It's a summer of pioneers, pirates, giant cones and Ferris wheels.
Despite a wet spring and early summer, attendance is strong at area amusement parks and other places where kids just want to have fun.
"Actually, the weather hasn't been so bad, and that has helped," said Meg Walsh, spokeswoman for Americana Amusement Park in Monroe. "We've had good crowds. Attendance is up."
The park, which has been renovated by its new owners, the Coney Island company, features two new rides this year -- a 40-foot Ferris wheel and The Tempest, a twisting ride.
"I'm sure the improvements have helped attendance," she said.
At The Beach Waterpark in Warren County, crowds have also been strong, spokeswoman Margaret Drexel said.
"Attendance is going quite well -- 93 percent of the number we anticipate every day," she said. "We're happy, considering a rainy June. We have a new children's pirate theme area and jet ski show in July -- three professional skiers. We actually set one of the guys on fire."
At night, it seems that half of the people in Butler County's Union Township head down to The Cone, 6855 Tylersville Road, which features a large assortment of flavors and a 30-foot ice cream cone facade.
"We come here for the ice cream -- it's that good," Katie Fischer, 14, said.
Other people come to meet friends and neighbors, said co-owner Keith Wren.
"All the ice cream places are having a good summer, from what I hear from my reps," he said. "It hasn't been without its complications, though. We've had our share of rain."
The Cone is usually filled with families, travelers and Little League teams marking a win -- or a loss.
Not all kids are spending their days at amusement parks and ice cream stands, however. Some are spending time at nature parks. Amy Mueller, 15, of Sycamore Township, decided to volunteer at Sharon Woods, a Hamilton County park in Sharonville. This is her fourth year as a park volunteer.
"I've had a lot of fun and made a lot of friends doing it," she said.
She is volunteering with the seven-week pioneer camp, which teaches children about the frontier and life in the area through the 1850s.
Laura Gates, 10, of Finneytown, and Emily Fede, 10, of Indian Hill, have enjoyed hearing stories of settlers and their challenges on the frontier.
"Someone at school talked about the pioneer period, and I thought it sounded neat," Laura said. "I wanted to learn more, so I came to the camp. It's a good way to spend the summer."
Emily nodded in agreement, then added: "But I am going to Florida."
