CINCINNATI (FOX19) – Travel-rating website 10best.com surveyed their readers on top travel destinations, and three Tri-State destinations finished among the top four nationally in their categories. 

Newport Aquarium was voted #1 among aquariums, beating out some facilities that are larger and are in bigger cities, like Shedd Aquarium in Chicago and the National Aquarium in Baltimore. 

Newport Aquarium responded with this statement: "Newport Aquarium is thrilled with our #1 ranking because it was voted on by families around the country. We set out each day to help our guests create wonderful memories with their families in a world-class facility. This ranking in some small way says we're succeeding.

SHARONVILLE, OH (FOX19) - A fundraising Campaign Kickoff is being held 3:00 p.m. Thursday January 19 in Sharon Centre, 11450 Lebanon Road, in Sharon Woods.

This event begins the fundraising campaign for the new Simmonds Family Dog Park to be located in Miami Whitewater Forest.  The goal of the campaign is to raise $500,000 to make the 11-acre facility a reality and create the largest dog park in southwestern Ohio. 

Hamilton County Parks Foundation President Jon Hoffheimer and Hamilton County Park District Executive Director Jack Sutton will say a few words about the campaign.  Campaign chair

John Ruthven will be there, as will Harold Dates, SPCA Cincinnati President and CEO.

NORWOOD, OH (FOX19) - The Friends of Upper Millcrest Park, a group of neighbors in West Norwood, will be hosting a community celebration in the Upper Millcrest Park on Sunday October 30, 2011 from 12:30- 2:30pm.

The event will include lunch (while it lasts), pumpkin decorating, games and an opportunity to see preliminary master plan drawings for the long term improvement of the park. The drawings come as a result of community input on desired uses for the park, a series of meetings with the park board and recreation department employees and input from city council and Mayor Williams.

The “Friends” group began meeting with the city of Norwood and planning for park improvements in early 2011. Park improvements were envisioned in three stages. Over the summer, a garden was planted in the abandoned tennis courts, a new picnic area was created, and simple landscaping improvements were implemented.