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Zipping Through The Air, Water In Southwest Ohio
By: Alexis Larsen | Dayton Daily News
Posted on:
For those who thrive on an adrenaline rush, southwestern Ohio has a wealth of thrill-seeking adventures.
The state boasts five major zip-line canopy tours — Columbus, Hocking Hills, Loudonville, West Liberty, the Wilds — but one of the most breathtaking views can be found at Oregonia’s Ozone Zipline Adventures, which stretches across the Little Miami River at heights of up to 200 feet.
Ozone offers several options, including the "ultimate" tour of up to five hours using 11 zip lines (including two new lines that cross the Little Miami) and nine sky bridges and includes a bag lunch.
"(It) gives guests a truly unique view of the river valley and is one of the most spectacular lines in the entire Midwest," said Chris Addison, Ozone Zipline director at Warren County’s Camp Kern.
For those who think they’ve seen — or done — it all, consider a nighttime adventure, offered each month closest to the full moon.
Reservations are required, and guests 16 and younger must be accompanied by a paying adult. Prices range from $55 to $110. (1-800-255-5376, www.campkern.org/ozone)
For a water-lovers’ adventure, head to Wake Nation, the only cable wake-boarding park in the Midwest — and the best place to learn how to wake-board, water-ski, knee-board and wake-skate.
The 10-acre lake in Butler County offers an opportunity to practice and hone boarding skills without a boat. It’s fun for riders and observers alike, and it gets the whole family outdoors. An all-day ride passes cost $40 a person. (513-887-9253, www.wakenation.com)
For those seeking to venture below the water table, a trip to Ohio Caverns in West Liberty (Champaign County) might be in order.
The largest of Ohio’s caves, the site features more than two miles of passageways ranging from 30 to 103 feet in depth.
Tours leave about every 20 minutes, so it’s an adventure into the Earth you don’t necessarily need to plan in advance. The caverns remain a steady 54 degrees year-round, with air that’s cleaner than what you can find above the ground.
The largest and most famous formation in the caverns is the Crystal King — one of the biggest and most perfectly formed stalactites in any cave. Nearly 5feet long, weighing about 400 pounds and estimated to be more than 200,000 years old, it drips once every seven to eight minutes.
"We have been wowing visitors for over 100 years," manager Tim Grissom said. "We are open every day except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. People can come and warm up on a cold winter day or come and cool off on a hot summer day."
Pricing varies depending on the tour. (937-465-4017, www.ohiocaverns.com)
And that just scratches the surface of things to do in the area. Among other highlights:
Several rock-climbing gyms not only offer protection from the elements when necessary, but also a workout worthy of a mountainside.
Sharonville’s RockQuest (Butler County, 513-733-0123, www.rockquest.com) or Dayton’s Urban Krag (Montgomery County, 937-224-5724, www.urbankrag.com) offer a serious rock-climbing workout for those looking to practice outdoors.
After a killer exercise session, cool off with a breezy sky-diving adventure at Skydive Warren County in Lebanon. (513-282-3725, www.skydivewarrencounty.com)
For bike lovers, southwestern Ohio is laced with trails including six maintained by Five Rivers MetroParks that thread through Montgomery County (937-275-7275, www.metroparks.org)
The MoMBA park — which stands for MetroParks Mountain Biking Area — at the Huffman MetroPark in Dayton (Montgomery County) features an eight-mile mountain-biking track for riders ranging from novice to advanced. (www.miami valleytrails.org)
For those who seek a little serenity, head to Morgan’s Canoe Livery in Oregonia (Butler County) to relax on the Little Miami River in a kayak or a canoe. (1-800-932-2663, www.morganscanoe.com)
The recently opened Cox Arboretum Tree Tower (Montgomery County, www.metroparks.org/treetower), is a 46-foot-tall observation tower that offers guests breathtaking panoramic views of both the park and the areas bordering it.
