This post is sponsored by Ohio.Find it Here. All opinions and images are mine unless noted otherwise. My hope is you can use this list as inspiration to come up with fun ways to spend the summer with your family in Ohio.
Oh, sweet, sweet summertime. The days are long and sunny, the adventures are never-ending, and the memories stay with us for a lifetime. I am particularly excited for this summer because the girls are at an age where they LOVE adventure, trying new things, and going to new places. Watching them discover and learn something new is the best feeling in the world. Little do they know we have an entire summer exploring this great state we call home.
Each summer, I make a #SummerinOhio bucket list. It was fun this year because the girls were able to actually participate in making the list. Their ideas were mostly ice cream, trips to Target, the zoo and playgrounds – but, hey it’s a start!
Tip: I get a TON of inspiration from the Ohio. Find It Here. website. You’ll find things to do, where to stay, festivals and events, travel inspiration and even planned roadtrips! Highly recommend bookmarking it and checking it out.
To kick off our summer bucket list, we took a day trip down to Cincinnati.
We love visiting Cincinnati. It is such an easy drive from Columbus. We’ve done full weekends because there is so much to explore, but we have also gone down for the day to visit a few of our favorite spots. So that’s actually what we did recently, and funny enough, it was a last-minute decision around 9:30 AM.
The girls wanted to check on their BFF Fiona. Okay, maybe that was me, but they were also excited to go to the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. If you’ve never been, you’re in for a treat! It is incredible.
Tip: If you are a member of your local zoo, make sure you check their website for reciprocal program details. We are members of the Columbus Zoo and that gave us 50% off the admission price!
We are animal lovers in this family, so we enjoy visiting and exploring our Ohio zoos. The Cincinnati Zoo is unique because it is also a botanical garden – making it feel even more magical. Everything is so lush and green, blooming everywhere you look. I love all of the bamboo everywhere; it serves as a great divider making certain places feel like you’ve stepped into a magical garden, and other areas providing the shade you need during the summer.
Make sure you plan to take your time. There is so much to see and do. Plus, there are quite a few hills! You will want to take a few breaks here and there.
I love how hands-on everything is. Each exhibit had things for the girls to interact with. Whether it was flipping up pictures, watching ants work together in the ant tunnel or pretending to be a butterfly, there were so many things just at their eye level.
There are SO many places in Ohio to explore, it was hard to narrow down our ☀️How to spend Summer in Ohio ☀️ bucket list!!
These are in no particular order because we are equally excited to visit them all!
Escape the grid for a weekend and urban camp at Camp Cedar
Okay, I lied. I am most excited about this and hope to go sooner than later. Conveniently located just one mile from Kings Island, Camp Cedar is a luxury outdoor resort featuring cottages or the option to stay in your RV on site. It feels like we’d be spending the week at the summer camp you wanted to go to as a kid! They have heated pools, cornhole and bocce, playgrounds, golf carts, and more. Book your trip here.
Spend the weekend in Cleveland
Cleveland is one of our favorite places in Ohio to visit. We typically make a couple trips every year. We love Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Westside Market, exploring the museums and enjoying the food scene in Ohio City and Little Italy. This year we plan to visit the Cleveland Zoo. They recently expanded the RainForest to create Primate Forest and it looks INCREDIBLE. Plus they have an Asian Lantern Festival that starts in July. The Children’s Museum of Cleveland and Greater Cleveland Aquarium are on our list, too.
Check out our trip last year that was focused on supporting all things women-owned in Cleveland. It was SO FUN and included things like shopping, donuts, more donuts, and The International Women Air & Space Museum.
Go on a safari at The Wilds
How cool is it that we have an opportunity to visit one of the largest wildlife conservation centers in North America for endangered species in a one-of-a-kind adventure? Did you know they have more than 500 animals representing over 25 specie from around the world? We might even get more adventurous and stay in one of the Yurts or do the Zipline Sunset Tour at dusk.
Relax in the Sun at The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake
Geneva-on-the-Lake seems like the ultimate summer spot! It is located on the southern shore of Lake Erie, near Geneva State Park in the heart of Ohio Wine Country. Three things that I love! When looking up family-friendly things – I found mini-golf, arcades, parks, beaches, and more. If you’ve been, please send me all the details and recommendations!
Enjoy a day of thrills at Cedar Point
I have NEVER been to Cedar Point, and before you ask, yes, I have lived in Ohio since I was five years old! Growing up, I felt like you were either a Kings Island family or a Cedar Point family. We were #teamKingsIsland. The kids area looks exciting and something the girls would really enjoy.
Did you know that Cedar Point has a Pre-K Pass that grants UNLIMITED visits to children ages 3 to 5 for all of 2022!?
Mark a few spots off the Ohio Ice Cream Trail
Yes, this is a real thing! I can’t wait to get to Tom’s Ice Cream Bowl in Zanesville to try the Black and White sundae. It is three scoops of vanilla ice cream topped with house-made chocolate syrup and marshmallow sauce in a soup bowl. Wowza! You can download a printable copy of the trail map to get all the details.
Fun Fact: Did you know Ohio is home to more than 2,200 dairy farms and hundreds of shops each with their own unique flavor.
Visit all 20 Franklin County Metro Parks
This is on our summer bucket list every year, but we never visit them all! We have our favorites nearby and end up going to them multiple times. This summer, we are branching out and exploring them all! Whether it’s a natural play area, hiking trail, nature center, fishing, or storybook trail, they each offer something different. I always say how lucky we are to have our Metro Parks here in Central Ohio.
Our favorites are Blendon Woods, Highbanks, and Battelle Darby Creek. They all have awesome nature centers!
