CMB’s Summer Bucket List! {With Printable}

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bucketlist

Summer in Cincinnati is truly something special!  One of our favorite summer hang-outs just happens to also be our title sponsor for this post: Washington Park!  If you haven’t discovered Washington Park since its 2012 redesign, you are missing out!  There is a state-of-the-art interactive water park that includes 130 pop-up jets, steps with cascading water and a large boulder with water flowing over the sides.  The playground is an 18,000 square foot, fenced in area that includes a play castle, climbing wall, sandbox, dual slides, a canal boat in a stream, and musical instruments. During scheduled hours, there are “play ambassadors” that ensure cleanliness and safety for all visitors!  Other features of the park include a dog park, bandstand, civic lawn, and a full parking garage underneath.  This summer, there many activities that you can enjoy, and most of them are free.  Bedknobs, Broomsticks, and Baristas is a weekly program on Tuesdays that offers crafts for the littles and coffee for the adults.  Thursdays boast bluegrass concerts on the bandstand (and you can purchase beer and BBQ!).  Curiosity Saturdays offers a wide-range of engaging, kid-friendly activities that the whole family is sure to love.

Picture from www.washingtonpark.org
Picture from www.washingtonpark.org

Washing Park also hosts many special events at the park, including our very own CMB End of Summer Bash/1st Birthday Party on August 22! (More details coming soon!) Check out their full Calendar of Events for more information on all the fun to be had at Washington Park this summer!

In addition to all of the excitement to be had at Washington Park, our team has hand-picked our favorite summer traditions in Cincinnati for this bucket list!  Without further adieu, we give you the CMB Summer Bucket List!

CMB Summer Bucket List2
To print or save, right click!

1. Beech Acres Free Movie Nights, June 5 & August 7
Bring your blanket or lawn chair, and join your friends, neighbors and family for relaxing evenings of FREE movies! The great thing about Beech Acres is the awesome playground and green space for play, so you can get there early and let the kids run off their energy before the movie. Bring your own snacks or purchase them at the park concession stand.

2. Slide the City, June 20, 12-5p
1000 feet of slick vinyl will line the streets of downtown Cincinnati. That’s over 3 football fields! Participants can purchase different slide packages, from a one-time slide to unlimited turns on an inner tube. Even if you don’t slide, it sounds like a fun party to us!

3. Coney Island Balloon Glow, July 3
Live music, family entertainment and Coney’s Classic Rides make for a fun-filled evening. Later, the evening sky illuminates when hot air balloons of every color “glow” for all to see. The grand finale for the event is a spectacular Rozzi’s Famous Fireworks display over the banks of Lake Como. There is no charge (other than parking) to view the balloons and fireworks. Normal rates apply for Sunlite Pool and Coney’s Classic Rides.

4. Crazy Cardboard Boat Regatta, July 18, 11a-3p
Cardboard + people + water…add it all up to make the Crazy Cardboard Regatta. Join the fun from 11 AM to 3 PM at Voice of America MetroParks. There will be vendors, entertainment, activities, and more!

5. The Root Beer Stand
This great little Cincinnati gem opened as an A&W Root Beer stand in 1957. It is a family operation that has been ranked the best root beer in town by Cincinnati Magazine. There is a small indoor seating area and outdoor picnic tables with a small play area for the kids.

6. Smale Riverfront Park
This is going to be one of the hottest places to be this summer! There are family-sized porch swings, a labyrinth, water features, bike path and walkways, and many restaurants and cafes. But the big draw this summer is that the carousel, playgrounds, more fountains and gardens are opening!

7. The Cone
The Cone has received many “Best of” honors, including Cincinnati’s Best Soft Serve! All natural flavors and ingredients (plus extra cream in the ice cream) and a very kid-friendly atmosphere makes this ice cream shop a must-see! Bring lots of quarters for the kiddie rides!

8. Pedal Boats at Winton Woods
Four- and five-seat pedal boats are a great way to get the whole family involved in a fun summer activity! Hourly rates ensure fun for as long as you can handle it! You can also rent rowboats, motorboats, pontoon boats, canoes, kayaks, and bikes at the Winton Woods Boathouse.

9. Findlay Market
Summertime is the hot time to be at Findlay Market! Support local merchants, have unique experiences, and enjoy fun for all ages! Check the website for events, like the German market on June 6!

10. Blooms & Berries Farm Market
You can pick your own strawberries at Blooms & Berries! The picking season begins in mid-to-late May and usually lasts through mid-June. The fields are kid-friendly, and you can bring your own containers or purchase them at the farm. Be sure to check the website before your visit to determine picking times as picking varies day to day based on availability and weather.

11. Holiday Auto Theatre
The Holiday Auto Theatre is a drive-in that opened in 1948 as the Hamilton Outdoor Theatre. The name was changed in 1951 to Holiday Auto Theatre. This drive-in has a capacity for 600+ cars. It is open all year, but the summer is the perfect time to go! They have triple features on the weekend (yes, that’s THREE new release movies!), a snack bar, and a children’s play area.  (Click here to see our Mom’s Guide to the Drive-In!)

12. Loveland Castle
You can visit Loveland Castle all year, but it is open every day in the summer! Not only can you explore the castle, but there are gardens to have medieval adventures in and perfect views of the river for picnicking. Their special event, “Castle Days,” will be held June 18, July 18, and August 15.

13. Eli’s BBQ
Yep, the food is amazing. But the reason you need to check out Eli’s this summer is because of the big, summer barbeque party always going on outside! There are rows upon rows of picnic tables and lots of room for the kids to roam and play. You can bring board games, bubbles, Frisbees, etc. and the place is B.Y.O.B. It is a great place to get together with friends, or meet some new ones! (Prepare for long waits for food during busy weekends…that’s what the board games are for!)

14. Newport Ride the Ducks
Even if you’ve lived in Cincinnati forever, you have to try this sight-seeing experience! You’re sure to learn something new about this great city as you travel on land and water in one amazing vehicle. It is designed for the whole family as the crew entertains with stores, jokes, and music.

15. Holtman’s Donut Shop
Homemade donuts.  Family-owned.  Need we say more?


Should you choose to accept your mission of completing our list, tag us on Instagram (@cincymomsblog) and use the hashtag #cmbbucketlist to share your photos with us!  We look forward to seeing your adventures!

 

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