Welcome to the Jungle!

Where can you feast on a lunch of fresh smoked salmon sushi under a giant, pink elephant head?  Where can you watch the enormous can of Campbell’s Soup enjoy a good time on a giant swing?  What other grocery brings shoppers in to shop, in a tour bus?  It can only be Jungle Jims!

Jungle Jim’s location is 5440 Dixie Highway (Route 4) in Fairfield, but going there feels like a shopping vacation!  Depending on where you live in the Greater Cincinnati area, it can be a bit of a drive.  From Milford or Eastgate,   it’s about 30 – 35 minutes.  From points in Mason, it will be perhaps 20 – 30 minutes.  If you live in the Hyde Park, Mt Lookout area, again, about 30 minutes.  But seriously. What else do you have to do on your day off? Laundry? Wash the floors? Nope….plan a trip to the Jungle.

The lively animated characters will entertain the kids, and the food selection will knock your socks off.  We can take a ½ hour just looking at the cheese selections. As Jungle Jim’s boasts over 1400 cheese selections in just the International Cheese section alone, before you even hit the deli, you can see why we get stalled! The bakery is just painful to enter if you have a sweet tooth.  So many dessert options. So little time.  There is an outstanding deli of course.  Select one or two of the overwhelming number of delicious prepared salads to enhance your main course.  There is a Natural Foods section, International Foods, and fresh Seafood.   You just have to go.

Soup on a swing? Why not!

We had our smoked salmon sushi lunch, and were treated to a complimentary taste of the hot cider.  We found the free samples of an outstanding fresh antipasto, and then tried the sample of whipped salmon mouse on a flat pretzel. Yes, if you are lucky, you can graze your way through the store.  Saturday and Sunday are the big sample days. 

There are more than just groceries here of course.  The Shasta store is fun. As in “She Hasta Have That”. Clever. If you have errands to run, there is a bank, post office and pharmacy to help check those chores off the list.  Be sure to check out the 2009 America’ Best Bathroom award winner.  I don’t generally recommend any particular locations “comfort station”.  Just trust me on this one.

There isn’t enough room here to discuss this place. I haven’t even mentioned the monorail, the humidor or the wine selection. Visit their site for all the latest information, including cooking school information and the online flyer of weekly specials.

More Cincinnati real estate information can be found at RealCincy.com

• Thomas & Friends – June 10 & 11, Bank of Kentucky Center, NKU
• Riverbend Music Center has a great line up for June:
June 4 – Coldplay, June 12 – Garrison Keillor’s Prairie Home Companion, June 16 – Dave Matthews Band, June 19 – Brad Paisley, June 20 – 311, and June 27 – Oh yea, they’re back! It’s The New Kids on The Block.

• Milford Ohio Kicks off the Summer with the 47th Annual Frontier Days! June 4 – 7. The parade starts at 6:30 on Thursday June 4th. Enjoy Food, Games, Lawn Mower Races, Karaoke Contest and the Big Chicken Dinner. Check out the official Frontier Days site for more information!

• At the PNC Pavilion at Riverbend The Offspring play June 24
• Broadway Across America Presents “A Chorus Line” at the Aronoff Center through June 7
 
• Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra – June 18, Music Hall. Featuring the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
• Playhouse in the Park presents “Marry Me a Little” – Through June 14. In the Thompson Shelter house.  Songs by Stephen Sondheim. “What can you do on a Saturday night alone?” These and other meaningful questions answered comically and musically here!
• There is ALWAYS something happening at Jungle Jims! The following events aren’t necessarily “kid friendly”, but mom & dad need an afternoon off too!  Here are few things to check out:
June 19, 7 – 10 pm it’s Beerfest!  What true Cincinnatian, or soon to be Cincinnatian, would pass on the “native” refreshment?
June 13, France vs. USA. Wine Tasting 1 – 3 p.m.
June 20, “Rhone Style” Wine Tasting 1 – 3 p.m.
June 27, The “Not to Miss” Event….Battle of the Bands Wine Tasting Event! Ten of the Top Suppliers will be on Hand Vying for Your Vote as “The Best”
Be sure to check out www.junglejims.com for more information, times, reservations and costs.

