👋 Hi friend—

Some weeks are scenic drives. Others feel like you’ve taken a wrong turn into a construction zone. This one? We’re giving you a smooth little loop: a big green park with swingy bridges, a vintage car museum that sneaks in model trains, a burger joint where your kid gets to press the horn—and yes, a detour to a free round of putt-putt under the summer sky.

Whether you’re cruising through the week or just coasting on fumes, these five picks are here to help your family shift gears, burn off steam, and maybe even make a few joyful pit stops.

Here’s what’s in store

• One Place to Play — Lou Hartfiel Memorial Park!

• 3 Events to Check Out — Collection 21, City Night Out, and Putt Putt!

• One Place to Eat — Ford’s Garage!

• One at Home Activity — Car Wash!

• One thoughtful moment — Learning Together!

🐐 One Place to Play: 🌳 Lou Hartfiel Memorial Park
📍800 Buttermilk Pike, Crescent Springs, KY
💡 Big on green space, big on heart.

Looking for a park with a little bit of everything? Lou Hartfiel Memorial Park is Crescent Springs’ backyard—an 11-acre blend of nature, history, and play that’s perfect for a spontaneous picnic, a peaceful walk, or a big family gathering.

✨ What families love here:

• Nature trail: A 1.5-mile combo of wood chips and pavement, ideal for strollers, scooters, and midday wiggle breaks

• Swinging bridge: Yes, a real one—and yes, your kids will cross it 14 times

• Basketball court: Full-size, great for big kids and pick-up games

• Picnic tables & grills: Scattered throughout the park for easy lunch setups or sunset dinners

• Three reservable shelters: Ideal for birthday parties or weekend meetups (check the city’s website for availability)

🐾 Bringing your pup?
Dogs are welcome on leash, and we just ask that you clean up after them. Pups need to skip the playground, but there’s plenty of space to sniff, stroll, and lounge nearby.

⚽ Got soccer dreams?
Field use requires a permit—especially for organized play. Casual kick-arounds are fine, but call 859-341-3017 if you’ve got questions or want to reserve a slot.

🔥Events to Check Out:

🚗 Collection 21 – A Vintage Car Wonderland (That Also Gives Back!)
📍 21 Kenton Lands Rd, Erlanger, KY
🕒 Fridays & Saturdays | 10 AM–4 PM (last entry at 3 PM)
💸 Suggested donation: $15/adult | Kids 12 & under: FREE

Come for the Cars, Stay for the feels
If your kiddo is into wheels, gears, or just anything with a horn, Collection 21 is a hidden gem you’ll want to check out. Tucked just off I-275 in Erlanger, this massive vintage car museum houses over 250 American-made vehicles—from turn-of-the-century models that look straight out of a Wild West movie, to the sleek, stainless-steel DeLorean of your ‘80s dreams.

And here’s the best part: every single dollar goes to Housing Opportunities of Northern Kentucky (HONK)—a nonprofit that helps families find affordable homes. That means your family outing supports another family’s future. Pretty cool, right?

What Makes It Great for Families:
🚙 So. Many. Cars. From a 1903 Oldsmobile to a muscle car lineup that’ll make your toddler say “vroom” on repeat.
🚂 Model Train Display: A huge classic Lionel train setup runs through the exhibit—because what’s better than cars and trains in one place?
🧠 Sneaky Learning Moments: Chat about how cars have changed, what life was like “way back then,” or just let your kids guess what each car is for.
🚶 Go at Your Own Pace: It’s self-guided, so you can linger at the shiny ones or speed past the “boring old trucks,” depending on attention spans.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Kid Pricing = Amazing: Adults are asked to give a $15 donation, but kids 12 and under are completely free. That’s budget-friendly enough for big families or spontaneous outings.

✨ Final Spark Plug:
Collection 21 is more than a car museum—it’s a time machine, a conversation starter, and a way to give back to your community while soaking up a little old-school cool. Whether your little one is obsessed with steering wheels or you're just looking for something screen-free and surprisingly magical, this place is totally worth a spin.

🌆 City Night Out — Meet the Folks Who Keep Erlanger Running (And Grab Some Free Food While You're At It!)
📍 Next Event: Tuesday, August 5 | 5–7 PM at Flagship Park
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Free + Family Friendly!

The City of Erlanger has rolled out a brand-new summer series called City Night Out—and you’re invited! It’s a come-as-you-are, grab-a-plate kind of evening where neighbors can meet city leaders, chat with local officials (yes, even the Mayor!), and enjoy some relaxed, real-time community connection.

💬 In the Mayor’s words:
“We want to meet people where they are,” says Mayor Jessica Fette. “This is about trust, connection, and being present with the people we serve.” In other words: less red tape, more backyard BBQ energy.

🍔 Here’s what to expect:

• Free dinner (always a win)

• Casual, open-air hangout with your neighbors

• A chance to meet city staff, council members, and the Mayor herself

• Kid-friendly, low-pressure vibes

• A great excuse to get outside and feel plugged in

Bring the kids, bring your questions, and definitely bring your appetite. Whether you want to share an idea, learn something new, or just say hello over a plate of something tasty, City Night Out is for you.

📲 For updates and event details, follow the City of Erlanger on [social media] or visit [their website].

Let’s make this summer a little more neighborly. Hope to see you out there!

⛳️ Mini-Golf, Big Fun: Putt-Putt Night in Erlanger!
📍 3139 Dixie Hwy, Erlanger, KY
🗓 Saturday, August 10
🕕 6–8 PM
💸 Free for Erlanger residents (just bring proof of residency)
🥫 Bring a non-perishable food item to support the local food pantry

Looking for a budget-friendly weekend outing that gets the whole crew smiling? Grab your putters and head to the green! The City of Erlanger is hosting a laid-back, family-friendly Putt-Putt Night—and yes, residents play for free with proof of address.

