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Summer may be half over, but there's still plenty of time to experience Kings Island at its peak.

Why it matters: The next few weeks offer the park's fullest summer experience before it shifts into its late-season schedule.

What's new: Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare.

The indoor attraction (or "dark ride") is an update of the park's cult-favorite Phantom Theater ride.

What else to know: Kings Island remains open daily through mid-August, when many seasonal employees return to school, says theme park journalist and former Kings Island spokesperson Don Helbig.

The Friday-Sunday schedule begins Aug. 21, and the water park will be open Saturday-Sunday until it closes on Labor Day.

Expect less nighttime entertainment as summer winds down.

Until then, Grand Carnivale returns July 18-Aug. 2 with international food, live entertainment and the nightly Spectacle of Color Parade.

"In a lot of ways, it looks Disney-caliber," Helbig says. "It's not as immersive as a Disney parade, but it's really good."

🗓️ Pick the right day. Visit Tuesday through Thursday for the lightest crowds, with Sundays another good option.

💵 Buy tickets online, where prices start at $45 compared with $90 at the gate.

"If you're only going to be there one day, I recommend you get the All-Day Dining bundle. It's $35, and on the surface, that looks expensive, but if you eat two or three meals there, you're going to pay triple that."

🧠 Have a game plan. Helbig's strategy is to start at Soak City before heading into Kings Island in the early afternoon.

Even if you're skipping the water park, Helbig recommends its Island Smokehouse for solid food and shorter lines than restaurants inside the main park.

Ride the Phantom Theater in the middle of the day or early evening, when waits are often shorter.

🎢 Tackling the Beast: Coaster fans should make The Beast their first ride of the day — and the last after the nightly fireworks and drone show.

Also: To get the true experience on The Racer, board between noon and 8pm when both tracks are running.

Kings Island trip tips from a park expert

Theme park journalist Don Helbig suggests avoiding Saturdays and buying tickets online.

Illustration of a roller coaster made of Ohio buckeyes.

Summer may be half over, but there&#x27;s still plenty of time to experience Kings Island at its peak.Why it matters: The next few weeks offer the park&#x27;s fullest summer experience before it shifts into its late-season schedule.

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The Cincinnati Open Sporting Club and the rest of the Lindner Family Tennis Center campus is about to change almost everything except its address.

Why it matters: Starting July 19, the Mason facility closes to the public for about a month while crews entirely remake the campus for the annual Cincinnati Open (Aug. 11-23).

What they're saying: Cincinnati Tennis COO Jansen Dell says the clubhouse design focused on flexibility, with movable walls and furniture that allow rooms to quickly change from community spaces to tournament operations.

What changes: "Every single room," Dell tells Axios. "We'll use the (next several weeks) to flip every space and get it ready for the tournament."

Two interior spaces: left a bright dining area with round tables set with white tablecloths, blue napkins, and wicker chairs; right a modern lounge with gray sofas, wood slat ceiling, and plants.

The Sporting Club opened in March as the centerpiece of the tennis center's recent $260 million expansion, with player dining and recovery space during the tournament.

A photo of tennis players using the indoor courts at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio.

The six indoor member courts will become the all-new Kroger Indoor Fan Zone with player interviews, live entertainment, racquet-stringing demonstrations, a practice court and gaming lounge.

Two photos on a blue background: left a stadium grandstand with blue seats and a white roof marked GRANDSTAND; right a tent-filled outdoor event with a shop tent and visitors.

Crews build a freestanding, three-story Grandstand Club, then dismantle the entire structure after the finals. The tournament's retail store isn't permanent either.

Two outdoor panels: left shows a grassy field with tall light poles and hedges; right shows a blue Prasco Kids Zone booth with people under a banner.

Most of the work happens between the permanent buildings. Open walkways gradually fill with hospitality clubs, restaurants, sponsor activations, merchandise and fan experiences until nearly every open space has a purpose.

Two tennis stadiums side by side: left features an empty blue hard court and modern curved building under a clear sky; right shows a crowded match on a blue court with grandstand banners.

The seldom-used competition courts come alive at the tournament. Each gets a fresh coat of paint while crews install video boards, sponsor signage and other temporary infrastructure.

Side-by-side images: left a sunny walkway with white tents, trees, and light poles; right a crowded outdoor festival with many white canopies, tables, umbrellas, and people.

Outside tournament season, this is just the walkway connecting the venue's permanent buildings. By opening day, it's lined with local restaurants, shaded seating, sponsor exhibits and thousands of fans moving between matches.

