Things to do in Cincinnati on a Rainy Day

Looking for something to do indoors on a rainy day? Check out our suggestions for family friendly ideas AND things to do for adults.

Indoor Play for Cincinnati Families:

Explore the Children’s Museum when you visit Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal. And don’t miss their new Science Interactives Gallery and Dinosaur Hall (located in the Museum of Natural History and Science).

Parky’s Farm has a large indoor “playbarn”. This former dairy barn has been converted into an indoor, farm-themed, accessible playground for children ages 2-12. Cost is $5.25/child (as of 2020). You do need a park sticker for your car to get into the parks (can be purchased as you pull in).

Have you experienced duckpin bowling? It’s like “regular” bowling but on a smaller scale. You typically use a small metal ball that fits into your hand and roll it down a smaller lane to knock down the pins. I love it and think it’s fun for all ages. Check out the duckpin bowling opportunities at Pins Mechanical Company in OTR, Hoppin’ Vines, Scene75, and more.

Visit MakerSpace at the downtown branch of the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Libraries. Featuring all kinds of hands-on equipment, this place is sure to get your creative juices flowing. They have a 3D printer, an audio recording station, a laser cutter, sewing stations, video stations, a large format scanner, and much more. And you do NOT need a library card to visit and create at MakerSpace.

For families with bigger kids, enjoy a visit to Full Throttle Indoor Karting in Tri-County. Make a day of it when you also visit Sky Zone and Dave & Busters – they’re all in the same area.

Check out the Cincinnati Children’s Discovery Center at Liberty Center, located inside the mall on the second floor in between Dick’s Sporting Goods and the MidPointe Library. Kids can climb a giant play structure (modeled after a flying pig!), build structures with giant foam blocks, and design courses for balls to travel through with tunnels and slides.

EnterTRAINment Junction (West Chester) has the world’s largest train display, an indoor play structure for the younger crowd, plus the A-Maze-N Funhouse (lots of fun for the older kids).

Indoor Play For Adults in Cincinnati:

Have you experienced duckpin bowling? It’s like “regular” bowling but on a smaller scale. You typically use a small metal ball that fits into your hand and roll it down a smaller lane to knock down the pins. I love it and think it’s fun for all ages. Check out the duckpin bowling opportunities at Pins Mechanical Company in OTR, Hoppin’ Vines, Scene75, and more.

The 21c Museum Hotel has two levels of art galleries. It’s free to explore and it’s open 24/7 (unless they have a private event scheduled). The exhibits change periodically. The 21c Museum Hotel is right next to the Contemporary Arts Center and right around the corner from the Weston Art Gallery so you can make it an art hop!

Braxton Brewing (Covington) now opens at 8am on weekdays and encourages folks to come in and enjoy their co-working environment. With an open floor plan, ample table space, whiteboards, a projector, and the fastest brewery internet in the country, Braxton was truly built for business.  They are closed on Mondays.

3 Points Urban Brewery (Pendleton) opens at 9am (Monday – Friday) as a free coworking space. The brewery features free wifi, ample seating, and Urbana Cafe drip coffee for purchase.

The Reds Hall of Fame Museum (on the grounds of Great American Ballpark) is a hidden gem for baseball fans. Stroll through their exhibits and enjoy Reds memorabilia, history, and traditions.

Visit MakerSpace at the downtown branch of the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Libraries. Featuring all kinds of hands-on equipment, this place is sure to get your creative juices flowing. They have a 3D printer, an audio recording station, a laser cutter, sewing stations, video stations, a large format scanner, and much more. And you do NOT need a library card to visit and create at MakerSpace. If you have a specific piece of equipment you know you want to use, you can make reservations online.

For those of you with a need for speed, pay a visit to Full Throttle Indoor Karting in Tri-County. Make a day of it when you also visit Sky Zone and Dave & Busters – they’re all in the same area.

The American Sign Museum is a fun spot to add some color to dreary days, with 20,000 square feet showcasing over 100 years of American signs.

The Cincinnati Art Museum, The Contemporary Arts Center, and the Taft Museum of Art are all great places to spend a rainy day.

New Riff Distillery offers tours of their facility. Space is limited – make reservations here. Various tours are offered.

Do some indoor rock climbing at RockQuest Climbing Center.

Explore the hidden depths of Jungle Jim’s International Market. You won’t believe this place! Jungle Jim’s (Fairfield) is a foodie’s dream with over 6 acres of food and ingredients from all over the world. There is also a location on the east side in Eastgate. Check out all they have to offer in store tours (Monday-Friday) or at one of their many events. But you don’t really need any of that to have a good time there!