Culture
Southwest Ohio Offers Affordable Family Fun
< < Back toBy Alexis Larsen
For The Dayton Daily News
Southwestern Ohio offers a wealth of options for affordable summer escapades made for family fun.
The area is home to one of the state’s biggest theme parks, a major-league baseball team that plays alongside the banks of the Ohio River, a zoo with perhaps America’s most beloved baby hippo and museums that celebrate the region’s historical contributions, including flight.
Here are 10 of the many family-oriented attractions that are worth a daytrip or more this summer:
National Museum of the United States Air Force
1100 Spaatz St., Dayton, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (Montgomery and Greene counties)
The world’s oldest and largest military aviation museum recently underwent a major expansion, adding more than 70 aircraft in four new galleries.
In addition to the exhibitions that have helped make museum one of the 10 most-visited attractions in the state, visitors can now board a space shuttle, walk through four presidential aircraft, step inside cargo planes and enjoy new STEM educational opportunities.
A new suite of simulator rides, some of the first in North America, provides an exclusive space-voyage experience.
Admission and parking: free; flight simulators and museum theater tickets are an additional charge
Information: 937-255-3286 or www.nationalmuseum.af.mil
Kings Island
6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason (Warren County)
Forty-five years ago, the park’s iconic Eiffel Tower, the Racer roller coaster, the Woodstock Express roller coaster for children and the Kings Island and Miami Valley Railroad made their debuts. Joining the lineup this year is Mystic Timbers — the park’s 16th roller coaster and fourth wooden roller coaster.
Among the many attractions: Banshee, a thrill-inducing roller coaster; and the award-winning Planet Snoopy area for children.
Admission also includes Soak City, a 33-acre water park. Soak City boasts more changing rooms, spray misters, shade structures and deck space, helping to double the number of chaise lounge chairs.
Admission: starting at $42 (children under 48 inches tall) to $67; consider a combo ticket for Kings Island and Cedar Point in Sandusky for use in 2017 for $68; parking: $15
Information: 513-754-5700, www.visitkingsisland.com
Coney Island
6201 Kellogg Ave., Cincinnati (Hamilton County)
For 130 years, Coney Island has been a destination in southwestern Ohio. This year, the park has made updates with a new bath house, a tiki bar and more at its Sunlite Water Adventure.
Coney Island also offers rides and miniature golf, is home to the largest hydro-storm (that drenches patrons with 1,300 gallons of water from a 33-foot tower) and recirculating swimming pool in the world.
Admission, including rides and water-park access: $12.95 (children ages 2 to 7) to $21.95; parking: $9
Information: 513-232-8230, coneyislandpark.com
The Beach
2590 Water Park Drive, Mason (Warren County)
Situated on 35 wooded acres, this family-friendly destination offers a packed calendar of events this summer, including Reggae Sundays with live music to create an island vibe, the world’s largest swimming lesson at 2 p.m. June 22 (in hopes of breaking a world record), plus everyday thrills and chills.
Top attractions include Riptide Racer (a multi-person slide), the Cliff (with a five-story drop), the Banzai Blast (side-by-side racing slides), a heated wave pool, a zip line and a lazy river.
Admission: $19.99 to $28.99, free for children 3 and younger with paying adult; parking: $8
Information: 513-398-7946 or thebeachwaterpark.com
Cincinnati Museum Center
1301 Western Ave., Cincinnati (Hamilton County)
A massive renovation of Union Terminal, which houses the museum center, has forced the closure the Cincinnati History Museum, the Museum of Natural History and Science and the Omnimax Theatre until fall 2018. But the Duke Energy Children’s Museum remains open, and the big, new happening this summer is a special exhibition of costumes from “a galaxy far, far away.”
“Star Wars and the Power of Costume,” a Smithsonian traveling exhibit, will bring more than 60 of the costumes featured in the “Star Wars” films to the museum, including the robes of Jedi masters Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker; the dark outfit that Darth Vader is so well-known for; the yak-and-mohair costume of Chewbacca; and many more.