The conversion takes about a week, Dell said. Then the Sporting Club is back to serving Warren County — until it's time to do it all over again next summer.

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See how the Tennis Center comes to life for the Cincinnati Open

Every July, a team turns the sprawling grounds in Mason into a world-class venue for tennis.

Wide view of a tennis stadium at sunset: bright blue court, packed blue-and-white stands on both sides, a large scoreboard on the right, and tall floodlights overhead.

A view of Center Court. Photos: Courtesy of the Cincinnati Open

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Cincinnati Open Sporting Club" data-vars-click-url="https://cincyopensportingclub.com/" data-vars-content-id="1413e68b-b1bc-4109-9899-32b8b6625a7f" data-vars-headline="See how the Tennis Center comes to life for the Cincinnati Open" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://cincyopensportingclub.com/" target="_blank">Cincinnati Open Sporting Club</a> and the rest of the Lindner Family Tennis Center campus is about to change almost everything except its address.Why it matters: Starting July 19, the Mason facility closes to the public for about a month while crews entirely remake the campus for the annual <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Cincinnati Open" data-vars-click-url="https://gotickets.com/cincinnati-open?region=26&amp;fv=1&amp;venue=2575&amp;fv=1&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_source=google&amp;tid=aud-2281692811619:kwd-11694742840&amp;agid=197153228346&amp;cid=23081319770&amp;int=1023626&amp;pres=9015635&amp;network=g&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=23081319770&amp;gbraid=0AAAAAqsaoURkLhvWUVbRGcFxWwYnM3Pb7&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwmJjSBhB-EiwAkZgxi68Pu5VHwDCNokSvWEBNZP_5-iRhQlmkUfI5rwdaQHKhoaA5jk4MMxoCsokQAvD_BwE" data-vars-content-id="1413e68b-b1bc-4109-9899-32b8b6625a7f" data-vars-headline="See how the Tennis Center comes to life for the Cincinnati Open" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://gotickets.com/cincinnati-open?region=26&amp;fv=1&amp;venue=2575&amp;fv=1&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_source=google&amp;tid=aud-2281692811619:kwd-11694742840&amp;agid=197153228346&amp;cid=23081319770&amp;int=1023626&amp;pres=9015635&amp;network=g&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=23081319770&amp;gbraid=0AAAAAqsaoURkLhvWUVbRGcFxWwYnM3Pb7&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwmJjSBhB-EiwAkZgxi68Pu5VHwDCNokSvWEBNZP_5-iRhQlmkUfI5rwdaQHKhoaA5jk4MMxoCsokQAvD_BwE" target="_blank">Cincinnati Open</a> (Aug. 11-23).

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Sports

Every great swap meet purchase starts the same way: "I wasn't looking for this."

Why it matters: Luckily, Warren County has two of the region's best places to make those discoveries happen: Traders World in Lebanon and Treasure Aisles in Monroe.

The big picture: On paper, they sound almost identical. Both charge $2 admission and are only open on weekends.

Each boasts hundreds of booths, food, live music and outdoor vendors.

Yes, but: That's about where the similarities end.

Shoppers wander through one of the buildings at Traders World.

Antique furniture at Traders World sits next to comic books, vintage signs, vinyl records, retro video games and enough knives and airsoft guns to make me feel a tad uncomfortable.

The vibe: Imagine if Jungle Jim's became a flea market.

Sixteen connected buildings twist into a maze where every hallway leads to another discovery. It feels more like exploring than shopping.

Come here for the unexpected. Some booths are polished boutiques, while others look like someone emptied an attic onto folding tables.

My favorite: A bookstore offering new "mystery date" books every week.

If you go: 601 Union Road, 9am-5pm Saturday and Sunday.

Halloween prop shop window with horror figures, a life-size masked man wielding a chainsaw, a carved pumpkin, and posters for "Exorcist" and "A Nightmare on Elm Street," plus string lights.

One of the booths focuses on items from scary movies.

The vibe: A distinctly Latin American feel, with vendors selling produce, religious artwork, quinceañera dresses and soccer jerseys from clubs and national teams around the world.

You can also find plenty of quirky antiques, jewelry and used bikes.

Market stall crowded with religious statues; a large Virgin Mary figure in a green robe with gold rays stands center, surrounded by saints; bright safety vests hang on a pegboard behind.

This Treasure Aisles market stall sells a mix of religious statues alongside other seemingly random items.

Best bites: Honestly, this is the reason I come here. The food vendors — a mix of stalls and food trucks — offer tacos, hamburgers, tortas on homemade bread, elotes, aguas frescas, and even Thai food.

