Sometimes during the cold winter months, nothing beats spending the day inside wrapped in a blanket with a good book or your favorite show. But if your family is ready to get out of the house, there’s an ample amount of places to visit and fun to be had! Whether you’re looking for an outdoor activity or a holiday-centered event, this list gathers together the top winter experiences the whole family will enjoy in and around Cincinnati.
PNC Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Enjoy the beauty of the animals and the wonder of the holiday season with the 41st annual PNC Festival of Lights! Every year, the zoo transforms into a “Wild Wonderland” that is covered in more than 4 million LED lights. Visitors can also enjoy a North Polar Express train ride, see Santa, watch a synchronized musical light show, and so much more! You can even ring in the New Year with a child-friendly (early) countdown.
Attend a Hockey Game
A great experience for families is attending a Cincinnati Cyclones game. The mid-level professional hockey team plays in Heritage Bank Center between late October and early April. Nearly every home game has a theme night with giveaways. Check out the schedule for ticket prices and see when the team plays next!
Go Snowboarding, Skiing, or Tubing at Perfect North Slopes
Bundle up and hit the slopes with your family for a day or the whole weekend! Perfect North Slopes is only a 30-minute drive outside of Cincinnati and offers tons of fun no matter your skill level. Check out their site for hours and pricing.
Visit the Cincinnati Observatory
The historic 19th-century observatory is a magical place to spend time with your family. Known as the birthplace of American astronomy, the observatory houses one of the oldest working telescopes in the world! You can still look through the 1845 telescope as well as a telescope acquired in 1904.
Light in the Forest at the Cincinnati Nature Center
The Cincinnati Nature Center is a beautiful spot to visit any time of the year. During winter, the Light in the Forest walking tour draws nature lovers out to enjoy the winter sights and sounds. Tickets go on sale in November. You can find more information about tickets and the mile-long illuminated trail by visiting the Cincinnati Nature Center’s website.
Go Ice Skating at Fountain Square
Another fun winter activity is ice skating at Fountain Square’s ice rink! Each year, a rink is set up in the square and opens to the public from November through early February. Admission is $10 per person and includes skate rentals. Check out their site for more details.
Christmas at the Junction
When the weather outside is frightful, spend the day admiring the world’s largest indoor train display and visiting Santa and Mrs. Clause at EnterTRAINment Junction. Explore the hundreds of trains bustling around hand-crafted cities, towns, factories, and forests (all at eye level for perfect viewing). There are interactive displays and play areas to explore, a funhouse, and much more. EnterTRAINment Junction is open seven days a week and even has special extended hours on select days throughout the month of December.
WinterFest at Kings Island
From late November to the end of December, Kings Island transforms into a winter wonderland. Voted as one of the top theme park holiday events in the country, WinterFest features a nightly parade, ice skating, millions of lights, and the Eiffel Tower is turned into a giant Christmas tree. It’s definitely a winter activity that will get your family in the holiday spirit! Find the latest ticket information and read more about WinterFest here.
The Gardner School Encourages Learning All Year
The Gardner School of Blue Ash and The Gardner School of Cincinnati provide families with a community of caring teachers and staff who understand the importance of building a solid foundation for each child’s learning experience. To learn more about our Cincinnati preschools, contact us to set up a tour.