Admission for “Star Wars” exhibit: $16 (children ages 3 to 12) to $24; Duke Energy Children’s Museum (which includes interactive play): $5.50 to $10.50; combo tickets available; parking: $6
Information: 513-287-7000, cincymuseum.org
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
3400 Vine St., Cincinnati (Hamilton County)
In case you hadn’t heard, the zoo has a new superstar: Fiona.
Fiona, a hippo born prematurely at the end of January, has become an internet and social-media darling. She is too young to be seen by visitors right now, but zoo officials will announce when she is ready to go outside.
In addition to catching a glimpse of the zoo’s most-popular new resident, other zoo babies may be seen, including an okapi, a takin, three Malayan tiger cubs, 11 painted dogs, two giraffes and a three-banded armadillo.
Admission: $13 to $19; parking: $10
Information: 513-281-4700, cincinnatizoo.org
Great American Ball Park
100 Joe Nuxhall Way, Cincinnati (Hamilton County)
Located on the banks Ohio River, within walking distance of other downtown Cincinnati attractions, is the home of the Cincinnati Reds — baseball’s first professional franchise.
Nothing says summer like taking in a baseball game, so why not treat your family to a day at the ballpark?
Upcoming Reds’ home series include June 2-4 vs. the Atlanta Braves; June 30 through July 2 vs. the Chicago Cubs; and July 14-17 vs. the Washington Nationals (check website for complete schedule).
Admission: $5 to $255, free for children 3 and younger if sitting on an adult’s lap; parking: $10 to $20
Information: 513-381-7337 or cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/cin/ballpark
Sawyer Point and Yeatman’s Cove
705 E. Pete Rose Way, Cincinnati (Hamilton County)
This pair of side-by-side parks offer great views of the Ohio River plus gorgeous landscaping, a performance pavilion, concessions, a world-class playground, spraygrounds and more.
The parks also host great events during the summer, including one of Ohio’s largest outdoor music festivals — Bunbury.
The Bunbury Music Festival, bound to appeal to music lovers of all ages, will take place June 2-4, and will include Wiz Khalifa, the Shins and Death Cab for Cutie on June 2; Tech N9ne, Hayley Kiyoko and Bassnectar on June 3; Muse, the 1975 and Thirty Seconds to Mars on June 4.
Admission: $79 and $89 for single-day pass; $189 for 3-day packages and $399 and up for 3-day VIP packages; parking: $10 to $20
Information: www.bunburyfestival.com
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Westcott House
1340 E. High St., Springfield (Clark County)
Budding architects will likely be inspired by a visit to Springfield’s meticulously preserved Westcott House — one of only 11 Frank Lloyd Wright homes in Ohio and among about 260 in the world. This is a great destination for anyone who enjoys unique homes.
The Westcott complex consists of the main house, a garage, a pergola and a perennial gardens.
While in the area, stop by the Hartman Rock Garden just a few miles away at 1905 Russell Ave. to see some unique rock artwork, including meticulously crafted replicas of the White House, Independence Hall and other well-known national landmarks that were crafted out of small stones by H.G. “Ben” Hartman during the Great Depression (admission is free).
Admission: $12 to $15, includes a 1-hour docent-guided tour; parking: free
Information: 937-327-9291, westcotthouse.org
Wake Nation
201 Joe Nuxhall Way, Fairfield (Butler County)
Adventure-seekers won’t want to miss Wake Nation, the only cable wake-boarding park in the Midwest.
The 10-acre lake is a great place to learn how to wake board, water ski, knee board and wake skate. All skill levels are welcome.
For added fun, check out the Aqua Glide water park (part of the Wake Nation complex), which offers trampolines, slides and inflatables.
Admission: wake-boarding passes start at $30, plus equipment rental fees; Aqua Glide passes start at $10; call or visit website for more information; parking: free
Information: 513-887-9253, www.wakenation.com
Southwest Ohio: Other attractions
A sampling of additional seasonal activities, compiled by Alexis Larsen For The Dayton Daily News.
