26 Cute Cincinnati Date Ideas Under $30 That Are Actually Good

Double Down at Cancun and Western Bowl

$4.20-$5.65 per game; shoe rental extra
It’s a two-for-one at Cancun Restaurante & Cantina and Western Bowl Strike & Spare — the establishments are connected by a doorway, making it easy to go from classic strip-mall tacos and tequila to classic bowling and beer. Since 1958, the glowing Western Bowl sign has been beckoning amateurs and pros alike to play on its 68 automatic lanes. With a Big Lebowski-esque atmosphere, the rates are reasonable (no more than $6 a game), the snacks are cheap and the bar is fully stocked. Grab a pitcher of beer and get ready to bowl.6383 Glenway Ave., Western Hills.

Go on a Self-Guided ArtWorks Mural Tour

Free
Each summer, ArtWorks and its apprentices put new murals up on buildings around the Greater Cincinnati area. Download a PDF of downtown and Over-the-Rhine murals at artworkscincinnati.org. 20 E. Central Parkway, Downtown.

Take a Walk on the Wild Side at the Krohn Conservatory

$10 per person
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 thousands of 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. 950 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams.

Cuddle with Some Cats at the Purrfect Day Cafe

$15 per person
Reserve a 50-minute session to cuddle with kitties in Purrfect Day Cafe’s cat lounge room. Roughly 15-20 adoptable cats hang out in the lounge room, and all can be interacted with. You may also purchase a variety of beverages, including beer, wine, bourbon, tea, coffee and soda. 25 W. Eighth St., Covington.

Take a Tour of the American Sign Museum

$15 per person
Explore a museum featuring over 100 years of signage. This 20,000-square-foot museum has everything from pre-electric signs to beautiful art-deco neon signs to modern plastic-faced signs. 1330 Monmouth Ave., Camp Washington.

Score Some $1 Tacos at Tortilleria Garcia

$1 per taco
Every Tuesday, Tortilleria Garcia serves its tacos (with housemade corn tortillas) for just $1 each, all day. The restaurant’s menu consists of straightforward Mexican classics like tamales, burritos, housemade salsas and rotisserie chicken, in addition to tacos, plus classic tortilla shells that are available in two-pound packs so you can make your own inspired creations at home. 11774 Springfield Pike, Springdale; 5917 Hamilton Ave., College Hill; 4200 Aero Drive, Mason.

Visit the Foodie Amusement Park That Is Jungle Jim’s International Market

Free to wander
Jungle Jim’s is an amusement park for foodies, and not just because of its kitschy statues and animatronics. It sells more than 1,500 different kinds of hot sauce plus hundreds of other sauces from barbecue to mustard that help spice up a meal. Stop by the bar to grab a glass of wine or a beer while you wander and indulge in several cheese samples. Or, grab ingredients to make a meal together.5440 Dixie Highway, Fairfield.

Sample Some Spirits and Take a Tour of Newport’s New Riff Distillery

$20 per person
New Riff offers three regular distillery tours and tastings: the Bonded Tour, the Barrel Proof Tour and the Distiller’s Tour. The Bonded Tour offers the best bang for your buck at $20. Guests can get a detailed look at New Riff’s distilling process “from grain to barrel” and then sample spirits made in house ranging from New Riff’s bourbon to their Single Barrel. And your ticket price can be applied to a gift shop purchase of $25 or more.24 Distillery Way, Newport.

Walk the Art Climb to the Cincinnati Art Museum

Free to walk the Art Climb; free museum admission
Starting near the intersection of Eden Park Drive and Gilbert Avenue, the expansive Art Climb is a flight of 164 steps that ascends from the sidewalk, zig-zags up a hill and connects to the Cincinnati Art Museum parking lot. Flanked on either side by greenery and modern light beams, the nine-story structure includes 16 landings and rotating artworks placed at four different outdoor plazas. Admission to the museum is free, so stroll the galleries after your workout. 953 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams.

Catch a Show (for Free) During the Wednesday Welcome Experiment at Know Theatre

Advance registrations for $5
Know Theatre provides free shows on Wednesdays for anyone who wants to attend. The Welcome Experiment was started in 2014 as a way to allow anyone, regardless of economic circumstances, to view performances at The Know Theatre. Over 4,000 people have attended these performances at low or no cost. 1120 Jackson St., Over-the-Rhine.

Catch Free Live Music at MOTR Pub

Free admission
MOTR has free shows — featuring both local and national artists — DJs or other events almost every night of the week. There is no cover charge to any of these performances. Just simply show up and get ready to rock. 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine.

Sip, Bite and Stroll Your Way Through Findlay Market

Free to wander
While Findlay Market 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 160 year history. Grab a bite to eat — or groceries to make dinner later — and stop by Market Wines 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday for the famous wine tasting. For under $10 each, you can get hefty samples of four handpicked wines. 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine.

Sing Your Heart Out at Tokyo Kitty Karaoke

Free at the main bar
This Tokyo-inspired bar features free karaoke, seven private rooms (hourly rates start at $50) and even a drink delivery robot. They serve loads of speciality cocktails from $8-$11. They also offer fun mocktails. 575 Race St., Downtown.

Take a Tour of Rhinegeist Brewery

$10 per person
Get a look behind the scenes on a 30-40 minute tour of the 25,000-square-foot facility at Rhinegeist Brewery. For just $10 you get walked through the beer-making process and get to try one of your own. 1910 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine.

See the Latest Exhibit at the Contemporary Arts Center

Free admission
With changing exhibits, an eclectic gift shop and a hip cafe, the Contemporary Arts Center welcomes visitors free of charge. 44 E. Sixth St., Downtown.

Hang Out and Enjoy a Book at the Cincinnati Public Library

Free
Stop by one of Cincinnati’s many public libraries to relax and read a book. Use your free Cincinnati Public Library card at any of its 41 locations.

Watch the Sun Set Over the City at Devou Park

Free
Devou Park has numerous things to do and see. You can walk on its backcountry trails or take it easy on its paved trails, hit up the golf course or fish at the lake. There's even a bar and grill at the park. And if you pack a picnic, you can catch the sunset at one of the city's most scenic overlooks. 1201 Park Drive, Covington

Grab a Slice of Cake, a Cookie and a Cupcake for under $10 at Sugar in OTR

Under $10 per person
Choose from a variety of 15-20 different cookie flavors. There’s also other items like cupcakes, brownies, pudding and Jeni’s Splendid ice cream. Each dessert is hand-crafted and masterfully presented. 6 W. 14th St., Over-the-Rhine.

Visit Everybody's Treehouse and Walk the Trails of Mt. Airy Forest

Free
Everybody's Treehouse is an otherworldly, elevated structure buried in trees and seemingly snatched out of a fantasy novel. The structure is also fully wheelchair-accessible. 1212 Trail Ridge Road, Westwood.

Hop on Cincinnati's Brewing Heritage Trail

Free
Cincinnati's Brewing Heritage Trail explores, preserves and celebrates the city's storied past as a beer-producing capital with a series of guided tours and a free walking trail. "Hop on" the trail, which stretches about three-fourths of a mile between Findlay Market (1801 Race St.) and Grant Park (73 E. McMillan Ave.) in Over-the-Rhine, at either terminus and follow embedded medallions in the sidewalk to discover historic buildings, brewing sites, public art and more. Currently, about two dozen signs or so are available to peruse anytime, for free. 1801 Race St. to 73 E. McMillan Ave., Over-the-Rhine.