Springfield’s Buck Creek State Park (Clark County) features the ECO Sports Corridor with four recreational white-water kayaking areas that feed into a large lake, miles of bike trails and other boating, fishing and camping opportunities. (937-322-5284, www.buckcreekstatepark.org).
SOUTHWEST OHIO SUMMER FESTIVALS
Taste of Cincinnati: May 25-27, one of the country’s longest-unning food festivals is back for another Memorial Day weekend featuring food, live entertainment and more food; downtown Cincinnati (Hamilton County); free; 513-579-3197 or www.tasteofcincinnati.com
Summerfair: May 31-June 2, a fine-arts fair with more than 300 artists and craftspeople, regional performers and more; Coney Island, Cincinnati (Hamilton County); $10, or free for children 12 and younger; 513-531-0050 or www.summerfair.org
Cincinnati Juneteenth Festival: June 15-16, the celebration marks the end of slavery in America and the beginning of African-American Independence. It serves as a historical milestone and this year, after two decades in Eden Park, returns to Daniel Drake Park for the festival’s 50th anniversary; free; http://juneteenthcincinnati.org
PaddleFest: June 20-22, Paddlefest is the largest canoe/kayak paddling event in the Midwest with more than 2,200 paddlers on the Ohio River. The event will begin on June 20 with a Kids Outdoor Adventure Expo, and the Ohio River Music and Outdoor Festival will take place on June 21, and the paddling will continue on June 22; free; 513-787-5755 or http://www.ohioriverpaddlefest.org/paddlefest/
Vectren Dayton Air Show: June 22-23, two days of aerobatic planes and skilled pilots who present amazing, thrilling demonstrations; Dayton International Airport (Montgomery County); $20, or $15 for senior citizens and children 6-11, free for age 5 and younger; 937-898-5901 or http://www.daytonairshow.com
Cityfolk Festival: June 28-30, featuring a variety of performers including Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Maad Soul Music, Son del Caribe; RiverScape MetroPark, downtown Dayton (Montgomery County);$7, or $3 for children 2-12, free for children 2 and younger 937-223-3655, www.cityfolk.org/festival
Bunbury Music Festival: July 12-14, three-day music festival, featuring headliners fun., MGMT and the National as well as 80 other bands; named one of 2012’s Essential Summer Festivals by Yahoo Music; $55-$295 ; www.bunburyfestival.com
Ninth annual MidFirst Ohio Challenge: July 12-14, hot-air balloon races; professional skydivers; music; a classic car show; arts and crafts; food; balloon, airplane and helicopter rides; Smith Park, downtown Middletown (Butler County); free to $4; www.ohiochallenge.com
Dayton Celtic Festival: July 26-28, 12th annual event with bands, dancing, food, merchandise from the British Isles, Celtic breakfast and Gaelic Mass; RiverScape MetroPark, Dayton (Montgomery County); www.unitedirishofdayton.org/Festival
WATER PARKS
Coney Island
Description: On the banks of Lake Como, the theme park includes rides, a Sunlite Pool, water slides, live shows, an arcade and miniature golf.
Location: 6201 Kellogg Ave., 10 miles east of downtown Cincinnati (Hamilton County)
Open, Sunlite Pool: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 26 through Aug. 24 and Sept. 1-3; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Aug. 27-31 and Sept. 8
Admission, Sunlite Pool: $13.95 for those 5 and older, or $4.95 for children 2 to 4, free for children 1 and younger; classic rides: $11.95 for those 5 and older, or $6.95 for children 2 to 4, free for children 1 and younger; combination admission: $23.95 for those 5 and older, or $10.95 for children 2 to 4, free for children 1 and younger
Parking: $8
New attraction: Como Cruisers — miniature motorboats that guests operate on Lake Como.
Least-busy day: Tuesdays
Tickets/information: at the park and online; 513-232-8230, www.coneyislandpark.com
Great Wolf Lodge
Description: The indoor water park features water slides, a four-story treehouse with water sprays, climbing nets and bridges.