THEME AND WATER PARKS
GREAT WOLF LODGE
* Description: Combine overnight hotel accommodations with a weatherproof water park this summer at Great Wolf Lodge. Save up to 50 percent when you book early. You must reserve at least 60 days in advance to take advantage of the offer that’s the best way to save on a room or a suite. The water park boasts a plethora of slides, raft rides and swimming areas.
* Location: 2501 Great Wolf Drive, Mason (Warren County)
* Open: daily, year-round
* Admission: must be an overnight guest; rooms and suites available
* Parking: free
* Information/reservations: 513-459-8885, 1-800-913-9653, www.greatwolf.com/mason/waterpark
OUTDOOR MUSIC
FRAZE PAVILION
* Description: The outdoor amphitheater near Dayton features 4,300 seats.
* Location: 695 Lincoln Park Blvd., Kettering (Montgomery County)
Performances include: George Benson and Kenny G (June 1); Joan Baez, Mary Chapin Carpenter and the Indigo Girls’ Amy Ray and Emily Saliers (June 8); the Menus (June 16); Paul Shaffer and the World’s Most Dangerous Band (June 23); Diana Krall (June 25); the Moody Blues (July 1); Boz Scaggs and Michael McDonald (July 12); Jefferson Starship (July 14); Elvis Costello and the Imposters (July 18); Dennis DeYoung: the Music of Styx and Blue Oyster Cult (July 21);Idina Menzel (Aug. 5); Happy Together Tour 2017 starring the Turtles featuring Flo and Eddie, Chuck Negron, the Association, the Cowsills, the Box Tops and the Archies (Aug. 10); Dave Koz and Larry Graham (Aug. 12); Joe Bonamassa (Aug. 18); Casting Crowns (Aug. 19); check website for complete schedule
* Parking: free
* Tickets/information: prices vary; 937-296-3300, www.fraze.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 at PNC Pavilion include: ZZ Top (June 7); Paul Simon (June 10); Don Henley (June 15); My Morning Jacket (June 22); Jason Isbell (July 1); Megadeth (July 2); Trace Adkins (July 6); Willie Nelson and family with Dawes (July 12); Tedeschi Trucks Band (July 21); Amos Lee (July 25); Kidz Bop (July 28); Pentatonix (Aug. 6); Chick Corea Elektric Band and Bela Fleck and the Flecktones (Aug. 13); Gov’t Mule and Blackberry Smoke, Aug. 24; check website for a complete schedule
* Performances at Riverbend Music Center include: Luke Bryan (June 1); Lynyrd Skynyrd (June 2); Chris Stapleton (June 16); Lady Antebellum (June 25); Train, O.A.R. (June 27); Jimmy Buffett (July 8); Sam Hunt (July 9); Chicago (July 15); Vans Warped Tour featuring CKY, Sick of It All, the Adolescents, Strung Out, Anti-Flag and Hatebreed (July 19); Jason Aldean (July 22); Incubus with Jimmy Eat World (July 27); Korn (Aug. 1); Rod Stewart, Cyndi Lauper (Aug. 4); Foreigner, Cheap Trick (Aug. 8); Nickleback (Aug. 9); Brad Paisley (Aug. 10); Kings of Leon (Aug. 11); Green Day (Aug. 20); John Mayer (Aug. 26) check website for complete schedule
* Parking: included with the ticket
* Tickets/information: prices vary; available at Ticketmaster (1-800-745-3000) or www.ticketmaster.com; 513-232-5882, www.riverbend.org
ROSE MUSIC CENTER AT THE HEIGHTS
* Description: A new, covered, 4,200-seat seasonal venue is set for its third concert season.
