We recently spent the day at Newport on the Levee doing all the kid-friendly things and we had such a great time making memories together. And it wasn’t just the kids who had fun; I did, too!
We arrived just in time for Kids Crew, a playtime at the The Gallery at the Levee from 11a–12:30p every Monday (through March*), featuring a play set, games, and Play Library pop-up cart with toys and activities. This being a FREE weekly event makes it a great opportunity to get out of the house for a little while—particularly during the cold season.
Click here for a complete lineup of weekly Kids Crew events
Playing at Kids Crew in The Gallery absolutely means working up an appetite and, thankfully, there are several kid-friendly dining options, including 16 Lots Southern Outpost, Bon Mi Street, Brothers Bar & Grill, Five Guys, Shiners on the Levee, Tom + Chee, and Velocity Esports.
We chose Tom + Chee, where we ordered a Pesto Turkey Melt (for me), fruit cup, and a Kid’s Grilled Cheese with Mac ‘n Cheese and Apple Juice for Celia (age 3). We got it to go and ate it at a table in The Gallery so she could get right back to playing. (She was hungry, but did not want to leave Kids Crew, where she played the entire time except for the 15 minutes she spent eating lunch.)
Note for parents: The Gallery has wifi and power outlets at tables where you can sit and work while the kids play at Kids Crew.
It was soon after lunch that my second little one and the kids’ GG joined us after Mara’s school day (nearly age 5), so we finished playing at Kids Crew before heading down the way a bit to Immersive Gamebox**, an interactive cinema adventure with user-friendly games designed for players of all ages. We obviously chose to play the Paw Patrol: New Recruits game, which has a run time of about 60 minutes (we didn’t take the break where suggested, so it was about 45–50 minutes for us) and features fun rescue missions and that is recommended for ages 3 and up. Celia, who is 3, was engaged just about the entire time and the game experience was pretty user friendly for her age.
We had so much fun! I would absolutely play the Paw Patrol game again, but would be interested in checking out other family friendly games, such as Tetris 1991 (60 minutes) and Angry Birds (30 minutes). But, with over 20 games available, Immersive Gamebox is also great for company team-building and date night.
General admission for Paw Patrol, a 60-minute game, for juniors (ages 3–11) starts at $9.99/person, while GA for ages 12+ is $19.99, and a family of four bundle starts at $69.99. Tip: many game experiences are only 30 minutes and have a lower general admission cost. You can also bundle 30- and 60-minute games.
Next it was Mara’s turn to work up an appetite, as we spent nearly an hour playing Paw Patrol in Immersive Gamebox. (I got a workout myself. I was sweating when we were finished!) So we went back inside The Gallery to go to Velocity Esports, which offers a vast selection of arcade games, esports lounges and tournaments, bowling, social gaming, and more. Velocity also offers a full bar and grill menu, complete with snacks and apps, handhelds and burgers, salads, and pizzas, desserts, and a full bar.
We played several arcade games—Angry Birds, Deal or No Deal, and Speed of Light being a few favorites—while Mara enjoyed some Tenders & Fries, and we got a couple of treats from the Redemption Store with our spoils tickets won.
And because we weren’t quite finished after spending 4 hours at the Levee, we decided to check out The Brickery Cafe & Play**, an immersive LEGO building concept that combines shopping, dining, and entertainment all under one roof, featuring three main components: a kids play and discovery area, a café serving light refreshments, and a retail space with new and used Legos for sale. Their discovery area offers tables with LEGO bricks to play with and, if guests like what they create, they can buy it and take it home. There are Rent-A-Build sets for $3, $5, and $7, and you can even make it a combo with a drink and a snack.
Keep in mind the additional kid-friendly options at the Levee, such as the Newport Aquarium, Station on the Levee train rides (winter hours being Friday–Sunday from 12 to 6p), Cold Stone Creamery, AMC Theater, and Bridgeview Box Park (particularly during their extended summer hours). There are so many wonderful options for things to do at Newport on the Levee, and a range of places that appeal to many demographics and interests.
Note: The Galley on the Levee food hall is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays while it has winter hours.
There is truly a full lineup of kid-friendly things to do at Newport on the Levee, “your family friendly entertainment hub,” that can keep you entertained all day—whether it be to keep occupied during a snow day or a place for a birthday party. The next time you are looking for a way to spend a day in the area, consider Newport on the Levee a top option.
If you have any questions or want any custom recommendations for things to do at the Levee, just ask!
Newport on the Levee has a parking garage onsite and can be accessed by Red Bike, TANK Southbank Shuttle, and the Purple People and Taylor-Southgate Bridges from the Cincinnati riverfront.
This article was written as a result of a collaboration between Tour de Cincinnati and Newport on the Levee. To view the Reel on Instagram, click here.
*there will be a spring and/or summer edition, so stay tuned for more information about that as it gets closer
**can host a birthday party here
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