Planning a trip to the Midwest? Head over to Mason, OH! The city is just a short drive away from Cincinnati, home to more chili restaurants per capita than you can imagine, a haunted music hall and the oldest baseball team in the United States. Check out the list below for information on the best things to do in Mason.
List of the Top Activities in Cincinnati and Mason, OH
- BB Riverboats
- Bella Balloons Hot Air Balloon Company
- Cincinnati Art Museum
- Paul Brown Stadium
- Cincinnati Fire Museum
- Cincinnati Museum Center
- Cincinnati Premium Outlets
- Great American Ball Park
- Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
- Contemporary Arts Center
- Jungle Jim's International Market
- Kings Island Amusement Park
- Lazer Kraze
- National Aviation Heritage Area
- National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
- National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
- Newport Aquarium
- Ozone Zipline Adventures
- Pyramid Sculpture Park
- Red Stewart Airfield Plane Rides
1. BB Riverboats
One-of-a-kind breathtaking cruises on the beautiful Ohio River including dining cruises, sightseeing cruises, kids cruises, holiday cruises and more. 
Source: BB Riverboats Twitter
2. Bella Balloons Hot Air Balloon Company
Bella Balloons is a full-time, family-owned company operating Hot Air Balloon Rides providing scenic views of Ohio's beautiful landscapes.
3. Cincinnati Art Museum
Located in scenic Eden Park, the Cincinnati Art Museum features an unparalleled art collection of more than 60,000 works spanning 6,000 years. In addition to displaying its own broad collection, the Art Museum also hosts several national and international traveling exhibitions each year.
Source: Cincy Art Museum Twitter
4. Paul Brown Stadium
Makes plans to attend a Bengals football game or visit the stadium during your trip.
Source: Bengals Twitter
5. Cincinnati Fire Museum
This Museum has over 200 years of firefighting history on display. Visit exhibits of early leather fire buckets, a Hunneman hand pumper, an 1808 fire drum and the oldest surviving fire engine in the area.
Source: Fire Museum Official
6. Cincinnati Museum Center
This is a one-of-a-kind, multi-museum complex housed in Union Terminal, a historic Art Deco train station and National Historic Landmark.
Source: Museum Center Twitter
7. Cincinnati Premium Outlets
Time for a Mason shopping experience! The Premium Outlets features 100 designer and name brand outlet stores with savings of 25-65% every day, including: Banana Republic, Coach, Gap Outlet, Polo Ralph Lauren, Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th and more.
Source: Premium Outlets Twitter
8. Great American Ball Park
Make plans to attend a Reds baseball game when during your visit.
Source: Reds Twitter
9. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Lions and tigers and bears - and giraffes and penguins and flowers too. The Zoo & Botanical Garden is one of the top zoos in the nation. Perfect for the entire family.
Source: Cincinnati Zoo Twitter
10. Contemporary Arts Center
Founded in 1939 as the Modern Art Society by three visionary local women, the Contemporary Arts Center was one of the first institutions in the United States dedicated to exhibiting contemporary art.
Source: Cincy CAC Twitter
11. Jungle Jim's International Market
A food lovers paradise - a funhouse maze of a store - Foodieland - No matter what you call it, Jungle Jim's is arguably the nation's most unique supermarket megastore, featuring more than six acres of food, wine, beer, gourmet cheeses, exotic meats, cigars, fresh seafood, spices, confections, bakery and more!
Source: Jungle Jims Market Twitter
12. Kings Island Amusement Park
There are plenty of things to do at Kings Island. One of the major Cincinnati attractions, this destination has a variety of rides, events and entertainment families can enjoy together during the season. Keep reading for more things to do near Kings Island. Most of the activities listed below are just a short drive away from the park.
Source: Kings Island Twitter
13. Lazer Kraze
Lazer Kraze combines the exhilarating competition of world class laser tag with the intense physical fun of the indoor trampoline park.
Source: Lazer Kraze Facebook
14. National Aviation Heritage Area
Home of the Wright brothers and long known as the Birthplace of Aviation, the Dayton region is now recognized as the National Aviation Heritage Area.
Source: NAHA Twitter
15. National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
Prepare to have a high-flying time at the world's largest and oldest military aviation museum!
Source: AF Museum Twitter
16. National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
The Freedom Center's physical location is just a few steps from the banks of the Ohio River, which separated slave from free states in the period of American history when slavery was sanctioned in law. The museum tells that story in major exhibits and programs.
Source: Freedom Center Twitter
17. Newport Aquarium
Experience the most amazing collection of aquatic creatures around including extremely rare sharks like Sweet Pea and Scooter: the stars of the only Shark Ray breeding program in the world. Go behind the scenes where to touch the playful penguins, pet sharks and hand-feed free-flying Lorikeets.
Source: Newport Aquarium Twitter
18. Ozone Zipline Adventures
Ozone Zipline Adventures at YMCA Camp Kern is bringing the fun-filled, high-flying experience, popular at exotic vacation spots right here to the Little Miami Valley.
Source: OneZip Twitter
19. Pyramid Sculpture Park
Overlooking the Great Miami River, Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum is a 265 acre sculpture park and outdoor museum combining the lure of nature with the dynamic presence of monumental art.
Source: Pyramid Hill Twitter
20. Red Stewart Airfield Plane Rides
Stewarts Aircraft Service offers rides, in a variety of airplanes such as Piper Cubs, Aeronca Champs and a beautifully restored 1942 PT-17 Stearman biplane.
That's it for our list of things to do in Mason, OH! Hopefully you're able to explore some of these awesome attractions during your visit. Head over to our lodge if you need a place to all home during your stay. Our Mason location offers specialty suites able to accommodate families of all sizes. You'll feel like your camping out in the Northern Woods in no time! Don't worry about missing out if you can't make the trip. We can bring the Great Wolf experience to you! Check out our blog for tons of fun activities to do at home with the family.
FAQ's
There are so many things to do in Mason, Ohio, but it’s equally important to note that the town is just minutes from Cincinnati, a city full of incredible culture and sights. Museums, parks, art, sightseeing, and nightlife are all thriving there, making Ohio’s largest metropolitan area a popular stop on any Midwest trip. For those preferring to stay in Mason, it’s got amusement parks and the internationally known Lindner Family Tennis Center, home to the Western & Southern Open, one of the world’s top tennis tournaments. Between the two cities, there’s no shortage of things to do in Cincinnati and Mason.
Any list of “Things To Do In Ohio” will contains many sights and experiences that can only be found in a visit to the Buckeye state. Any visitor making the trip is in close proximity to a whole host of tourist-friendly attractions. Plus, the abundance of family-friendly options makes it easy to combine cultural experiences with activities appealing to kids. Whether you’re planning a longer visit or just looking for things to do in Cincinnati this weekend, there’s no shortage of entertainment. Of course, any visit should include a stay at our Great Wolf Lodge in Mason—click here to learn more.
There are many things to do in Cincinnati with kids outside of Great Wolf Lodge. These include popular attractions, historical landmarks, famous tourist stops, and more. Plus, for the nature lovers, Cincinnati features a host of natural parks, trails, and more. See our list, “21 Things To Do In Cincinnati and Mason, OH,” for a longer array of options.
Absolutely! A number of the most fun things to do in Cincinnati can be found on our list above. From a visit to the popular Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, to the option of seeing one of the city’s three major league sports teams play, to the numerous museums, parks, and other travel destinations in surrounding regions, Cincinnati, OH contains many popular attractions for tourists and families.