Here in the Ohio Valley, summers aren’t just hot. They’re humid. In Cincinnati, our summer climate is more similar to that of the Deep South than it is to lakeside Cleveland’s or Detroit’s, just 200 miles to our north. When heat emergencies hit in Cincinnati, they hit hard.
Summer heat can be a real risk to seniors. And that’s especially true for those seniors whose homes lack central air conditioning. When it’s hot outside, it’s important to know where you can go to beat the heat and enjoy yourself.
Today, let’s take a look at three places Cincinnati and Tristate seniors can go to stay cool.
1. Sunlite Pool at Coney Island
When Sunlite Pool was built in 1925, it became the world’s largest recirculating, wave-action pool. And amazingly, it still is. It’s made Coney Island a must-go summer destination for over 90 years.
The pool is 200 feet wide, 401 feet long and holds over 3 million gallons of water, making Sunlite Pool the largest flat-surface swimming pool in North America.
It has lap-swimming lanes, if you fancy getting some exercise in. And with four waterslides, six diving boards and over an acre of shallow water space, it’s a perfect place to take your grandkids for cool fun on sunny days!
Sunlite Pool is open all summer long — from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day — 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily (if it looks rainy, check here first for weather cancellations).
2. Shawnee Lookout
Situated at the center point of the Tristate — at the mouth of the Great Miami River, where it meets the Ohio River, near the confluence of the Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana borders — Shawnee Lookout is both historic and breathtaking.
The park is so named because there are many Native American earthworks in the area. The land the park sits on is thought to have been both a strategically-important, defensible point (it sits on cliffs and bluffs that offer a commanding view of the river valleys to its west and south) and a spiritual gathering place for tribes that lived here in pre-Columbian times.
The park is heavily wooded, with three well-marked walking trails and scenic overlooks. Two preserved, historic buildings are located near the parking lot, at Shawnee Lookout’s apex — a log cabin that originally stood in Elizabethtown, Ohio, and the old Springhouse School from Fort Finney (site of present-day North Bend). There’s also a pioneer medicinal garden for you to explore, either on your own or with the grandkids.
The park also features a public golf course, a disc golf course and plenty of campground space. There’s even boat access to the Great Miami River (and, from thence, to the Ohio).
If a stimulating walk in the woods sounds like your idea of a cool, fun time, Shawnee Lookout is a best bet. Or, try one of Great Parks of Hamilton County’s many other scenic woodland areas.
3. King’s Island Soak City
Formerly known as WaterWorks, Kings Island’s giant waterpark addition has been keeping Cincinnatians cool and happy since 1989. Although the primary attractions are the park’s 36 waterslides, even non-thrill seekers can find plenty opportunities to chill out.
Coconut Cove offers a large, resort-style lagoon, complete with a relaxing waterfall, for seniors and small grandchildren to wade in. The Splash River tube ride offers a lazy river experience that even seniors with limited mobility will love. If you’d rather lounge next to the water than take a dip, there are plenty of opportunities for that, too.
And, once you’ve cooled off in Soak City, you can always use one of the park’s many changing areas to get back into your street clothes and stroll through the amusement park proper.
From Soak City, you can take the train ride over to Rivertown, head over to the Planet Snoopy area to enjoy some of Kings Island’s famous blue ice cream, stroll down International Street, duck into the many shops, take in an indoor show, walk the kids through the new Dinosaurs Alive! animatronic exhibit and stay until park close to take in the nightly fireworks display
Seniors: stay cool and have fun in Cincinnati this summer.
When it’s hot outside, try the three places above to cool down or seek out your own cool spots. Whatever you do, and wherever you go, make sure to wear light-colored, easy-breathing clothing, plenty of sunscreen, sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat. In Cincinnati, where it can be so hot and humid, it’s very important for seniors to protect themselves from sun stroke and heat stroke.
And while you’re out and about this summer, take some snapshots with your camera phone and share your experiences with us on Facebook. We’d love to see pictures of you and your family having fun!
