ve visited. (I still visit these parks all.the.time with my kids; they are some of our very favorite places to go!)
Glenwood Gardens/Highfield Discovery Garden
This Evendale park is a total treasure-in-the-industrial-rough — located just a stone’s throw from 1-75 and the GE campus.
Kid Faves:
- Outdoor Alice in Wonderland-looking house complete with dress-up clothes and tea set,
- Weekly kids’ classes,
- Community garden where kids can pick fresh veggies in the summer,
- Climbable tree house,
- Koi pond with giant, friendly fish, and
- An outdoor train.
Lake Isabella
Located in Loveland just off of 1-275, this park’s main claim to fame is its well-stocked fishing lake. (Bonus: An Ohio State Fishing License is not required to fish at Lake Isabella, so even the most casual fishers are welcome!)
Kid Faves:
- Fishing lake with canoes and equipment for rent,
- Lots of ground to run,
- A surprisingly large and really cool playground, and
- A fun boathouse to explore.
Sharon Woods
Up until adulthood, Sharon Woods was the one and only Great Park I’d ever visited. As far as Great Parks go, Sharon Woods is perhaps the most centrally located, as it’s near all three major interstates.
Kid Faves:
- Splash park,
- Pedal boats available for rent,
- Several large playgrounds across the grounds,
- A fun historical village to explore, and
- An indoor playground with a ball pit.
Winton Woods/Parky’s Farm
As the headquarters of the Great Parks of Hamilton County guest services, Winton Woods/Parky’s Farm has it all.
Kid Faves:
- A Harbor/Boat House for fishing and boat rental,
- Indoor play barn,
- Multi-level outdoor barn-themed play structure,
- Lots of farm animals (and machinery!) to admire,
- A large golf course with lots of classes offered (including free Junior Clinics!), and
- Horse lessons and pony rides.
This May, we encourage everyone to get out and explore a Great Park! Tag us on Instagram (#cincykidlife) with your favorite pictures!
{TEASER ALERT:} I’ll be back next week with a full report about a Great Park gem I’ve just discovered on the West Side!
