This summer may look a little different than year’s past, but there’s still plenty to do throughout the Queen City while staying socially distanced. From self-guided mural tours to hiking trails, drive-in movies and exploring museums or cooling off at a local water attraction, here are a few ideas for how you can have fun while staying COVID-conscious this summer.

*Check each website or call for any updated COVID precautions as state or local guidelines may change.

Take a Self-Guided ArtWorks Mural Tour 20 E. Central Parkway, Downtown Each summer, ArtWorks and its youth apprentices put new murals up on buildings around the Greater Cincinnati area. Schedule a guided The Heart of Pendleton or the Spirit of OTR walking tour online. All guided tours will be 10 people or less and masks are required. Download a PDF of downtown and Over-the-Rhine murals to explore solo at artworkscincinnati.org. Photo: Savana Willhoite
Visit the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden 3400 Vine St., Avondale The zoo is finally open (we know you’ve been missing our girl Fiona). While some indoor habitats and encounters are on hold for now, you can still feed giraffes, ride the train and see your favorite outdoor habitats. Reservations must be made online in advance to ensure staggered entry for guests’ safety. And after about four decades, “Zoo Keys” have returned, featuring interactive storytelling stations with collectible zoo keys for families to learn about the animal kingdom they’re exploring. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Splash at the Armleder Memorial Spray Ground in Yeatman’s Cove 705 East Pete Rose Way, Downtown The Armleder Memorial Spray Ground features spray jets and a gigantic Brutalist-style angular shower head, all in the shadow of concrete monoliths built by architect Louis Sauer in the 1970s. The attraction is currently open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. daily with a 70 person limit and a 15 minute rotation schedule to ensure health and safety for guests. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Hike Up the New Cincinnati Art Museum Art Climb 953 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams The Cincinnati Art Museum has debuted its new Art Climb, designed to connect the museum to its surrounding areas while offering four “art plazas” to display outdoor art. The nine-story climb features 164 zig-zagging steps and has light beam structures meant to guide users toward the CAM. Upon making it to the top, enjoy a view of the city and the nearby neighborhoods. The stairs begin at the intersection of Eden Park Drive and Gilbert Avenue. The museum asks that visitors practice diligent social distancing while making their way up. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Catch a Flick at the College Hill Drive-in Theater 1538 Cedar Ave., College Hill The College Hill Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation (CHCURC) turned the neighborhood’s Hollywood Theatre — originally a 1920s single-screen cinema — into a drive-in for the entire community through Sept. 7. With films screening Thursday through Monday, guests can begin parking at 8:15 p.m. while films begin at 9:15 p.m. The admission price is $20 per car. There are 43 spots and you have to buy tickets in advance online. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Make a Reservation to Swim at Ziegler Pool 216 Woodward St., Over-the-Rhine Over-the-Rhine’s Ziegler Pool, operated by 3CDC, currently has a reservation system in place. Each two-hour reservation block can hold 75 swimmers, with additional early morning sessions for a handful of lap swimmers. Ziegler reservations are open to anyone, whether or not they have a season pass. But you must register online at least a day in advance. There is a $4 flat rate per person; any financial assistance vouchers will be distributed through neighborhood organizations. There is a waitlist if sessions are full. And if the pool is closed because of weather, rain checks will be given. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Get a Cone from a Local Creamy Whip Your Neighborhood No matter what side of town you hail from, chances are there is a creamy whip nearby. Many offer outdoor seating and encourage social distancing while waiting in line. Maybe go through the drive-thru of the Whipty-Do! in Maineville, enjoy outdoor seating at The Cone in West Chester, or try some edible cookie dough from Pendleton Parlor while you walk around the neighborhood. Check out our full slideshow for 19 favorite creamy whips. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Grab at Cocktail at Lytle Park Hotel’s Rooftop Bar, Vista 311 Pike St., Downtown Cincinnati’s new Lytle Park Hotel features a spectacular rooftop patio named the Vista at Lytle Park. The 5,000-square-foot rooftop lounge offers panoramic views of the Queen City and Ohio River. The space is equipped with an “indoor” lounge (where the bar is located) lined with windows that open up to the outdoor patio with two fireplaces, seating and tables. Choose from a selection of cocktails, wine, beer and spirits, or opt for their large-format cocktails that serve four or more. Their food offerings range from a charcuterie board to “naanchos” or peel-and-eat grilled shrimp. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Ride Kings Island’s Orion Giga Coaster 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason The largest amusement park and waterpark in the Midwest. Ride the brand new Orion coaster: the tallest, fastest and longest steel coaster in the park and one of only seven giga coasters in the world. Reservations are currently required for entry, along with masks, the download of the Kings Island mobile app and the completion of a health questionnaire. Photo: Provided by Kings Island
