I look my nephew and he had a great time looking at the fish…read more Both of our favorite parts was being able to touch the star fish and other items in the open area of the aquarium. He really wanted to see sharks but when we went there wasn't a lot of sharks out for us to see which was kind of disappointing but everything else made up for it in the end. To complete our trip we got a character drawing of him and of course brought something from the gift shop.

Purchased tickets during a half off promotion and made the drive from Louisville. We arrived at…read more9:30 (Sunday), it wasn't very busy which made our visit even more enjoyable. The staff were all friendly and knowledgeable, we asked questions about the sea creatures at the touch tanks. I loved the Jelly Fish exhibit, it showed the stages from birth to adult which I thought was really neat. With a career in occupational therapy, I squealed when we found a sensory room around the half way point. The paid experiences/things for sale throughout were a bit overwhelming (face painting, VR pods, character drawings). Penguins at the end always make me smile! Parking is easy and affordable. If I lived closer I would definitely consider a membership.

What a great zoo! In addition to being a zoo, it is an official botanical gardens, so the grounds…read morethemself are gorgeous. We were there in early April, so all the gorgeous spring flowers (daffodils, tulips, hyacinth) were in full bloom. The parking lot is close to the entrance and I like that there is shade for your car. (note it is $10 to park). You enter the zoo by going up an elevator or escalator. It is the same as the Pittsburgh Zoo entrance. One thing to note is that the zoo is hilly. No matter what direction you go, you will have some up and down hills. It is easy to navigate, though. The day we visited, we were very fortunate that almost every animal was out and active! The giraffes were wandering in their yard, the lion was chatty and playful, the zebras were enjoying their enrichment, the hippos were swimming and playing. I don't know that I've ever been to a zoo where so many animals were all active and visible! The signage was plentiful and easy to navigate and everything was well kept and clean. There were plenty of spaces to sit and relax and most animals had plenty of space to enjoy. A wonderful visit to a beautiful place.

Went to the zoo on Friday and it was a great experience. It was busy, but not too busy. The…read moreanimals were all out and very active except for the hippos and lions. They were enjoying the sun. The flowers were starting to bloom. Just wait another week or two and the flowers will be in all of their glory. We are lucky to have a zoo like this so close to home. I feel sorry for anyone in Cincinnati that has never been to the zoo.

If you love marine life and holiday magic, Newport Aquarium is a must-see. The exhibits are…read moreimmersive and full of incredible underwater creatures, from sharks and rays to colorful schools of fish. The highlight of our visit was Scuba Santa -- watching Santa swim through the tanks while our kids shared their Christmas wishes was such a fun and memorable experience. Located at Newport on the Levee, it's an easy and family-friendly stop just minutes from Cincinnati. We'd absolutely recommend visiting, especially during the holiday season.

The Newport Aquarium is a really terrific museum. As an added bonus, we also did the penguin…read moreencounter, which was awesome. We had actually done this many years ago, and they have improved the experience significantly since that time. I can recommend both the regular museum and the penguin encounter. Neither are cheap, but what is cheap these days? I'll certainly return someday.

Dave is very knowledgeable and has helped me when I've had issues with my aquarium. I've bought…read moreseveral fish from him.

This is a hidden gem! Very knowledgeable staff and a great selection of fish and supplies. You can…read moretell the fish are quality and very well cared for.

Came on a weekday during Christmas break. Packed with kids, so maybe try an off time…read more Medium-sized children's/science museum, loads of activities and displays. Aimed at single-digits ages, and Kid K felt a little old I think. She found stuff to do, but a quieter day with not so many little kids would have been more fun for her. Still, she did some of the science things, and we went to the indoor zoo- very cool, very cute, very clean. They had a few scheduled special activities during the day but we missed them. There were a lot of staff around helping and keeping an eye on things, which is always good. Multiple discounts, so check for those. Prices are reasonable even without them. Parking was packed on a busy day, but we found a spot. It's in a big park so no other crowded places nearby. A great draw for the area.

I haven't been here in years! We used to bring the kids here for the playground but the entire…read moremuseum is super cool. Lots of spaces to wander thru, lots of eye catching displays to keep you entertained and elevate use of your brain. The waterway is one of may favorite parts of the museum and glad it's still up and running 20+ years later. We actually went to watch the Mesmerica 360 show in the dome theater. That was rather mundane to me but that's not the fault of the museum. My biggest peeve of the visit was seeing the us flag was still being masted when it is in tatters. I posted in my 'check in' and I will post again here in my review that it's time to retire this flag and replace with a fresh replacement. Whomever is in charge of the grounds here should be embarrassed. Please do better.

