Ultimate List of Experience Gift Ideas Around Cincinnati (150+ Ideas)

Are you looking for a special experience gift for family or friends?

It can be challenging when you are buying for the person who has everything or if you don’t want to add more clutter with a gift that may or may not be used.

When you purchase a fun experience gift around Cincinnati you are helping put dollars back into the community by supporting small businesses, local restaurants, attractions, and museums.

This article contains affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission if you click a link and purchase something we have recommended at no additional cost.

Experience gifts are a great gift idea around the holiday season, special occasions, birthdays, and/or Mother’s or Father’s Day.

Experience Gift Ideas With Annual Passes

One of the best things about a family membership or annual pass is that it’s the gift that keeps on giving all year long! Consider one of these fun options:

• Kings Island Amusement Park (pass holders enjoy free parking)

• Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden (pass holders enjoy free parking)

• Newport Aquarium, featuring a 75-foot long Shark Bridge suspended above 385,000 gallons of open water

• Cincinnati Museum Center (Includes the Cincinnati History Museum, Duke Energy Children’s Museum, and Museum of Natural History & Science)
• Perfect North Slopes
• Cincinnati Nature Center
• Behringer-Crawford Museum (Museum located in Devou Park)
• Gorman Heritage Farm
• Creation Museum
• Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park
• Cincinnati Observatory
• Great Parks of Hamilton County (Annual Vehicle Motor Permit)
• Coney Island Amusement Park (Summer Waterpark)
• Kirkwood Adventure Park (Summer)
• Land of Illusion Adventure Park (Summer)
• Wake Nation Cincinnati (Summer)

Experience Gift Ideas for the Sports Fan

Surprise that special someone with tickets to an upcoming game, match, or race.

• Bengals Tickets
• Cincinnati Reds Tickets
• Reds Heads Kids Club – (Recommended for kids ages 3-12)
• Redsfest – Annual Event in December
• FC Cincinnati Tickets
• Cincinnati Cyclones Tickets
• Western & Southern Tickets
• Cincinnati Rollergirls

Experience Gifts That Are Fun With a Group

• Fowling Warehouse Cincinnati (Learn more about fowling…hint: football fans who enjoy bowling would love fowling)
• Archery Arena ( Archery Dodgeball) (Reader discount 20% off using code “ArcheryAdventure2023”)
• Top Golf
• Foam Warriorz
• Pedal Wagon
• Tokyo Kitty (Rent a private karaoke room in downtown Cincinnati)
• Cincinnati Curling Club (Learn to curl)

Ax Throwing Locations

• Urban Axes Cincinnati
• Flying Axes
• Class Axe Throwing
• Full Throttle Adrenaline Park (Florence and Cincinnati)

Indoor Go Kart Locations

• Full Throttle Adrenaline Park
• The WEB Extreme Entertainment
• Scene 75 Entertainment Center

Duckpin Bowling Around Cincinnati

• Pins Mechanical Co
• Hoppin’ Vines

Regular Bowling And An Indoor Bocce Court

• Rotolo | Bowling Bocce Eatery

Experience Gift Ideas for Escape Room Lovers

The following are escape rooms around Cincinnati:

• Houdini’s Room Escape (We’ve tried the Lab)
• The Escape Game Cincinnati
• Cincinnati Escape Room
• Breakout Games
• OTR Escape
• Sherlock’s Escape Rooms
• Escape Room Family LLC
• Delhi Who Dunnit
• Great Room Escape

Experience Gifts to Cross Off Your Bucket List

• iFLY Indoor Skydiving Cincinnati
• Skydive Cincinnati
• Stratus Helicopters
• Flamingo Air Sightseeing Tours

Experience Gifts for History Lovers

American Legacy Tours does a FANTASTIC job when it comes to making history interesting and FUN!

You can’t go wrong with any of the American Legacy tours ranging from historic, underground, food and drink, and haunted. I’ve taken several of their tours and I learn something new each time.

