Dinosaurs of Antarctica at the Cincinnati Museum Center
When: Now
Where: 1301 Western Ave., Cincinnati
Cost: Adult admission is $17.50 and $13.50 for kids ages 3-12
More info: www.cincymuseum.org/dinosaurs-of-antarctica
Travel back 200 million years to ancient Antarctica, a land of lush woodland, teeming with prehistoric beasts. Discover fossils from four Antarctic dinosaur species, including the fierce 25-foot long Cryolophosaurus, and take discovery into your own hands as you use real tools to learn how paleontologists carefully extracted fossils from the now-frozen landscape.
Dinosaurs of Antarctica: The OMNIMAX® Film surrounds you in the forests of ancient Antarctica as dinosaurs thunder across the landscape on the towering OMNIMAX® screen.
Credit: Nate Wolleson
Credit: Nate Wolleson
Glow Tubing in Mansfield
When: No definitive dates have been announced. The season typically ranges from approximately late December to late February.
Where: Snow Trails, 3100 Possum Run Road, Mansfield
Cost: Ticket prices are $30 for two hours of tubing
More info: www.snowtrails.com/go-tubing/glow-tubing
Yes, you heard correctly. Snow glow tubing is within driving distance of Dayton! It’s all at Mansfield’s Snow Trails in scenic Possum Run Valley. An array of colorful LED lights line the park for all to enjoy. After hitting the slopes, guests can enjoy live entertainment or grab a bite to eat or a drink at one of the many eateries in the ski lodge on-premises.
Credit: The Gorge Underground Facebook
Credit: The Gorge Underground Facebook
The Gorge Underground
When: Open daily from approximately 8:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Where: 2478 Glencarin Road, Rogers, Kentucky
Cost: Prices vary per tour.
More info: www.gorgeunderground.com
The Gorge Underground, located in the Red River Gorge in Rogers, Kentucky, is offering guests a chance to paddle through a cavernous former mine. The flooded limestone mine has been abandoned for nearly a century.
The Red River Gorge is located in Daniel Boone National Forest in east-central Kentucky, approximately three hours from Dayton.
To fully grasp the natural beauty of the abandoned mine, the Gorge Underground offers a number of different tours on boats, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, allowing guests to explore the gorge either on their own or with a guide.
Credit: Chris Stewart
Credit: Chris Stewart
American Sign Museum
When: Wednesday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.
Where: 1330 Monmouth Ave., Cincinnati
Cost: Free for members, $15 for adults and $10 for seniors, youth, military and first responders
More info: www.americansignmuseum.org
The American Sign Museum is 20,000-square-feet of more than a century of American signage. From early, pre-electric signs adorned in goldleaf to the earliest electric signs, to beautiful art-deco neon and the modern plastic-faced sign, the museum covers it all. Expect to spend at least an hour exploring the history of this always-seen, but virtually unnoticed, industry.
The museum preserves and protects American history and pays homage to the artistry and craftsmanship of days gone by. The collection honors an often overlooked part of culture that hides in plain sight as part of people’s daily lives.
There is a variety of tours that are offered including public tours, group visits, virtual group tours and themed tours. Prices will vary for these options.
“A Christmas Story” House and Museum
When: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve; Closed Christmas and New Year’s Day
Where: 3159 W. 11th St., Cleveland
Cost: General Admission is $15; children three to 12 are $11; seniors (60+) are $14, and children two and under can get in for free. Admission includes admittance to both the house and museum.
More info: www.achristmasstoryhouse.com
Even if you’re not a fan of Christmas movies, it’s likely that you have at least watched “A Christmas Story” at least once in your lifetime (to help jog your memory, it contains a very famous scene in which one of the young boys gets his tongue stuck to an icy flagpole).
Though the movie takes place in the fictional town of Hohman, Indiana, many of the scenes involving Ralphie Parker and his family were filmed at a historic home in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland.
Fans of “A Christmas Story” can now pay a visit to the home where all of the holiday action took place, still decorated to reflect the 1940s era of the movie. In fact, each room nearly or exactly mirrors the setting laid out in the movie (complete with a leg lamp in the front window).
Directly across the street from the historic house is “A Christmas Story” Museum, featuring original props, costumes, memorabilia and hundreds of never-before-seen photographs from the filming of the movie. While you’re there, be sure to check out the toys from Higbee’s window, Randy’s snowsuit, the chalkboard from Miss Shields’ classroom and the family car.
PNC Festival of Lights
When: Through Jan. 8, 2023 at 4 p.m.
Where: Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, 3400 Vine St., Cincinnati
Cost: Free with zoo admission which costs between $21.50 to $9.50
More info: https://cincinnatizoo.org/
The Cincinnati Zoo will still be shining bright as it is once again transformed into a “Wild Wonderland” for the 40th annual PNC Festival of Lights. Come early for more animals and stay for the lights.
In addition to admiring the beauty of 4 million LED lights, visitors can find the five Fiona fairies in Fairyland, take in a blacklight puppet show, marvel at the spectacular Wild Lights show on Swan Lake, or snack at one of two S’mores-n-More stands.
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Credit: Tom Gilliam
German Village in Columbus
When: Anytime
Where: German Village Society, 588 S. Third St, Columbus
Cost: Free unless you take a guided tour, which range from $10 to $20
More info: www.germanvillage.com
German Village is a vibrant community known for its charming brick streets and sidewalks, beautifully tended gardens and homes, pedestrian-friendly lifestyle, thriving shops, restaurants and businesses, and year-round volunteer and social events.
Some popular stores include Helen Winnemore’s, Tiki Botanicals and The Book Loft, which offers 32 rooms of books to explore. Many restaurants and bars line the streets that include a couple delicatessens, dessert shops and Schmidt’s Restaurant and Sausage Haus, which has been in German Village since 1886.
On the approximately one-hour tour, a guide will take patrons through the brick streets lined with quaint homes, gardens, shops, galleries, and restaurants. You have the option to choose between a walking tour guide or a step-on bus tour guide. There are also golf cart tours and a self-guided scavenger hunt.
Louisville Mega Cavern
When: Open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Where: 1841 Taylor Ave., Louisville, Kentucky
Cost: Prices vary per activity.
More info: louisvillemegacavern.com
An array of adventures awaits underground such as ziplining, tram tours, 90-minute walking tours and an aerial ropes challenge course.
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