We all know the holidays can be hectic.
So, before serving a turkey dinner to 15 of your favorite relatives (and the other 5 who keep showing up every year), before waiting in line for four hours on Black Friday and definitely before breaking out the Christmas cookies, take next weekend for you and your family.
Greater Cincinnati has plenty of unique activities the entire family can enjoy together. November is the perfect month to get out of the house and take advantage of family time before the holiday season arrives.
Here are some ideas for the November 13 through November 16 weekend:
The Zoo Gourmet Family Program
- What: Learn how animals are fed healthy foods and receive ideas to feed the wild animals in your family through games, tours and close encounters at The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden. Registration is available online for this and other programs.
- When: Session begins at 10 a.m. The zoo is still open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Thanksgiving day.
- Admission: Zoo Gourmet is $11/person ($7 for members). Regular zoo admission is $15 for adults, $11 for children and seniors (62+).
- What: Only 15 minutes from downtown Cincinnati, Sunrock Farm (103 Gibson Ln.), brings the pioneer experience to life. A typical tour can include blacksmithing, pulling a rock sled, milking a goat, gathering eggs, petting a sheep and using a washboard. There are also craft workshops and nature walks. Don’t miss the on-site store for all of your pioneer needs.
- When: Two-hour long tours are offered weekdays and weekends at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
- Admission: $10 per person, children under 1 are free
Future Vet event, Budding Scientists program or Young at Art
- What: Spend the entire day at the Duke Energy Children’s Museum in the Cincinnati Museum Center on November 15. Arrive early to interact with a real veterinarian from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and meet a live animal at 11:30. Stick around for the Budding Scientists program at 1 p.m. and the Young at Art program at 3 p.m. All of these programs are free with museum admission.
- When: The Museum Center is open Mondays through Saturdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Admission: $5.50 for children ages 1-2, $8.50 for children ages 3-12, $9.50 for senior citizens and $10.50 for adults (For a single-museum pass)
- What: Located at the Cincinnati Observatory (3849 Observatory Pl.), the Astronomy Evenings Series provides your family with the latest on an astronomical topic through a presentation, stargazing and a tour of one of Cincinnati’s historic landmarks. The series is recommended for adults and children at least 8 years old.
- When: November 13 through 14 at 7:30 p.m.
- Admission: Thursdays $5 per person, Fridays $5 for children and $7 for adults. Registration is available online.
The Friends of the Observatory’s Dark Sky Viewing
- What: About 25 miles out of the city, Stonelick State Park (2895 Lake Dr.) hosts a free stargazing event for anyone who wants to view planets, galaxies, nebulae, star clusters and stars. The nights are contingent on weather, but as long as the sky is clear, astronomers will be on hand to answer questions and share their telescopes with the public at no charge.
- When: Saturday, November 15 at dusk
- Admission: Free
Self-guided hike or Scavenger Hunt
- What: A self-guided hike at the Cincinnati Nature Center (4949 Tealtown Rd.) is one of the easiest ways for you and your family to get active together. Take part in scavenger hunts, learning trails and even a “Nature Calls” cell phone tour while you walk through the woods. Just stop by the Rowe Visitor Center for directions or suggestions when you arrive.
- When: Rowe Woods are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in November and the Visitor Center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Admission: $8 daily for adults, $3 for children ages 4 to 12 and $6 for active military members and seniors over 65
Sunday Funday at the Taft Museum of Art,
- What: On the third Sunday of every month, the Taft Museum of Art (316 Pike St.) has a free event for the whole family. In November, you can meet a real turkey on the front lawn, look for birds in art, check out artists’ tools and even create your own Thanksgiving decoration to take home. Be sure to stick around until 2 p.m. for a performance by a magician.
- Admission: Free
- When: Sunday, November 16, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
