21 Indoor Attractions for a Rainy Day in Cincinnati

Newport Aquarium

1 Levee Way, Newport on the Levee, Newport, Ky.
See and touch a variety of aquatic life at this massive, walk-through aquarium, which boasts the world’s first Shark Bridge. View exhibits featuring penguins, jellyfish, the world’s largest collection of shark rays and more.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

American Sign Museum

1330 Monmouth Ave., Camp Washington
The largest public sign museum in America “promotes sign preservation and restoration by displaying nearly 100 years of signage.” Get lost in the ads and landmarks of yesteryear. Winding pathways of colorful signage give way to a mocked-up Main Street, with faux storefronts, cobblestone and giant logos from Howard Johnson, McDonald’s and Marshall Field. From roadside nostalgia and a looming Big Boy to pharmacy signs and gas station markers, the flashing lights, buzzing electricity and rotating wonders are almost a sensory overload. Almost. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday; noon-4 p.m. Sunday; guided tours 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. $15 adult; $10 senior/student/youth/military; free children 12 and under.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal

1301 Western Ave., Queensgate
Union Terminal is Cincinnati’s grand Art Deco home to multiple museums. A former train terminal, the space is an architectural wonder. Houses the Museum of Natural History & Science, which features a recreated limestone cave; the Duke Energy Children’s Museum, consistently ranked in the top 10 children’s museums in the U.S.; the Cincinnati History Museum, which allows you to go back in time and climb aboard historical replicas of steamboats, buses and more; the Cincinnati History Library; with its impressive regional history collection; the Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX Theater, which features a five-story domed screen; the Arts Consortium of Cincinnati; and the Cincinnati Railroad Club.
Photo: Jesse Fox

Arcade Legacy

Cincinnati Mall, 662 Cincinnati Mills Drive, Forest Fair; Newport, 1765 Monmouth St., Newport, Ky.; Bar Edition, 3929 Spring Grove Ave., Northside
The origins of Arcade Legacy’s flagship location feels like imagery derived from a post-apocalyptic video game: To enter, customers must first walk through the nearly-abandoned Forest Fair Mall (now known as Cincinnati Mills). The halls are dimly lit and the footfalls of die-hard mall-walkers can be heard above. Outside the empty food court, humanity is found in Arcade Legacy’s 7,600-square-foot shop.The classic arcade has over 70 arcade games and 20 classic and current gaming consoles (with giant screens to play on). A new location called Arcade Legacy: Bar Edition gives gamers the opportunity booze it up and nosh on a hot dog or other snacks.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Carol Ann’s Carousel

8 E Mehring Way, Downtown
The whimsical carousel is glassed-enclosed and features 44 hand-carved animals which you can ride for $2.
Photo: Jesse Fox

The Rook

1115 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine
People can play Twister, Cards against Humanity, The Game of Nasty Things…, The Resistance: Avalon and Pictionary, all the while snacking on sliders and drinking board-game-themed cocktails, local beers on draft or wine. 4 p.m.-midnight Monday-Thursday; 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday; 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.-midnight Sunday.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

EnterTRAINment Junction

7379 Squire Court, West Chester
This West Chester warehouse is home to the world’s largest indoor train display, with two miles of track that travels through three time periods of American history: 1860-1900’s, the 1950’s and today. There’s also an interactive railroad museum and imagination Junction, where kids can climb, slide and crawl through all sorts of play displays. Open daily. Admission fee.
Photo via facebook.com/EnterTRAINmentJunction

Visit the Foodie Amusement Park: Jungle Jim’s International Market

Free admission
Jungle Jim’s is an amusement park for foodies, and not just because of its kitschy statues and animatronics. It sells nearly 1,000 different kinds of hot sauce, which makes the Aisle of Inferno (as it’s so dubbed) “the largest retail selection in the United States.” It’s pretty hard to miss — it’s the one with the giant fire truck on top of it. Stop by the bar to grab a glass of wine or a beer while you wander and indulge in several cheese samples.5440 Dixie Highway, Fairfield
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

RockQuest Climbing Center

3475 E Kemper Road, Sharonville
Housed in a former power plant, RockQuest is an outdoorsy indoor adventure for those interested in getting high or at least attempting to while wearing a crotch harness. If you’ve never climbed, they offer a variety of classes for different levels. Build strength and confidence and challenge yourself in a fun, safe environment. $15 per person for admission; rental prices vary.
Photo via facebook.com/rockquestclimbingcenter

Lazer Kraze

1335 Donaldson Road, Erlanger, Ky.
Suit up and run into a black-light lit room armed with a laser gun. Broken into two teams, it’s likely you’ll play a stranger (even if you arrive with a group of friends). Yes, a devious little kid will probably sneak out from behind a wall, point his gun, stick out his tongue and target you for the entirety of the game. The divvied-up battlefield actually becomes intense; each time you’re shot, your scores gets lower. Take your kids or feel like a kid again. 4-9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 4 p.m.-midnight Friday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday; noon-8 p.m. Sunday.
Photo via facebook.com/LazerKraze