One Tank Trips from Cincinnati
Hip, hip hooray, summer break is officially underway! What better way to celebrate the season than with a family vacation? And the Midwest is home to some truly amazing destinations that can be visited within less than a day’s driving distance from Cincinnati! So buckle up and get ready to only hear, “Are we there yet?” a few times before reaching one of these terrific travel destinations, which are all boasting something new and exciting this year for family tourists to enjoy together.
Discover Something New at COSI
Columbus, Ohio is home to many family-friendly attractions including LEGOLAND Discovery Center, Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Garden, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and The Wilds, a conservation safari park with open-air vehicle rides! Overall, Columbus is a great day-trip destination for families. In addition to the usual exhilarating exhibits, a brand new experience will have jaws dropping at COSI this summer. With dozens of life-sized models, fossils and some neat photo opps, too, Sharks is the latest traveling exhibit offering at this memorable museum. Both interactive and incredibly educational, this aquatic animal showcase will turn families into fans of sharks for sure. Also new at COSI is Unofficial Galaxies, a must-see Star Wars fan collection featuring iconic characters and props, legendary ships and out-of-this-world costumes. Learn more about COSI by visiting www.cosi.org.
Have a Super Summer at Gaylord Opryland
Nashville, Tennessee’s southern charm welcomes families to visit its many showstopping adventures. From the Nashville Zoo, the Adventure Science Center, The Country Music Hall of Fame to the Grand Ole Opry itself, there is so much to do. If your family finds yourselves in Nashville this summer, be sure to book a stay at Gaylord Opryland to see what’s new! This luxury hotel is so much more than just a place to sleep. The nine-acres of glass atriums are home to immaculately cared for tropical plants and flowers, wondrous waterfalls and geysers that put on playful light and spray shows! Grown-ups can take turns relaxing at the world-class spa while the other adult takes the kids to the upscale water attraction, Soundwaves. New this summer, families will also love experiencing DC Summer. Awesome adventures range from a live DC Super Hero Academy show to a Super Hero pool celebration, movie nights with themed snacks, scavenger hunts, the Hall of Justice Character Dining experience and of course, merch in case you forgot to pack your own cape! Visit www.gaylordhotels.com to book a “super” stay this summer.
Discover Tripadvisor’s #1 Theme Park in the U.S.
Did you know that 2025 is a BIG year at Dollywood?! Dollywood, which is located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, is celebrating its 40th anniversary, and Dollywood’s Splash Country is commemorating its 25th season, too. With thrilling rides on land and water, heaps of hospitality and warmth, crave-worthy comfort food around every corner and these monumental anniversaries there are tons of reasons to visit Dollywood. The exciting summer events are also a huge draw! Through June 8, families can check out the Flower & Food Festival to see more than half-a-million beautiful blooms and sample a taste of spring in the Smokies. Or plan a visit from June 14 through August 3 to experience Smoky Mountain Summer’s extended hours of operation and the 40th anniversary productions, featuring the largest firework and drone show to date. Need somewhere to stay during your visit? Be sure to check out Dolly’s HeartSong or DreamMore Resorts. While all of this makes 2025 a memorable summer for Dollywood, Dolly says “We’re just getting started!” So stay tuned by visiting www.dollywood.com and see what’s happening every season; there is always more southern charm being put on the schedule at this positively perfect Pigeon Forge amusement park.
Race to Indy
Indianapolis: the racing capital of the world, largest city within Indiana and fabulous family travel destination! Home to the infamous Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, the Indianapolis Zoo, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Conner Prairie and Newfields, investigating Indy can be tons of fun with the fam. And there are lots of new things to do, too, so don’t sleep on naptown. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is celebrating their 100th birthday all year long and is inviting families to take a spin around its Centennial Ferris Wheel. Some giants at the Indianapolis Zoo have a new home—giant tortoises, that is! And Newfields newest iteration of THE LUME, Connection: Land, Water, Sky is now open. Find a great place to stay and continue to be in the loop about all of the enticing new things happening in Indy by heading to www.visitindy.com.
Zipline Back in Time
Embrace the spirit of Appalachian adventure with a visit to Heritage Farm in Huntington, West Virginia. This unique immersive attraction is part-museum, part-animal experience and part-adventure park! Since there is so much to see, families can extend their trip by staying at one of the on-site cabins. Heritage Farm’s village boasts seven museum buildings, the Six Simple Machines Discovery Zone (a hands-on learning playground), an artisan center and more. The Adventure Park lives up to its namesake, with ziplining, an aerial adventure course, a zip-n-climb course, a mountain bike park, the treetop trek and more. Of course, all of these activities will leave a family famished, so thankfully the farm has a Soda Fountain and even heartier meals served up at Village Vittles. Coming soon: The Snow Oasis. This indoor/outdoor snow park will allow families to learn how to ski, snowboard and ice skate in a safe environment. Explore this unique and thrilling historical site by checking out www.heritagefarmwv.com.
Wherever you venture for a vacation this year, Cincinnati Family Magazine wishes you safe travels and lots of memory-making with those you love most.
HAPPY SUMMER!
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