Cycle One of Six Socially Distant Bike Trails With more than 570 miles of trails, we asked Tri-State Trails for their picks for the six best trails people should bike this summer — especially with social distancing in mind. Some favorites include the Little Miami Scenic Trail, the Ohio River Trail and Wasson Way. For more information on their top six picks, check out our full list and get pedaling! Photo: Savana Willhoite
See the Summer Floral Show at Krohn Conservatory 1501 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams Located in historic Eden Park, the Krohn Conservatory is an aluminum-and-glass Art Deco destination (in the shape of an upside-down heart) filled with more than 3,500 plant species from around the world. Permanent displays include a rare orchid house, steamy tropical room, succulent-filled desert space and a fun walk-through rainforest rock waterfall. Check out the summer floral display, Growing a Rainbow, now open with new socially distant guidelines — including one-way traffic for visitors. Photo: Greg5030 / CC
Bathe in Neon at the American Sign Museum 1330 Monmouth Ave., Camp Washington The glowing lights of Camp Washington’s American Sign Museum beckon. From Cincy’s own Big Boy to gas station markers to fast food and pizza joints and everything in between, buzzing electricity and rotating wonders illuminate and preserve the past with a collection that encompasses signs from the late 1800s to the 1970s. Wander the largest public sign museum in America on your own: guided tours are suspended until further notice. Guests are asked to leave personal belongings in the car and are encouraged to reserve tickets in advance. Face masks required. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Shop Local at Findlay Market 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine At more than 150 years old, Findlay Market is Ohio’s oldest continually operating public market and was named one of the top 10 markets in the world by Newsweek. Findlay Market has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1972, and while it is free to wander, they do offer a free 30-minute guided tour bi-monthly to introduce you to special market vendors and recount tales of the market’s history, tours are currently limited to 9 people per tour. Masks are required to enter the Market House, and during busier times, the market closes off side entries to encourage one way traffic through the north and south facing entrances. Outdoor vendors are currently limited and staggered to avoid “festival atmosphere.” Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Visit the Taft Museum’s Inside — and Outside 316 Pike St., Downtown Far Flung is a large-scale, outdoor sculpture on the grounds of the Taft Museum of Art — and it is pretty cool. A “unique fantasy experience” by sculptor Patrick Dougherty, it features more than six tons of manipulated willow tree saplings, twisted into whirling shapes that call to mind hobbit homes. Far Flung is free to experience during regular museum hours. Tickets to the museum can be reserved in advance, but it isn’t required. However, inside capacity will be limited and face masks are required. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
See an Exhibit at the Contemporary Arts Center 44 E. Sixth St., Downtown Current exhibits include street artist Vhils’ explosive solo show Haze and the debut of Mexico City-based artist Tania Candiani’s exhibition Sounding Labor: Silent Bodies. The exhibition’s centerpiece is a film produced in Cincinnati entitled Four Industries and it features members of the local all-women’s choir, MUSE. A (free) ticket must be reserved in advance to accommodate the limited capacity. California-inspired cafe Fausto is open for dinner by reservation. Photo: Kaitlyn Handel
Take a Dip at Coney Island 6201 Kellogg Ave., California Kick off the summer season at Coney Island. Cool off at the Sunlite Water Adventure water park, which features the world’s largest recirculating pool. The newest attraction Cannonball Cove is a dive pool. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, they are limiting daily admittance and guests must purchase tickets online in advance. Photo: Patty Salas
