Greater Cincinnati has one of the largest park systems (per capita) among the major American cities. There are over 20,000 acres of city and county parks, miles of hiking & biking trails ranging from novice to challenging, over 100 golf courses including 60 open to the public and 20 state parks within a 2 hour drive. Several rivers and man-made lakes in the area also offer recreational opportunities for boaters.
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is the second oldest zoo in the United States. It features animals in naturalistic settings and is considered one of the best zoos in the country. The Cincinnati Zoo is renowned for successful breeding of endangered species.
The Krohn Conservatory is one of the largest public greenhouses in the country. There are over 5000 varieties of exotic tropical, desert and orchid species. One of the most fascinating and entertaining events held at the Conservatory is the annual Butterfly Show. Countless butterflies are released to fly freely within the Conservatory's showroom, adding yet another blaze of color to an already charming display.
The Newport Aquarium along the banks of the Ohio River in Northern Kentucky boasts 60 state of the art exhibits. Five specially designed glass tunnels take you on an adventure with 11,000 of the world's most beautiful, bizarre and dangerous creatures.
The Hamilton County Parks District was created in 1930. Old growth forests, young woodlands, meadows, prairies, wetlands, lakes and streams are protected to provide habitat for countless numbers of plant and animal species. The Hamilton County Park District offers a wide variety of recreation for area residents, including four lakes for fishing and boating, seven golf courses, two campgrounds, playgrounds, picnic shelters and miles of trails.
The Cincinnati Parks system boasts a 5,000 acre park system. The mission of the Cincinnati Parks board is "To conserve, manage, sustain and enhance parks' natural and cultural resources and public greenspace for the enjoyment, enlightenment and enrichment of the Cincinnati community."