As Cincinnati and the rest of the U.S. continues to deal with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, people are doing all they can to try and stay safe and stop the spread of the virus. This means that self-isolation and social distancing are a must, as these tactics are what the Center for Disease Control suggests can begin to halt the path of the virus. So that means a lot of time spent in the home for residents of the Queen City! After finishing up work and on the weekends there are plenty of things that you can do to keep not only your body active, but your mind active as well.

You might not get to visit some of your favorite places throughout the city and its neighborhoods, but you can do a lot more than you think online and from the safety of your home. So get ready, because we’ve put quite a list together of attractions you can view and new skills you can learn, all you need is your computer or phone!

Visit the Online Resources of Cincinnati Libraries

Don’t forget about all the virtual information at your libraries!

Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County

Just because the public libraries throughout Cincinnati are closed doesn’t mean you have to stop reading and learning! Head over to their website and view their large collection of audiobooks and electronic books that you can check out with your library card. Say goodbye to being bored at home and download the latest thriller, mystery, romance, or nonfiction releases.

Select locations of the Cincinnati library are also extending a free lunch option while children are out of school on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Check their site for times, places, and additional details.

University of Cincinnati Library

Don’t forget about all the wonderful resources available at the University of Cincinnati library as well! Although they remain closed, students and residents can still have access to any of their online materials. You can browse their extensive collection of free cultural resources such as the JSTOR database, videos, documentaries, musical archives and more. If you need help accessing anything, librarians are available via chat or email.

Take Virtual Tours of Popular Cincinnati Attractions

You can’t visit in person, but you can view these sites online!

Cincinnati Zoo

This is one of the most popular places to visit in the city--people of all ages enjoy viewing and learning all about the animals they see playing and feeding at the zoo. Since its closure, the Cincinnati Zoo has stepped up to offer those Cincinnati residents with kids at home a fun new way to access the animals. The Home Safari Resources is a great way to keep kids learning while they’re away from school. Each day at 3pm they’ll highlight a specific animal that’s in residence at the zoo via Facebook Live and posted to their YouTube channel as well.

Not only do you get to view the animals and learn something new about them, but there are also quizzes and at-home activities for your child to enjoy doing as well.

Cincinnati Art Museum

Many locals like to stop in the Cincinnati Art Museum to check out the latest exhibits, as well as view some of their favorites from the permanent collection. Unfortunately, you can’t drop by in person anymore, but you can get your art fix online! The art museum has been working to get most of their collection digitized, so many pieces from their collections--photography, East Asian Art, American Paintings, Sculpture and Drawings, Decorative Arts and Design-- are available to search and view online.

They also have put together a wonderful online special collection of Frida Kahlo: Photographic Portraits by Bernard Silberstein, The Art Academy of Cincinnati and World War I, Robert Duncanson, Rembrandt: Master Printmaker, and Mementos of Affection. These are all available to browse at your leisure online.

Cincinnati Museum Center

If your kids are curious to see what’s going on at the Cincinnati Museum Center while they’re closed, look no further! They’ve put together a fantastic series of videos in their Wonderzone where they have daily experiments, meet and greets with animals, as well as fun explanations for everyday occurrences like static electricity.

When you’re done learning for the day, why not stream one of the films from the Robert D. Linder Family Omnimax Theater straight to your computer? Try out the Coral Reef Adventure, Dolphins, Dream Big, The National Parks Adventure, or Van Gogh: Brush with Genius. They’re all available for free while the museum center is closed.

Keep the Music Playing in Cincinnati

Enjoy your favorite music online

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Although you can’t attend the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s concerts, you will never be without soothing classical music to make it through your work day! The orchestra has an entire page dedicated to ways you can hear the symphony online and from the comfort of your home. They have a section of CSO concerts, where you can hear the symphony playing live in front of a packed auditorium. You can also watch videos of the Cincinnati Pops American Soundscapes, which highlights American composers and is presented in partnership with CET Public Television.

If that’s not enough, you can also stream the CSO from one of their special events concerts, such as Lumenocity, and One City, One Symphony. The CSO podcast Fanfare is available for download where you get your podcasts, and be sure to check out their playlists on Spotify as well!

Bogart’s Homepalooza and Live Streaming

Bogart’s is the place locals in Cincinnati go to get their fix for live music and to see their favorite bands perform. Since their closure, they have been working hard to keep the live music coming for those in the city who just can’t seem to do without it! Check their Facebook page to see any new announcements from bands who will be live streaming their music straight to your computer. They also offer ways you can donate to those in the music industry who have been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.

Because they’re all about the live music, Bogart’s also created another way for bands to connect with their fans--while everyone stays at home! It’s called Homepalooza, and each band live streams from their homes for a half hour set, and fans around the world can tune in for free!

