Outdoor Kid Activities Cincinnati – When cold weather hits in the middle of a pandemic, finding fun kids activities in Cincinnati becomes a challenge. By chance I found the new outdoor series Art Play Hike. This free series is brought to life by the Contemporary Art Museum in partnership with Cincinnati Parks.
Every month the group meets on a Thursday in a different Cincinnati park to make art, go hiking, try some yoga activities and move. Program for children ages 2-7, and registration is mandatory. Currently, masks are required for adults and recommended for children ages four and up.
Outdoor Kid Activities Cincinnati
Classes will change location each week to a different Cincinnati Park. Check the schedule to see what parks are on the agenda each month. Exciting because we will visit places that are not on our radar yet. We fell in love with California Natural Parks and Caldwell Preserve.
Jump & Jack’s (west Chester)
This led us to make return visits to several parks to explore more of the hiking trails and playgrounds. Do you know Mt. Airy has a tree house? Or that California Woods has a nature center? It opened our eyes to all the amazing amenities Cincinnati Parks has to offer.
Making creative crafts is a constant struggle in my household. So, if someone else makes an amazing craft that my daughter loves, it’s a win-win in my book. Each Art Play Hike begins with the hands-on creation of a piece of art. Whether it’s painting ice, making snow globes, or any other opportunity to get their creative juices flowing.
The highlight of this craft is that it is suitable for all ages. Is it simple for the younger children or more complex for the older children in the group. Crafts are made on picnic tables, which can be shared with other program participants. At the end of the program, guests can take home a bag of art activities, including interactive garden prints designed by local artists.
After creating some masterpieces to take home, then head out for an educational nature hike. The Cincinnati Park Ranger takes the kids on a fun nature walk, parents, you’re welcome too, teaching lots of cool things about nature. Including identifying dead trees, how to tap sap to trace footprints in the mud.
Cincinnati Easter Egg Hunts 2022
After the hike, there are yoga classes and interactive movement. It’s a great way to end the program.
Be prepared for cold days as the program takes place regardless of the weather. If it’s raining, be sure to pack appropriate shoes, a raincoat or an umbrella. Cincinnati offers plenty of free family fun all year round. From world-class museums to unique art events, open exhibitions to park programs, Cincinnati has many affordable options for families, January through December.
* Events and locations are subject to change due to COVID-19. Please check individual locations for more information.
ArtWorks students and young artists create public masterpieces that you may have seen around town. There are more than 100 public murals in 37 Cincinnati neighborhoods and seven surrounding cities. Download the map and go on a self-guided tour with your kids!
Weekend Getaway To Cincinnati Ideas
Located in Union, KY, Big Bone Lick State Park is a true hidden gem. Admission is always free, and kids can tour the museum at the Visitor’s Center, enjoy eco-friendly hikes, and see America’s largest mammal – the bison!
, located in the heart of Downtown New Richmond, a city on the Ohio River east of Coney Island, and is a fun and inspiring place to spend an afternoon.
A world-class museum that exhibits famous works of art, the Cincinnati Museum of Art also has family programming and other areas just for kids to explore art.
We love the Cincinnati Public Library, and between weekly story times, special classes, and even summer camp, you can always find something fun – and FREE – at your local branch!
Cincinnati Reds Trihealth Family Zone
Like the Art Museum, entry to the CAC is always free! Featuring three floors of changing exhibitions including the new Creativity Center, the Center for Contemporary Art is a fun way to explore art with your kids.
Nicknamed “Everyone’s Treehouse”, Mt. The Airy Treehouse is as beautiful, unique and accessible as the Queen City itself, and is definitely worth a visit with the whole family.
You don’t have to go far to get a fire education – in most suburbs of Greater Cincinnati, you can visit your local fire station, it’s free!
From a free indoor playground with weekly storylines to an epic outdoor train show, the Liberty Center has plenty of free things to keep Cincy’s kids busy.
Art Play Hike
The Loveland Bike Trail is perfect for beginners: You start in Loveland Town Center near a fun park/picnic area, and you can literally ride as long as you want. We usually ride for 30 minutes one way, then turn around and come back for an easy hour ride. The path is flat and shady, but can be busy. Go on weekdays or weekends to beat the crowds.