If you go: 320 N. Garver Road, 9am-5pm Saturday and Sunday.

Top-down view of a messy loaded ropes on a white plate with a green wrapper. It shows shredded meat, lettuce, diced tomatoes, sour cream, crumbled cheese, and a tall roasted jalapeño on top.

My haul: From Traders World, a Turkish mosaic lamp, an irresponsible amount of spicy pickles and "Lady Goosephine Beakmoore," a 24-inch porch goose.

From Treasure Aisles: An ill-fitting Portugal soccer jersey, homemade torta bread and a hand-drawn etching of the old Cincinnati riverfront.

The bottom line: If you want antiques and collectibles, go to Traders World. If you're craving elotes while you shop, Treasure Aisles is the choice.

Or visit both. Just leave room in the car — and your stomach.

Decorative white goose statue in a black-and-white dress with orange beak, red and blue bead necklaces, and a headscarf, placed outside beside a beige clapboard house with a banner behind.

Warren County's best treasure hunts happen at the swap meet

Outdoor street fair with vendor tents on the left, a striped carnival building with a tiger mural on the right, and people walking under a cloudy sky.

Traders World (pictured) and Treasure Aisles are must-visits when the weather is nice and the outdoor shopping is hot. Photos: Casey Weldon/Axios

Every great swap meet purchase starts the same way: &quot;I wasn&#x27;t looking for this.&quot;Why it matters: Luckily, Warren County has two of the region&#x27;s best places to make those discoveries happen: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Traders World" data-vars-click-url="https://tradersworldmarket.com/" data-vars-content-id="1922ee8b-7929-4f8a-9189-b6fbda3af4e3" data-vars-headline="Warren County&#x27;s best treasure hunts happen at the swap meet" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://tradersworldmarket.com/" target="_blank">Traders World</a> in Lebanon and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Treasure Aisles" data-vars-click-url="https://www.treasureaislesflea.com/" data-vars-content-id="1922ee8b-7929-4f8a-9189-b6fbda3af4e3" data-vars-headline="Warren County&#x27;s best treasure hunts happen at the swap meet" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.treasureaislesflea.com/" target="_blank">Treasure Aisles</a> in Monroe.

The former Voice of America Bethany Relay Station in West Chester is investing in interactive technology connecting its World War II and Cold War history to STEM education.

Why it matters: The National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting and neighboring USS Cincinnati Peace Pavilion hope the hands-on exhibits will inspire future scientists, engineers and skilled trades workers.

The big picture: The museum occupies the former Bethany Relay Station, where six of the world's most powerful shortwave transmitters once broadcast news and information in dozens of languages to help counter Nazi and Soviet propaganda.

Now, a $1 million anonymous grant is helping develop immersive experiments and exhibits for students, executive director Jack Dominic says.

They'll interact with virtual versions of scientists James Clerk Maxwell, Heinrich Hertz and Guglielmo Marconi through augmented reality.

They'll also discover how breakthroughs made more than a century ago still power smartphones, WiFi and contactless payments.

The intrigue: "We're bringing these people back to life," Dominic says. "You could come here and have a conversation with Mr. Maxwell and learn how he discovered radio waves."

Meanwhile, just across VOA MetroPark, the Peace Pavilion is taking a similar approach — using submarine engineering to spark interest in science, engineering and skilled trades.

Wide view of a sunny park with a curved metal walkway and a cylindrical tower topped by an American flag; green grass in the foreground and wispy clouds in a blue sky.

The USS Cincinnati Peace Pavilion. Photo: Casey Weldon/Axios

What they're saying: Bob Viney, a 1970 U.S. Naval Academy graduate and former nuclear submarine officer who helped bring the sub to Southwest Ohio, says the pavilion is more than a military monument.

"We built this for the kids. It's mainly designed to educate... the generations that are growing up now."

Visitors can already walk through the full-scale submarine replica on a self-guided tour.

Large red Fairbanks Morse O-P engine on display behind a black fence, with a gray-blue auxiliary unit on the left and a field at sunset in the background; sign reads THE BIG RED MACHINE.

Placards explain the science behind nuclear propulsion, navigation, atmosphere control and life aboard a fast attack nuclear submarine. Photo: Casey Weldon/Axios

Visitors will eventually be able to have conversations with avatar versions of crew members.

Teachers told Viney that interactive experiences offer a much higher "excitement factor" than learning complex concepts from books and videos.

A memorial association is raising money to complete the project.

What's next: Both organizations will spend the next year working with educators and subject-matter experts to shape the exhibits and curriculum before they open.

