We were hosted by the Cincinnati USA Regional Tourism Network. All opinions are my own.
We took our first trip to Cincinnati {post-babies} last week and it was an absolute BLAST! It is so fun to explore somewhere we love through the eyes of the girls.
Before I share a bit more about our trip, I am going to answer the question I get quite frequently! “How do you take the girls out so often?!” My biggest tip is just be prepared and know your surroundings. I always research the place that I am going, whether it is the Zoo or in this case, Cincinnati . always get the details. Where it is located? Are there bathrooms? Are there nursing rooms? Are there outlets? What is the layout? What do I need to bring? How long can I be there? Etc. If it is your first time out, choose somewhere you’re comfortable with. A place you’re familiar with, that if things started getting a tad crazy – you would be so aware of your surroundings and where to go/what to do, that it won’t phase you. It will give you confidence to get out again.
This mindset is how we knew we wanted Cincinnati to be our first official road trip/hotel stay with the girls. We’ve been to Cincinnati a few times and Stephen spent some time in his undergrad years down here. Even though Cincinnati is drastically different than it was when he was there, he still feels confident in the city – as do I. Plus, we had Visit Cincinnati guiding us along the way.
I have SO MUCH to share from our trip, but not to overwhelm you (and me) – I am going to share how we had the PERFECT Sunday Funday. Next post, I will share where we stayed, where ate and what other fun things we did!
We started our day at Newport Aquarium.
We had been once before, but like I said – it was a much different visit with the girls. This was at the top of my list to visit because the girls love the aquarium at the Columbus Zoo. They are becoming very aware of their surroundings and I just had a feeling they would be mesmerized. Spoiler alert: They absolutely LOVED IT.
Newport Aquarium showcases thousands of animals from around the world in a million gallons of water- You’ll be amazed at all there is to see and do, including fun and interactive activities, like touching a shark or meeting a penguin.
I think Newport is the perfect adventure for ALL ages. You can spend as much time or as little time as you would like there. There is SO MUCH TO DO. You can play with penguins, touch sharks, walk inches above sharks and see animals and fish being fed, explore the most interactive seahorse exhibit in the country, play in the playground area, listen to a conservation chat and MORE.
I think we probably spent an hour and a half exploring, but you could spend much longer with older kids. We visited on a Sunday, during a Reds game and we didn’t feeling like it was too busy. We were able to easily get through with our Zoe stroller. Some spaces were a bit tight – but, overall, VERY stroller friendly throughout the entire building. However, I did read on their website (after we visited) that while strollers are permitted, they recommend visiting the aquarium without one. (Not possible with triplets) Instead, they do offer FREE child carriers that can be borrowed from Guest Services. How awesome is that!?!
After leaving Newport, we knew it was time for lunch – we were starving and the babies were getting there. The aquarium does have a cafeteria and just outside, you will find plenty of food options (Tom & Chee, Brothers, Coldstone, Brio) – but, we had our heart set on a place called Revolution Rotisserie.
Photo Credit: cincyusa.com
This is where the planning ahead and knowing your surroundings comes into play. We knew after the girls spent the morning at Newport — we weren’t going to try our luck that they would sit though lunch in their stroller. Instead of setting ourselves up for chaos — we checked to see if they had carryout before, which they did! As we were leaving, I called ahead and ordered our food. Oh, and lucky for us, just across the street, there is a place called Washington Park. We had already decided we would head over there with a blanket to eat our lunch and let the girls stretch their legs before our trip back home.
Revolution Rotisserie serves one of my favorite types of food – elevated comfort food.
Revolution Rotisserie is a lively neighborhood gastropub that is sure to satisfy your appetite for elevated comfort food. In addition to serving up the best rotisserie chicken in the world, our unique signature “Chitas” (chicken pita sandwiches) and handcrafted pies for dessert certainly create a memorable dining experience. Making food this good is a labor of love. At our restaurants, our goal is to cook our hearts out for you as if you were our family. Starting off with only the freshest ingredients lays the foundation for everything else to fall into place. Unlike a lot of comfort food out there, our flavors are bright, distinctive, and balanced throughout every dish on the menu.
Fun Fact: Stephen remembers seeing them at a market when we were down in Cincinnati one time, however, he isn’t (well, wasn’t) a fan of rotisserie chicken – so, we passed. Fast forward, their chicken is SO GOOD, they now have a brick and mortar. Having major FOMO for passing it up last time.
As I mentioned, we went right with the family meal. We felt like it was going to be the easiest to picnic with + you get a great assortment of their food. Perfect for a couple who likes to order it all!
We chose the parmesan truffle tots, mac n’cheese and side salad. The salad looked amazing, but I wish we would have ordered the brussels or the roasted veggies. A basic salad doesn’t give a true picture of what the restaurant can do and after tasting the other items, they’re capable of flavor combinations you dream about!
Mule-Momsa – Combination of my two fav drinks! 
Great drink selections 
We went at a weird afternoon time. Lucked out with it not being busy!
After picking up the food (and having a cocktail), we walked across the street to Washington Park.
Photo Credit: Hailey Bollinger
Side note: Lucky for us, there was a TON of on-street parking, which meant we didn’t have to get back in the car and re-park (or walk far). They also have a 50-space, two-level, underground parking garage that is open and staffed 24/7.
As soon as we walked into the park, there was a covered grass area that had an open spot! Bonus: It was right near the bathrooms. We unpacked, pulled out our trusty blanket {that I got on clearance at World Market years ago – best purchase ever} and opened up the food. We couldn’t wait any longer.
She went straight for the lettuce. 
She went straight for the tots. 
This is my favorite type of picnic food! I mean, if I am being honest, probably my favorite food to eat all the time. Always hits the spot! Don’t you agree?
This was the absolute, hands down, BEST rotisserie chicken that I have ever had. The chicken was perfectly spiced and moist. After the first bite, we couldn’t put it down. Melted off the bone, right into our mouth. YUM! Highly recommend giving them a try. I also recommend they put a location in Columbus.
After our bellies were all full, we decided it was time to check out the splash pad/water park. It is pretty big and looks similar to a combination of all of our splash pads {Easton meets Scioto Mile meets Bunny Park}. To be exact, it is 7,000 square feet with more than 130 pop-up jets that can be synchronized to music and lights.
While the center part of the park was a bit too big for the girls, they LOVED the faux boulders on the side. This is the part that reminded me of bunny park in Dublin.
They loved watching all the kids run around and play. 
Once they started getting a bit more adventureous and crawling out to the main area, we decided it was time to change locations. We went back over to our picnic spot and changed out of wet clothes. On top of having the wonderful water park, they have an ENCLOSED (get the hint, Columbus) play area.
We didn’t explore all that the playground had to offer, but we did get a chance to swing for a bit. Perfect to relax the girls a bit before our car ride home.
Similar to Columbus Commons, they do have pop-up play days. During those days, you can enjoy free children’s activities which range from yoga, to crafts, to outdoor exploration, to music making, and much more. Check the Washington Park calendar for details, dates, and times.
To us, this was the perfect Sunday Funday. It was family friendly with things to entertain both the babies and us adults along the way. I highly suggest starting your day off exploring Newport Aquarium, picking up lunch in Over-the-Rhine and heading to Washington Park for a picnic {and playtime}.