Location: 2501 Great Wolf Dr., Mason (Warren County)
Open: year-round
Admission: must be an overnight guest; rooms and suites available
Parking: free
Least-busy days: midweek May and September
Information/reservations: 513-459-8885, 1-800-913-9653, www.greatwolf.com
Kings Island and Soak City Waterpark
Description: The park offers more than 100 rides, including 14 roller coasters (and the Beast, the world’s longest wooden coaster), shows and attractions as well as Soak City, a 33-acre waterpark.
Location: Kings Island Drive, Kings Island, Mason (Warren County)
Open, Kings Island: daily, operating hours vary through Aug. 25; select weekends through Oct. 27
Soak City (free with park admission): 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 25 through Aug. 18, Aug. 24-25 and Aug. 31 through Sept. 2, noon to 6 p.m. Aug. 19-23 (closing times subject to change)
Admission: $54.99 for those 48 inches and taller (good for two days), or $33.99 for senior citizens 62 and older and children less than 48 inches tall (for one day), free for children 2 and younger; online discounts available
Parking: $12, or $20 for preferred Mondays through Fridays, $15 and $22 for preferred Saturdays and Sundays
New attractions: A sauroposeidon will join the Dinosaurs Alive! area. Estimated to be between 112 to 118 feet long and 56 feet tall, sauroposeidons weighed 50 to 60 tons — eight times the size of an African elephant. Also new: British Invasion — a musical revue features the songs of the Beatles, Elton John, the Rolling Stones, Dusty Springfield, Petula Clark and others; Charlie Brown’s Jungle Journey — an interactive family adventure; Rock ’N’ Roll Never Forgets — a musical revue featuring the songs of Elvis, Michael Jackson, Buddy Holly, Whitney Houston and many others
Least-busy day: Wednesdays
Tickets/information: available online, at the park and participating AAA and Kroger locations; 513-754-5700, www.visitkingsisland.com
Wake Nation Cincinnati
Description: The water-sports complex offers wakeboarding, water-skiing, knee-boarding and wake-skating without the use of a boat. Riders are pulled on a 10-acre lake at 18 to 20 mph by an overhead cable-pulley system.
Location: Joyce Park, 201 Joe Nuxhall Way, Fairfield (Butler County)
Open: operating hours vary through October (call for details)
Admission: $30 for two hours, $35 for four hours or $40 for an all-day pass; free for spectators; equipment rental available
Parking: free
Least-busy day: Tuesdays
Tickets/information: available on-site; 513-887-9253, www.wakenation.com
OUTDOOR DRAMA
Tecumseh!
Description: This is the 41st season for the outdoor historical drama about the Shawnee leader.
Location: Sugarloaf Mountain Amphitheatre, 5968 Marietta Rd., Chillicothe (Ross County)
Performances: 8 p.m. June 7 to Aug. 31, except Sundays
Admission: $24.95, $22.45 for senior citizens, $17.95 for children 10 and younger
Seating capacity: 1,689
Running time: 2 hours, 45 minutes
Information: 1-866-775-0700, www.tecumsehdrama.com
OUTDOOR MUSIC
Fraze Pavilion
Description: The outdoor amphitheater near Dayton offers 4,300 seats.
