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Unique Local Travel Destinations
BY AMANDA CIANI | PHOTO BY MAGNIFIC
OHIO
Story ! A museum, located across the street, is a treasure trove of one-of-a-kind props. Want to up the ante? Book an overnight stay at the House from A Christmas Story or the slightly chaotic Bumpus House! DESTINATION: DAYTON 55 minute drive from Cincinnati Boonshoft Museum of Discovery 2600 Deweese Pkwy, Dayton, OH boonshoft.org $13 child/$14 senior/$16 adult admission; $5 Museum for All tickets available. Make discoveries in natural history, STEM, and more. Families can explore two floors of exhibits including a planetarium, the Discov- ery Zoo, pretend play spaces, and more! Carillon Historical Park 1000 Carillon Blvd., Dayton, OH daytonhistory.org $10 child (3-17)/$12 senior/$14 adult (18-59) admission + carousel & railroad add-ons This 65-acre open-air museum spotlights Dayton’s history with an early settlement area, the original 1905 Wright Flyer III in the Wright Brothers National Museum, and more. Families can also grab a meal from Dayton BBQ Company, who exclusively partners with Carillon Brewing Co.—The only U.S. brewery that fully replicates the historic brewing process and in a museum, at that! National Museum of the United States Air Force 1100 Spaatz St., Wright-Patterson AFB, OH | nationalmuseum.af.mil Free admission and parking Investigate Ohio’s role as the birthplace of
Interactive, illuminating, vibrant, and out-of- this-world, this destination definitely fits the bill of “unique places to visit this summer”. The Wilds 14000 International Road, Cumberland, OH | thewilds.org One of the largest conservation centers in the world, The Wilds has had two rhino calves born in 2026! Families can visit The Wilds with an open-air safari tour which take guests through vast pastures filled with giraffes, camels, bison, zebras, rhinos, and many more. CLEVELAND ROCKS 3 hour 45 minute drive from Cincinnati Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 1100 Rock & Roll Blvd., Cleveland, OH rockhall.com $29.50 children (6-12)/$39.50 Adult/ Free for kids 5 and under Little rockstars will love the exciting exhibits that honor iconic musicians. The newest exhibitions include SNL: 50 Years of Music , and Revolutionary Women in Music . The Paul McCartney and Wings exhibition also just opened last month, with the largest collec- tion ever of artifacts from Paul McCartney’s personal collection.
COOL ATTRACTIONS AROUND COLUMBUS 1 hour, 30 minute drive from Cincinnati COSI 333 West Broad St., Columbus, OH | cosi.org Online pricing: $25 Youth (ages 2-12)/$28 seniors (60+)/$30 adult (13+); $5 Museums for All tickets available. Along with the astonishing permanent exhi- bitions, families have the chance to delve into the world of Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids: Mythic Creatures , a traveling exhibition avail- able through September 7th. Another unique and interactive feature? The 17-feet-in-the-air unicycle ride! Columbus Zoo and Aquarium 4850 W Powell Road, Powell, OH columbuszoo.org $29.95 child/$34.95 senior/$36.95 adult any day admission A walk through this zoo will transport families to different regions of the world to discover a diverse array of animals. One unique aspect of the Columbus Zoo is that it is home to the oldest wooden roller coaster in Ohio, Sea Dragon, as well as several other amuse- ment-style rides. OtherWorld Columbus 5819 Chantry Drive, Columbus, OH otherworld.com $26 children (3-12)/$30 military and seniors (62+)/$32 general This 32,000-square-foot immersive art instal- lation features 40+ artists’ works in 47 rooms, each as wonderful and weird as the next.
House from A Christmas Story 3159 W 11th St., Cleveland, OH housefromchristmasstory.com $20/ free for children under 5
Hearing, “You’ll shoot your eye out!”, may bring up feelings of holiday nostalgia and tradition for many. And guests are welcomed to feel that warmth all year long with a guided tour of the house from A Christmas
12 JUNE 2026 | CINCINNATIFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM
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