• Kevin Pollack – June 18 & 20 Special Engagement! Funny Bone Comedy Club. Newport on the Levee
• “Junk in the Trunk” Sale in Lebanon. June 6. Interfaith Hospitality Network of Warren County Hosts at Lebanon Jr. High. Call 934-5250 for more information
• Pack up the Family and head to a Reds Game. Buy the $5 “Cheap Seats” for an economical night out. There isn’t a bad seat in the place! June 5 – 7 the Reds hot the Chicago Cubs. June 16 – 21, there’s a 6 day home stretch. The Reds host the Atlanta Braves & the Chicago White Socks. Let’s see if they can stay in the run for 1st place!
• June is a big month for church and school festival fundraisers. Link to Local12.com for a complete list.

More Cincinnati real estate information can be found at RealCincy.com

Are you ready to Get Serious and get your home SOLD in 2009?   

Great! ….Here’s How!

Gone are the days of “let’s just see” and “we’ll test the market”.  Today’s sellers must be serious about selling…..or the market will make that decision for you!  Today’s seller must take a pro-active approach to marketing to protect their equity.  Today’s seller needs to encourage what precious few buyers are available to choose their home, by eliminating as many obstacles as possible! 

Maybe your home failed to sell previously and you are ready to try something new. You waited for showings that were never scheduled, or had showings but no offers.  Perhaps you are ready to sell, but don’t want to experience the “never-ending time on the market” that your neighbors did. The stress of never knowing how much longer that “For Sale” sign would be in their yards. Then let’s Get Serious!

The $650 “Serious Sellers” Satisfaction Package

* Here’s What’s Included *

• Home Warranty – Coverage is Provided to YOU While the Listing Agreement is in Effect. Transferable to Buyer at Closing.
• Pre-Listing Home Inspection – INCLUDING Termite & Wood-Boring Insect Inspection!! This WILL Save You Time & Money!!
• Professional Photographs – Experience the Difference!
• Staging Consultation with Home Staging and Decorating Professional – Your Home is Lovely, But Today’s Buyers Demand More than “Clean & Tidy”.  The Way You Market & Stage a Home is Much Different from the Way You LIVE in Your Home.

Learn From a Professional & Reduce Your Marketing Time!

Also Included………

• Pre-Marketing Appraisal – Your Agent Has Provided You with a Statistical Right Price Analysis.  The Appraiser Will Provide True Market Value, or TMV.  Price at or Near TMV. You WILL Reduce Your Marketing Time & Saves it WILL Save You Money!
• Online Promotion – Your Home Has its Own Web Page!  Showings Happen Around the Clock, Every Day of the Week. Online Promotion in the MLS, Local Broker Websites, RE/MAX.com, Craigslist …..and 10 Other Sites Used by Home Buyers Across the Globe!
• VoicePad…a 24/7 Information Line!  and In-Home Brochures
• “Front and Center Promotion” to our Google Based Online Home Buyers – Literally Thousands of Online Shoppers Reach Our Site Monthly. Your Home is Featured in our “Market Monitor”.  We Are Keeping Home Buyers Up to Date AND Promoting Your Home When it’s a “Match” to Their Search Criteria!
• Vacant Home Cleaning – An Added Value to Your Potential Buyer & A Time Saving, Stress Reducing, Money in Your Pocket Bonus!

Give The Real Cincy Group a call! We will prepare your Right Price Analysis and get serious about selling!

More Cincinnati real estate information can be found at RealCincy.com

Columbia – Tusculum can boast having some of the most amazing Victorians in Cincinnati, 2 and 3 stories high, with Palladian windows, stained glass, leaded glass, stone steps, and wrought iron fences.  While being home to some of the area’s most gorgeous, 100+ year old renovated Victorians, there are still some “diamonds in the rough”.  If you are up to a renovation project, this might be a good place to explore.

Other housing styles are available in the area.  There are contemporary styles with breathtaking river views, and upscale, luxury condos with high end finishes. The best in urban chic!  Many enjoy a 10 year tax abatement.  There is some new construction, or newer built homes:  upscale, with all the fine appointments you would expect.

Columbia-Tusculum is just 10 minutes to Hyde Park Plaza, and  15 minutes to Rookwood Commons.  Residents enjoy Alms Park, for the kids play area, walking trails, for communing with nature, all overlooking the Ohio River. Close by is Lunken Airport, first established as a barnstorming airport just after WW1, now serves as a landing for private planes. Neighboring Lunken Fields is available for tennis, golf, baseball, roller blading and jogging.  Columbia Square is rapidly under construction, with new opportunities for office space, retail and restaurants.  Recently, Anytime Fitness and Bruegger’s Bagels entered the square.

