Summer isn't over until we say it is, so grab the kids, ditch the barbeque grill and head to Ohio's Largest Playground for one last summer getaway!

The signature event every Labor Day and one of the most fun things to do in Cincinnati each year is Riverfest, better known as the WEBN Fireworks. Gather with a half-million of your closest friends on the banks of the Ohio River and see one of the best fireworks displays in the country! 

To get you ready for the show, stop by Kings Island for a day filled with awesome roller coasters, live shows, the new Planet Snoopy kids area, not to mention the 15-acre Boomerang Bay waterpark. When night falls, you won't want to miss "Snoopy's Starlight Spectacular," an immersive sound and light show featuring more than 2 mililon lights!

The Labor Day fun can even get medieval with a trip to the Ohio Renaissance Festival. Experience more than 400 years of fun in one day as you watch jousting knights, dueling swordsmen and much more all while strolling the grounds of this 16th century English village re-creation.

Don't put the sunscreen and bathing suits away just yet and close out summer with sun-filled adventures at The Beach Waterpark. White sand, palm trees, rolling waves and water slides like Banzai, Typhoon Twist, The Cliff and Aztec Adventure await you at this tropical oasis! 

1. Running
Taking your family on vacation doesn't have to mean taking a vacation from your workout routine. No one understands your needs better than Great Wolf Lodge. While your kids are enjoying the indoor water slides and water coasters, you can jump on a treadmill in Great Wolf's Iron Horse Fitness Center and get a cardio workout that doesn't involve chasing your little ones around the pool.

2. Bicycling
Not everyone can ride a bike like Lance Armstrong, but everyone can enjoy the great workout you get from biking along the beautiful Little Miami Bike Trail. You and your family will enjoy this paved and mostly shaded 70-mile trail which offers a beautiful setting for catching a breath of fresh air and experiencing some of Warren County's breathtaking views.

3. Weightlifting
Think you don't get a workout when you visit an amusement park? Well, think again. A full day at Kings Island involves pushing strollers, putting kids on shoulders, and lifting kids into their seats so they can enjoy over 80 different rides and attractions, including rides parents can ride with their kids in Planet Snoopy (Kings Island's award-winning children's area).

4. Pull-Ups
Everyone's tummies are grumbling after a good work out. Well, pull yourself right on up to the counter and order up! For a good country breakfast or a hearty lunch, The Breakfast Club Café in Lebanon is the place to go. You can enjoy their freshly roasted coffee and buttermilk pancakes, or even dive into juicy, half-pound burgers if you're up for the challenge. For a cool treat on a hot day visit the Village Ice Cream Parlor in Lebanon home to some of the best hamburgers, shakes, and sundaes around.

5. Yoga
Get off the mat and out of the studio and find tranquility and scenic serenity in Warren County's numerous parks and picturesque outdoor settings. Caesar Creek State Park is highlighted by clear blue waters, scattered woodlands, meadows and steep ravines. And beautiful vistas and two spectacular scenic overlooks can be found at Fort Ancient which is on the short list for a World Heritage Site designation.

Rockin' Good Time Package
Cincinnati Marriott Northeast (Mason) - $25 iTunes® Gift Card package included with stay. Redeemable in the iTunes Store for music, movies, TV, shows, apps, audiobooks, and more. Visit www.cincinnatimarriottnortheast.com and use promo code LPR before October 31.

Nickelodeon Your Stay Package
Cincinnati Marriott Northeast (Mason) - Package includes a Nickelodeon activity book, and a silicone bracelet with access to a secret game website and more. Visit www.cincinnatimarriottnortheast.com and use promo code NK6 before December 26.

Summer Saver Package
Comfort Suites Kings Island (Mason) - Save 20% off your entire stay with coupon. Located just minutes from Kings Island.  Restrictions apply. Visit www.comfortsuites.com/hotel-mason-ohio-OH470.

Ride & Roar Package
Comfort Suites Kings Island (Mason) or Hyatt Place Cincinnati Northeast (Mason) - A family vacation for only $319. Package includes four tickets to Kings Island, four tickets to the Cincinnati Zoo, two nights lodging with free breakfast and two free kids' meals at Bob Evans. Visit www.rideandroar.com.

