Cool down at Sawyer Point
With a view of Cincinnati’s famous bridges — the Roebling Suspension Bridge was the model for the Brooklyn Bridge — and the Serpentine Wall, the Armeleder Memorial Sprayground at the mile-long riverfront Sawyer Point park is a scenic space filled with fountains tall enough to shower any human from head to toe, with additional tiny fountains spurting from the ground for the little ones. When it’s time to dry off, walk along the park’s landscaped paths and stop at one of the tennis or volleyball courts or rent a four-wheel Surrey Bike at Wheel Fun for a riverfront ride (601 E. Mehring Way; wheelfunrentals.com). Open daily. 705 E. Pete Rose Way, Downtown, cincinnatiparks.com/sawyer-point-park.
Burn off a sugar high at the Duke Energy Children’s Museum
Located inside the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal, a former Art Deco train station turned museum complex, the museum’s Energy Zone (enough said) lets kids squeeze through tunnels, jump in ball pits and release their sugar highs. Other stations include Kids’ Town, Little Sprouts Farm and The Woods, all designed to keep your child engaged and discovering new things. The Cincinnati Museum Center also houses the Cincinnati History Museum, Museum of Natural History and Science and the OMNIMAX, along with an Amtrak station, so kids can see real trains coming and going. Fun fact: Because of the entry rotunda’s acoustics, two people can stand on opposite ends of the entry arch and tell each other secrets in whispers that will carry across the room. Single museum pass: $10.50 adult; $8.50 ages 3-12; $5.50 ages 1-2; $6 parking. 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate, cincymuseum.org.
Ride Carol Ann’s Carousel at Smale Riverfront Park
A riverfront respite that spans from Great American Ball Park to Paul Brown Stadium, Smale offers a plethora of family-friendly entertainment. Kids can splash in an LED-lit vertical sprayground, watch boats go by from the riverfront Rosenberg Swings, take a guided bike tour along the Ohio River and cross it into Northern Kentucky or play an oversized piano à la Tom Hanks in Big at the Vibrantscape park. But the park’s newest attraction — the glass-enclosed Carol Ann’s Carousel — lets kids hop on horses, bearcats, bats and other critters for just $2 (closed Mondays). 100 W. Mehring Way, Downtown, mysmaleriverfrontpark.org.
Eat a grilled-cheese donut at Tom+Chee
Can you ever go wrong with grilled cheese? Probably not. What about grilled cheese on a glazed donut? Well, that’s for you to find out. This quirky Cincinnati-based sandwich chain isn’t just famous for its donut sandwiches (or its frequent appearances on the TV show Shark Tank), but also the hearty tomato soups, salads with grilled-cheese croutons and uniquely topped grilled cheeses, stuffed with everything from pepperoni and pesto to hummus, cucumber, bacon and barbecue chips — all made for the “kids and the kids at heart.” Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. 125 E. Court St., Downtown, 513-721-2433, tomandchee.com.
Find out why Cincinnati is called “Porkopolis” at Eli’s BBQ
Findlay Market, Ohio’s oldest operating open-air public market (open since the mid-1800s), is now home to the newest Eli’s BBQ location. A local cult favorite, Eli’s serves up rubbed, smoked, grilled and pulled meats in a variety of ways. Their fresh menu is filled with family favorites like pulled-pork sandwiches (20 hours in the making), ribs, all-beef hotdogs for picky eaters, mashed potatoes, creamy Southern coleslaw and mac and cheese (bonus: all of their sides are vegetarian). So when you’re all finished exploring the butcher shops, baked goods, flowers stands and organic farmers at Findlay, make sure to stop by with your hungry family and grab a bite or two. Located next to the OTR Biergarten, pouring local craft beers for Mom and Dad. Open until 9 p.m. daily. Findlay Market, 133 W. Elder St., Over-the-Rhine; additional location offers outdoor picnic tables and BYOB at 3313 Riverside Drive, East End, elisbarbeque.com.
Get hands-on at the Cincinnati Art Museum
The CAM is filled with a wide variety of art programs with a mission to bring people and art together, like at the new Rosenthal Education Center, an interactive space featuring art-making activities, including a giant rainbow loom and dry-erase board walls, and the Family ARTventures Tour. This interactive walk, led by a museum docent, takes kids and parents on a museum tour filled with fun facts and hands-on activities for everyone to enjoy. Meet a docent in the front lobby. Coatroom and lockers available. ARTventures tour 1 p.m. July 11; museum closed Monday. Free; $4 parking. 953 Eden Park Drive, Eden Park, cincinnatiartmuseum.org.
Dare to cross the Shark Bridge at Newport Aquarium
Traverse the Ohio River via the pedestrian-only Purple People Bridge and cross into Northern Kentucky to hang at the Newport Aquarium at Newport on the Levee. Daily activities include dive shows in the shark exhibit, Penguin Palooza, Otter Talk and opportunities for kids to pet all kinds of underwater creatures in a safe environment. It’s educational without them even knowing it — even for parents! And the new, world’s-first Shark Bridge lets families cross a 75-foot-long rope bridge, suspended over the open 385,000-gallon shark exhibit. Get a very close bird’s-eye view of sharks, shark rays, stingrays and hundreds of fish. The surrounding Newport on the Levee also offers a bevy of family-friendly dining options and more entertainment, including Ride the Ducks amphibious sightseeing tours (newport.ridetheducks.com). Open 9 a.m.-7 p.m. daily. $23 adults; $15 kids; free for 2 and younger; ticket specials online. 1 Aquarium Way, Newport on the Levee, Newport, Ky., newportaquarium.com.
Visit Africa at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Roaring lions, dancing manatees and playful monkeys — the Cincinnati Zoo has it all. Your kids will love the sprawling outdoor Africa exhibit, where the mammals just keep multiplying: three baby lion cubs frequently wrestle with Mom and Dad; the 10 new African painted dog pups are all named after Batman characters and the just-finished meerkat exhibit features pop-up bubbles, where kids can get face-to-face with the charismatic creatures. Animal encounters daily, including cheetah runs at 11 a.m. Pro tip: Most animals get fed in the early afternoon, so it’s one of the best times to make sure everyone’s on exhibit. Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. $16 adult; $11 child/senior online; $9 parking. 3400 Vine St., Avondale, cincinnatizoo.org.
Meet the Players at FanFest
This fan- and family-friendly convention includes more than 100 appearances from baseball legends and Hall of Famers. Fans can check out players’ official All-Star Game uniforms, run around and take batting practice on mini fields and hang out in mini clubhouses and dugouts. There will be daily player appearances and autograph sessions, plus artifacts from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and a display on the history of the Negro Leagues, and much more. July 10-14. $35 adult; $30 children/seniors. Duke Energy Convention Center, 525 Elm St., Downtown, 513-419-7300, allstargame.com.
This article appears in Jul 8-14, 2015.