Name

Location

Description

Cincinnati Museum Center

1301 Western Ave

The Cincinnati Union Terminal was built in 1933, but since 1990, it has been home to museums. The museum center houses three museums in one — the Cincinnati History Museum, Duke Energy Children’s Museum and the Museum of Natural History and Science. There’s also an Imax theater and history library and archives on site as well.

Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens

3400 Vine St

If your kid is into creepy-crawlies, then you have to come here. One of the loveliest destinations of its kind in the country, the Cincinnati Zoo is known for its white Bengal tigers and gorillas. It’s also home to one of the largest insectariums. What’s also a treat is its amazing landscaping, including spring tulips: That’s another thing that makes it one of the top ten places to visit in Cincinnati.

Great American Ballpark

100 Joe Nuxhall Way

While this is the new home for the Cincinnati Reds, the Reds actually are the country’s oldest professional baseball team, dating back to 1869. The new park blends nostalgia with new pretty seamlessly.

Cincinnati Art Museum

953 Eden Park Drive

This lovely art museum is situated in the equally lovely Eden Park, right atop a hill in the park.  With more than 100,000 works of art, the museum’s known for its 19^th-century European and American works, but it’s also got a great pottery collection and plenty of temporary exhibits that intrigue.

Smale Riverfront Park

West Mehring Way

The Smale Riverfront Park invites visitors to linger and explore. With many fountains (including ones you can actually play in), along with an adventure playground, and a glass-enclosed carousel, the park is a perfect place to reconnect with nature or to let your kids blow off steam.

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

50 E. Freedom Way

The Ohio River once separated North from South, and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center not only details that history, but also points to the modern freedom movements that are ongoing. Particularly moving is the exhibit of a real slave pen moved from nearby Kentucky.

American Sign Museum

1330 Monmoth St

Hand-carved wooden signs, flashing neon signs and other types of American signage, dating from 1870 through 1970 grace the walls of this museum. Burma Shave, Big Boy and plenty of places and products of a bygone era can be found here.

Carew Tower

441 Vine St

Designed to be “a city within a city”, this concept was new back when the skyscraper was built in 1929. Today, it still houses a mix of offices, shops and a hotel. But the real attraction is the observation deck on the 49^th floor, where you can drink in the great city views.

Taft Museum of Art

316 Pike St

Located within a National Historic Landmark built in 1820, the Taft Museum of Art is a great example of Federalist architecture. It’s also home to one of the finest suites of domestic murals painted before the Civil War, painted by Robert S. Duncanson. It’s also home to more than 700 works from a once private collection.

Kings Island

6300 Kings Island Dr

This giant amusement park is home to dozens of thrills and spills that are sure to get your heart racing. Among the best attractions here include the Beast, the world’s longest wooden roller coaster, Mystic Timbers, which was rated the best new ride of 2017 by Amusement Today, and the Banshee, which is the world’s longest steel inverted roller coaster.