Kings Island Summer Packages
Great Wolf Lodge at Kings Island (Mason) - Includes four adult single-day admission tickets to Kings Island, four passes to the Great Wolf Lodge waterpark for your entire stay and daily Cub Club Activities. Visit www.greatwolf.com/mason and use promo code KINGSISLAND. Valid until October 30.

Picture Perfect Summer Package
Great Wolf Lodge at Kings Island (Mason) - Includes character meet-and-greet with Violet or Wiley the Wolf after nightly story time, NG Kids green scene recycled photo art project, scrapbooking classes to help organize favorite vacation photos (dates and times vary) and more. Visit www.greatwolf.com/mason.

50% off Third Night Package
Hyatt Place Cincinnati Northeast (Mason) - Stay three or more consecutive nights and receive a 50% discount off each consecutive third night. Visit www.cincinnatinortheast.place.hyatt.com and book your package before September 6.

The Best of ‘The Playground' Package
Kings Island Resort and Conference Center (Mason) - Starting at $154, the main package includes one night lodging and two one-day tickets to Kings Island, but additional packages are available such as a two-day package including Kings Island, The Beach Waterpark, Newport Aquarium and Cincinnati Zoo. Reservations by phone only at 513-398-0115.

Let Us Entertain You Package
The Kirkwood Inn (Mason) - This $179 package (plus tax & gratuity) includes live entertainment and dinner at Springboro, Ohio's, LaComedia Dinner Theater (Ohio's only dinner theater), one night lodging at the Kirkwood Inn in Mason, and a hot breakfast buffet in the Historic Kirkwood House. Visit www.kirkwoodinn.com.

Shop & Stay Packages
Package in association with Cincinnati Premium Outlets (include either a $20 or $25 gift card) which is available at the Drury Inn & Suites, the Fairfield Inn and the Holiday Inn Express in Middletown; The Golden Lamb in Lebanon; the Hampton Inn in Monroe; the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Franklin; and the Hyatt Place Cincinnati Northeast, the Microtel Inn & Suites, and Ramada Inn & Suites in Mason. Visit www.cincinnatipremiumoutlets.com.

On the Fouth of July, remember: "To be an American, whether by birth or choice, is a high privilege. The ideals of July 4th, 1776, still speak to all humanity. And the revolution declared that day goes on. Millions across the world are free today because of the unselfish courage of American veterans. And today we honor our veterans."

George W. Bush, July 4th, 2003 in Warren County, Ohio

Welcome to Warren County, named for Dr. Joseph Warren, the man who sent Paul Revere on his ride and who ultimately died at the Battle of Bunker Hill.

It was in nearby Dayton, on Huffman Prairie Flying Field, that in 1904 and 1905 Wilbur and Orville Wright flew their first turn, circle, and figure eight, and solved the secrets of aerodynamics in order to develop the first truly practical airplane in the world.

Among the students of the Wright Brothers' flying school were H. Roy Brown, the Canadian ace credited with shooting down the Red Baron in World War I, and Henry "Hap" Arnold, who led the US Air Forces in World War II.

Huffman Prairie Flying Field is now Wright-Patterson Air Force Base: birthplace, home and future of aerospace, with a long and admirable history of flight-testing that spans the remarkable period from the Wright Brothers' first flight to the most advanced unmanned aerial vehicles and the Space Age.

Happy Independence Day, America!

If you love beautiful things, then Lebanon, Ohio is the place for you to be this weekend (June 26-27).

On Saturday June 26, visit the Warren County Arts Festival downtown on Mulberry Street as early as 10:00am to find a plethora of artists working in a variety of mediums and selling their creations. Its FREE and its fun and a great place to get a start on your Christmas shopping!

Saturday and Sunday, June 26 and 27, is the Lebanon Council of Garden Clubs annual Garden Tour. Buy your ticket for just $8.00 at the Lebanon Station on the corner of Broadway and South Street. Then tour 6 beautiful gardens throughout the area. Tours begin at 11:00 am and end at 5:00 pm.

