Take a scenic tour of Cincinnati from the skies

Cincinnati is a big city, and sometimes there just isn’t enough time to cover it all in one day. But, with some of Cincinnati’s helicopter tour options, you can enjoy a scenic, bird’s-eye view tour. Stratus Helicopter Tours, operating out of Cincinnati’s historic Lunken Airport, is the perfect way to spend a summer afternoon or evening with close friends, family or even with a date. Stratus offers scenic tours, sports fan tours and park view tours — and this year, it’s also offering a Father’s Day tour, all exploring some of Cincinnati’s most well-known landmarks, stadiums and rivers.

Celebrate Cincinnati’s favorite mystery meat at Goettafest

Nothing says “I’m proud to be from Cincinnati” like an appreciation for the German-inspired meat and grain sausage, goetta, and what better way to celebrate that love than at the annual Glier’s Goettafest? The festival takes place over two weekends, July 24-27 and July 31-Aug. 3, at Newport’s Festival Park on the Levee and features live music, games and all things goetta. No, seriously, the festival features goetta pizza, goetta vending machines, goetta donuts and even goetta fudge, if you’re feeling adventurous. True goetta lovers can also get their photos with the official Glier’s Goetta mascot, the Goetta Guy.

Tailgate with FC Cincinnati group Die Innenstadt

Whether you’re a die-hard fan, first-time watcher or even a bandwagoner — we don’t judge — you’re guaranteed to be full of FC Cincinnati pride after you celebrate with Die Innenstadt. The group, whose name means “The Inner City,” is the largest independent supporters group for FC Cincinnati. Founded in 2016, the group strives to create a community of FCC fans across Cincinnati neighborhoods and to cultivate an environment where everyone is welcome, no matter your knowledge of sports — just be sure to sport your best orange and blue. Die Innenstadt celebrates each FC Cincinnati match day at OTR Stillhouse, where you can enjoy local craft beers and small bites as well as their famous march to TQL Stadium with flags waving, chanting and singing, all out of love for the home team.

Grab your favorites from Findlay Market and have an afternoon picnic

There’s just something so quintessentially summer about a picnic in your favorite park, and lucky for you, Cincinnati has plenty of perfect options for this summer activity. Head over to Findlay Market and grab your favorites to stock your basket. Whether you’re looking for tacos with the most savory chips and salsa from Mama Lo Hizo, or those classic picnic snacks with a twist from Gibbs Cheese, Findlay Market has all the goods, and we mean all. Cincinnati is also home to dozens of scenic parks, from Devou and Eden Park to Sawyer Point and Stanbery, so no matter what side of town you’re from, you’ll find the perfect backdrop for your summer picnic.

Go on a creamy whip crawl

If there’s one thing the Queen City has down pat, it’s ice cream — and summer is the perfect season to explore some of the most well-known seasonal creamy whips and soft-serve novelty shops. Grab your friends, and choose some of your favorite creamy whips — whether you’re a fan of The Cone, The Mt. Washington Creamy Whip, Pendleton Parlor or a good old-fashioned scoop from Graeter’s — and spend the day trying a variety of their offerings. You may head home with the stomach ache of a lifetime, but it will be well worth it. Bonus points if you create a rating system to determine the best creamy whip spot for the summer.

Go kayaking or canoeing down the Little Miami River

Trade in screen time for an afternoon on the Little Miami River with one of Cincinnati’s many excursion options for canoeing and kayaking. Scenic River Canoe Excursions, a fan favorite, offers a six and eight-mile option, where you can coast down the Little Miami River and even dock for a swim and a snack along the way. All that paddling definitely works up an appetite, so be sure to stop for a late lunch at Little Miami Brewing Company and treat yourself to a local craft beer and a slice of pizza.

Check out the Newport Aquarium’s new jellyfish exhibition

Need a break from the summer heat? The Newport Aquarium’s new jellyfish exhibit, Jellies: Go With the Flow, is the perfect reason to spend an afternoon with friends and family. The exhibition features an underwater dreamscape with five different jellyfish species. Guests can explore the life cycle of a jellyfish or relax in a cozy lounge surrounded by the magic of the jellies. Tickets are available at newportaquarium.com.

Find your rhythm at Salsa on the Square

You can find your rhythm every Thursday night at Salsa on the Square in Fountain Square. Get your groove on with friends and enjoy the sounds of local and regional Latin bands like The Amador Sisters, Tropicoso, Latin Beat Project and more. Are you hoping to perfect your salsa moves? Salsa on the Square features large basic and intermediate dance classes, all free of charge. Each Salsa on the Square event takes place from 6-10 p.m., but be sure to come early for happy hour from 4-6 p.m.

Pig out at the Sharonville Root Beer Stand

Craving a little nostalgia this summer? Stop by The Root Beer Stand in Sharonville, where the root beer and good vibes are always flowing. The Root Beer Stand has been a Cincinnati summer tradition and sweet escape for many since it opened in 1957 as an A&W Root Beer Stand. The Cincinnati institution offers anything from chili dogs and hamburgers to refreshing root beer floats and ice cream sundaes.

Get your hands on an order (or two) of the seasonal Skyline Nachos

What’s better than a mouth-watering plate of chips and melted cheese? Adding a generous helping of Skyline Chili to the mix. Since 2024, Skyline has been blessing Cincinnatians with their seasonal Skyline Nachos, featuring crisp chips, white queso and Skyline Chili, topped with that unreplicable Skyline shredded cheese. Feeling extra adventurous? Try the deluxe option, topped with lettuce, tomatoes, onions and sour cream. But act quickly — the nachos are only available for a limited time.

