Krohn Conservatory, Cincinnati, Ohio

Web site: Krohn Conservatory
Address: 1501 Eden Park Dr, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Time took: 2 Hours
Admission Fee: Free

Till I reach this place, I was not sure of what to expect. There are three botanical houses - Desert House, Palm House and Fern House in the conservatory. Desert house had a display of Bonsai and some desert plants. Also, there were many reptiles mainly snakes & tortoise on display. Good place for kids to touch and feel snake & tortoise. You can get a picture holding a snake for some fee.

Fall floral show is held from September through October and this showcases a pollinator garden. I enjoyed looking at so many flowers of different colors in one place.

Palm House is a replica of the tropical rain forest. They have the Banana tree, Coffee tree, Palm and many more. Also, a waterfall at the end of the palm house is refreshing.

The Fern house has pomegranate tree, papaya tree, tiny moss, moist rocks, ferns, lots of varieties of plants and a few fish in the pond.

Every spring Krohn conservatory hosts butterfly show and it is best to visit the show on weekdays as holidays tend to attract huge crowds. Beautiful butterflies are attracted to bright colors. Wear a bright shirt or accessorize with bright colors to attract butterflies.

Airshow 2010, Dayton, Ohio

Web site: Dayton Airshow 2010
Address: Dayton International Airport
Time took: 10AM-5PM
Admission Fee: 20$General Admission; discounts available if purchased at selected Kroger locations
Overall Rating:5/5

Airshow in Dayton Ohio was held on July 17th & 18th. In 2011 it will be held on 23rd & 24th of July. Make sure to block these dated in your calendar. It is a spectacular event. The airshow starts around 11AM. There was a huge display of static airplanes ranging from fighters, warbirds, private jets. Make sure to reach there early so that you can have a look at this display. Also, there were few RV and Automobiles on display.

Airshow started with an opening ceremony by skydiving team at around 11AM. It was followed by an amazing performance by professionals. AeroShell Acrobatic Team performance was the best in the first half of the show. An hour break is followed by demonstrations of Super Hornet, Fighting Falcon, and C-11. Performance by Kayal and Amanda Franklyn is worth mentioning. I really wonder how these pilots take all the +ve and -ve G's !!!!!!

And there was a school bus which topped a speed of around 350mph with its fighter jet engines. I would have never been late to my school if my school bus was this good :)

The last performance was by U.S Blue Angels which is breathtaking. This performance by an elite team of Navy, in their Hornets, is the show stopper. Lots and lots of food stalls were there. But if you have any special diet requirements (like vegan) better pack your own stuff. do not forget to take your chairs, umbrella, picnic bag, water, and sunblock. Lots of demo planes crafted out of wood and other merchandise was available in the gift shop.

Finally, if you have a chance to visit an airshow, never miss it.

The Historic Loveland Castle, Cincinnati, Ohio

Web site: http://www.lovelandcastle.com/
Address: Loveland Castle 12025 Shore Rd, Loveland OHIO 45140
Time took: 2 hours min.
Admission Fee: 3$

Not many people are aware of this castle. Very small castle but reasonably good. It is amazing to know that the castle is the brainchild of one man, Sir Harry Andrews. They have a collection of swords and armors. The Knight at the reception was kind enough to explain to me a few things about the castle. It is a good picnic spot. But be sure to pack all the food you need. There is only one vending machine in the castle.

I got to know that they have a Scary Knight Tour during Halloween. And yes, this sure is a place for Halloween:).During my visit, the garden in the castle was rented out for a wedding. It sure is a good place for small parties. But, considering the weather in summer, I don't know if this castle is a good pick for summer weddings. They rent out castle for private parties, weddings, receptions, scouts. All the info is available on their website. There is a small gift shop in the castle if you need a souvenir. I think I will visit this place this winter. I really want the pictures of the castle in the snow.

National Museum of the US Air Force, Dayton, Ohio

Web site: http://www.nationalmuseum
Address:1100 Spaatz Street Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433 - (937) 255-3286
Time: One Day
Admission Fee: Free
Parking: Free

It is an honor to visit this place. They have a huge collection of US military aerospace vehicles displayed across three huge hangers. Each hanger is dedicated to a specific era of aviation. The first hanger is Early Years Gallery. It covers the military aviation from the time of Wright brothers and their contemporaries, through World War I and to the lead up to World War II. The second hanger tells the story of US military aviation in world war 2. It also has exhibits from Korean and southeast Asia wars. The third hanger is cold war gallery which has wide display of bombers, UAV and modern warfare. In the end, there is a display of missile and space vehicles.

There is a free Presidential tour available to the visitors. All the Airplanes used by Presidents of the USA are displayed in one hanger and another hanger is dedicated to Research & Development. Visitors need to register for the tour at the front desk. A valid photo ID is required for this tour. I did not have time for all the movies in IMAX. However, the one I watched, 'Fighter pilot - Operation Red Flag' is just amazing. This is a must-visit place for any tourist. I can bet that you won't find such huge collection of Military Aircrafts anywhere else.

Downtown Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio

Fountain Square: This is an amazing place to hang out any time of the year. Lots of food, local bars and shopping nearby. Based on the season and occasion, something or other will be going on here throughout the year. Fountain Square is the most happening place with live concerts, salsa dancing, tailgate parties, fireworks etc. Christmas is particularly beautiful with bright lights and open ice rink. Since its located in the heart of downtown Cincinnati, parking can be a bit challenging at times. 

Carew Tower Observatory: is an open-air observatory deck in downtown Cincinnati. Carew Tower is a two-minute walk from the Fountain Square. A very small, open-air Observatory deck is located on the 49th floor. Just for 4$, this is a real deal. 

Pick a clear day for a spectacular view of downtown Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. A small gift shop is also located on the 49th floor.

Smale Riverfront Park: Carousel, splash pads, river walks, play areas for the entire family, rose garden, picnic areas, slides, rock climbing and lots of photo ops.

Beautiful park with gardens amazing river views. A nice place for a family day out in downtown Cincinnati. 

Sharon Woods, Cincinnati, Ohio

Sharon Woods, located in Sharonville, OH is spread across 730 acres of land. Want to take your dog for a walk or just want some family time away from a busy life? This is the place you can consider. It has picnic shelter, playground for kids, soccer field, golf course, lake for boating or a trail if you would like to take a walk along the lakeside. Be it spring, summer or fall, this is a really good place to visit. 

It is our family tradition to visit Sharon Woods Christmas lighting and Santaland during the holidays. The drive-through Holiday lightings are open right after Thanksgiving till the NewYear. Heritage village museum is a nice place to visit in Sharon Woods. A small indoor play area and a cute little gift shop are located next to the village museum.

Ohio Caverns, West Liberty, Ohio

Ohio Caverns is the largest caverns in Ohio and has some amazing formations. Path of the tour is narrow hence no strollers or wheelchairs. Entry to the cavern is easy but before exiting the cavern, guests have to climb around 60 stairs.

It takes around 2hrs to reach this place from downtown Cincinnati. I should say that this place is amazing and worth a visit. I love the fact that people are trying hard to preserve this place. The sight of crystal formation in floodlights is beautiful. If you are anywhere near Cincinnati or Dayton or Columbus, try visiting this place once. The temperature remains around 57°F throughout the year so better bring a jacket. Even though the guided tour is around an hour, there are lots of things to do. It is a good picnic spot so bring along food, play some games and have fun.