********************************************************************************************************************************
Amusement Parks
Coney Island - www.coneyislandpark.com 6201 Kellogg Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45228 (513-232-8230). You've got to love Coney Island for its charm and picturesque setting along the Ohio River. This is a great old-style amusement park that is perfect for all ages. It's a more intimate park but it still has plenty of thrills. They have 20 classic kiddie rides and my girls had a ball the last time we were there. They also have great picnic areas and shelters and some fun playgrounds that your kids will enjoy. If you want some fun in the sun, you can head to Sunlite Pool. You can either pay for a rides/pool admission or do a separate admission for each. Enjoy their newest water slide, The Twister! They also have season passes. It's a bit of a drive for us, so we usually only head down twice a summer but it is well worth the drive once we get there!
Kings Island - www.visitkingsisland.com. Kings Island Dr, Mason, OH 45040. What summer is complete without a visit to Kings Island? My youngest, refers to it as "my Kings Island" any time we drive by it. Since we get the season pass each year, we take advantage of all the great rides, shows and attractions that the park has to offer without feeling like we have to rush to see it all. We may head over for an hour or two to enjoy the rides or catch a show. I always try to plan for my husband and I to get there for the two of us to go crazy and ride the rides but we never seem to do it - this year it's going to be my goal. Maybe we'll even try out Diamondback, the new roller coaster that is going to debut this summer. Another great thing about having a season's pass is that we can also get into the waterpark.....This spring, KI's kid's area will be converted to Peanuts themed rides and Planet Snoopy will make it's debut - see my article on Family Friendly Cincinnati!
MasonMetu Tip: I'd also recommend getting a wrist band from customer service and you can write down your contact information just in case you get separated. Don't forget snacks, drinks & sunscreen!
******************************************************************************************************************************** Water Parks
Coco Key - www.cocokeywaterresort.com. 11320 Chester Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45246 (513) 552-6255. We haven't been to Coco Key yet but it looks like a lot of fun. They are an indoor waterpark with plenty of fun water rides. The nice thing about Coco Key is that you don't have to be a hotel guest to go. You can either buy a day pass or a season pass if you're real waterpark enthusiast.
The Beach Waterpark - www.thebeachwaterpark.com. 2590 Water Park Dr. Mason, OH 45040 (513) 398-7946. It's hard to believe but we actually have 3 waterparks within 5 minutes of each other (Boomerang Bay, Great Wolf Lodge & the Beach).....Wowza. We haven't been to the Beach recently but I do remember having a great time when we did go. It's the largest stand-alone waterpark in Ohio and has plenty of thrills to go with it. They do have an awesome wave pool and they actually have real sand to get you in the mood! Check out their website for seaon pass specials. Remember the hot days of summer will be here before we know it and what better place to cool off then at The Beach!
Wake Nation - www.wakenation.com
- Get ready to have some fun wakeboarding, water skiiing and
kneeboarding - all without using a boat. They've added a practice pond this year to help the younger kiddos (ages 5 and up) get their sea legs. 201 Joe Nuxhall Way, Fairfield,
Ohio. Call (513) 887-WAKE for more information.
|
||||||||||
I can't have a kid-friendly "things to do" site without mentioning the amazing amusement parks and water parks that we have within the Cincinnati area. From Mason to the banks of the Ohio River, we've got it all. We really do have a tourism mecca in this area. 