Location: 695 Lincoln Park Blvd., Kettering (Montgomery County)
Performances: June 8 (7:30 p.m.): David Sanborn, Bob James; June 15 (7:30 p.m.): Sheryl Crow; June 25 (7:30 p.m.): REO Speedwagon, Styx; June 26 (8 p.m.): the Temptations, the Four Tops; June 27 (8 p.m.): Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone; June 29 (7:30 p.m.): Hank Williams Jr., Gregg Allman; July 5 (7:30 p.m.): Night Ranger, Loverboy; July 11 (8 p.m.): the Guess Who; July 12 (8 p.m.): Men of Soul featuring Jeffrey Osborne, Peabo Bryson; July 19 (8 p.m.): John Waite; July 24 (7:30 p.m.): Steely Dan; July 25 (8 p.m.): Brian Wilson; July 26 (8 p.m.): Alabama; July 28 (7:30 p.m.): Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers, Edie Brickell; Aug. 7 (8 p.m.): Happy Together Tour 2013 featuring the Turtles, Chuck Negron, Gary Puckett and the Union Gap; Aug. 8 (8 p.m.): Sail Rock 2013 featuring Christopher Cross, Orleans, Gary Wright; Aug. 9 (7:30 p.m.): the Official Blues Brothers Revue; Aug. 10 (7 p.m.): BWB, Summer of Soul; Aug. 13 (8 p.m.): Josh Groban; Aug. 18 (7:30 p.m.): the Classic rock n’ Blues Show with the Edgar Winters Band, Canned Heat, Rick Derringer, Pat Travers; Aug. 21 (7:30 p.m.): Toto; Aug. 25 (7:30 p.m.): Tony Bennett; Aug. 30 (7:30 p.m.): KC & the Sunshine Band, Little River Band
Parking: free
Tickets/information: $5 to $125; 937-296-3300, www.fraze.com
Kings Island, Timberwolf Amphitheatre
Description: The 10,000-seat amphitheater is adjacent to the Kings Island theme park.
Location: 6300 Kings Island Dr., Mason (Warren County)
Performances: SpiritSong 2013, June 27: Skillet, Tenth Avenue North, Matthew West, Petra, We As Human; June 28: tobyMac, RED, Newsong, Building 429, the City Harmonic; June 29: Newsboys, Lecrae, Crowder, Thousand Foot Krutch, We Are Leo
Parking: $15 daily
Tickets/information: $49.99 to $89.99, available at www.ticketmaster.com; includes admission to the park and Boomerang Bay; 1-800-288-0808, 513-754-5700, www.visitkingsisland.com
Riverbend Music Center/PNC Pavilion
Description: The 20,500-seat outdoor amphitheater along the Ohio River boasts a 4,100-seat pavilion.
Location: 6295 Kellogg Ave., Cincinnati (Hamilton County)
Performances: Tim McGraw, Brantley Gilbert; June 4 (8 p.m.): the Lumineers, Cold War Kids; June 6 (7 p.m.): Brad Paisley; June 8 (8 p.m.): Cincinnati Pops with Smokey Robinson; June 14 (7 p.m.): Toby Keith, Kip Moore; June 22 (8 p.m.): Cincinnati Pops presents Red, White and Boom; June 26 (7:30 p.m.): the Go-Go’s, the B-52s; June 27 (7 p.m.): LL Cool J, Public Enemy, De La Soul; June 28 (7 p.m.): Kenny Chesney; June 30 (7 p.m.): Matchbox Twenty, Goo Goo Dolls; July 2 (7:30 p.m.): Rush; July 5 (7:30 p.m.): 311, Cypress Hill; July 6: Bob Dylan, My Morning Jacket, Wilco; July 9 (7:30 p.m.): John Mayer, Phillip Phillips; July 12 (7 p.m.): Dave Matthews Band, O.A.R.; July 14 (7 p.m.): Jonas Brothers; July 16 (8 p.m.): Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band; July 18 (7 p.m.): Keith Urban; July 20 (8 p.m.): Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson; July 23 (7 p.m.): Daughtry, 3 Doors Down; July 24 (7 p.m.): Bad Company, Lynyrd Skynyrd; July 27 (7:30 p.m.): Heart; July 30 (noon): Vans Warped Tour; Aug. 4 (7 p.m.): Maroon 5, Kelly Clarkson; Aug. 6 (7 p.m.): Lil’ Wayne, 2 Chainz; Aug. 14 (7 p.m.): Peter Frampton, BB King; Aug. 15 (7:30 p.m.): Jason Aldean, Jake Owen; Aug. 16 (8 p.m.): George Thorogood and the Destroyers; Aug. 20 (8 p.m.): the Goat Sessions featuring Yo-Yo Ma; Aug 28 (8 p.m.): Kid Rock, Uncle Kracker; Sept. 5 (7:30 p.m.): Rascal Flatts
Parking: included with the ticket
Tickets/information: $9 to $189, available at Ticketmaster outlets (1-800-745-3000) or www.ticketmaster.com (call 513-381-3300 or visit www.cincinnatisymphony.org for Pops tickets); 513-232-6220, www.riverbend.org
MUSEUMS
Boonshoft Museum of Discovery
Description: The natural history museum and science center has a planetarium, an observatory and a zoo
Location: 2600 DeWeese Parkway, Dayton (Montgomery County)
Open: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays
Admission: $12, or $10 for senior citizens 60 and older, $9 children 3 to 16, free for 2 and younger; admission includes space theater shows
Parking: free, on-site
Special exhibits: Animation explores how art, math, science and technology are used in the making of animated characters (through Aug. 25); Impact of WWII: Cultural Objects of the Pacific Islands, photographs and artifacts draw comparisons between the lives of Pacific Islanders and soldiers during World War II (through Sept. 2).
