Anderson Ferry – A Trip Back in Time

Do you like to go on drives? I love to go on a drive and my husband knows it. Give me a long afternoon with nothing on the agenda and ask me if I want to go on a drive and the answer will always be, “Oh yeah!”. With the addition of two kids into our lives, the drives have been few and way too far between. As they are now older, seven and nine, it’s getting easier and they’re more willing to indulge their Momma once in awhile. They’re beginning to learn that going on a drive means we get to see new things, experience new things and normally have a lot of fun along the way.

A few Saturday’s ago, we headed down to Findlay Market to pick up some treats for dinner along with fruit and vegetables for the week. Oddly enough, even though it was pouring down rain, we decided on the spot it was a perfect afternoon for a drive and an adventure. We turned out of Downtown and headed down River Road.

I’ve lived in Cincinnati for most of my life. Always on the East Side — not necessarily out of choice, it’s just the part that I’m used to. To cross over the river into Kentucky, I’ve always used a bridge and a car. Same is true for my husband and my kids. Now a part of me wishes I lived on the West Side of the city so that we’d have more excuses to cross the mighty Ohio River on the Anderson Ferry.

Our first trip across was great minus the torrential downpour of rain. Of course, this didn’t stop my husband or my children from scrambling out of the car to stand in the rain with their little kid umbrella’s soaking in the entire experience. We didn’t have the best weather, but we got a glimpse of something we talk about with our kids all of the time — slow down, look around you, catch the wonder and beauty of the world. Anderson Ferry is down and around the bend from downtown Cincinnati, so at least on the day we crossed, we didn’t see tall buildings or lots of cars busily hurry across the Bent Sprence: instead we saw trees and open sky.  For me it takes me on a trip back in time before there was such a thing as a bridge, there was such a thing as a ferry. I for one am thankful to be able to experience this little gem so close to home and thankful to have gotten to share it with my kids. They want to go back on a fair weather day and I want to as well.

After we crossed, we  had no idea where we were, but we knew we needed to head East so we drove along Rt. 8 into Ludlow and back to the bustle of the big city. I’ve never been through Ludlow. It was such a lovely place. I wish it hadn’t been raining so that we could have explored it more.

When I told my Mom where we had gone, she and my Dad told me stories about being me as a little girl and going with my family to an orchard in Parlor Grove, KY. They said the apples were always the best and we always had such a great time. I don’t have a memory of this at all. But super cool to get to hear them share stories about when I was little with my two kids sitting right there and taking it in with me.

You can cross over the Ohio on the Ferry for $5.50 a car, or you can park your car and pay $.50 to stand and cross. (The website has the prices wrong.) You have to pay cash and you can just purchase a round trip ticket for slightly more if you’d like. Either way, be sure to not miss this special treasure we have.

Photo credit goes to AndersonFerry.org as I wasn’t able to take photos on the day we crossed. Thank you! (Please note that the prices and information might not be correct on this site as it was last updated in 2008.)

When not blogging for Family Friendly Cincinnati, you can find Karen writing at her personal blog, Little World After All.