Let’s all raise a glass to parents. It’s not an easy job — but someone’s gotta do it. And sometimes that job, like every job, can put you in the mood for a stiff drink. We hope this list inspires some parents to relax and have some fun while spending time with their kids. 

Porch at Washington Park 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine Head over to Washington Park and enjoy a selection of local beer, seasonal cocktails, canned wine and more. The bar offers seating on the porch or on the lawn, so BYOB (bring your own blanket). Tables and heaters are located under the covered patio for when the weather isn’t cooperating. Kids can enjoy the massive lawn and playground at the park and for dog parents out there, Washington Park offers a dog park for pups to play and get their zoomies out. Photo: facebook.com/PorchAtWashingtonPark
Bridgeview Box Park 1 Levee Way, Newport Bridgeview Box Park, a cluster of small food, drink and shopping vendors, is open year-round, but the best time to visit is when the weather is nice. The establishments are housed next to each other in shipping-like containers — hence “box park” — and are interspersed among a common outdoor area. The breezy space overlooks the Ohio River and city and features turf lounge areas, string lights and outdoor games like corn hole and giant Jenga. Photo: facebook.com/newportonthelevee
Fifty West Burger Bar 7605 Wooster Pike, Newtown Fifty West Brewing Company continues to build upon their Columbia Township empire with the addition of the new Fifty West Burger Bar, an homage to the 1950s roadside root beer stand. Offering a variety of proteins (including the vegetarian-friendly ‘Beyond patty’), each is offered in 12 different ways, named for the 12 different states U.S. Route 50 travels through. Photo: Savana Willhoite Photo: Savana Willhoite
Purrfect Day Cafe 25 W. Eighth St., Covington. For your animal-obsessed kid, 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. Grab a snack like the “Paw-Pcorn” or “Purr-Etzels” and a drink— they offer up a variety of beers, wines and cocktails like the “Purrfect Meowmosa.” Photo: Danielle Schuster
Pins Mechanical Co. 1124 Main St., Over-the-Rhine Pins is full of fun and games, including duck pin bowling, ping pong, foosball and pinball machines. The mocktails offer fruity mixes with thematic names. The Optimus Prime features lemonade, cranberry juice and sprite, while the Lisa Simpson comes with sprite, grenadine and cherry. Go old school with an NA slushie. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
No. 5 Outdoor/Patio Dining: Dead Low Brewing 5959 Kellogg Ave., California Photo: facebook.com/DeadLowBrewing
The Wicked Pickle 123 Railroad Ave., Loveland The Wicked Pickle, located along the Loveland Bike Trail, is an amazing spot to sip on a drink, eat some barbecue and watch bikers on the trail. This dog-friendly establishment has live music, a full bar and a menu stuffed with delicious items that feature their house-smoked pork. The little ones can enjoy a kid’s menu with classic items like griddle cheese, sliders and key lime pie for dessert. Photo: facebook/wickedpickleloveland
Madtree Brewing Co. Oakley Taproom 3301 Madison Rd., Oakley MadTree’s massive 10,000-square-foot beer garden is a fun family hangout. With over 30 MadTree-exclusive taps, ambient lighting and an industrial brick façade leftover from the building’s factory days, there’s more than enough space to accommodate all the beer-drinking, cornhole-playing, dog-loving humans that hang at MadTree on the regular. Photo: Phil Heiden Reich
Rhinegeist 1910 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine Aside from serving up delicious ales, Rhinegeist also offers games like ping pong and cornhole. The taproom is 21+ after 8 p.m. on Thursday-Saturday nights and the rooftop is always 21+. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Kings Island 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason At one of the largest amusement parks and water parks in the Midwest, there are plenty of thrill rides, family-friendly rides, daily live shows, water slides and traditional carnival games to keep the entire family entertained for hours. Alcoholic beverages are available at various hubs around the park, including the Bier Garten, Coconut Cove Bar (located in Soak City) and the Miami River Brewhouse. Photo: facebook.com/VisitKingsIsland
Vinoklet Winery 11069 Colerain Ave., Colerain Thirty acres of picturesque rolling hills and ponds comprise the only working winery with a vineyard in Hamilton County. Kids can burn off energy running around, and on Friday and Saturday night, dinner gets interactive at the Vinoklet restaurant: Mom and dad get a wine tasting plus a bottle of wine before picking up a strip steak, chicken breast, salmon or other protein to grill themselves, accompanied by a buffet. Kids get a half-portion of steak or chicken with their buffet, and those under 5 eat free. Photo: Catie Viox