Information: 937-275-7431, www.boonshoftmuseum.org
Cincinnati Art Museum
Description: The museum features 75 galleries and more than 60,000 works
Location: 953 Eden Park Dr., Cincinnati (Hamilton County)
Open: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays
Admission: free
Parking: $4; free for members
Special exhibits: Eternal Summer: The Art of Edward Henry Potthast has more than 90 works, mainly of seasides, from the Cincinnati native and American Impressionist (June 8 to Sept. 8)
Information: 513-639-2995, www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org
Cincinnati Museum Center
Description: The center is home to the Cincinnati History Museum, Duke Energy Children’s Museum, the Museum of Natural History & Science, the Robert D. Linder Family Omnimax theater and the Cincinnati Historical Society Library
Location: Union Terminal, 1301 Western Ave., Cincinnati (Hamilton County)
Open: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays
Admission: $12.50, or $11.50 for senior citizens 60 and older, $8.50 for children 3 to 12, $4.50 for children 1 to 2, free for children younger than 1; special exhibits and Omnimax theater extra
Parking: $6; $4 after 4:30 p.m.
Special exhibits: Colorful Beijing: Modern Photographs of an Ancient City captures the culture of Beijing (through June 16); Treasures of the Natural World: Nature Art from the Collection of Cincinnati Museum Center explores an intersection of science and history (through Aug. 18); Ultimate Dinosaurs: Giants of Gondwana offers, in its first U.S. stop, a look at dinosaurs from South America, Africa and Madagascar (June 13 through fall)
Information: 513-287-7000, www.cincymuseum.org
Contemporary Arts Center
Description: The center focuses on painting, sculpture, photography, architecture, performance art and new media
Location: Lois and Richard Rosenthal Center, 44 E. 6th St., Cincinnati (Hamilton County)
Open: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays (free after 5 p.m.), 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays
Admission: $7.50, or $5.50 for senior citizens 60 and older, students and educators with a valid ID; free for children 5 and younger and military members and families with valid I.D.
