21 Bucket List Activities To Do in Cincinnati Before Summer is Over

Camp at Red River Gorge

Robbie Ridge Road, Stanton, Kentucky
In East Central Kentucky, you'll find the Red River Gorge, where the land is rich with sandstone cliffs, waterfalls, natural bridges and trails that draw in hundreds of hikers and campers every year. The large amount of sandstone has made “the Red” one of the most popular rock climbing destinations in the world. You also can’t forget to stop by Miguel’s Pizza on Natural Bridge Road while you’re there — a Red River Gorge tradition.
Photo: Catie Viox

Float on the River with Green Acres Canoe & Kayak Rental

10465 Suspension Bridge Road, Harrison
Summertime is upon us, and for many, that means floating down the river and sippin' on some ice cold beverages while the sun shines down. Green Acres livery is located in Harrison, Ohio and operates on the Whitewater River. They currently offer only 8-mile single kayak rental trips with a reservation. Pets and children under 13 are not permitted at this time.
Photo via Facebook.com/GreenAcresCanoe

Visit a Sunflower Field and Snag Some Sweet Selfies

Various Greater Cincinnati locations
A visit to a sunflower field is a perfect send off to Midwestern summertime. And the Greater Cincinnati area has several to choose from to last you through the fall. These farms boasts rows and rows of beautiful blooms — perfect for a selfie or just to soak in and enjoy. Notable destinations in bloom now include the field across from Cottell Park in Deerfield Township and The Black Barn in Lebanon. See link for addresses and details.
Photo: Savana Willhoite

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.
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

Sample Some Wines at Vinoklet Winery

11069 Colerain Ave., Bevis
Thirty acres of picturesque rolling hills and ponds abound at the only working winery with a vineyard in Hamilton County. They offer wine tastings and sale Tuesday through Sunday during the day. It's also the home of the Vinoklet Restaurant, where you can grill your own entree on Friday and Saturday nights.
Photo: Catie Viox

Watch a Movie From Your Car at the Starlite Drive In

2255 State Route Ohio-125, Amelia
The over-half-a-century-old East Side drive-in theater is open, and a great place to practice social distancing. Located in Amelia, the theater offers double features for every ticket — so make sure you prepare your snacks wisely. A $5 food permit fee is required for all bring-in eats, or stop at the Snack Bar for pizzas, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, popcorn and more.
Photo via Facebook.com/AmeliaStarliteDriveIn

Hike Up the New Cincinnati Art Museum Art Climb

953 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams
The Cincinnati Art Museum debuted its new Art Climb over the summer, 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

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, Pendleton and Over-the-Rhine murals to explore solo at artworkscincinnati.org.
Photo: Savana Willhoite

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

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

Take a Dip at Coney Island

6201 Kellogg Ave., California
Finish off the 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

Take a Hike at the Cincinnati Nature Center

4949 Tealtown Road, Milford
The Cincinnati Nature Center offers over 14 miles of hiking 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 17 trails and win a special prize. Timed pre-registration is required for all visitors.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Stop by Fifty West for a Burger, Brew or Rootbeer

7605 Wooster Pike, Columbia Township
The brewery spent around 10 years planning and building the Burger Bar, which opened over the summer. It’s connected to Fifty West’s sprawling campus, which now has a tent-covered beer garden with spaced-apart tables in addition to its existing beach volleyball courts. The menu features bread-and-butter diner specialties like classic cheeseburgers, flat-top hot dogs and loaded crinkle cut fries, but there are also 12 specialty burgers named for the 12 states that U.S. Route 50 runs through. They’re loaded with staple ingredients inspired by each state, including Cincinnati-style chili, Maryland tartar sauce, West Virginia apple butter and Kansas smoky barbecue. Grab a housemade root beer or orange soda to wash it down, or choose from a wide range of Fifty West canned, bottled or draft beers.
Photo: Savana Willhoite

Ride Kings Island's Orion Giga Coaster

6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason
Visit the largest amusement park and waterpark in the Midwest and take a 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. Masks are required to enter and guests must download of the Kings Island mobile app to complete a health questionnaire.
Photo: Provided by Kings Island

Visit the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

3400 Vine St., Avondale
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

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.
Photo via Facebook.com/florenceyallsbaseball

Grab a Drink with a View at the New Vista at Lytle Park

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

Sunbathe on the Beach at Hueston Woods

College Corner, Ohio
Hueston Woods Beach is free to the public and open dawn to dusk. Sit on the beach and watch boats pass by, rent a kayak (call 513-523-8859 to check availability) or camp or stay in one of the many cabins or the lodge within the state park.
Photo via Facebook.com/HuestonWoodsStatePark

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