"The actual content will be shaped by what the educators need to explain," Dominic says, "and then together we'll figure out the best way to explain it."

VOA Museum of Broadcasting to offer new hands-on STEM exhibits

The historic site once fought propaganda and will soon teach students through interactive learning.

Black-and-white image of the Voice of America Bethany Relay Station, surrounded by tall radio antennas in an open field; a road leads to the entrance and a large satellite dish sits to the right.

An old photo of the Voice of America Bethany Relay Station in West Chester. Photo: Courtesy of National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting

The former Voice of America Bethany Relay Station in West Chester is investing in interactive technology connecting its World War II and Cold War history to STEM education.Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting" data-vars-click-url="https://voamuseum.org/" data-vars-content-id="22a54c7d-cdcf-4e5f-a53c-8e043bee96c5" data-vars-headline="VOA Museum of Broadcasting to offer new hands-on STEM exhibits" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://voamuseum.org/" target="_blank">National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting</a> and neighboring <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="USS Cincinnati Peace Pavilion" data-vars-click-url="https://subcincy.org/" data-vars-content-id="22a54c7d-cdcf-4e5f-a53c-8e043bee96c5" data-vars-headline="VOA Museum of Broadcasting to offer new hands-on STEM exhibits" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://subcincy.org/" target="_blank">USS Cincinnati Peace Pavilion</a> hope the hands-on exhibits will inspire future scientists, engineers and skilled trades workers.

History

I'm a big pizza guy. If you've seen my waistline expansion over the past few years, you probably already assumed that. 

But somehow — despite now living just north of Cincinnati — I had never tried Old Scratch Pizza & Beer.

That changed when I stopped by Old Scratch after a Dayton Dragons baseball game. (Highly recommend that combo.)

State of play: Old Scratch has quietly become one of the region's most popular spots, with four locations across Southwest Ohio, including Beavercreek, Centerville and Troy.

Columbus pizza lovers should know Hillard is set to get a location of its own later this year.

Light gray-green brick pizza and beer shop exterior with a tall green neon PIZZA sign. A circular logo on the wall reads Old Scratch Pizza & Beer. Outdoor seating under red umbrellas; a white car is parked outside.

There's a great flow between the indoor and outdoor dining.

Zoom in: The pizzeria leans into Neapolitan-style pies — think blistered, airy crust, a soft center and ingredients that do a lot of the talking.

It's a far cry from the thin, square-cut cracker crust you'll find at other Dayton staples like Marion's or Cassano's.

The vibe: Old Scratch's aesthetic lands somewhere between industrial brewery and family-friendly eatery.

There's an open kitchen where you can watch pizzas getting spun and fired in massive ovens. If you like Dewey's, this feels like the next level.

Three white mosaic-tiled wood-fired pizza ovens with tall shiny metal chimneys stand against a black brick wall; glowing pizzas bake inside. A worker in a cap and apron handles a pie.

The Old Scratch team fired up pizzas like a well-oiled machine.

What I ordered: The "Mr. Scratch" with tomato sauce, globs of fresh mozzarella, house-made sausage, caramelized onions and Calabrian chilis.

A little floppier crust than I usually go for, but the flavors really worked.

The rest of the menu features a range of red and white pies, plus salads, garlic bread and wrap-style sandwiches.

Local beer flows with several Dayton-brewed favorites on tap or out of the fridge.

Old Scratch Pizza and baseball a perfect combo

A Dragons game finally got me through the door. The pizza, beer and atmosphere made me want to come back.

Top-down view of a large pepperoni sausage pizza with red sauce, melted cheese, and basil on a wooden table. Beside it, a plate of garlic bread slices with a metal cup of marinara.

The "Mr. Scratch" pie and a side of garlic bread at Old Scratch Pizza & Beer in Dayton. Photos: Casey Weldon/Axios

I&#x27;m a big pizza guy. If you&#x27;ve seen my waistline expansion over the past few years, you probably already assumed that. But somehow — despite now living just north of Cincinnati — I had never tried <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Old Scratch Pizza &amp; Beer" data-vars-click-url="https://www.oldscratchpizza.com/locations" data-vars-content-id="371194c6-8168-4bbc-9341-e734e85d8417" data-vars-headline="Old Scratch Pizza and baseball a perfect combo" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.oldscratchpizza.com/locations" target="_blank">Old Scratch Pizza &amp; Beer</a>.

Casey Weldon

Featured stories

VOA Museum of Broadcasting to offer new hands-on STEM exhibits

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Warren County's best treasure hunts happen at the swap meet

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