Parking: nearby garages
Special exhibits: ON! Handcrafted Digital Playgrounds, interactive exhibits fueled by games, drawings and toys (through September); The Living Room, several room vignettes designed by local artists (through Sept. 2); Patti Smith: The Coral Sea, multi-installation show, including audio and projection (through November)
Information: 513-345-8400, www.contemporaryartscenter.org
Dayton Arts Institute
Description: The institute boasts 27,000 pieces in its permanent collection that spans more than 5,000 years
Location: 456 Belmonte Park N., Dayton (Montgomery County)
Open: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays
Admission: $8, or $5 for senior citizens 60 and older, free for students and children; fee for some special exhibits
Parking: on-site and street parking
Special exhibits: Andy Warhol: Athletes, includes 10 silk-screen paintings of notable athletes from 1978 (June 22 to Sept. 1); The Art of Sport: Highlights from the Collection of the Dayton Art Institute, more than 80 sports-related works of art (June 22 to Sept. 1)
Information: 937-223-5277, www.daytonartinstitute.org
Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park
Description: a five-unit park located in and around Dayton including the Wright Cycle Co. Complex
Location: The Wright Cycle Co. building and Wright Dunbar Interpretive Center, 16 S. Williams St.; Dayton History at Carillon Historical Park, 1000 Carillon Blvd.; Paul Laurence Dunbar House, 219 N. Paul Laurence Dunbar St.; Huffman Prairie Flying Field and Interpretive Center, 2380 Memorial Rd., Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (Greene and Montgomery counties) and the Huffman Prairie Flying Field, Gate 16A off Rt. 444, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
Open: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
Admission: free, except for Dayton History at Carillon Park: $8, or $5 for ages 3 to 17, free for age 2 and younger, and the Paul Laurence Dunbar House: $6, or $3 for students 5 to 17, free for age 4 and younger
Parking: on-site
Exhibits: Highlighting the research of Orville and Wilbur Wright; and the home of Paul Laurence Dunbar, an African-American poet, novelist, and playwright of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Information: the Wright Cycle Co. Complex, 937-225-7705; Huffman Prairie Flying Field Interpretive Center, 937-425-0008; Dayton History at Carillon Historical Park, 937-293-2841 (www.daytonhistory.org); www.nps.gov/daav
Fort Ancient
Description: The largest prehistoric hilltop enclosure in the United States, featuring a 9,000-square-foot museum and access to earthworks and hiking trails
Location: 6123 Rt. 350, Oregonia (Warren County)
Open: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays
Admission: $6, or $5 for senior citizens 60 and older and children 6 to 16, free for children 5 and younger
Parking: free, on-site
Information: 513-932-4421 or 1-800-283-8904, www.fortancient.org
National Museum of the United States Air Force
Description: The military aviation-history museum boasts more than 360 aerospace vehicles — many rare and one-of-a-kind — along with thousands of historical items
Location: 1100 Spaatz St., Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, near Dayton (Greene and Montgomery counties)
Open: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
Admission: free
Parking: free
Information: 937-255-3286, www.nationalmuseum.af.mil
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
Description: The center features exhibits that chronicle the route slaves took to freedom — as well as information about the people who helped them along the way.
Location: 50 E. Freedom Way, Cincinnati (Hamilton County)
Open: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, and Sundays from June 2 to Labor Day
Admission: $12, or $10 for senior citizens 60 and older, $8 for children 3 to 12, free for children 2 and younger
Parking: nearby garages
Special exhibits: Stephen Marc: Passage on the Underground Railroad, a decade’s-worth of Underground Railroad photos taken in 20 states and Canada (through Sept. 2)
Information: 1-877-648-4838, 513-333-7500, www.freedomcenter.org
Sunwatch Indian Village/Archaeological Park
Description: A 13th-century American Indian village along the Great Miami River offers a step back in time
Location: 2301 W. River Rd., Dayton (Montgomery County)
Open: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays
Admission: $6, or $4 for senior citizens and children 6 to 16, free for children 5 and younger
Parking: free, on-site
Information: 937-268-8199, www.sunwatch.org
SPORTING EVENTS: BASEBALL
Cincinnati Reds
Description: The oldest professional baseball franchise is showing renewed life.