A few of my favorite American Legacy Tours are:

• Newport Gangster Tour
• Queen City Underground Tour
• Hidden Caverns Tour

Experience Gift Ideas for Sightseeing Around Cincinnati

• BB Riverboats on the Ohio River
• Cincinnati Segway Tours (Eden Park Segway Tour and Segway of Cincinnati Riverfront Tour)
• Cincinnati Dinner Train (Read more about our experience on the Cincinnati Dinner Train)
• Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad

Experience Gift Ideas for Foodies

I personally think that food tours are one of the BEST ways to see a city for both locals and tourists alike.

Learn more about the history of the area and great restaurants to visit during a food tour.

• Cincinnati Food Tours (Self-guided walking tour at Findlay Market, which is Ohio’s oldest continuously operated public market, or with a guide at multiple locations) Use discount code “CINCY” for 10% off any of the Cincinnati Food Tours – Use code “BonusBuy2023” for 20% off gift cards purchased Nov. 24-27.
• Riverside Food Tours
• Mystery Picnic
• Jungle Jim’s International Market (Be sure to stop by their tasting room for a wine tasting!)
• Afternoon tea at Bonbonerie

Cooking Classes in Cincinnati

The following local businesses offer cooking classes:

• Tablespoon Cooking Co.
• Sur La Table
• The Learning Kitchen
• Out of Thyme Kitchen Studio
• Findlay Kitchen
• Afromeals
• Del Gardo’s – (Cannoli-making class)
• Carobello Coffee shop (Barista Basics class or try a Tasting Experience at their Analog Coffee Bar)

Experience Gift Tours for Craft Brew, Wine and Spirits

Learn more about the art of craft brewing, distilling, or winemaking during one of these tours around Cincinnati.

• Cincinnati Wine Wagon, Cincinnati Brew Bus, & Cincinnati Bourbon Bus
• Brewing Heritage Trail
• Craft Connection – Cincinnati Brewery Tours
• Rhinegeist Brewery
• New Riff Distilling (Be sure to check out their happy hour offerings too!)
• Stamp Passport on the B Line
• Grilled to Perfection Dinner at Vinoklet Winery
• Second Sights Spirits

Experience Gift Ideas for Animal Lovers

• Wolf Encounter at Wolf Creek Habitat and Rescue (Yes, that’s a wolf playing with my hair)
• Behind the Scenes Experience at the Cincinnati Zoo (Encounters with the giraffes, penguins, wallabies, elephants, hippos, or Red Panda)
• Backstage Animal Experience and Penguin Encounters at Newport Aquarium
• Kitty Brew Cafe ( You can even adopt a cat while you’re there)
• Purrfect Day Cat Café

Experience Gift Ideas for Art Lovers

Regardless of your recipient’s skill level, consider gifting an annual membership or art class(es) at the following museums and centers:

• Cincinnati Art Museum (Annual Membership)
• Taft Museum of Art (Annual Membership)
• Contemporary Arts Center
• The Carnegie
• Baker-Hunt Art & Cultural Center (Classes)
• Art Academy of Cincinnati (Classes)
• Artworks Mural Tour

Paint and Sip Classes Around Cincinnati

• Not Your Average Paint and Sip Class
• A Stroke of Art
• Soul Palette
• Painting with a Twist
• Pinot’s Palette
• Board & Brush Creative Studio – Crestview Hills

Spatter Paint Experiences Around Cincinnati

• The Splatter Room Cincinnati
• The Paint Playground Experience

Museums with an Admission Fee

• American Sign Museum (The largest sign museum in the United States and a must-see museum for neon sign lovers!)
• Reds Hall of Fame Museum at Great American Ball Park
• Cincinnati Fire Museum
• Krohn Conservatory
• Cincinnati Museum Center
• National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
• The Historic Loveland Castle & Museum Chateau Laroche

Experience Gift Ideas for Crafters/ Makers

The following are some of the best places to connect with local artists and make something of your very own.