* Location: 6800 Executive Blvd., Huber Heights (Montgomery County)
* Performances include: Lynyrd Skynyrd (June 3); Sammy Hagar (June 5); John Legend (June 12); Vince Gill (June 20); Gary Allan and Walker McGuire (June 23); the O’Jays and the Ohio Players (June 28); the Temptations and the Four Tops (June 30); Jason Isbell (July 2); Boston, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (July 8); Willie Nelson and family with Dawes (July 11); Rob Zombie (July 12); Huey Lewis and the News (July 21); Tedeschi Trucks Band (July 22); the Beach Boys (July 28); Goo Goo Dolls (Aug. 2); Replay America, the Ultimate ’80s festival featuring Billy Ocean, Starship, the Motels and Naked Eyes (Aug. 6); Air Supply (Aug. 12); check website for complete schedule
* Parking: included with the ticket
* Tickets/information: prices vary; (1-800-745-3000), www.ticketmaster.com; 937-610-0288, www.rosemusiccenter.com
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: $11.50 to $14.50, free for children 3 and younger
* Parking: free, on-site
* Special exhibition: “Dinos to Dodos: An Expedition,” visitors can explore millions of years of the Earth’s history. The exhibit also features a T-Rex skull and an Apatosaurus leg bone (through Aug. 20)
* 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 Drive, Cincinnati (Hamilton County)
* Open: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays with extended hours until 8 p.m. on Thursdays
* Admission: free, special exhibition admission is $5 to $10, free for children 5 and younger; free from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursdays
* Parking: free
* Special exhibitions: “Tiffany Glass: Painting with Color and Light,” painter Louis C. Tiffany was captivated by the interplay of color; this exhibit explores the iconic windows and lamps of Tiffany Studio artists including chemist Arthur Nash and designers Agnes Northrop, Frederick Wilson and Clara Driscoll (through Aug. 13)
* Information: 513-639-2995, www.cincinnatiartmuseum.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 4 p.m. Saturdays through Mondays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays, closed Tuesdays
* Admission: free
* Parking: nearby garages and metered parking
* Special exhibitions: “Noel Anderson: Blak Origin Moment,” Anderson, known for his investigations of black identity through textiles, presents the essence of being black through images, sound, and objects (through June 18) and “Andrea Bowers: Womxn Workers of the World Unite!,” in which Bowers draws upon her personal collection of political graphics depicting powerful, radical women spanning the late 19th century to the present (through June 18); “Ugo Rondinone,” in which the artists’s color-spectrum series that joins his art and the gallery architecture into an all-encompassing experience (through Aug. 20)
* Information: 513-345-8400, www.contemporaryartscenter.org
THE DAYTON ART INSTITUTE
* Description: The museum’s encyclopedic collection of 27,000 works spans 5,000 years of art history, including important Oceanic art, Asian art, European art and American fine and decorative art collections.
* Location: 456 Belmonte Park N., Dayton (Montgomery County)
* Open: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays, until 8 p.m. on Thursdays
* Admission: $5 to $8, free for students and children; there is an additional fee for some special exhibitions
* Parking: on-site and on-street parking
* Special exhibitions: “Ubuhle Women: Beadwork and the Art of Independence,” featuring a new form of bead art, the ndwango (“cloth”), developed by a community of women living and working together in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (June 24-Sept. 10)
* Information: 937-223-4278, www.daytonartinstitute.org
DAYTON AVIATION HERITAGE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK
* Description: A five-unit park located in and around Dayton that focuses on the history of flight and the Dayton area, including the Wright Cycle Co. building and Wright Dunbar Visitor Center, 16 S. Williams St. (learn more about the Wright Brothers’ early careers as printers and as bicycle manufacturers long before their historic first flight); Huffman Prairie Flying Field and Interpretive Center, 2380 Memorial Road — corner of Rt. 444 and Kaufman Road — (where the Wright Brothers worked, after their historical flight in North Carolina, to learn how to control and maneuver their powered machine and how to fly. It was also the site of the Wrights’ flying school where many of the world’s first pilots learned how to fly); Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, see regional story for more information; Carillon Historical Park and Hawthorn Hill, 1000 Carillon Blvd. (home of the 1905 Wright Flyer III, the world’s first practical airplane); Paul Laurence Dunbar House, 219 N. Paul Laurence Dunbar St. (home of the famous poet who contributed to the Wright Brothers’ publications).