When its time for lunch check out the new Garden Café inside the Lebanon Conference and Banquet Center (formerly the old post office). Doors open at 11:00 am. The Garden Café offers homemade salads, sandwiches and wraps plus cold drinks and dessert all for one low price. The proceeds benefit the Warren County History Center located next door. Your lunch purchase also gets you a "buy one get one free" coupon for tickets to the Historical Society's museum and Glendower historic mansion.

For more information about any of these events contact the Warren County Historical Society at 513-932-1817, Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm or visit www.wchsmuseum.org.

Warren County offers a wealth of activities to ensure you and your family have a red, white and booming Independence Day celebration in Ohio's Largest Playground!

A holiday weekend calls for major celebration...and there's no better way to celebrate than with a Ride and Roar family vacation package. For only $319, your family can experience 3 days and 2 nights of fun at Kings Island and the Cincinnati Zoo.

Spend July 4th at Kings Island riding wild roller coasters such as Diamondback, Firehawk and The Beast, dancing and singing along with one of the park's live shows or cooling down with more than 50 rides and attractions in Boomerang Bay waterpark resort. When night falls prepare yourself for an awesome fireworks display that will reach heights of more than 800 feet high! This year's show will be 2x larger than last year. Fireworks start at 10pm and the park is open to midnight.

On day two, you can visit the Cincinnati Zoo and see their brand new Komodo Dragon exhibit or check out Africa Savannah featuring expanded areas for giraffes, flamingos and cheetahs.

Hometown celebrations bring communities together and provide hours of entertainment for people of all ages.

On July 3, the city of Mason offers inflatable rides, food, live musical entertainment plus a dazzling fireworks display during its Red, Rhythm & Boom celebration. July 3 also marks the city of Lebanon's Independence Day Celebration, complete with a parade, live music, inflatable activities plus games and fireworks. If you are looking to do some antique and specialty shopping over the weekend, visit Waynesville, the Antiques Capital of the Midwest.

Complete your July 4th extravaganza by catching a major league value at minor league prices when the Dayton Dragons battle it out against the Great Lakes Loons (July 1-3).

This Memorial Day weekend, Warren County is jam-packed with thrilling adventures, beautiful outdoor excursions, plus a host of free things to do for the perfect holiday getaway.

Kings Island has a huge Memorial Day weekend planned with the return of the Action Sports World Tour (May 29-31). See some of the top extreme sports stars jump, twist and spin in multiple performances each day!  Kings Island is also celebrating the Memorial Day holiday with FREE Admission to all active and retired military personnel! 

Of course no trip to Kings Island would be complete without a thrilling trip down The Beast or the pulse-pouding Diamondback. If you haven't taken your little ones to see the PEANUTS gang in the all-new Planet Snoopy, then now's your chance.  And don't forget you can cool off in Boomerang Bay - now open daily!

You can package the fun of Kings Island with the final weekend of Zoo Babies at the Cincinnati Zoo with the value-packed Ride and Roar package. For only $319 (plus tax) your family can get 4 tickets to Kings Island, 4 tickets to the Cincinnati Zoo, plus 2-nights lodging and much more.

More summer fun can be found at The Beach Waterpark, now open daily. Or you can take to the skies at Ozone Zipline Adventures for a memorable and high-flying trip through the Little Miami River valley. If you have never taken a trip along the Little Miami Bike Trail, then Saturday, May 29th, you'll want to take a guided tour of the trail for only $15.

Round out your weekend with a trip to Springboro and Franklin in the northern part of the county. You can catch an amazing matinee or eveneing performance of "The Church Basement Ladies" at La Comedia Dinner Theatre. There are also a host of free activities to make your weekend more enjoyable. Take a self-guided walking tour of Springboro which has a rich Underground Railroad history or head over to Franklin and see the city's history depicted on award-winning murals located on the outside of many of the city's buildings.