Location: Great American Ball Park, 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, Cincinnati (Hamilton County)
Home games: June 3-5 vs. Rockies; June 7-9 vs. Cardinals; June 14-16 vs. Brewers; June 17-20 vs. Pirates; July 1-4 vs. Giants; July 5-7 vs. Mariners; July 19-21 vs. Pirates; Aug. 2-4 vs. Cardinals; Aug. 6-7 vs. Athletics; Aug. 9-11 vs. Padres; Aug. 19-22 vs. Diamondbacks; Aug. 23-25 vs. Brewers; Sept. 2-5 vs. Cardinals
Admission: $5 to $255, free for children 3 and younger if sitting on an adult's lap
Parking: nearby lots
Tickets/information: available through Tickets.com, 1-513-381-7337, 1-877-647-7337; at the park; or online; 513-765-7000, www.reds.com
Dayton Dragons
Description: The Cincinnati Reds’ Class A affiliate boasts a beautiful home with top-notch amenities
Location: Fifth Third Field, 220 N. Patterson St., Dayton (Montgomery County)
Home games: May 31-June 3 vs. Lake County; June 11-13 vs. Bowling Green; June 20-22 vs. Lake County; June 23-25 vs. Lansing; July 4-5 vs. Bowling Green; July 6-8 vs. South Bend; July 17-19 vs. Beloit; July 20-22 vs. Wisconsin; July 27-29 vs. Fort Wayne; July 30-31 Bowling Green; Aug. 7-9 vs. Lake County; Aug. 14-16 vs. Great Lakes; Aug. 17-20 vs. West Michigan; Aug. 31-Sept. 2 vs. South Bend
Admission: $7 to $15; 2 and younger free
Parking: nearby lots
Tickets/information: 937-228-2287; www.daytondragons.com
Chillicothe Paints
Description: The summer-league team is a member of the Prospect League, whose college players use wood bats
Location: V.A. Memorial Stadium, 17273 Rt. 104, Chillicothe (Ross County)
Home games: June 1-2 vs. Slippery Rock; June 4-5 vs. Lorain; June 11-12 vs. Butler; June 15-16 vs. Lorain; June 20-21 vs. Butler; June 22-23 vs. Richmond; June 27-28 vs. Lorain; June 29-30 vs. Slippery Rock; July 6-7 vs. West Virginia; July 10-11 vs. West Virginia; July 14-15 vs. Richmond; July 18-19 vs. West Virginia; July 25-26 vs. Slippery Rock; July 27-28 vs. Richmond; July 30-31 vs. Butler
Admission: $6, or $5 for senior citizens and children 12 and younger
Parking: on-site
Tickets/information: 740-773-8326; 740-773-7117, www.chillicothepaints.com
SPORTING EVENTS: PRO FOOTBALL
Cincinnati Bengals
Description: Ohio’s junior NFL member was established by the legendary Paul Brown and began play in 1968
Location: 1 Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati (Hamilton County)
Preseason home games: Aug. 17: vs. Tennessee Titans; Aug. 29: vs. Indianapolis Colts
Admission: starting at $44
Parking: nearby lots
Tickets/information: 1-866-621-8383; 513-621-TDTD (8383); 513-621-3550, www.bengals.com
SPORTING EVENTS: TENNIS
Western & Southern Financial Group Masters & Women's Open
Description: Fans will see stars from both the WTA and the ATP tours playing on adjacent courts
Location: Lindner Family Tennis Center, 5460 Courseview Dr., Mason (Warren County)
Dates: Aug. 10-18
Admission: $10 to $65 for single-session tickets, or $5 to $15 for children 12 and younger
Parking: free
Tickets/information: available through Ticketmaster, 1-800-745-3000, and online; 513-651-0303, www.cincytennis.com
ZOO
Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden
Description: The second-oldest zoo in the country has more than 500 animals and 3,000 plant species; it is internationally known for its research and conservation efforts
Location: 3400 Vine St., Cincinnati (Hamilton County)
Big attractions: Africa, opening June 29, will offer an open-air view of lions and cheetahs and the opportunity to enter a gazebo-style feeding treehouse that reaches out to the giraffe yard.
Open: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, until 6 p.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day
Admission: $15, or $10 for children 2 to 12 and senior citizens 62 and older, free for children younger than 2
Parking: $8
Information: 513-281-4700, www.cincinnatizoo.org
Contributors: Vicki Elliston, Michael Grossberg, Susan Grote, Kevin Joy and Sarah Pfledderer