One of my favorite things about being a mom is watching the excitement in my children’s eyes when they learn something new or discover how something works. It.Is.The.Best! I am feeling a little nostalgic as I sit here reminiscing about my childhood. All of the fun places my family visited and the wonderful field trips that I attended throughout school. This may seem silly, but an episode of Sesame Street popped into my mind, the one when children toured the Crayola factory. Watching 
each one of those crayons made from start to finish was mesmerizing! I was able to find the episode, thanks to Netflix, and I was so excited when my girls enjoyed it as much as I did!
Touring a restaurant, small business or factory is a learning experience for all ages. It teaches the process of how a product is made, and shows how much blood, sweat and tears were put into something to make it a success. Besides, getting a behind-the-scenes look at how something works makes you feel like a VIP and it may just teach you a thing or two!
Cincinnati has many local spots that offer tours. The good news is that most of them are around an hour long, so they are kid-friendly and mom sanity-friendly! My girls and I have been on several and have a few more to check out. Jump in on the fun and explore some tours around town, Cincinnati style!
Jungle Jim’s International Market (Fairfield and Eastgate Locations)
Explore the 6-Acre Food Lover’s Paradise at Jungle Jim’s. Take a tour of the store and enjoy (10) food samples from around the world! It is a food safari you don’t want to miss! Tours are offered for groups of 8 or more and last around a hour. They also can be customized to fit your group. The cost is $5 per person. When the tour is finished you get a $2 gift card to spend in the store. Tours are offered M-TH 9-5.
Chick-fil-A (Various Locations)
Stop in for a “Backstage Tour” – a behind-the-scenes look at the history and food at Chick-fil-A. Tours are free, last 10 minutes, and a special treat is given once the tour is complete. Check with your local restaurant for times and additional details.
Stan The Donut Man (West Chester)
Grab a group of little bakers and schedule a tour with Stan The Donut Man. Tours are offered in the winter months (Jan.-Mar.). Each child is $3. The cost includes a 30 minute tour, donut and juice, and a hands on experience where Stan shows the kids how to make different types of donuts. Please call in December to schedule a time. 513-759-0016
Jupiter Coffee and Donuts (Fairfield)
If you are searching for a tour that is geared more toward school-aged donut-loving children, Jupiter Coffee and Donuts offers tours at 6:30 or 7:00 in the evenings, Monday-Wednesday. They will show how the mixer works and give a demonstration on cutting the dough and getting the fryer ready to make donuts. Afterward, everyone will get to ice & eat a donut before going home. The tour is free and it lasts 1 hour. Contact 513-829-7674 to schedule.
Niederman Farm (Liberty Township)
Schedule your 2 hours of fun on the farm today! Educational Tours are offered in the spring and fall (mid-Sept through October). The Fall Tour includes a tractor ride, farm animals, corn maze, jumping pillow and play area. Students will also learn about the life cycle of a pumpkin & take home a pumpkin pie. $8 per student/adult (one teacher per class is free). All reservations are made online here. If you have questions, please contact 513-779-6184.
Rumpke Landfill & Recycling (Colerain)
Schedule a tour of Rumpke to learn more about what happens to your trash & recycling. Tours are free, offered year-round, and must be scheduled 2 months in advance. Tours are for ages Kindergarten and up. Groups of 10+ needed for each tour. Please visit here for more details.
Scotts Great American Ballpark Tour
Let’s visit the home of the Cincinnati Reds! This 2 hour guided tour offers visitors a chance to sit in the dugout, walk on the warning track and visit the press box. Lots of ballpark facts and the history of the Reds are shared as well. Tours are offered during the months of April-September. Adults $20, Seniors/Students $17, Military $17, Kids (ages 5-12) $20. Kids 4 and under are free. Call 513-765-7923 for information on specific tour times or to schedule.
Paul Brown Stadium
Who Dey! Set up a time to explore the home of the Cincinnati Bengals. The tour involves many fun facts about the stadium along with stops in the locker room, press box and a chance to run on the field. Tours are offered April through Mid-July, Monday-Friday from 10:00-2:00. Tour length is one hour. $7 per adult, $5 for children (ages 3 & up) and Seniors. Group Maximum is 30. Call 513-455-4805 to schedule.
Findlay Market
Head over to Findlay Market to learn about the market’s history! They offer free bi-monthly public tours, along with paid tours that cover the basics and involve treats! You may also contact them directly to customize the tour to your group at 513-665-4839 or email [email protected].
- Free Tours: 30 minutes. 2nd & 4th Saturday of the month. Tours are free but donations are accepted.
- Basic Tour: 30 minutes. Donation of $5 per person. Tuesday- Friday 9-11:30 and between 1-3:30.
- Tour & Treat: 30 minutes. $10 person person. You get to choose an item from 3 food options from a Findlay Market Merchant. Same times as the basic tour, limited weekend times available.
A few other places that offer tours include the Police Station, Fire Station, Post Office, Library & Historical Society. Check your local community to make sure tours are offered in your area, or even find one close by.
I hope that you have as much fun touring our town as we do!
