Kids' Activities in and Around Portsmouth, Ohio

Summer days can be extra long in a small isolated town. Unless of course, you know where to find the good stuff! Here are some great activities to do with your kids in and around Portsmouth Ohio.

1. Splashdown Country Waterpark, (Jackson). This is a fantastic water park for young families. They feature a huge kids water area with small slides and lots of fountains, a lazy river that's just as fun to swim in as to float on, a lily pad pool where you can jump across lily pads, and two larger water slides for taller kids and adults. Located about 35 minutes northeast of Portsmouth, it's a great outing for those hot days.

2. Library Days. The Portsmouth Library hosts many different activities for kids throughout the summer. Story times are held for babies through grade schoolers on a weekly basis. There are also frequent parties, such as a Toy Story Party and My Little Pony Party. Kids make crafts, hear stories, and watch movies. There are also crafts planned weekly. And best of all, it's free.

3. Shawnee State Park. Besides the usual hiking and biking, Shawnee State Park hosts kids activities such as creek crawls. There are paddle boats that are open to visitors, mini golf, and playgrounds.

4. Community Pools. Both Clay township and Wheelersburg have public pools. The Wheelersburg pool even boasts a water slide.

5. Gymnastics. Cheer Flipz is located in Lucasville, just north of Portsmouth, and features gymnastics classes for toddlers through teenagers. Cirque d'Art in Portsmouth also hosts tumbling classes.

6. Southern Ohio Museum. Take the kids to see fantastic displays of unique art and sculpture. During the school year the museum also hosts story times and other kids activities.

7. Vern Riffe Center for the Arts. Throughout the year the Vern Riffe Center puts on many kid-friendly performances; this past year kids enjoyed plays such as Harry the Dirty Dog and The Velveteen Rabbit. Admission is usually only $3 per person.

8. Murals. Portsmouth is home to some amazing murals, painted on the city's flood wall. With just a walk down the river, you'll watch the whole history of Portsmouth go by in pictures.

9. Shawnee State University. During the summer, the local university hosts awesome camps for kids. Week-long camps feature educational activities such as creating your own business, and learning how to paint.

10. Knost Summer Music Camp. The Cornerstone United Methodist Church in Portsmouth hosts the wonderful week-long music camp for kids in first grade and up. Kids can sign up to learn how to play piano, sing in a musical, or learn to dance.