Expect silly competition, wobbly swings, and plenty of “Wanna try that hole again?” moments. Whether your kiddo nails a hole-in-one or spends most of the game fishing their ball out of the water hazard, it’s all part of the charm.

🧡 Parent Tip: Don’t forget a canned good or two—donations will go to a local food pantry, so your family fun night can help support another family, too.

Come for the mini-golf, stay for the memories (and maybe a celebratory snow cone after). See you on the course!

🚗 Ford’s Garage – Florence, KY
📍 4911 Houston Road, Florence | 💵 $10–20 per person
🍔 Kids Eat Free Tuesdays | 👶 Jr. Mechanic Kids Menu

Where Burgers Meet Bumpers—and Kids Press the Horn
If your little ones love cars, horns, buttons, or burgers (so... most kids?), Ford’s Garage in Florence is a no-brainer. This 1920s-style service station–turned–burger joint nails the fun factor with vintage Ford cars, old-school gas pumps, and servers dressed like mechanics. Even the bathrooms have tire sinks. Yes, really.

Why Families Love It:
🧰 The whole place feels like a vintage pit stop—minus the grease.
🎯 There’s a wall-mounted car horn button kids can press (aka, best icebreaker ever).
🍟 The Jr. Mechanic Kids Menu is packed with kid classics like grilled cheese, chicken tenders, and junior burgers—all under $8.
🎉 On Tuesdays, kids eat FREE with an adult meal—making it a solid pick for budget-conscious families.
🧑‍🍳 Service is fast, friendly, and playful, especially with younger guests.

🧡 Parent Tip:
This spot gets busy on weekends, so consider calling ahead or going early if you’ve got a hangry crew. And yes, strollers fit fine, and booster seats/high chairs are available.

Whether you're fueling up after a day at the park or just need a restaurant that makes your kids feel like VIPs, Ford’s Garage is more than just a gimmick—it’s a fun, flavorful pit stop your whole crew can enjoy.

🚗 Sudsy Sensory Play: Backyard Car Wash

Got a kiddo who loves bubbles, splashing, and anything with wheels? This low-prep car wash setup is a sensory win that’ll buy you a few quiet sips while they scrub, rinse, and repeat.

🧽 What You’ll Need:

• A plastic bin, a laundry basket, or even the kitchen sink

• Warm water (just a few inches deep)

• A squirt of dish soap

• Toy cars, trucks, dinos, or anything washable

• A sponge, old toothbrush, rag, or paper towel

• Towel for cleanup (trust us, it’ll help)

💤 Parent Tips to Make It Easier:

• Use what you’ve got: A sponge, a washcloth, or even just their hands do the trick.

• Location, location: Try the bathtub, the kitchen floor with towels, or outside on a sunny day—wherever cleanup is easiest for you.

⏳ Want to Stretch It?

Add a cup for pouring or challenge them to line up the “clean” cars when they’re done. This simple setup easily fills 20–30 happy minutes—and when the fun's over, you just drain the bin, dry the cars, and call it a day. Cleanup takes less time than scrolling through Instagram.

No extra crafting, no perfection—just clean-ish fun that works with the rhythm of real life.
Because sometimes the best activities are the ones that don’t require a glue gun.

Learning Together: A Parent's Perspective on Growth

Lately, my 13-month-old son has discovered a new word: "Car?" The way he says it, with that questioning tone, melts my heart every time. When he points and asks, I follow his little finger to the nearest car and say, "Yes, that is a car!" His face lights up with understanding.

Every child's journey is different. Some race ahead with words, others with physical milestones. What I'm learning is that my job isn't to rush him or compare him to others. It's to be present for whatever stage he's in right now and celebrate his discoveries, no matter how small.

I watch him work with his ring-stacking toy. Sometimes he slides the ring right on with ease, and we both break into smiles and claps. Other times, the ring gets stuck at an angle, and I can see the frustration building – his shoulders tense up, his eyebrows furrow.

My instinct is often to jump in and fix it. But I'm learning to pause and give him space to figure things out. As long as he's safe, I let him struggle a little and try different approaches.

When the frustration reaches its peak and he looks at me with those wide, seeking eyes, I ask gently, "Do you need help?" He's been learning some basic sign language, and watching him sign "help" with his tiny hands is beautiful. It's him learning that it's okay to try, to struggle, and that asking for help isn't giving up.

In letting him work through challenges, he's learning that effort matters, that persistence can pay off, and that there's no shame in needing support sometimes.

I don't have all the answers about parenting, and this approach won't work for every family. But in these quiet moments with my son, I'm reminded that sometimes the best thing we can do is simply be present, offer encouragement, and trust in their natural curiosity.

Every "Car?" and every successful ring-stacking feels like a small celebration of who he's becoming. And maybe that's enough. Maybe that’s everything.

~Otto Neff

🧺 As you chase rolling golf balls and snack crumbs this week…

Keep this in mind: not every memory has to be mapped out. Sometimes the best ones show up between stops—on a playground bridge, beside a shiny old DeLorean, or right after your kid makes their very first hole-in-one (after 17 tries).

Hopscotch Highlights is your weekly reminder to find the fun in the in-between. If this made your week a little lighter, pass it along to someone who could use a full tank of local ideas.

We’ll be back next Friday. Here’s to unexpected laughs, retro rides, putters in tiny hands—and the kind of weeks that remind us: you don’t need a roadmap to raise good memories.

With sneakers full of wood chips and a grateful heart,
Otto Neff
Creator of Hopscotch Highlights
Raising the next generation of question-askers, ring-stackers, and expert backseat navigators.