Finding something to do near home is easy with so many local entertainment attractions. Here’s our guide to some of the many local “staycation” options available nearby.
Hours and ticket prices are subject to change. Most Web sites for attractions offer discounted prices for tickets purchased in advance.
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
What: With thousands of species of plants and animals, people can interact with nature through self-guided tours.
Where: 3400 Vine St., Cincinnati
Admission: adults $13-$24 depending on package; child and senior admission (ages 2-12 and ages 62 and older): $9-$20
Parking: $6.50
Accessibility: Stroller rental is $7.50 for single, $13 for double
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through the summer
Extras: The Vine Street Pavillion has two elevators for stroller and wheelchair access
Kings Island
What: An amusement park with rides, entertainment and a water park
Where: Kings Island Drive just off of I-71
Admission: Adults (ages 3-61 or 48 inches and taller): $47.99; juniors/seniors: $44.99
Parking: $10-$15
Hours: Vary, but typically 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Accessibility: Strollers/wheelchairs limited and require a small fee.
The Beach Waterpark
What: A water park featuring real sand and a wave pool and children’s area
Where: 2590 Water Park Drive, Mason
Admission: $27.99; children 48 inches and shorter: $10.50; free for ages 2 and younger; family of four: $79.99
Parking: $7.50
Hours: Vary, but usually 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Newport Aquarium
What: A showcase of thousands of animals in 1 million gallons of water. Activities include touching a shark and meeting penguins.
Where: 1 Levy Way, Newport, Ky.
Admission: $20; children ages 2-12: $13
Parking: No lots specifically for aquarium. Plan for average $5-$8 fee
Accessibility: Strollers permitted after 4:30 p.m.; free backpacks and baby carriers provided for 30 pounds or lighter; wheel chairs provided free
Hours: Summer hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Extras: Free penguin parade outside the aquarium begins at 9:15 a.m.
Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal
What: Visit an OMNIMAX theater, the Cincinnati History Museum, Duke Energy Children’s Museum or Museum of Natural History and Science all in one location.
Where: 1301 Western Ave., Cincinnati
Admission: Adult $12 for all museums pass; $15 for museums plus OMNIMAX theater; $8 for one museum; $7.50 for OMNIMAX ticket
Seniors 60 and older Admission: $11 all museums pass; $14 museums plus OMNIMAX theater; $7 one museum; OMNIMAX $6.50
Children ages 3-12 Admission: $8 all museums pass; $10 museums plus OMNIMAX theater; $6 one museum; OMNIMAX $5.50
Toddler Pass: $4.50,
Infants: Free.
Parking: $3-$5
Stroller/wheelchair rental: $10 refundable deposit, plus a charge of $2 for stroller
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday
Cincinnati Art Museum
What: Located in scenic Eden Park, the museum features an art collection of more than 60,000 works spanning 6,000 years. It also hosts several national and international traveling exhibitions each year.
Location: 953 Eden Park Drive, Cincinnati
Admission: Free
Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday
Parking: $4
Strollers/wheelchairs: Free but supply is limited
The Cincinnati Fire Museum
What: Located in a 1907 National Register firehouse, the museum preserves and exhibits Greater Cincinnati’s firefighting artifacts while honoring all the heroic firefighters, past and present. More than 200 years of firefighting history is on display, including early leather fire buckets, an 1808 fire drum and the oldest surviving fire engine in Cincinnati — a Hunneman hand pumper.
Location: 315 W. Court St., Cincinnati.
Admission: Adults: $7; $6 for ages 65 and older
Children ages 6-17: $5; ages 5 and younger free with adult admission
Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Parking: N/A
American Sign Museum
What: Experience the only public sign museum in America. Its mission is to inform and educate people on the history of the sign industry and its contribution to commerce and the American landscape.
Location: 2515 Essex Place, Cincinnati
Admission: $10 adults, ages 12 and younger with adult admitted free
Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; call to confirm
Extra: (800) 925-1110, ext. 336
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
What: Learn of stories about freedom’s heroes, from the era of the Underground Railroad to contemporary times, challenging and inspiring people to take courageous steps for freedom today.
Location: 50 E. Freedom Way, Cincinnati
Admission: Adults: $9, seniors and ages 13-21: $7; children ages 6-12: $6; children younger than 6 free with paid adult; families pay value rate of $18.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday
Parking: Downtown rates vary, and increase during sporting events. The Central Riverfront Parking Garage is located directly below the Freedom Center building for $4.50 daily rate, cash only.
EnterTRAINment Junction
What: Enjoy 80,000 square feet of indoor train displays with the world’s largest indoor train display. Bounce, climb and crawl in a children’s play area, discover at an imaginative railroading museum, engineer your own locomotive around a track in a hand-cranked railroad car and walk through themed mazes.
Location: 7379 Squire Court, West Chester Twp.
General admission: $12.95 adults; ages 65 and older, $11.50; children ages 3-12 $9.95; ages 3 and younger admitted free
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday
Parking: Free
River Boat Rides with B&B River Boats
What: A way to experience Cincinnati, these one-hour cruises are designed to educate and provide a relaxing tour of the skyline.
Location: 101 Riverboat Row, directly behind the Newport Aquarium
Admission: Adults: $13.95, seniors: $12.95; children: $7.95; infants: no charge, but ticket required
Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; 1 to 2 p.m.; 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.; 4 to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday
Parking: Public parking available
Wheelchairs: Ramps lead onto the first deck of every boat. The Belle of Cincinnati has an elevator available that makes it possible to go up to the second and third deck. The River Queen and Mark Twain do not have elevators. Accessible bathrooms are on the River Queen and the Belle of Cincinnati.
Extras: Boarding time is 20 minutes before each cruise. Children get a free ice cream. Cash bar and snacks available for purchase.
LM&M Railroad
What: Experience a nostalgic train ride on the Lebanon Mason Monroe (LM&M) Railroad through Warren County. Walk through the train to the open-air gondola and listen to conductors describe railroad history and operation during the ride. Various themed rides are available.
Where: 127 S. Mechanic St., Lebanon
When: Dates and times vary. Boarding is 15 minutes prior to ride time.
General admission: $12.50; ages 2-12: $7.50; infants ride for free
Accessibility: LM&M Railroad’s vintage train cars where constructed in the 1930s and were not designed to be handicapped accessible.
Extras: LM&M recommends purchasing all tickets in advance of the event date. All unsold tickets will be available at the LM&M ticket office on the day of the event. Call the ticket office at (513) 933-8022 prior to arrival to ensure tickets will be available. Trains are not heated and there are no bathrooms on the train.