Where You Can Make a Custom Candle or Soap Around Cincinnati

• The Candle Lab OTR
• The Candle Lab Anderson
• Manitou Candle Co.
• Petals and Wicks
• Buff City Soap

Where You Can Make Jewelry or Something With Glass in Cincinnati

• Neusole Glassworks
• Brazee Street Studios
• A World of Beads
• The Silver Diva

Where You Can Make Pottery or Paint Your Own Pottery Around Cincinnati

• Queen City Clay
• Mad Potter
• The Pottery Place
• Doodlin Pottery Studio
• DIY Pottery-Florence Mall
• Color Me Mine
• Art On Fire Of Cincinnati
• Star Glazers
• Core Clay
• Covington Clay

Floral Workshops Around Cincinnati

• Two Little Buds
• Sadie Blossoms
• Eve Floral Co
• Robin Wood Flowers

Experience Gift Ideas for Concert Lovers

Whether it’s general admission tickets or front-row seats, tickets to a concert are the perfect gift for the music lover in your life. Give them something to look forward to with tickets to see their favorite artist or band.

Check out the upcoming shows and live music coming to the following venues:

• PromoWest Pavilion at Ovation
• Riverbend Music Center
• Bogart’s
• Cincinnati Music Hall
• Taft Theatre
• The Ludlow Garage
• Heritage Bank Center

Experience Gifts for Live Performance Lovers

A live performance is a great experience gift for anyone for appreciates the theatre. If you are looking for an additional gift to go with the tickets, you may want to consider a gift card to your favorite restaurant near the venue.

Check out upcoming live performances and special events at the following venues in Cincinnati:

• Broadway in Cincinnati tickets – Aronoff Center for the Arts
• Playhouse in the Park
• Know Theatre of Cincinnati
• Taft Theatre
• Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati
• Cincinnati Shakespeare Company
• Covedale Center for Performing Arts
• Warsaw Federal Incline Theater
• Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park
• The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati
• The Carnegie
• Cincinnati Ballet
• Circus Performance at Bircus Brewing Company

Experience Gift Ideas for Active Kids/ Teens

Indoor Trampoline Parks

The following trampoline parks are a great way to burn off some energy:

• Sky Zone Trampoline Park
• Rockn’ Jump
• Get Air Trampoline Park
• Urban Air Adventure Park
• DEFY Florence Kentucky
• Silverlake The Family Place (*Non-members can book for birthday parties)

Indoor Multi-Activity Attractions

• EnterTrainment Junction
• Sports of All Sorts
• Dave & Busters
• Main Event
• Scene 75 Entertainment Center

Indoor Playgrounds

• LilyPad
• Run Jump-n-Play
• We Rock the Spectrum – Cincinnati
• Wonderland Playground and Party Venue
• Dig ‘N Play
• Jump & Jack’s
• Discovery Zone
• Jump! Zone Party Play Center
• Happy Hangout West Side

Obstacle Course

• Swift Movement Studio
• USA Ninja Challenge
• ELMNTL fitness
• EarthJoy Tree Adventures (Extreme tree climbing)

Indoor Rock Climbing

• Climb Time Oakley
• Climb Cincy
• RockQuest Climbing Center
• Climb Time of Blue Ash
• Mosaic Climbing
• Silverlake The Family Place

Swim Lessons

Swim lessons can be a great gift for all ages and skill levels.

• Silverlake “The Family Place” (Northern Kentucky)
• Goldfish Swim School
• Bear Paddle Swim School

Experience Gift Ideas for Movie Lovers

Consider a gift card for the following movie theaters around Cincinnati:

• Cobb Liberty Luxury 15 & Cinébistro
• AMC Newport On The Levee 20
• Cincinnati World Cinema at the Garfield Theatre
• Esquire Theatre
• Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX Theater
• Cinemark Oakley Station and XD
• Cinemark Western Hills 14
• Mariemont Theatre
• AMC DINE-IN Anderson Towne Center 9
• Kenwood Theatre Cincinnati
• RJ Cinema Distillery & Taproom
• Regal Wilder

Drive-in Movie Theatres

Use this drive-in movie checklist before you go.