Catch up with all the happenings at the official Columbia-Tusculum web site.

Ready for a night out?  Meet up with your friends at any of these great places:

Allyn’s Café – Since 1991! This is “the place” in Columbia-Tusculum. Awards include Best Beer, Best Café, Best Mexican, Best Booth at the Taste of Cincinnati, Best Gator….yes, as in alligator.

Bella Luna- Authentic Italian from the Sicily & Calabria regions. Excellent!

The Precinct – One of my personal favorites. Special occasion food, and special occasion prices. Special, unless you are one of the local sports stars, power players, and celebrities in the room (we saw Jane Seymour last year). When only the best selection and quality seafood or steaks will do.

Stanley’s Pub – Sorry, no link. Just good live music, a bit of a dive, and a very good time. Outdoor patio for warm weather enjoyment , and a pool table. Have fun!

More Cincinnati real estate information can be found at RealCincy.com

Eastgate, a section of the larger area also known as Union Township, is a prime candidate for continued growth. Development and re-development of existing retail space is a wise investment for both independent and “big-box” retailers. The Eastgate Mall expects a new anchor to take up residence on the sight of the former National Amusement Cinemas drawing even more customers to the area. Eastgate boasts relatively impressive demographics.  Approximately 11,500 households with yearly incomes $50,000 + are located within a 3 mile radius of Union Township.  The demand for new and upscale retail is palpable!

Successful because of the wide open land, with opportunities for commercial, small business, healthcare, housing and entertainment, there is still room to grow. Of course, with all the growth, comes traffic! The Eastgate corridor will soon be undergoing a “facelift”, to ease congestion.

A couple of the reasons that so many people want to explore the homes for sale in Union Township is for it’s convenient proximity to downtown Cincinnati, CVG, Lunken Airport and Clermont County airport. There is a variety of housing: comfortable starter homes to luxury home price points. The popular Polo Fields and Lexington Run are “must explore” pool communities for many incoming buyers.  Mature, treed neighborhoods with rolling terrain, and friendly neighbors, like Deer Valley, English Creek or Surrey Ridge, invite homebuyers to enjoy custom, quality built homes in the $200,000 – $300,000 price range, approximately 15 – 20 years old.  Many of the homes boast walkout basements, and wooded lots.

Meeting the demand for a variety of housing, new town homes are being offered in Wetherby Farms, along with quaint, single family homes designed to transport you back to “yester-year” with front porches, private rear patios, and garages accessed from rear alleys.

Ivy Trails straddles both Clermont and Hamilton counties, and offers both grand, upscale custom built luxury homes, and a Life-Style section. In the Life-Style section, the homes are smaller, but not wanting for a single, beautiful amenity!

Residents of Union Township enjoy a wonderful park system. Clepper Park and Veteran’s Park are just two of the area’s out door playlands. Ballgames, picnics, trails, fishing lakes….all to enjoy! The Cincinnati Nature Center’s Rowe Woods is also located in Union Township.

 The Union Township/ Eastgate areas are served by the West Clermont Schools.  West Clermont embraced the small school concept in 2002. High school students may attend either Glen Este High, or Amelia High, as they choose, based on the student’s interests. Ten small schools, 5 at Amelia, 5 at Glen Este, were established in 10  course studies as:

• School for World Studies
• School for Creative Arts and Design
• School for Business and Technology
• School for Applied Health Sciences 

Are you ready to learn more about properties for sale in the Union Township area? Just let us know.  The realtors with The RealCincy Group of RE/MAX Unlimited would be glad to provide you with homes available now, that just might tempt you to the area!

More Cincinnati real estate information can be found at RealCincy.com

The contest is centered on “Cincinnati Trivia” and every customer who plays is a winner!  You’ll claim either an instant-win food prize or a discount on a Cincinnati-style chili T-shirt. As any true Cincinnati-style chili consumer knows, you want your chili the way you want it! Order your 5-way, 4-way no onions, cheese coney “no mo”, that means no mustard for those of you new to the area still learning “chili-speak”. You can order your winning t-shirt to match your order preference. Who wouldn’t wear that proudly? :) Check out www.chilitownusa.com to see what I mean.
 