Miami University is not just for students; The Main Campus offers many museums that are free and open to everyone! Museum of Art & Sculpture Park, Karl E. Limper Museum of Geology, and Hefner Museum of Natural History.
National Museum of the U.S. Air Force One is the largest aviation museum in the world and one of Ohio’s most beautiful hidden gems, and makes the perfect day trip from Cincinnati. The museum is divided into four large buildings / hangers, each covering a different period of time in the history of the Air Force, from World War I and World War II to the Cold War and even traveling to space.
(All of the above are free; if you want to explore the inside of Loveland Castle, you’ll pay a small admission fee.)
Cincinnati Family Magazine March 2023 By Day Communications/daycom Media
Row 1: Bridge of the Purple People, CAC UnMuseum, Taft Museum; Row 2: Loveland Bike Trail, Salty Dog Museum, Cincinnati Museum of Art; Row 3: Carton Ship Museum, Arlit Playscape, Liberty Center
Part playground, part park, playground is a great place for kids to connect with nature – and Cincinnati has some great FREE viewing! UC has great playgrounds, like the Behringer-Crawford Museum, but the Nature PlayScape at Summit Park is probably our favorite.
The Purple People’s Bridge is the only pedestrian-only interstate link that is of course purple. At 2,670 feet tall, the round trip across this iconic Cincinnati bridge is about a mile, making it the perfect distance for kids.
Located northwest of Cincinnati in beautiful Shandon, OH, the Salty Dog Museum is an absolute classic car museum
Cincinnati Zoo’s New Dornette Kanga’ Klimb Aerial Adventure Course Opens Tomorrow!
(pun intended). The museum offers many famous classics, such as Model As and Ts. These cars look amazing, and kids can touch and explore each one.
Standing 150 feet tall, the Summit Park Observation Tower is impossible to miss. It overlooks the expansive ‘Great Lawn’ of Summit Park and offers sweeping views of Hamilton County.
Trammel Fossil Park is located in the industrial area of Sharonville. From the road, this “garden” looks like any undeveloped hilly area on the highway. It is 10 hectares of rocky and rugged terrain, exposed to the elements – and literally full of remnants of the past. Kids can dig up fossils and take their finds home!
Located in Mount Auburn, the William Howard Taft Historic Site is the home where Taft was born and raised. It is also one of eight Ohio National Parks. The tour is only 20 minutes long and has lots of fun facts about the 27th President!
Cincinnati Nature Center
As fall approaches, be sure to bookmark this list for a fun, family-friendly free outing! What’s your favorite free thing to do in Cincinnati? Share in the comments column below! Traveling to Cincy with kids? With exciting amusement parks, beautiful nature trails, abundant arts and culture, your family will enjoy exploring all that Cincy has to offer. Whether you have kids or just the little at heart, these are the best kid-friendly things to do in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.
Roller coaster fans and kids alike will have a great time at the world-famous Kings Island theme park. Planet Snoopy has been voted “The Best Kids Area in the World” by Amusement Today multiple times. This fun place is full of rides suitable for the whole family.
Older children will enjoy riding the park’s main attractions including coasters like Diamondback, The Beast, Banshee and Mystic Timbers. The newest giga roller coaster, Orion, is a major attraction that you should definitely check off your bucket list. Don’t forget to bring your swimsuit for the water park fun at Soak City (admission is included in your ticket price). Enjoy the waterslides, rides and play area for the little ones and adventurous adults. Soak City is a great place to stay cool on a hot summer day.
The Cincinnati Zoo is a must-see for any animal lover. In one visit, you can observe more than 500 animals and more than 3,000 plant species. On Gibbon Island, you can see animals swinging from branch to branch. At Giraffe Ridge, you’ll feed these towering mammals from the palm of your hand. Walk among kangaroos, see insects crawling, and hear lions roar. Don’t forget to take photos with Fiona, the world famous hippo, and her new brother Fritz.
Spring Activities For Kids
Train rides and carousels allow you to relax