Spend a magical afternoon at the Krohn Conservatory’s Gothica Botanica butterfly show

The Krohn Conservatory got a gothic makeover this summer, and you don’t want to miss it. Take a few hours out of your afternoon and immerse yourself in the Gothica Botanica butterfly show, featuring shadowy black foliage, deep-hued blooms and iridescent butterflies creating a beautiful fusion of lights and shadows. This new exhibition is on display from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily until August, and tickets are available for purchase at cincinnati-oh.gov.

Explore one of Cincinnati’s historic neighborhoods on a pedal wagon

Ever wondered what it would be like to drink and ride a bike at the same time? Well, you can try your hand at it (sort of) with one of Cincinnati’s pedal wagon rides. Cincinnati’s pedal wagon is a multi-passenger crossover between a bike ride and a party bus, and revelers can choose between a variety of different cruise options in downtown and OTR, and they even offer a two-hour pub crawl before Cincinnati Reds home games. Each pedal wagon is BYOB, and offers 15-, 13- and six-passenger options, so grab your crew and get peddling.

Catch a double feature at one of Cincinnati’s drive-in theaters

Tap into that retro vibe and spend a cool summer evening under the stars with a good movie and maybe one too many concession snacks (but hey, we don’t judge.) Cincinnati is home to a few drive-in theater options to enjoy a vintage-inspired summer evening, including Amelia’s Starlite Drive-In and Holiday Auto Theatre in Hamilton. Each weekend, these drive-ins offer double features of the newest films, and if you’re lucky, even a throwback or two.

Boogie down at a Cincinnati Sunshine Session

Cincinnati is a melting pot of musical talent, spanning jazz and classical to DJs and singer-songwriters. Cincinnati’s Sunshine Sessions are the perfect opportunity to check out some local DJs — free of charge — in some of the city’s coolest outdoor spots. Sunshine Sessions take place on the first Sunday of each month from 2-9 p.m. and typically feature a lineup of four to five local and regional DJs spinning house tracks, EDM, ‘90s-inspired tunes and more. Each Sunshine Session takes place at an outdoor venue, with its most recent held in Washington Park. This event makes for the perfect Sunday to grab lunch and wind down with some local music after a hectic weekend.

Cool off and get your tan on with friends at Ziegler Pool

Ohio’s stubborn weather is finally giving way to sunshine — perfect for a poolside afternoon at Ziegler Pool in Over-the-Rhine. This public pool, located in Ziegler Park, is open seven days a week. Season passes are available for purchase, allowing unlimited access to the pool's facilities with no reservations needed. Not a pass holder? Not a problem — Ziegler Pool offers day passes for just $4 — just make sure to reserve your spot.

Try the “9-9-9” challenge — 9 beers and 9 hot dogs in 9 innings — at a Cincinnati Reds game

This daunting yet delicious twist on a Cincinnati Reds game challenges you to complete one beer of your choosing and one hot dog for every inning — so, nine hot dogs and nine beers over the course of the game. It’s a bucket list item for many Cincinnatians, but only a brave few can actually pull it off. Maybe you’ll try a variety of Great American Ball Park’s beer options and experiment with various hot dog toppings, or stick to your old reliable favorites. Lucky enough to make it to the end of the gauntlet? Unfortunately, there’s no trophy (yet), but you’re certain to go home with a stomach ache and some pretty sweet bragging rights.

Catch a Shakespeare in the Park performance

This summer, pass on the Love is Blind rerun and spend an afternoon watching classic live drama at Shakespeare in the Park. This summer-long event series features free performances from July 11-Aug. 31. This year, the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is performing its rendition of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at multiple locations throughout Greater Cincinnati. And the best part? Each Shakespeare in the Park performance is completely free to the public, with no tickets or RSVPs required.

Enter your cottage-core era and pick some berries at Blooms & Berries Farm Market and Garden Center

There’s something so picturesque about putting on your cutest outfit, picking some berries to bring home for a summer treat and taking a million pictures along the way. Lucky for you, you can fulfill your Instagram dreams at Blooms & Berries Farm Market in Loveland. Blooms and Berries offers u-pick hours, which begin in early to mid-July and run through at least Labor Day weekend in September. During u-pick hours, guests can bring containers or use the ones provided to pick from a variety of blackberries and blueberries. If you want to make a day of it, check out Bloom & Berries Tulip Trail and Petting Farm as well.

Get your Barbie on at the Cincinnati Museum Center

The Barbie movie left a lasting impression on all of us, and honestly, left most of us wanting more. The Cincinnati Museum Center is bringing us just that with Barbie: A Cultural Icon, their newest exhibition, which runs through September. The exhibit explores the history of Barbie chronologically, starting back in the ‘50s, and features over 300 artifacts from the Barbie franchise, behind-the-scenes prototypes and even some of the most infamous Barbie dolls in history. You can step back into your childhood for an afternoon and get tickets at cincymuseum.org.

Sip on a Mango Bubbles ale and chat with friends on the Rhinegeist rooftop

What’s more summer in Cincinnati coded than spending an evening on a rooftop bar? Probably spending an evening on a rooftop bar while sipping on a seasonal Cincinnati beverage, and at Rhinegeist, you can do just that. The local brewery has brought back a fan favorite for the season, Mango Bubbles, a bubbly blend of mango and tropical fruit, and you can sip on one (or three) while overlooking the Queen City on Rhinegeist Brewery’s iconic rooftop. The rooftop often features live music and performances, so keep an eye on Rhinegeist Taproom’s Instagram to plan your visit.