Things to Do in Burlington

Beneath glimmering disco balls and colorful graffiti murals, roller skaters of all ages and experience levels careen across the hardwood floors of Fun Factory Roller Skating's indoor rink. The kid-friendly melodies of Radio Disney serenade pint-size skaters each Saturday morning, and top pop ballads resound across the rink on Saturday and Sunday nights. Gearing up patrons for wheeled motion, the onsite shop equips patrons with skates for rent or purchase, though customers are responsible for feeding and watering them.

Beyond the rink, the facility's sizeable arcade engages thumbs, and a bounce house ricochets lively lads and lasses off colorful, cushioned walls. After an action-packed day of exertion, guests can refuel at the concession stand with pizza and snacks. The center opens its facilities for private parties, field trips, and fundraisers while frequently inviting costumed characters to interact with kids and talk Wall Street with adults.

With 10 national championships to their name and another 76 conference titles to boot, the Cincinnati Bearcats boast a proud tradition that dates back more than a century. Although they’ve had wild success in multiple sports, their basketball program—which won back-to-back NCAA Championships in 1961 and 1962—is truly the athletic department’s crown jewel. Before embarking on a professional career that earned him a spot among the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, Oscar Robertson cut his hard-court skills for the Bearcats, for whom he averaged a staggering 33.8 points per game in his three-year career. In more recent hoops history, Kenyon Martin, the No. 1 pick in the 2000 NBA draft, brought fans to their feet by swatting opponents’ shots away and placing a whoopee cushion on every seat.

In the heart of Cincinnati’s business district, work ends and play begins. Here, at The Yoga Bar, bodies and minds bask in a vibe that’s both festive and calming, like a piñata brimming with ocean waves. Helmed by Rachel Roberts—an instructor who has trained in India, Bali, and Europe—this studio explores international yoga traditions such as Ashtanga, Vinyasa, and Yin. Teeming with bends, balances, and other physical challenges, classes fill students with energy rather than draining it away. Healthful beverages such as kombucha and coconut water flow from a mahogany bar, hydrating drinkers as they take on ancient yoga poses and modern, Pilates-inspired movements. On Friday nights, classes blossom into yoga socials where live music, tarot-card readings, and fashion trunk shows punctuate deep-breathing exercises. In addition to shepherding students toward metaphysical wellness during group and private sessions, Rachel leads yoga retreats in exotic settings such as Bali’s beaches and the moon’s bowling alleys. Between classes and retreats, Rachel makes mantra-inspired jewelry and serves as a community ambassador for Lululemon Athletica.

At the Greater Cincinnati Holiday Market, hundreds of boutiques and specialty stores converge in an oasis of holiday shopping. Exhibitors from around the greater Cincinnati area and beyond help attendees cross items off wish lists with a selection that includes gourmet food, home decor, specialty clothing, and more. Attendees may take a break to check out local restaurants or see if the event's Santa Claus is the real Santa by combing his beard for bits of last year's cookies.

Many symphony orchestras take themselves very seriously. And while Kentucky Symphony Orchestra is consummately professional, they also regale audiences with unconventional performances that may involve silent films, comedians, country bands, and Civil War–battle reenactments, a formula that has worked for the past 21 seasons.

BB Riverboats began with a deceptive motto and a fleet of zero. In 1977, Ben Bernstein opened a restaurant in a converted steamboat, whose motto was “The Romance of Riverboat Dining.” Intended as tongue-in-cheek, the motto instead confused customers, who arrived hoping for a scenic cruise down the Ohio River. To placate his clientele, Ben Bernstein went into business with riverboat industry veteran Betty Blake, and BB Riverboats—named for their shared initials—was born.

Now run by Bernstein’s son, BB Riverboats has increased its fleet to three vessels, including the Belle of Cincinnati, a riverboat outfitted with Victorian details and two climate-controlled decks. On daily cruises down the Ohio, historical narration complements the scenery, while passengers play swashbuckling games and learn to read treasure maps on family-friendly pirate cruises. On the company’s dining cruises, visitors drink in the scenery while noshing on a Hawaiian buffet spread or sampling award-winning wines from StoneBrook Winery. Additionally, holiday cruises honor occasions from Valentine’s Day to Thanksgiving.