Wakeboard at Wake Nation in Cincinnati
Wake Nation is a cable park in Ohio, which means you are pulled by an overhead cable system, making learning to wakeboard fun and easy. We’ve done this once before, and it was a BLAST. Last time, we never made it out of the “baby side,” as I call it. This time we plan to stay the entire day and explore the ENTIRE park because there is so much to do — wakeboard, wakeskate, water-ski, and kneeboard… all without a boat! You can also check out their Adventure Park with a giant inflatable obstacle course in the water.
Explore a 4-acre field of the happiest flowers at the Coshocton Sunflower Festival
The Coshocton Sunflower Festival is a must-do activity and perfect for all ages. This is their fifth year and it keeps getting better each year. They have four acres of over 40 varieties of sunflowers! We love exploring the field, taking photos at all of the unique photo spots and choosing our favorite floers to take home. However, that’s not it! They have live music, food trucks, a beer garden, craft vendors and more!
Mark your calendars – The Festival Takes place August 12 – 14
Fly through the sky at Hocking Hills Canopy Tours in Rockbridge
Ziplining is lots of fun! It’s a great way to spend more time outside + bond and engage with the entire family. Plus, who doesn’t need a little adrenalin rush now and then? Hocking Hills Canopy Tour is AWESOME. They’ve been named “World’s Coolest Ziplines” and been a part of “10 Amazing Zipline Tours All Around the World” on Discovery.com. How cool is it that we have a place with such accolades in Ohio! There are a ton of different tours, even a Moonshine Night Tour! They have a specific zipline for kids, too! The rule is that the participant must weigh between 35 and 140 pounds and be between ages 5 and 12.
If you’re looking for a closer place, ZipZone Outdoor Adventures is located just north of Worthington on 23. They have a fun kids park for ages 4-7.
Dance the afternoon away with the girls during the PB & Jazz concert series at the Topiary Park in Columbus
PB & Jazz concert series are FREE here in Columbus. They occur a few times a year, but my favorite is the summer series because it is outside the Topiary Park. Each month a different artist brings their unique style and fun personality and puts on an interactive concert! It wouldn’t be PB & Jazz without the classic peanut butter and jelly snack that is provided. Yum!
The concerts begin at noon, but make sure you arrive around 11 a.m. to enjoy a storytime activity with Columbus Library. If you stay after the performance, you’ll find an art activity provided by the Columbus Museum of Art.
Mark off the rest of our Donut Trail Passport
Have you heard of the Donut Trail in Butler County? You’re in for a real treat, literally. You download a passport (or pick one up ) and follow the trail to find all of the delicious mom-and-pop donut shops. There are 13 on the passport, all featuring their own take on what a perfect donut is. Once you finish, you earn an exclusive Butler County Donut Trail T-shirt. Find all the details here.
Butler County is very family friendly. I suggest stopping at EnterTRAINment Junction, Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum, Wake Nation and Jungle Jim’s International Market.
Take a SUP class
We took a SUP class a few years ago and it was a blast. Now I don’t plan on entering a SUP competition or joining in on a SUP yoga class anytime soon, but it is a unique and enjoyable way to explore the lake (or river). Once I get more comfortable, I think it’s even something the girls could jump on (or sit) with me for a. paddle around the water. SUP Columbus, Aloha SUP and Olentangy Paddle are all open for the season and ready to teach you how to SUP!
Fun Event: Mark your calendars for the Ohio River Paddlefest in Cincinnati on Aug. 6.
Go glamping in the Mohican Treehouses
Glamping is the game’s name when it comes to this season of life with toddlers, and what cooler accommodations than a treehouse!? Mohican Treehouses offers nine amazing authentic treehouses. Two were designed by Pete Nelson, treehouse designer and star of the discovery channel’s hit series “Treehouse Masters.” The Little Red Treehouse {my favorite} was even featured on the show! It looks like they book up pretty far in advance for the weekend, but if you can sneak away during the week — that seems like the perfect time!
Pick all the juicy blackberries at The Berry Farm in Richmond
Our girls LOVE fruit. I mean, love love love it. We are at Costco twice a week to keep their bellies happy. With that in mind, you can imagine how much they enjoy berry picking. We are excited to check out The Berry Farm in Richmond this summer. I’ve heard great things about the owners and even more about their juicy and delicious berries! Keep in mind blackberries typically come in mid-July.
Splash the day away at Zoombezi Bay in Columbus
I have the best memories of spending my summer days as a kid at Wyandot Lake (now Zoombezi Bay). I can’t wait to pass that tradition down to the girls. They love to swim and are very adventurous. Betwen that, Baboon Lagoon, Tiny Tides, the wave pool and lazy river — I think Zoombezi Bay will be the perfect spot for them.
Did you know that your admission to Zoombezi Bay also includes entry into the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium on the day of your visit?
Float down stream by tubing Mohican Adventures in Loudonville
I think this might be an adult-only trip. We used to go every summer but haven’t since the girls were born. However, we might get brave and, on a calm day, take the girls canoeing or kayaking. They LOVE the lake, so I know this would be a hit. If you’re looking for something closer to Columbus, check out Trapper John’s Canoe Livery near Grove City or Hocking Hills Adventures. We’ve done both, and they’re great!
Enjoy a luxury picnic with Posh Picnics
We love love love picnics. The girls now have their own lunchboxes they pack and put into the picnic basket. It’s such a fun way to explore new parks. In Columbus, there is a locally owned company called Posh Picnics. The owner creates a luxury picnic experience by bringing a beautiful modern aesthetic with comfortable and beautiful seating, table settings, and local eats! Every picture I see looks dreamy.
Make sure to share your fun in the summer sun with #SummerInOhio and #OhioFindItHere.
No matter what you add to your #SummerinOhio bucket list, I hope you have the best summer with your friends and family. Hope to see you around!
