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Cincinnati may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of vacation destinations for your family. But, it is, surprisingly, a wonderful place for families! My family recently spent a few days there. And we can’t wait to go back! Here are my top 7 reasons to visit Cincinnati with kids!
Reason #1: The Cincinnati Zoo
The Cincinnati Zoo is one of the best zoos in the United States. And it is definitely a must do when in Cincinnati with kids.
This zoo has a wide variety of animals on exhibit. Some of them are so unique that you may have never even heard of them before!
The highlights of the zoo are the walk through kangaroo exhibit, and the nocturnal animal exhibit. But the stars of the show at the zoo are the hippos! Fiona is a juvenile hippo and her little brother Fritz is just a baby. They are so much fun to watch! You will love them!
Check out the zoo’s website for more information.
Reason #2: It’s a great sports city.
The Bengals, the Reds, and the Bearcats. Cincinnati has more than its fair share of sports teams to enjoy. So, if you have sports fans in your family, then you must visit Cincinnati! It is a great place to take in your favorite sport.
And if you are a baseball fan, you have to check out the Reds Hall of Fame. It is one of the best sports museums we have ever seen. It is so well done and has some amazing pieces on display.
Reason #3: There are tons of great restaurants.
I know that Cincinnati is not what you expect when you think of a foodie town, but it really does have a ton of great restaurants. Not only can you get plenty of delicious food, but you can find many options that are family friendly.
If you are a fan of breweries, you will love Cincinnati! They have a lot of breweries throughout the city. And they all have their own unique character. The Dead Low Brewery and Taft’s Ale House are both wonderful choices.
For breakfast, I highly recommend Sugar n’ Spice Diner or Hang Over Easy. Both are super yummy and perfect to start your day off right!
Reason #4: It is very easy to navigate.
Cincinnati is a surprisingly small city. And this makes it pretty easy to navigate.
Traffic doesn’t seem to be bad, at least compared to other cities. While it’s not laid out in a perfect grid, it isn’t complicated to find your way to where you want to go within the city.
Plus, because Cincinnati sits on the Ohio River, you get beautiful views of the river as you make your way around.
The only drawbacks of navigating the city is that you will need a car to get around and parking in the downtown area is limited. You will have to find a parking lot and pay to park. But luckily, it is pretty easy to find a place to park!
Reason #5: It is super affordable.
The beauty of traveling to the Midwest is that it is much more affordable than going to a more popular vacation destination. This makes Cincinnati with kids a very smart choice if you are on a limited budget.
I found that everything in Cincinnati was very budget-friendly, from the hotels to the food to the attractions. This is especially nice when you are traveling with multiple kids!
Because Cincinnati is such an affordable place to visit, you can maybe take a trip that is a little bit longer than you originally planned!
Reason #6: Coney Island Park
Another great reason to visit Cincinnati with kids is Coney Island Park. This is a water park on the Ohio River that has been in Cincinnati since the late 1880’s.
It has a huge pool, water slides, a floating obstacle course, a splashpad, paddle boats, and a mini golf course.
During the Christmas season, while the park is closed, they open a huge drive-thru Christmas light display, which is amazing! All of the lights are set to music. It is a wonderful event for families to enjoy together during the holidays.
Check out the Coney Island website for more details on the park.
Reason #7: The American Sign Museum
The last reason to visit Cincinnati with kids is the American Sign Museum. This unique museum is dedicated to the history and art of commercial signs in the United States.
The museum has signs that are made out of wood, plastic, neon, and everything in between. Some of them are over a hundred years old! This is such a fun and creative way to take a walk through American history!
This is definitely a museum that the entire family will enjoy exploring!
Find out more at the museum’s website.
Conclusion
Cincinnati may not be the first place you think of when planning your next family vacation, but it will definitely be a city your whole family will love! It really does have something for everyone. I know you will love visiting Cincinnati with kids!
For some of my best trip planning tips for families, see how to take amazing vacations on any budget, how to plan an epic vacation, how to pick the best hotel room for your family, my ultimate guide to travel with kids, and how to improve your family vacations.
Happy travels!
P.S. Need help finding the best places to go on your family vacations? My Ultimate USA Bucket List for Families will instantly give you 60 of the best vacation destinations for families in the United States! Get it for FREE in the box below and start planning your next trip today! Plus, as a bonus, you will receive my weekly email newsletter full of family trip tips and inspiration!
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