The grand prize winner will win a year of free family entertainment at Greater Cincinnati’s top attractions. The grand prize package, valued at more than $3,325, includes:
 
• Family memberships to the Newport Aquarium, Cincinnati Museum Center, Cincinnati Nature Center, Reds Hall of Fame,  and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
• Two tickets to three Cincinnati Bengals games during 2009
• Four tickets to the Meijer 300 at Kentucky Speedway
• Four tickets to the Five Show Series: The Marx Theatre Package at Playhouse in the Park
• Season ticket four-pack for the Northern Kentucky University Basketball season at the Bank of Kentucky Center
• A family four-pack to the Nutcracker at the Cincinnati Ballet
• A family four-pack to The Beach Waterpark and Kings Island
• A family four-pack for the Florence Freedom 2009 season
• Plus other additional great surprises

Those are great prizes! So get over to the Gold Star nearest you and play. You just might learn a thing or two about your hometown, or “adopted” home town, and win a little something along the way. Check out www.goldstarchili.com for more information.

More Cincinnati real estate information can be found at RealCincy.com

I grew up thinking “chili” as in “Tex-Mex” or Texas style chili. A big ole’ bowl of chili pepper spiced ground beef, onions, kidney beans, tomatoes. Pile on the cheese and hot peppers. When I was about 11 years old and needed to earn my Girl Scout Cooking Badge, I flipped through my mom’s circa 1960’something Betty Crocker cookbook, and found a recipe I thought my family would go for.  Chili-ghetti it was called. Basically, make the beef, beans and onion tomato-based sauce, and serve it on spaghetti. It was a hit, even with my twerp little brothers.

When I first move to Cincinnati in 1988, a co-worker suggested Skyline for lunch. I wrongly assumed it would be similar to the Chili-ghetti I so proudly served.  She warned me that most people don’t like it at first. I didn’t. “You have to try it a second time” she said, “… it takes getting used to.”  She was right. I’m hooked.

Now, for something different: Cincinnati-style chili.

Don’t think Tex-Mex, think Greek.  Cincinnati style chili recipes are all based on what might be considered a Greek version of spaghetti.  Spices like cinnamon, cloves, and rumors of chocolate, are woven into the closely guarded secret recipes of each of Cincinnati’s old chili parlors.  Pile the chili on a hot dog or spaghetti, serve with soda crackers and hot sauce, and you now have a regional delicacy!  Cincinnati is the Chili Capital of the World, with bragging rights to more chili parlors per capita than anywhere else you will ever live.

You need to learn the lingo if you’re going to be mistaken as a Cincinnati native.  A 3-way is the sauce, spaghetti and generous heap of cheddar cheese.  A 4 – way: sauce, spaghetti, cheese, and your choice of beans or onion.  A 5-way is the base, plus onions and beans. Definitely my favorite. Hot sauce and soda crackers are a must.  Of course, the sauce can be found in burritos, on salads,  or on top of hot dogs then topped with cheese.  (I watched Randy eat 4 of those one day, I promise) A Greek salad with feta cheese and kalamata olives makes a great side too.

 By the way, you don’t “twirl” the spaghetti, you cut. I don’t know, it’s some kinda’ rule. Rule breakers will be quickly admonished by the seasoned Cincinnati-style chili connoisseur.

A couple of the most popular chains are Skyline and Gold Star.  Skyline Chili opened in 1949. The first restaurant strategically overlooked the Cincinnati skyline. Skyline products can be found in groceries and Skyline Dip is a staple at “bring an appetizer” parties all over town.  Gold Star Chili was opened in 1965 by 4 brothers who scraped together $1200 to open their first restaurant, Hamburger Heaven, in the Mt Washington area. On the menu was their Greek inspired chili. They “tweaked” the recipe until they had a hit. The brothers renamed the store Gold Star and opened 2 more restaurants within the year!

Independent or small chain parlors are a hit here too.  Price Hill Chili is a west side landmark, family owned.  Big specialty sandwiches, tasty appetizers, and salads are on the menu. But it’s all about the chili that gives this Cincinnati establishment its name.

Pleasant Ridge Chili is known for its late night dining. Open until the unreasonable hour of 4:30 am, you know they are competing for the attention of the White Castle and all night pancake house crowd. They probably win.

Empress Chile has 3 locations, including one in Alexandria, Ky. On the Ohio side of the river, you’ll find Empress on Vine Street and Rapid Run Road.  Milk shakes, good looking salads, and a popular baked potato entry topped with the sauce. I can’t say I’ve been to Empress, but I hear nothing but good things. Give it a try in my stead.