• Hollywood Drive-In Theatre
• Starlite Drive-in
• Holiday Auto Theatre

Ice Skating Experience Gift Ideas

You can give the gift of ice skating year-round between all these options around Cincinnati.

Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks Around Cincinnati

• Ice Skating/ Bumper Cars on the Ice at Fountain Square
• Fifty West Burger Bar Ice Rink
• Ice Rink at Summit Park

Indoor Ice Skating Rinks Around Cincinnati

• Northland Ice Center
• Northern Kentucky Ice Center
• Queen City Sportsplex (formerly known as Sports Plus)

Rooftop Igloos Around Cincinnati

• Frosthaus Covington
• Upper Deck at the AC Hotel 
• The View at Shires’ Garden
• Braxton Brewery (Covington, KY)
• Kon-Tiki’s Fire Lounge Igloo Experience (Newport on the Levee)

Unique Overnight Stays Around Cincinnati

Give the recipient something to look forward to with a unique overnight stay in the great outdoors.

• EarthJoy Treehouse Adventures (I’ve stayed in each of their treehouses and had a great time at both!)
• The Swing House (Airbnb with a Giant Swing inside)
• 21c Museum Hotel (Art-themed boutique museum hotel) Save $$$ on booking your stay here
• Great Wolf Lodge (Learn more about what to expect at Great Wolf Lodge) Save $$$ on booking your stay here
• Kings Island Camp Cedar (Luxury campground with cabins and RV campsites)
• Great Parks of Hamilton County (Cabins and campsites at various campgrounds) We had one of the best experiences when we camped at Winton Woods.
• Hueston Woods Lodge
• Family Twiga Overnight the Cincinnati Zoo
• Overnight at the Newport Aquarium (Sleep with the sharks)

Save Money on Cincinnati Experiences

Cincinnati POGO Pass – use the “ADVMOM” discount code for 50% off a pass that includes 13 attractions in Cincinnati!

Save on the following attractions around Cincinnati included with the Pogo Pass and don’t forget to use discount code “ADVMOM“:

• One (1) general admission ticket to Cincinnati Zoo
• One (1) visit to EnterTRAINment Junction
• One (1) general admission ticket for Deck The Y’alls LIGHTFEST!
• Two (2) Y’alls Baseball games during the regular season.  Each Pogo Pass member receives One (1) ticket per game.
• One (1) visit to Jump!Zone.
• One (1) visit to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
• One (1) Museum Admission ticket to Cincinnati Museum Center which includes… The Children’s Museum, Museum of Natural History & Science, and Cincinnati History Museum
• One (1) visit to Strike & Spare Cincinnati. – Each visit is good for one Fun Zone Wrist Band Play.
• One (1) visit per month to Velocity Esports for your choice of: One (1) hour of unlimited gameplay in the arcade. One (1) hour of unlimited PC or console gaming in the esports lounge
• One (1) visit to Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame Museum.
• One (1) visit to The Web Extreme Entertainment each month. Members can choose between Go-karts, climbing wall, laser tag, mini bowling, ValoJump, or mini golf.
• One (1) General admission ticket to Happy Hangout – Indoor kids playground.
• Two (2) visits to Fowling Warehouse for open play. Members can only redeem one open play per visit. 
• One (1) General admission ticket to the Recreation Outlet.

Watch My Segment with John Matareese

You can see clips of me indoor skydiving at iFly.

Experience Gift Giveaway

Enter giveaways for the following individual attractions:

• Birthday Party for 12 Players at Archery Arena
• 4 Admission tickets to Kirkwood Adventure Park
• 2024 Family Membership to Taft Museum of Art
• $50 gift card to Cincinnati Food Tours
• 2 Cincinnati POGO Passes
• $50 Gift card to Tablespoon Cooking Co.
• 2 Tickets to Peter Pan The Broadway Musical at the Aronoff on Tuesday, March 12, 2024