Best places for 10 popular indoor activities in Cincinnati

When the sun is shining and temperatures are warm, it's not too difficult to get out of the house and find something to do, whether it's a simple walk around the block or a day trip to the beach. But when temperatures are lower or rain is trickling down your windows, you're probably more likely to stay inside—and that's true no matter your age.

A 2020 survey of about 1,000 people from the National Recreation and Park Association showed that 58% of U.S. adults are less active in the winter. Similarly, a 2016 study out of the University of Cambridge found that average activity levels among children dropped to their lowest levels in February at about 48 minutes per day compared to 65 minutes per day in April, the peak month for activity.

The good news is there are an increasing number of ways to get out and be active, no matter the season and no matter what level of activity you're looking for. There are the longtime staples to visit year-round, from an awe-inspiring and educational visit to an aquarium or planetarium to a culturally stimulating night at the theater to a trip down memory lane at the bowling alley. For the gamers among you—or for those nostalgic for the 1970s, '80s, and '90s—there's always laser tag or an afternoon at the arcade.

Those looking to exercise their minds a bit more than their muscles could try the more recent sensation: escape rooms, which started captivating Americans of all ages in the mid-2010s. Meanwhile, people who want to sweat it out a bit can try to get into the skyrocketing success of indoor rock climbing, the bouncing business of trampoline parks, and the more adult activity that is ax throwing.

To motivate you to try a new activity this weekend, weather notwithstanding, Stacker compiled a list of the best places for popular indoor activities in Cincinnati using data from Yelp. Data is as of Feb. 21, 2024. Businesses were selected using Yelp's ranking system, which calculates an adjusted rating value that takes into account the number of ratings as well as the rating score itself.

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1 / 10

Arcade: Arcade Legacy

- Rating: 4.4/5 (51 reviews)
- Address: 2241 Crowne Point Drive Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Arcades
- Read more on Yelp

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2 / 10

Bowling: Pins Mechanical

- Rating: 4.2/5 (153 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1124 Main St. Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Bowling, Arcades, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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3 / 10

Laser tag: Scallywag Tag

- Rating: 3.5/5 (32 reviews)
- Address: 5055 Glencrossing Way Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Mini Golf, Laser Tag, Arcades
- Read more on Yelp

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4 / 10

Rock climbing: Climb Time

- Rating: 4.3/5 (16 reviews)
- Address: 10898 Kenwood Road Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Rock Climbing
- Read more on Yelp

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5 / 10

Aquarium: Aquatic Interiors

- Rating: 5.0/5 (2 reviews)
- Address: 7308 Ticonderoga Court Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Aquarium Services, Aquariums
- Read more on Yelp

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6 / 10

Planetarium: Drake Planetarium

- Rating: 3.0/5 (9 reviews)
- Address: 2020 Sherman Ave. Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Planetarium
- Read more on Yelp

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7 / 10

Ax throwing: Urban Axes - Cincinnati

- Rating: 4.7/5 (34 reviews)
- Address: 2010 Elm St. Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Ax Throwing
- Read more on Yelp

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8 / 10

Escape games: Breakout Games - Hyde Park

- Rating: 4.8/5 (117 reviews)
- Address: 3653 Michigan Ave. Ste 205B Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Escape Games, Team Building Activities
- Read more on Yelp

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9 / 10

Theater: Music Hall

- Rating: 4.9/5 (101 reviews)
- Address: 1241 Elm St. Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Performing Arts, Venues & Event Spaces, Landmarks & Historical Buildings
- Read more on Yelp

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10 / 10

Trampoline park: Acrocheer Gymnastics & Tumbling

- Rating: 5.0/5 (1 reviews)
- Address: 7890 Beechmont Ave. Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Trampoline Parks, Gymnastics
- Read more on Yelp

This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Jaimie Etkin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 251 metros.

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