Randy raves about Dixie Chili.  Established in 1929, “Papa Nick” opened Newport, Kentucky’s first chili parlor. Remember the lingo? 3 –way, 4-way, etc?  At Empress, they offer a 6 – way that include chopped garlic. I’m willing to bet that’s good.

Now my favorite: Blue Ash Chili. Established in 1969, this chili parlor is like entering a ‘50’s diner complete with celebrity photos and the tempting desserts under glass on the counter. Have the carrot cake. Our office is close enough to Blue Ash Chili that whenever we have a team meeting of The RealCincy Group, we look for an excuse to make it a late lunch or early dinner at Blue Ash Chili.  Their 6 –way adds jalapenos to the 5-way base. Incredible! The double and triple decker sandwiches could feed a small army. They have a gyro served on a grilled pita with onion, tomato and tzatziki sauce that I want to try. Problem is, I can’t go in there and NOT get a 5 –way or 6-way. What’s a girl to do?  Be sure to play the Spin to Win game on their website. Maybe you’ll win a freebie.

There are small, local parlors dotted throughout the Greater Cincinnati area. No doubt, wherever you decide to live in the area, there will be a Cincinnati-style chili parlor right around the corner. Give it a try. Then try it a second time….it’s take some getting used to.

More Cincinnati real estate information can be found at RealCincy.com

• Gem of the Ocean – Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, Over the Rhine. February 4 – 22
• Lily Tomlin- An Evening of Classic, at The Aronoff Center. February 6
• The Foods Lincoln Liked. Pay honors to Presidents Day at Jungle Jim’s International Market. February 9
• Grass Roots: African Origins of an American Art. Honor Black History Month at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. February 11
• Frontiers Journey Tribute! Get your ticket here Bogarts, February 13. Don’t Stop Believe’n!
• Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens has a Wild About Winter Program. February 16
• Ben Folds – Cintas Center, Xavier University. Check it out February 19
• Treat the kids to Disney’s High School Musical 2 at the Taft Theatre. February 20 – 28
• Frost/Nixon – Not the movie…the play! Presented by Broadway Across America, Aronoff Center. February 24 – March 8.
• Did you dream of joining the circus? Then come out to the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Bank of Kentucky Center. February 26 – March 8
• Cincinnati Blues Festival. Bringing the mood to Music Hall. February 27
• Think Spring! Cincinnati Home and Garden Show. Duke Energy Convention Center. February 28 – March 8

Spoil Your Special Someone on Valentine’s Day

• Party like a rock star!  Metromix Valentine’s Day Party – Newport Syndicate – The Pre-Party is 7 – 9pm. The REAL party starts at 9! Prizes, food, and “adult beverages”
• Treat your special someone to a Valentine’s Day Carriage Ride though downtown. Fountain Square
• I Love You Because – Know Theatre, Over the Rhine. Through February 21. Enjoy this light hearted musical, exploring life and love in neurotic New York
• La Petite France – I love this charming little restaurant in Evendale. The romantic 3 course French Valentine’s Day dinner for $49 includes your choice of appetizer, entrée and dessert. Lobster bisque…fabulous!
• He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not – Is your honey a “game player”? Take him to Gameworks, Newport on the Levee. 3 Course Couples dinner, 3 hour game card $65
• D L Hughley – Funny Bone Comedy Club. February 13 – 15. The food there is pretty good! Check out the menu online, then give your valentine the gift of a good laugh!

More Cincinnati real estate information can be found at RealCincy.com

The stats are from the Greater Cincinnati Multiple Listing Service, for Butler, Warren, Hamilton and Clermont counties.  Ready ?? Here goes!!

In the last 6 months, 7/04/08 – 12/31/08

Single Family Sales – 7084
Average List Price – $175,559
Average Sales Price – $166,517

Same 6 month time frame, one year ago, 7/04/07 – 12/31/07

Single Family Sales – 8299
Average List Price – $192,137
Average Sales Price $184,137         

              1,215 fewer sales with a $17,620 drop in average sales price. Wow!

It’s the last day of the month, and hopefully around town, a few closings are taking place at real estate and title company offices.  Those closings, when entered into the MLS on Monday after the New Year’s Holiday weekend will bring the final numbers up a bit for year end. The truth is, probably not enough to really make more than a “blip”, and certainly not enough to change the trend. So, read on if you’re feeling brave!

