Family Fun at the Cincinnati Nature Center
Whenever I read about something new to do for families, I get excited and make a mental note to add that to our family “to do” list. Recently the Cincinnati Nature Center 
opened the Charles & Marge Schott Nature PlayScape (located in Rowe Woods, Milford, Ohio). Lucky for us, my oldest had a soccer tournament in Milford last weekend and after the 8am game (ouch) we headed over to check out the CNC and the Nature PlayScape.
Pulling into the Cincinnati Nature Center (CNC), you’ll first pay your admission fee ($8/adults, $3/kids 4-12 years, free/members). Since we are so accustomed to only having to pay for an annual parking pass for any of the Hamilton County Park District parks, paying the $8 adult admission seemed a tad high. But I changed my tune after enjoying the CNC and learning that they are a non-profit nature education center. Plus the CNC is an amazing place to visit. Being immersed in nature and enjoying the breathtaking scenery with your family is what memories are made of. If we lived closer, I would have purchased an annual family membership ($70) that not only allows you to enter the CNC at Rowe Woods as many times as you want, but you can also visit Long Branch Farms and Trails in Goshen, Ohio.
We started our visit in the Rowe Visitor Center. Here we were greeted by a CNC naturalist who was so welcoming. The RVC has hands on exhibits that kids love (doing the large fossil match was a winner for my oldest), a bird viewing area with binoculars, and a small area with snakes, frogs, and other creatures. My youngest was fascinated with the large snake cage with the numerous snake skins on top of the cage. There is also a gift shop filled with lots of great nature related items. We asked where would be the best place to start our visit. He guided us to Powell Crosley Lake where we could feed the fish (handfill of pellets are $0.25) and take a nice walk. The walk to the lake was gorgeous. The beautiful foliage, sounds of nature and gorgeous blue skies worked their magic on all of us. The girls had a great time feeding the fish and the fish started following us as we moved along the side of the lake. You can actually hike around the entire lake but we only made it 1/3 of the way before the girls exclaimed that they were ready to see the Nature PlayScape.
There are actually lots of trails to explore at the CNC. You could return numerous times and explore new trails on each visit (click here for the Trail Map). We headed back to the RVC and stopped by the restrooms before heading to the Nature Playscape (great tip since there are only portable restrooms near the Nature PlayScape). The Nature PlayScape is wonderful. If you have kids, please take them to visit. The entire outdoor space is geared to not only engage them in nature but to allow them to play, play and play some more. My girls loved playing in the sand pit but S loved the pea gravel pit even more. My youngest had the best time filling her shirt with pebbles then moving them to various logs and stumps and adorning them with branches. At the end, she had quite a gallery of pebble creations. While S, was in pebbleville , my oldest was in exploration mode. She headed over to the creek area where you can walk up/down the creak without anyone telling you to get out. She could turn over as many rocks as she wanted or dip her hands in the mud and she loved it. Farther back, you can walk along the trails into the West Wood where you will see some natural structures just perfect for kids to explore. Seeing the flowers in bloom and watching my girls enjoying their natural surroundings was so rewarding.
While Dad was supervising the girls in the sand pit, I ventured off on my own and headed outside of the Nature PlayScape to check out Matt’s Pond and Abner Hollow Cabin. This was a short walk from the PlayScape. The CNC also offers a variety of nature programs (from bird walks to hikes and more). Some of the programs are free while others have a small fee. Check out their calendar of events for more information. The Nature PlayScape also has programs included with your admission that are guided by a play facilitator and the play facilitator will encourage natural play and creative fun. Visit on the first Sunday of every month and you can enjoy an outdoor social complete with ice cream or cocoa.
I hope you’ll get a chance to visit the CNC and especially the Nature PlayScape with your family.
Cincinnati Nature Center – Rowe Woods 4949 Tealtown Rd., Milford, OH 45150 513.831.1711
I am going to take some pictures this weekend. The Cincy Nature Center would be a great place. Thanks for the idea! I really like Old Milford as well. Lots of things for the kids. I did find a video that has 2 a ton of interesting information about Old Milford. Here is the link if anyone is interested.
I wish the new playscape all the success. I know that a lot of hard work was put into it and often the only “nature” that chidren experience is when they go to the tot-lot in their neighborhood. I just want to stress that there is a big, sacred forest surrounding the playscape at CNC (Rowe Woods) that you really need to take yourself and your children through. Many folks will enjoy and benefit from the new playscape but if they never take the time to explore the woods at CNC with their children they will miss a very special and sacred experience. I just happen to be old-school and big on preservation of old things so I will always feel disappointed when anything that is autentically old and hisoric is remodeled. That’s just me. And I will miss that bird blind. There is another bird blind at CNC that with some extra bird seed and attention could be just as well-visited and used (by both bird and human!). CNC has always been my favorite spot to visit and will always be. There is no place like it!
Hi Michelle, it’s so nice to see your passion and love of the CNC and introducing kids to nature and all it beauty. I will definitely return to Rowe Woods and go on a hike to see the beautiful forest. Great suggestion. I totally get what you are saying. Thanks again for commenting. Have a great weekend.
I have been a member of CNC for 25 years. I recently checked out the new Marge Schott Playscape. I was dissappointed that the bird blind was removed and restrooms have been put in that area. The area that was once an open meadow with a historical log cabin on that site is now where the playscape is. The cabin has had “screens” installed in the windows and a new porch awning has been put on also. The playscape entrance resembles a safari land or zoo exibit entrance with large logs and a sign overhead. Two greeters wearing khaki clothing walkie talkies open a gate for you to enter. My children and I spent 15 minutes there and decided that we prefer the Rowe Woods; just us, one-on-one with the forest all to ourselves, walking on the trails quitely and being surprised at every turn. No other childrenn jockeying for position in the different play areas, no distractions.
Hi Michelle, so sorry you were disappointed with the PlayScape. Since we’ve never been, we really enjoyed it and didn’t know what it was like before. On our visit, we didn’t have any greeters and it wasn’t very crowded so my girls had plenty of open space to roam and enjoy the area. I did get to visit the historical log cabin and the pond behind the PlayScape and I liked that too. I’ll have to check out Rowe Woods too – sounds like you can have a peaceful time there and enjoy nature. Thanks for checking out the post.
It used to be free to visit the Cincinnati Nature Center on Mondays. You would have to check if it is still the case.
Unfortunately, they no longer offer that deal.
I looked on their website but didn’t see anything about having free Mondays. That would be great if they still did it but I couldn’t find anything. Thanks for checking out the post David. 🙂