It’s time to say goodbye to winter, and hello to spring! Here are some awesome places around Cincinnati and Dayton where you can have fun this season.
Visit the Zoo
A great tradition to welcome spring, Zoo Blooms at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens transforms the zoo into a magnificent explosion of color from April 1-30. Or get musical with Tunes & Blooms and see a collection of Cincinnati’s finest and most respected music veterans playing together in the Zoo’s beautiful gardens, for FREE.
Cheer on the Home Team
Head to Great American Ball Park this spring to root for the Cincinnati Reds! Some of the fun promotional home games to look forward to in April include Harry Potter Day on April 13 and Bark in the Park on April 30.
Check Out a Working Farm
Open rain or shine all year round, Aullwood Audubon Center and Farm is a great place to enjoy the outdoors. Discover woods, streams, ponds, prairies, meadows, a working sustainable farm, educational animal exhibits, and, of course, the giant Aullwood trolls.
Learn and Have Fun at a Museum
There are so many fun and educational museums in southwest Ohio! Cincinnati Museum Center is a one-of-a-kind, multi-museum complex with things to keep the kids busy for hours, and includes the Museum of Natural History & Science, The Children’s Museum, Cincinnati History Museum and lots more. Boonshoft Museum of Discovery in Dayton is a children’s museum, science and technology center and zoo all rolled into one. And the Center of Science and Industry (COSI) is a great place to visit for hands-on STEM activities.
Play All Day at a Riverfront Park
It’s easy to spend an entire day at Smale Riverfront Park and Carol Ann’s Carousel. Between the different playgrounds and endless green spaces, this is a park with lots of playdate appeal.
Explore a Nature Park
It’s no secret that Cincinnati and Dayton are home to many beautiful playgrounds, but these natural ones stand out for their unique design — bringing you closer to nature. Arlitt Nature PlayScape is a little piece of urban paradise on the University of Cincinnati campus. There are trails winding through the playscape, like a labyrinth, connecting the various areas together. Many of the Dayton-area Five Rivers MetroParks have designated nature play areas, including Englewood, Hills & Dales, Possum Creek, Sugarcreek, Wesleyan and Wegerzyn Gardens MetroParks. And Summit Park Nature PlayScape in Blue Ash features natural materials such as water, sand, mud, sticks and timber.
Climb Into a Treehouse
Tucked away in Mt. Airy Forest is a hidden gem. Dubbed “Everybody’s Treehouse,” Mt. Airy Treehouse is as charming, unique and accessible as the Queen City herself, and is worth a visit with your family. Please note that Mt. Airy Everybody’s Treehouse is currently closed for renovations but the park is still a great place to spend the day.
Let Them Run Wild at a Park
Southwest Ohio is home to endless opportunities for kids to simply be kids and get a little dirty out on a trail or wading through a creek. At Brukner Nature Center in Troy, you can take a stroll in the woods, do a discovery hike, visit with wildlife ambassadors or see the view from the popular Tree-top Bird Vista. Inside, check out books about wildlife and nature, participate in story time, and lots more. Caldwell Nature Preserve is home to a variety of wildlife, and includes 3.5 miles of nature trails, including a level-paved trail that makes it possible for wheelchair users and people with strollers to explore the woods. Boasting 1,600 acres, Cincinnati Nature Center is the largest member-supported nature center in the country. For kids, the main attraction is the PlayScape — plants, soil, and water can be touched and manipulated, creeks stomped in and logs built with.