The following stats are all for Butler, Warren, Hamilton and Clermont Counties Combined. Single Family & Condo Sales Combined. Of course, all information is from The Greater Cincinnati Multiple Listing Service

1/01/08 – 12/31/08     Sales – 16,805 
Average List Price – $177,011       Average Sale Price – $168,355
4421 of the sales are noted as “Lender Owned, Government Owned, or Seller’s Lender Approval Required”

01/01/07 – 12/31/07     Sales – 19,967
Average List Price – $187,832       Average Sale Price – $180,394
3786 of the sales are noted as “Lender Owned, Government Owned, or Seller’s Lender Approval Required”

01/01/06 – 12/31/06     Sales – 22,706
Average List Price – $189,780       Average Sale Price – $184,071
3118 of the sales are noted as “Lender Owned, Government Owned, or Seller’s Lender Approval Required”

01/01/05 – 12/31/05     Sales – 24,203
Average List Price – $190,242       Average Sale Price – $185,164
339 of the sales are noted as “Lender Owned, Government Owned, or Seller’s Lender Approval Required”  

**Disclosure of Memory Failure Alert Here**  The Multiple Listing Service didn’t always have a search function for “short sale/lender approval”. That was added at some point when short sales became more frequent, rather than the “exception”.  I honestly can’t remember when it was added, but you can see the obvious huge jump in numbers 2006 from 2005, when as I said before, we could see that something was on the horizon, about to cause a major shift in the market.

01/01/04 – 12/31/04 Sales – 23,407
Average List Price – $182,607       Average Sale Price – $177,786
182 of the sales are noted as “Lender Owned or Government Owned”

What’s it all mean? It means that if you want to sell your home, you need to “get serious”. Check out our “Serious Sellers” Satisfaction Package!    We CAN Get Results!

More Cincinnati real estate information can be found at RealCincy.com

Paramount’s Kings Island – The jewel in the crown of the Queen City! Located in the northeastern suburb of Mason, this park is the area’s biggest attraction for kids.

Great Wolf Lodge  – The official resort of Kings Island, this large indoor water park is exclusive for the lodge’s guests. Fun, decorated suites, tailored to kids. Activities galore, and good food too!

The Beach Water Park – Located in Mason, across from Kings Island, this  35 Acre water park has a “water coaster”, water racing slides, inner tube rides, wave pool and plenty more to  help keep you cool in steamy Cincinnati summers.

The Cincinnati Fire Museum – Antique memorabilia and a real fire pole to slide down! Ring the bell and climb on the fire truck.

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden – The second oldest zoo in the country. Treat your family to a zoo-pass so you can get in to sneak peeks of new attractions.

Cincinnati Museum of Natural History and Science – Featuring the Children’s Discovery Center, an interactive exhibit where kids can do some “hands on” learning.  It’s worth checking out the gift shop for really special items. Your budding scientist will thank you.

Cincinnati History Museum – A museum in an art deco train station….very cool.  Visit Cincinnati in Motion, and the working radio studio.

Coney Island – On the Ohio River, Anderson.  A really good time at a major attraction, but on a smaller scale.  Sunlite Pool at Coney has a large shallow section for the littlest Cincinnatians.  More adventurous kids will like the 500 foot waterslide. There is a Ferris wheel, pedal-boat trips and a great playground area.

Newport Aquarium – Newport on the Levee, Newport KY – One of the newest area attractions.  Walk under and into the sea, thanks to the large acrylic tunnels. Surround yourself with sharks, eels and a giant Pacific octopus.

Game Works – Newport on the Levee – Drop them off, go get something to eat at one of the Levee’s restaurants for big people, and pick them up later. They still won’t want to leave.  25,000 square feet of interactive games and virtual-reality craziness. This brainchild of Steven Spielberg does become an “over 18” night spot after 10 pm.

OMNIMAX Theatre, Union Terminal – Once you have exhausted the Museum tours, bring the kids back to the OMNIMAX Theatre to view movies on a domed ceiling, above your head.  If you’ve never seen an OMNIMAX movie, you need to.  It’s quite an experience.

This is just a short list of ideas to help you get comfortable with the Cincinnati area.  To see an even more complete list of ideas and attractions, be sure to let us know where we can send you your copy of The Insider’s Guide to Cincinnati.  You’ll find more great ideas to keep away the “boredom bug”.

More Cincinnati real estate information can be found at RealCincy.com