Spring Into Fun with all that our area has to offer!
PARKS AND PLAYSCAPES
Enjoy all of your favorite park events including night hikes, nature playscapes, story times and more with the kids.
Cincinnati Nature Center
4949 Tealtown Road, Milford, Oh; cincynature.org
Spring Break Camps, Saturday programs for kids, the PlayScape and an abundance of trails.
Otto Armleder Memorial Park & Recreation Complex
5057 Wooster Pike, Cincinnati, Oh; greatparks.org
This 305-acre park has a 10-acre dog park; a one-mile paved trail connecting to the park’s 1.9-mile trail to the 5.0-mile Lunken Airfield loop; take the kids to the playground; play at the reservable soccer fields and check out the beautiful river outlook.
Armco Park and Natural Playscape
1223 N. State Rt. 741, Lebanon, Oh; co.warren.oh.us/parks/parks
A 311-acre park with an 18-hole golf course; a 110-acre lake for fishing and boating; tennis courts/pickleball/disc golf course/ gaga pits; basketball courts; horseshoe pits; corn hole; plus a natural playground that creates an environment for free play and learning.
Smale Riverfront Park
100 W. Merhing Way Cincinnati, Oh; cincinnati-oh.gov
The downtown park is filled with a variety of activities for all ages along the Ohio River Trail. Multiple water play areas, giant swings, an interactive foot piano, an imaginative play area for kids, expansive pollinator gardens, Carol Ann’s Carousel and more.
Summit Park
4335 Glendale Milford Road, Blue Ash, Oh; summitparkblueash.com
Play on the technical Ninja Warrior-style playground, walk the trails, ride your bike, play and explore in the newest natural playscape, ride to the top of the Observation Tower, pack a lunch or grab a bite and some ice cream at one of the area restaurants.
Eden Park
950 Eden Park Drive, Cincinnati, Oh | cincinnati-oh.gov
When the trees begin to bloom, it is a must-do; park near the Krohn Conservatory and walk the path that leads down to the gazebo; plus venture over to Tom Jones Park (Parkside Pl & Martin Drive).
EDUCATIONAL FUN
What’s better than education and fun all in one? Visit websites for admission costs and more information.
Cincinnati Art Museum
953 Eden Park Drive, Cincinnati, Oh; cincinnatiartmuseum.org
Parking is free, plus it’s free to attend a story time or to create an art project at the Rosenthal Education Center. Sign up for the many programs including Art Together: Art Making for Families with Children Ages 3 – 5, CAM Kids Day, Family Storytime and Gallery Walk, Baby Tours plus new at the REC, experience Tiny Treasures, where you can learn about other miniature artworks in the museum’s collection now through April 28.
Raptor, Inc.
raptorinc.org
Learn about local birds that Raptors Inc. rescues and rehabilitates; they educate the general public about the importance of the birds, provide tours and learning activities for the kids and more.
Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden
3400 Vine St. Cincinnati, Oh | cincinnatizoo.org
Rides are back in action on days when the weather is above 50 degrees; visit the website for animal feeding times; see the baby animals; sign up for Spring Break Camps and more.
Cincinnati Museum Center
1301 Western Ave., Cincinnati, Oh | cincymuseum.org
Songs and story time in the Children’s Museum; Young At Art with hands-on learning through play the messy way in the Kidspace in The Children’s Museum; and lots more.
Contemporary Arts Center
44 E. 6th St., Cincinnati, Oh; contemporaryartscenter.org
The Creativity Center features art installations by local artists that encourage families to engage with the work by pressing buttons, mixing beats, drawing characters, building sculptures, dancing; plus there’s Art Play Hikes, Thursday Art Play and more.
TAKE A STORY WALK
Read a story and get some exercise with the kids! Here are a few to get you started.
Symmes Township StoryWalk
Meade Historic Preserve, 1887 N Lebanon Road, Loveland, Oh; symmestownship.org
Follow a series of signs displaying pages of a children’s book. Follow the story as you walk along the trail.
Blue Ash Nature Park Story Walk
4337 Cooper Road | blueash.com
Immerse yourselves in books and the outdoors at the StoryWalk at the Nature Park.
LaBoiteaux Woods Nature Center
5400 Lanius Lane, Cincinnati, Oh; cincinnati-oh.gov/cincyparks
Beginning March 15, take a self-guided stroll to read the stories together around the perimeter of the field.
Carter Park
1722 King Ave., Deerfield Township, Oh | deerfieldoh.myrec.com
The Carter Park StoryWalk is a semi-permanent installation; the books are rotated so check the website for which book is being featured before you go.
Fort Liberty Playland Story Walk
6845 Van Gorden Road, Liberty Township, Oh; liberty-township.com
An explorative, 16-panel StoryWalk begins just past the entrance to the park’s playground and continues a third of a mile down to another park — Reserves Park! Take your time and let the kids soak it in. StoryWalk books are switched out regularly.