The Newport Aquarium is one of many family-friendly activities in the Cincinnati area, but is it worth a trip from Louisville or other parts of the Bluegrass State?
According to a news release from the aquarium, new sharks were introduced to the “Surrounded by Sharks” exhibit to kick off “Shark Summer” on Monday. It might be worth a day trip, or a full weekend. Here are some things to consider.
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Things to do around Cincinnati
The Cincinnati area offers a variety of activities from the Newport Aquarium to the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum to the Cincinnati Art Museum.
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Kentucky’s Newport Aquarium
The Newport Aquarium, located across the river from downtown Cincinnati, is home to multiple exhibits and an array of underwater species. According to a news release from the organization, three sharks were recently introduced to the “Surrounded by Sharks” exhibit, including two zebra sharks and a ray shark.
The two male zebra sharks can be spotted gliding through the 385,000-gallon exhibit with ray shark, Shan. Shan was born in Taiwan and named after an original caretaker. She was born under human care as part of Newport’s efforts to research and save the “rare and critically endangered animals,” said the release. Shan will join ray sharks Sunshine and Scooter.
To buy tickets, click here. “Shark Summer” concludes on Sept. 8.
Location: 1 Levee Way in Newport.
Visit Cincinnati’s Findlay Market
Findlay Market, Ohio’s oldest operating public market, is one of the best public markets in the country, as previously reported by The Cincinnati Enquirer. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 and is Ohio’s oldest surviving municipal market house, according to the organization’s website.
Location: 1801 Race St.
Visit Cincinnati Zoo
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden opened in 1875 and is a “crown jewel” in the area, according to the organization’s website. It is home to more than 400 animal and 3,000 plant species, attracting more than 1.7 million visitors annually.
Location: 3400 Vine St.
Visit the Cincinnati Art Museum
The Cincinnati Art Museum, which received financing from the Cincinnati Museum Association to begin construction in 1881, contains a diverse collection of around 75,000 pieces spanning over thousands of years, according to the organization’s website.
Location: 953 Eden Park Drive.
Visit Cincinnati Nature Center
The Cincinnati Nature Center, with 1,800 acres of land and more than 20 miles of bikeable trails in two locations, attracts more than 170,000 visitors each year, according to the organization’s website. The preserve, which opened in 1967, also offers various programming and educational opportunities, and is dedicated to “connecting people, especially children, to the natural world.”
Location: 4949 Tealtown Rd.
Visit the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum
The Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum features two floors of exhibit galleries and offers a self-guided tour lasting around 45 to 60 minutes. According to MLB.com, the 16,000-square-foot space provides educational and interactive opportunities while highlighting the history and tradition of the Cincinnati Reds.
Location: Great American Ball Park at 100 Joe Nuxhall Way.
Distance to Cincinnati from major Kentucky cities
Cincinnati isn’t far for many Kentuckians. See the average driving time, distance, and possible routes to downtown Cincinnati from your city below.
Louisville to Newport Aquarium
Louisville area residents can get to Newport Aquarium in about an hour and a half to two hours, or 100 miles.
Paducah to downtown Cincinnati
The drive from Paducah to downtown Cincinnati is approximately five hours or 315 miles.
Bowling Green to Newport Aquarium
Bowling Green is around three and a half hours, or 220 miles, from downtown Cincinnati.
Lexington to downtown Cincinnati
Lexington is about an hour and a half or 80 miles from downtown Cincinnati.
Owensboro to Newport Aquarium
Owensboro is around three and a half hours or 215 miles from downtown Cincinnati.
Hopkinsville to downtown Cincinnati
Hopkinsville is about four hours or 270 miles from downtown Cincinnati.
Hotels close to Newport Aquarium, downtown Cincinnati
See below for hotels on the Kentucky and Ohio side.
Kentucky
Downtown Cincinnati
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