Able to purchase premium pond plants If you're looking for…read moreporch or patio pots, they have a huge display of beautiful pottery

Awesome locally owned fish store!…read more I went to Aquatics and Exotics over the weekend to buy a school of fish for my small aquarium. I was almost overwhelmed by the variety of fish that they have and of course the 17,000 shark tank. Some tanks had a little bit of algae in them but if you've been in the hobby for a bit you know that algae isn't harmful to fish. The water on all the tanks looked clear. The amount of selection at the store is top notch! I picked out a few celestial pearl danios that I searched 5 other stores in the area to find. All my fish seem healthy and are coloring up in my tank now. I definitely appreciated the laid back feel of the store as opposed to the uptight feel of more big box retailers. Aquatics and Exotics will now be my go to store for anything fish related.

The museum at Earlham College has an amazing collection of fossils and artifacts. The museum is…read morefree and open to the public. It is usually only opened in the afternoons. Although small, they have a complete allosaurus, mastodon, giant sloth, giant beaver and much, much more. You can get close up to the exhibits. They also have a great display of Ordovician fossils with descriptions. You can find many birds and other small mammal specimens native to Indiana. The staff is knowledgable and friendly. They offer tours and programs for kids as well. Nicole was our guide and she was engaged and had a passion for the museum. They have a small gift shop with educational items. If you pass through Richmond, Indiana, this needs to be in your to do list. What a great experience and opportunity to see world class specimens.

Absolutely worth the visit! My children were pulled into the portions of the exhibit that are hands…read moreon! It can seem quick at a child's speed of looking through the exhibits. I think every corner is utilized in a learning experience. They have reptiles too! Something worth looking into are the 'trail talks' the museum offers during warmer weather. My kids will not stop talking about the fossils they collected while on a trail talk lead by two Earlham students. So much fun, but worth wearing the right gear and packing water. *Yes, you do need to wear a mask and show your vaccination card to enter the museum. It is on campus, and therefore abides by protocol of trying to keep campus as safe as possible for everyone.

I came here for the Aushwitz exhibit - which I felt was overpriced for what was displayed - it was…read morean audio and reading geared exhibit whereas I was hoping for more artifacts to see. The museum as a hole is very well maintained and clean. The prices are a tad expensive however compared to other museums I have been to in touristy cities. The childrens museum is the star of the show - it is so interactive and if I had kiddos I would take them here often for a day of play - even as an adult passing by I wanted to jump in the ball pit I saw.

We visited to see the Auchewitz exhibit this weekend…read more It has been 20 years since we last visited the museum. The exhibit was very well thought out and put together. We were so happy we had an opportunity to see it. Museum center was clean and ample parking. Friendly staff. We even had Graeters ice cream while we were there. I would highly recommend this museum.

The Cincinnati Children's Museum is a must if you have kids! It's part of the Cincinnati Museum…read moreCenter at Union Terminal, which makes it extra special--you feel like you're walking into history before even reaching the exhibits. The museum itself is incredibly hands-on and interactive. My kids could have stayed all day. The water play area was a huge hit (bring a change of clothes or use the smocks they provide), and the construction zone with life-size building blocks kept them busy for ages. I loved that it's set up in a way where kids can explore independently but parents can still keep an eye on them easily. The staff was friendly and kept things clean, which I appreciated since little ones are touching everything. The whole museum is very family-friendly, with spaces for toddlers as well as older kids, so no one feels left out. Another bonus: since it's inside the larger Museum Center, you can easily combine your visit with the Natural History Museum or an IMAX show. Parking was simple, and there are food options inside, though we chose to pack snacks. Overall, it's the perfect place for kids to play, learn, and burn off energy--rainy day or not. Highly recommend for families in Cincinnati or anyone visiting the city!

Chaos. Way busier…read morethan I expected on a Monday morning. Just packed. People standing around blocking aisles, kids running around unsupervised. The staff were great, trying to keep things moving, helping kids and parents. Lots of places for tired adults to sit. Hard for K to play at exhibits; too many kids, and too many monopolizing activities and not sharing. Bad parenting isn't the museum's fault, of course, but it's pretty small, and things are crammed in there, with just not enough places to actually get involved. Could be better designed. And it seems to be aimed at younger kids (kindergarten and before.) We moved to The Woods, essentially an indoor playground. Horrible. Dark, cramped, convoluted. And the kids can just disappear. Lost Kid K for 10 minutes. Into a tunnel, a glimpse overhead on the bridge, then gone. Hard for adults to get up, or in, many areas. Zero visibility. I saw a bigger kid get stuck and yell for help till a random parent got them loose. Kids under 8 are supposed to be supervised but aren't; there should also be an upper age limit so preteens aren't mixing with toddlers. I'd recommend they add more lighting, more stairways, more portholes into the cave. I searched fruitlessly, with a random mom helping, and K found a staffer who got her to me. K said we're never going to the children's museum again. The other museums in the complex are plenty kid-friendly, and more open and involving.