See the Permanent Collection at the Cincinnati Art Museum 953 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams The Cincinnati Art Museum is a Queen City staple. With a collection of over 67,000 works spanning 6,000 years, there’s much to explore and absorb. Now open to the public Thursdays from 11 a.m.–8 p.m. and Fridays through Sundays, 11 a.m.–5 p.m., guests are asked to reserve their free tickets in advance. All tours will be self-guided and interactive exhibits will be closed for the time being. Photo via Facebook.com/CincinnatiArtMuseum
Take in the View from Devou Park 1201 Park Drive, Covington There are about 50 classified scenic overlooks throughout the Tristate and many other secret spots from which to see the lights of the city and the winding Ohio River — and Devou Park in Covington might have one of the best. With over 700 acres (plus a golf course, trails, bandstand and history museum), the overlook area is open dawn to dusk and offers a panorama of the city skyline from the Big Mac Bridge and Great American Tower to Carew Tower and the Kroger building. The designated overlook also offers benches, a gazebo, picnic tables and is ADA accessible. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Get Up Close and Personal with Aquatic Life at the Newport Aquarium 1 Levee Way, Newport on the Levee, Newport KY See a variety of aquatic life at this massive, walk-through aquarium, which boasts the world’s first Shark Bridge. View exhibits featuring penguins, jellyfish, the world’s largest collection of shark rays and more. Advanced ticket purchases and reservations are currently required and some exhibits are not in operation to ensure social distancing. Temperatures of guests will be taken prior to entry. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Explore the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate The Cincinnati Museum Center is housed in Union Terminal, Cincinnati’s grand Art Deco masterpiece. This year, the museum has added two new exhibits: Shaping our City, which focuses on transportation via rivers, rails and roads; and You Are Here, a celebration of Cincinnati that tells stories of the city’s people, places, traditions and struggles. This summer’s two featured exhibitions are Maya: The Exhibition and An Unfinished Revolution: Women and the Vote, and there will also be a gallery featuring the work of Cincinnati wildlife artist Charley Harper. The OMNIMAX theater and Holocaust & Humanity Center have also reopened but The Cave, Science Interactives Gallery and the Duke Energy Children’s Museum are closed. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Take a Hike at the Cincinnati Nature Center 4949 Tealtown Road, Milford The Cincinnati Nature Center offers 15 hiking/walking trails with assorted degrees of length and difficulty at its Rowe Woods facility, all winding through more than 1,000 acres of “Eastern deciduous forest, fields, streams and ponds,” says the center. This park also has a Hike for Your Health program. Grab a Hike for Your Health passport and get a stamp at the front desk after every hike. Complete all 15 trails and win a special prize. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Relax at Summit Park 4335 Glendale Milford Road, Blue Ash This suburban park not only hosts events like live music and festivals that utilize its 19,000-person-capacity lawn, but also features a 150-foot observation tower, a dog park and four restaurants so you can grab a bite and a drink and then let your kids play at the enormous playground. Swing by the farmers market and yoga classes on Wednesdays or do some Zumba on Sundays. All with a mask, of course. Photo via Facebook.com/SummitParkBlueAsh
Check Out the Black Lives Matter Street Mural 801 Plum St., Downtown Cincinnati recently completed its own Black Lives Matter street mural, similar to those seen in cities including Washington, D.C. and Brooklyn. The mural is located outside of City Hall on Plum Street between Eighth and Ninth streets downtown. The Urban League of Greater Cincinnati, Black Art Speaks, ArtsWave and ArtWorks partnered to make the Black Lives Matter mural happen; Alandes Powell, board member of Urban League, initiated the project. Photo: Courtesy of Empower
See Giant Works of Art at Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum 1763 Hamilton-Cleves Road, Hamilton Renowned for its collection of more than 80 gigantic sculptural works placed within a landscape of hills, lakes, meadows and hiking trails, Pyramid Hill welcomes visitors back for the debut of a new outdoor sculpture exhibit with the Mid-South Sculpture Alliance. Visitors are encouraged to refrain from touching the sculptures at this time, but the park says there is plenty of room to explore while social distancing. Photo: Provided by Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park
Indulge in America’s Pastime with the Florence Y’alls 7950 Freedom Way, Florence The Y’alls and Lexington Legends have launched the Battle of the Bourbon Trail starting July 31: The teams will play for fans Wednesday through Sunday, bringing baseball back to the Tri-State for the summer. Or swing by Y’alls Kentucky Grill for classic concession-style food even when there isn’t a game. The field is open to play catch as long as you bring your own ball and mitt — and social distance. Photo via Facebook.com/florenceyallsbaseball