Just 30 minutes north of Downtown Cincinnati is a destination tourists flock to from all over the Midwest. It’s lush, lovely woods, fertile farmland and rushing rivers; it’s nationally recognized amusement parks and water parks. It’s Warren County, fondly known as Ohio’s Largest Playground.
As spring sets in and summer break approaches, put Warren County on your radar, as Ohio’s Largest Playground offers lots of fun activities for kids, families and couples!
Here are 7 things to do in Warren County:
Get Your Thrills
Warren County is most famous for its dynamic duo of amusement parks: Kings Island and The Beach Waterpark, which sit virtually across each other along Highway 1-71. Kings Island opens for the season April 15th, and promises to be better than ever with the addition of Mystic Timbers and this winter’s much-anticipated return of WinterFest. Kings Island also boasts a water park, kids’ park, and iconic attractions like The Beast, The Racer and the Eiffel Tower.
Meanwhile, The Beach is the Cincinnati Waterpark, featuring water slides of every variety, a lazy river, wave pool and brand-new zip line. There are weekly events during the summer, such as Reggae Sundays, Character Days and Car-Load Discounts! The Beach opens for the 2017 season on May 20th, and we suggest you plan a trip or two to Cincinnati’s tropical paradise this summer.
Try Zip Lining
Did all those roller coasters and water slides get your adrenaline rushing? Chase that feeling at Ozone Zipline Adventures. You’ll get a birds eye view of Warren County’s best sights as you zip through the lush forests of Camp Kern. This is the perfect adventure for families with tweens or teens, as zip liners must be at least 10 years old.
Book a Staycation at Great Wolf Lodge
Looking for a night or two away? You don’t have to go far! Great Wolf Lodge is the perfect weekend escape for families. This Warren County resort features an indoor water park, bowling, arcade and mini golf, plus family-friendly suites and loads of kid-approved restaurants and buffets. Water passes are included with all rooms (except the Room Only package), and everything is conveniently located on-site for the ultimate getaway.
Ride the Rails
It’s a fact that kids love trains (big kids, too!). In Warren County, Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad offers monthly train rides on real, authentic train cars. If you have younger kids, you have to check out LM&M’s themed rides: each month, you’ll find a different character riding the rails, such as Clifford or Curious George or even Santa or The Easter Bunny! If you’re looking for a deal, you’ll get half-price kids rides on National Train Day on May 13th and $5 tickets for Lebanon Appreciation Day on May 27th.
Row, Row, Row Your Boat!
Warren County has some of the best canoeing in Southwestern Ohio. Little Miami Canoe Rental is a local favorite, taking families down the eponymous river safely for many years. Meanwhile, Loveland Canoe & Kayak one of the most unique rides around, with its Castle Adventure floating right by Cincinnati’s very own Loveland Castle!
Go U-Pickin’
Warren County is full of beautiful farmland, as evidenced by the number of U-Pick opportunities. In the late spring, summer and fall, you’ll find blackberries, blueberries, apples and more at Irons Fruit Farm. Meanwhile, Blooms n’ Berries‘ Fall on the Farm Festival is quite possibly the best local festival of the season, complete with U-Pick pumpkins for miles acres. During the holidays, you can search for the perfect Christmas tree at one of Warren County’s many tree farms. If you’re itching for some good U-Pickin’, you need to visit Warren County.
Kick It Old School (or New School!)
Rainy day? Need a break? Lazer Kraze is guaranteed fun for the whole family! From old-school arcade games to new-school, glow-in-the-dark lazer tag, this Mason entertainment center is great way to spend an afternoon. For the really energetic kids, Lazer Kraze’s Trampoline Park is a perfect outlet for all that pent-up energy — and is fun for parents, too!
Do Something Unique
Itching for a unique adventure? Warren County is full of one-of-a-kind opportunities! Take a covered wagon ride at Bonnybrook Farms. Check out the waterfalls at Caesar Creek State Park. Go back in time at the Ohio Renaissance Festival. Dig up ancient history at Fort Ancient. Book a sitter and take your sweetie on a hot air balloon ride from Gentle Breeze Hot Air Balloon Company.
This spring, we’ll be exploring some of Warren County’s best attractions, so be sure to check back regularly as we have lots of great places to share!
Adventures of all kind await you in Warren County. The real question is: what will you choose?
Feature image credit: Cincinnati USA