Take the kids to the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden (cincinnatizoo.org), rated as the No. 1 attraction in the city by Zagat Survey. Kids can attend special events and see award-winning exhibits, more than 20 gardens, hundreds of animals and thousands of plant species. The hours of operation varies depending on the season.
The 100-acre Parky's Farm (no website; 10037 Daly Road; Cincinnati; 513-521-7275) is a place where kids can enjoy wagon and pony rides, see live farm animals and a working windmill, and play in the indoor, two-story, farm-theme playground. Parky's farm is open every day of the year.
The Children's Theatre (thechildrenstheatre.com) features fully staged productions suitable for kids ages 4 and up. The one-hour performances center around the theme of morals and values. Shows, of which three are presented each season, are open to the public on the weekends and to local schools on weekdays.
In May, kids ages 13 to 19 years old can audition for a summer show produced by the Cincinnati Young People's Theatre (cincinnatilandmarkproductions.com). They'll rehearse in June for the July and August shows, of which past performances have included "Footloose," "Wizard of Oz" and "Jesus Christ Superstar."
Take the kids to watch children's productions by the Cincinnati Ballet (cballet.org) that run from September through April. Past performances for children have included "Sleeping Beauty" and "The Nutcracker." Kids can also take dance classes and attend dance camps.
When it's warm outside, take the kids to cool off in different water parks. They can ride water slides or ride a tube ride in the indoor, 50,000-square-foot CoCo Key Water Resort (cocokeywaterresort.com). Children will enjoy swimming in the two-acre swimming pool and sliding down water slides in Coney Island (coneyislandpark.com). Younger kids will want to splash around the spray park in Parky's Ark (no website; 10245 Winton Road; Cincinnati, 513-521-7275) and Parky's Wetland Adventure (no website; 8250 Old Kellogg Road; Cincinnati; 513-521-7275). The water parks' hours vary by season.
Take the kids to the Cincinnati Museum Center (cincymuseum.org) at Union Terminal, a national historical landmark and home to the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History and Science, Duke Energy Children's Museum and the Cincinnati History Museum. Children will especially enjoy the children's museum, which features hands-on exhibits and thousands of hours of arts, culture, reading and science programs.
Sports fans will enjoy learning about the history of the Cincinnati Reds in the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum (no website; 100 Main St.; Cincinnati; 513-765-7576). Kids can try the interactive exhibits that will allow them to try fielding and pitching; release some energy in the play area; watch videos and highlights of bloopers in the "Ultimate Reds Room" and watch a video about the history of the Reds in a theater themed as an old ballpark in "Palace of the Fans."