1. The Old Gym Shoes

This may be an odd item to have at the top of the list, but you know they've gotta go. Springtime means getting out of hibernation and rejuvenating our spirits and our bodies. So break down, go out and buy new gymmers for outdoor activities like walking the Little Miami Scenic Trail or hiking the picturesque grounds of Fort Ancient. Face it, your old gym shoes smell and give you shin splints anyway.

2. That "Must-Have" Wool Sweater from Winter ‘95

When you bought it, you proclaimed that you would wear it all the time, when in reality you wore it the day after you bought it and not a day since. It's only taking up space in your dresser, so let it go! Take a shopping trip Cincinnati Premium Outlets - one of best outlet malls in Ohio, for a cute, trendy skirt or a funky wrap-around spring top. Now those are "must-haves!"

3. The 10,000 Bottles of Half-Full Sun Tan Lotion You Have Accumulated

Do you really need 6 half-used bottles of the same SPF? At the end of last summer you declared "I'm throwing these out before next summer and buying all new." So we encourage you to get pitching! After your cupboards are bare of old sun tan lotion, make a trip to the local Target, purchase a fresh new bottle of SPF30... and grab a new swim suit while you're there. You want to be fully prepared to catch rays at The Beach Waterpark and Kings Island's Boomerang Bay this summer, don't you?

4. The "Spare Room" Junk Pile

This pile often includes leftover rolls of Christmas wrapping paper, old newspapers, and all those miscellaneous items that you tell yourself "I really should hold onto to these" and it spirals out of control in one corner of your least used room. Now, if you can't find it in yourself to throw these items away, "in case you need them," at least be free of the cluttered look. Channel "Martha Stewart" and stop into one of the antique and specialty shops in Lebanon or Waynesville to find yourself a great furniture piece to store all of your goods and pretty up your room.

5. The Frozen Fruitcake Leftover From Christmas

At the time it was a perfectly innocent thing putting a perfectly tasty loaf of fruitcake in your freezer, because you figured it would be great to munch on after the holidays. However, by April 1st, the cake of fruit is not looking too hot. Release it from its icy home and bite into some really tasty treats at Golden Turtle Chocolate Factory and Whits Frozen Custard in Lebanon or at The Cake Diva in Waynesville.

To celebrate National Tourism Month, we have teamed up with Family Friendly Cincinnati (FFC) to give away 31 Prizes in 31 Days this May!

Register to win online at FamilyFriendlyCincinnati.com. And check back each day to see that day's prize.

Prizes include everything from tickets to Kings Island, Ozone Zipline Adventures and The Beach Waterpark to golfing canoeing, dining and more!

Plus, as an extra incentive, you can be registered into a grand prize drawing for a 1-night stay at Great Wolf Lodge if you do either or all of the following:

1. "LIke" Warren County on Facebook and leave a comment on the FFC blog saying you did so
2. Follow Warren County on Twitter and leave a comment on the FFC blog saying you did so
3. Leave a comment on the FFC blog about any of the prize giveaways.

Winners will be announced inside the 31 Prizes tab on our Facebook page and on Twitter. You can also follow the contest on Twitter by searching the hashtag #31Prizes31Days.

Lazer Kraze Family Fun Center, with locations at Kings Island and Erlanger, Kentucky, will hold an Ohio versus Kentucky Lazer Kraze Battle on Thursday, April, 29 from 3-9pm with proceeds going to Autism Speaks and its Cincinnati walk event.

In addition to being a one-of-a-kind experience, the event provides an opportunity for Autism Speaks to educate the community about autism and the importance of supporting a national organization with a track record of funding local autism work.

Lazer Kraze Battle of Ohio vs. Kentucky Event Details

Visit either Lazer Kraze location, at Kings Island/Deerfield Township or Erlanger, Kentucky, from 3-9 pm on April 29, 2010 to join in the battle and support Autism Speaks.

As many children with autism have sensory issues with their nervous systems not knowing what to block out and what to amplify, both centers will offer a sensory-friendly (no lights, reduced noise) game each hour between 3 and 5 p.m. Reservations required for these special games. Also, gluten-free snacks will be available.

All games for the day are $5 with 100% of the game profits donated to Autism Speaks. For each game purchased, each player will receive one entry for a door prize drawing.