North of downtown Cincinnati, Mason is a lively city named after the Revolutionary War veteran William Mason. It was a small farming community for more than 100 years before being incorporated as a city in 1970, just two years before the opening of the famous Kings Island amusement park.
Things to do in Mason
East of Mason’s city centre is Corwin M Nixon Park, a 33-hectare reserve with fishing lakes and tree-lined nature trails. Admire the mature trees that grow in the arboretum, let the kids run loose in the children’s playground or enjoy a picnic in one of the shelters. In the winter months, Corwin M Nixon Park transforms into a winter wonderland with a sledding and tubing hill.
Keen golfers can take to the greens of the Four Bridges Country Club, which boasts a world-class course designed by Robert E. Cupp. Its fairways wind their way between streams, waterfalls and sparkling lakes, as well as several bunkers that will challenge players of all abilities. On the other side of Mason is the Grizzly Golf and Social Lodge, which is home to an 18-hole championship course.
Travelling with kids? They’ll love spending a day at Kings Island, a sprawling amusement park that originally opened to punters in 1972. It’s home to thrilling roller coasters, including the “Orion”, “Diamondback” and “The Beast”, as well as the award-winning Planet Snoopy kids’ play area. During the summer months, you can cool off on the waterslides of Soak City or check out one of the live performances at the Timberwolf Amphitheater.
Getting around Mason
Mason is around 30 minutes’ drive from the centre of Cincinnati and 45 minutes from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, which has flights to destinations across North America. Regular buses connect to Mason and travel throughout the city.