The Duke Energy Children's Museum (cincymuseum.org) has eight educational and dramatic exhibit areas that cover culture, reading, science, and arts. One area, The Woods, depicts a wilderness adventure where children use their imaginations and physical skills to explore a three-story, hollow log structure with rope bridges and a climbing wall. The tree house is wheel-chair accessible. The Little Sprouts Farm area is designed for children 4-years-old and younger. Activities include puppet shows, a fruit and vegetable garden, fishing and a Story Tree. There's a private nursing area for mothers and a comfortable area for crawlers and early walkers.
An estimated 50,000 people attend this annual festival that includes food, music, games and family entertainment. The festival runs on the Sunday prior to Labor Day from noon until 11 p.m. and concludes with one of the largest fireworks displays in the Midwest. The fireworks are launched from the Ohio River banks at Sawyers Point. Riverfest's location is an no alcohol zone for the duration of the event.
You and your children can cruise on an authentic stern wheeler river boat during the Riverfest. BB Riverboats (bbriverboats.com) operates the Belle of Cincinnati and offers scheduled and specialty cruises on the Ohio River. BB Riverboats offers river history and meals and hosts children's and birthday parties.
Children can learn about pre-civil war history by touring the Harriett Beecher Stowe home (harrietbeecherstowehouse.org). Stowe, an abolitionist and author of the anti-slavery novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin," lived in Cincinnati from 1832 until the 1850s. Her family home is maintained as an historical and cultural attraction. Ms. Stowe lived in the home with her father and sister until her marriage. Children can gain insight into the anti-slavery movement and learn how people lived during the 1800s.
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens(cincinnatizoo.org) has over 500 animals and 3,000 plant species. Their collections of mammals, reptiles, birds, invertebrates, amphibians and fish housed in realistic habitats such as the African Savannah, Giraffe Ridge, Gorilla World, Jungle Trails and Lemur Lookout regions. The Penguin-Animal Encounter gives patrons a glimpse into the habitat and habits of penguins. A penguin keeper participates in this program. The zoo also has a 4-D Special FX Theater, which engages the audiences' sense of taste, smell, hearing and sight with 3-D visual and 4-D environmental effects.