* Open: hours vary by location; visit the website for more information
* Admission: varies by location; visit the website for more information
* Parking: on-site; shuttle available at Carillon Park for Hawthorn Hill
* Information: the Wright Cycle Co. Complex, 937-225-7705; Huffman Prairie Flying Field Interpretive Center, 937-425-0008; Carillon Historical Park, 937-293-2841, www.daytonhistory.org; www.nps.gov/daav
FORT ANCIENT
* Description: Take a step back in time at the largest prehistoric hilltop enclosure in the United States. The site boasts 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 to $7, free for children 6 and younger
* Parking: free, on-site
* Information: 513-932-4421 or 1-800-283-8904, www.fortancient.org
NATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD FREEDOM CENTER
* Description: Since its opening in 2004, the mission of the center has been to chronicle the stories of slaves — and the route they took to freedom — as well as 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
* Admission: $10.50 to $15 free for children 3 and younger
* Parking: nearby garages, surface lots and street parking
* Special exhibition: “Mandela: The Journey to Ubuntu,” celebrating the life and legacy of former South African President Nelson Mandela through photographs by Matthew Willman (through Aug. 20), $5 additional fee
* Information: 1-877-648-4838, 513-333-7739, www.freedomcenter.org
SUNWATCH INDIAN VILLAGE / ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK
* Description: A 13th-century American Indian village along the Great Miami River. Visitors can learn about the history of the village and its inhabitants and then explore outdoors.
* Location: 2301 W. River Road, Dayton (Montgomery County)
* Open: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays
* Admission: $6 or $7, free for children 5 and younger
* Special events: “29th Annual Keeping the Tradition Pow Wow” — a special time to reflect upon the heritage of American Indians (June 24-25, additional fee)
* Parking: free, on-site
* Information: 937-268-8199, www.sunwatch.org
SPORTING EVENTS
Baseball
DAYTON DRAGONS
* Description: The Class A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds plays at Fifth Third Field, which has many amenities including each seat with its own cupholder and a seven-story-tall scoreboard.
* Location: Fifth Third Field, 220 N. Patterson Blvd., Dayton (Montgomery County)
* Upcoming home series include: June 2-4 vs. Fort Wayne; June 13-15 vs. Great Lakes; June 22-25 vs. Lake County; June 30-July 3 vs. Fort Wayne; July 7-10 vs. South Bend; July 22-24 vs. Burlington; Aug. 2-4 vs. Great Lakes; Aug. 22-24 vs. Bowling Green; check website for a complete schedule
* Admission: $9 to $17; free for age 2 and younger
* Parking: nearby lots
* Tickets/information: 937-228-2287; www.daytondragons.com
Pro football
CINCINNATI BENGALS
* Description: The NFL team, established by the legendary Paul Brown, hopes to return to the playoffs after struggling to a 6-9-1 record last season, when several key players suffered injuries.
* Location: 1 Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati (Hamilton County)
* Preseason home games: Aug. 11 vs. Tampa Bay and Aug. 19 vs. Kansas City
* Admission: varies, see website for details
* Parking: nearby lots
* Tickets/information: 1-866-621-8383; 513-621-8383; 513-621-3550, www.bengals.com
Tennis
WESTERN & SOUTHERN FINANCIAL GROUP MASTERS & WOMEN’S OPEN
* Description: This hardcourt tournament near Kings Island amusement park helps players prepare for the U.S. Open. It attracts most of the top-ranked men and women in the world.
* Location: Lindner Family Tennis Center, 5460 Courseview Drive, Mason (Warren County)
* Dates: Aug. 12-20
* Admission: $10 to $90 for terrace series single-session tickets for Saturday and Sunday; loge pavilion tickets sold out; all prices subject to demand-based fluctuations
* Parking: free
* Tickets/information: available through Ticketmaster (1-800-745-3000), and online; 513-651-0303, www.cincytennis.com
Horse Racing
BELTERRA PARK GAMING & ENTERTAINMENT
* Description: Thoroughbred racing takes place on a 1-mile dirt track Thursdays through Sundays, including stakes races such as the Best of Ohio series and the Queen City Oaks.
* Location: 6301 Kellogg Road, Cincinnati (Hamilton County)
* Season: Thursdays through Sundays through Oct. 8 (post time 1:20 p.m.)
* Admission: free
* Parking: free
* Information: 513-232-8000, www.belterrapark.com