Why Not Learn a New Skill, Cincinnati?

Get rid of those boredom blues and learn something new!

Cocktail creation

Since no one can go out to bars anymore, everyone is enjoying happy hour with friends from the safety of Zoom, Skype, or Facetime. This works well if you like beer or wine, but what about if you’re a fan of craft mix drinks? If you’ve always wanted to learn how to make those fancy drinks, why not use this time of self-quarantine to learn how! You’re in luck because Molly Wellman--the owner of Japp’s--has created 5 O’Clocktails, where she’ll teach you step by step how to make some of your favorite drinks--and some ones you’ve never heard of! You’ll also learn a little bit about the history of the drink as well, making these some fun and educational videos.

Cooking classes

Another way to do something new is to check out chef Kayla Robinson of Arnold’s Bar and Grill’s Quarantined Cooking Class. You’ll learn how to make your favorite recipes from one of Cincinnati’s oldest restaurants including Arnold’s famous Greek spaghetti and coq au vin. Check in each week to see what recipes will be featured! If you need your Arnold’s fix in a hurry, consider taking advantage of their take out option.

Support Cincinnati Businesses

Show your support and continue to make purchases online

Sloan Boutique

If you like stylish clothing that’s made to last, then look no further than Sloan Boutique. As one of the first women’s boutiques in Over-the-Rhine, this store has set the standard when it comes to combine edgy styles with authentic, modern flair. They have options available from local Cincinnati designers, as well as those from all over the world. You can enjoy free domestic shipping, and free delivery when you shop online. If you’re unsure about a piece, or just want a question answered, consider checking out their virtual shopping appointments as well!

Manitou Candle Co.

With all that’s going on in the world, sometimes it’s nice to slow down and appreciate the small things. One of the best ways to create a calming atmosphere at home is with a high quality, soy candle from the Manitou Candle Co. Their store is closed, but they are offering their candles, home decor, beauty items, prints, and jewelry online so head over to their website to pick up some items that will bring a little tranquillity--and happiness--to your home.

Rhinegeist

If you’re like a lot of Cincinnati residents, you probably miss meeting up with friends at your favorite local brewery, bar, or restaurant. While you can’t go to the Rhinegeist brewery to enjoy their popular beers such as Bubbles, Truth, or Cheetah-- you can get them for curbside pickup! Never run out beer while you’re staying at home these days so order ahead and offer some help to the Rhinegeist employees.Keep Moving Cincinnati!

Keep Moving Cincinnati

It’s important to stay healthy while staying at home

DanceFix

Many gyms and yoga studios have had to suspend their live classes, but have really stepped it up when it comes to online workouts! DanceFix has made all their upcoming dance streams available when you sign up through the MindBody website. From there you can choose from regular DanceFix, DanceFix Shuffle, as well as a choreography breakdown for newbies. They also offer Nigerian West African Dance and Intermediate Ballet and a DanceFix specifically for kids!

If you’re not familiar with DanceFix, it was developed by a Cincinnati professional dancer and choreographer--Heather Britt-- who wanted to give people a way to incorporate cardio dancing, toning, and fun into an incredible one hour workout. Her idea really took off and DanceFix is enjoyed by people all over Cincinnati, and now it’s available all over the country via their live stream!

Dancewear Royale

If you’ve ever wanted to get instruction by some of the best dancers in the industry, then you need to start following Dancewear Royale’s Instagram account! You might recognize the Dancewear Royale name as the dance clothing line started by Cincinnati ballet principal dancers Sirui Liu and her husband Rodrigo Almarales. If you’re not in the market for leotards and tights at this time, you can still get your daily exercise from some of the biggest names in dance. Aware that many people--and dancers--are spending most of their time at home, they have made a series of videos available such as Ballet Class for the Living Room and Long Barre for the Living Room. If you’d rather do yoga or pilates they have instructors for those as well!

Define

Another way locals in Cincinnati can stay in shape is to try out some yoga, barre, or cycling classes from Define. You can choose to buy a class pass, or just pick classes you think you’d like to try and drop right in. They have packages already tailored to meet your specific fitness goals, whether that’s improving your strength or cardio function. These online classes are a great way to stay with your Define routine workouts, or to try something completely different while you’re home. Either way, you’ll definitely get quite a rewarding experience, whether you choose to do barre classes, cycling, or mindful yoga meditation.

Everyone in Cincinnati is making changes to their daily routines with the recent COVID-19 closures, but that doesn’t mean you have to be bored while hanging out at home! There are plenty of things to do and see online, so whether you want to learn to cook, exercise more, or enjoy the beauty of art--you can do all of that and more from your home computer.