Darkness Brewing 224 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue What started as homebrewing experimentation between friends led to the opening of Darkness Brewing. The spirit of adventure is still quite alive in the Bellevue taproom, located just down the street from Party Source. Their specialty is dark beers, but they offer a variety of different brews ranging from pale ales to golden imperial stouts and session ales. Aside from their brews, Darkness has a wide variety of board and card games, live music, a petite art gallery and a food truck located right outside the building. Have a brew while the kiddos play. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
After 12 years, Kenwood Theater announced it will cease operations Friday, July 29. Photo: facebook.com/EMKtheatres
Eli’s BBQ 3313 Riverside Dr., East Side Eli’s has provided over 15 outdoor picnic tables for dining, both in the sun and the shade. Celebrate a spring afternoon with a cold brew and some delicious barbecue like their pulled pork sandwich with a slide of jalapeno cheddar grits and baked beans. Bring your own beer and enjoy the warmth by the river. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
21. Cartridge Brewing 1411 Grandin Road, Kings Mills “A busy place, but great combo of amazing food and beer and they have options for the non beer drinkers! The boisterous atmosphere was perfect for a fun date night with a toddler in tow! The staff was super friendly and helpful. When our daughter fell in love with and devoured the pineapple beer garnish, they brought her a few more! So thoughtful!” — Andrea T. Photo: Sean M. Peters
Brink Brewing Co. 5905 Hamilton Ave., College Hill “Good beer is about the people, the stories and the experience,” according to Brink’s co-founders John and Sarah McGarry. That is something the McGarrys learned from family — specifically their Uncle Jack. It was his fridge, chock full of artisan beers, and his neighborly values that led Brink to open its doors in College Hill in February 2017. The taproom’s communal table sits 20 and a brick wall stands covered in framed photos of the customers and community. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Sonder Brewing 8584 Duke Blvd., Mason Sonder Brewing built its brewery and taproom on what was a vacant lot consisting of a 40-foot mound of dirt and a fire hydrant a few miles away from Kings Island. The brewery opened in the fall of 2018 and has a 2,000-square-feet taproom, an outdoor patio which is tented and heated in the winter and a large family-friendly lawn space. Photo: facebook.com/sonderbrewing
Warped Wing Brewing 5650 Tylersville Road, Mason Dayton-based Warped Wing Brewing Company opened its Mason location in February. The 13,000-square-foot location — in the former Brazenhead and Basil’s on Market space — features a large taproom with many of Warped Wing’s popular beers, like the Trotwood Lager, and collaboration with Mason-based Sonder Brewing, Ryesing Tides. The food menu features smoked wings plus loads of sandwiches, tacos, platters and sharable options that feature house-smoked meats. Photo: Provided by Warped Wing Brewing Company
Summit Park 4335 Glendale Milford Road, Blue Ash This seasonal 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 where you can grab a bite and a drink and sit back while your kids play at the enormous playground. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Wiedemann’s Fine Beer 4811 Vine St., St. Bernard Betsy and Jon Newberry are responsible for reviving the Wiedemann’s brand and have converted a former funeral home into one of Cincinnati’s most charming brewery/taprooms. With a full kitchen, game room and patio, it’s perfect for families. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
West Side Brewery 3044 Harrison Ave., Westwood Overseen by four passionate homebrewers, the taproom offers 20 West Side beer taps, including West Side’s amber ale, common ale, pale ale and more, plus a handful of other local brews, cider, wine and soda. The bar also offers a ton of TVs and games. Photo: Megan Waddel Photo: Megan Waddel
Higher Gravity 4106 Hamilton Ave., Northside; 10241 Summit Parkway, Blue Ash These guys really want to help you love beer — so much so that they’ve installed iPads around the store to help you browse their inventory and find your perfect brew. Let their friendly “beeristas” pour you a flight, and don’t leave without visiting their growler and crawler station to take a cold one home with you. Higher Gravity is kid- and dog-friendly, as well as B.Y.O.F. (bring your own food), so bring the whole fam and order in something tasty from one of their Northside neighbors. Photo: facebook.com/HigherGravity
Dewey’s Pizza Multiple locations This popular pizza chain offers a slew of creative pies — from barbecue chicken to a Killer Veggie — plus a nice selection of wine and local brews on tap. Each location also boasts large windows to see into the kitchen, allowing guests to watch their pizzas being made. Kids are encouraged to watch as cooks roll and hand-toss dough, add ingredients and put the finished product in the oven; adults are more than welcome, too. Photo via Facebook.com/DeweysPizza Photo: facebook.com/DeweysPizza