Things to Do in Cincinnati

Located in southwestern Ohio on the banks of the Ohio River, Cincinnati is a quintessential Midwestern city. There are no beaches, no extraordinary shopping or mountain ranges to behold, but Cincinnati is a great city to visit – especially during the summer. If you do happen to find yourself planning a trip to what is known locally as The Queen City, here is a list of some things not to miss while you are in town.

Kings Island – Just north of the city lays Kings Island, a world class amusement park full of rides, shows and thrills for all ages. This is a great family destination as part of the park contains rides for the little ones, but there are plenty of serious roller coasters for older kids and adults. Kings Island added a waterpark recently so if you have time, you can buy a two day pass for a discounted price and enjoy the amusement park one day and the waterpark the next.

Cincinnati Reds – There is perhaps no hometown baseball team loved more than the Cincinnati Reds. Draped with the history of being the first major league baseball team, the Reds moved into a stunning new facility recently (Great American Ball Park) that is well worth visiting to take in a game. The surrounding area, known as The Banks, is being developed with bars and restaurants to enjoy pre or post game.

Cincinnati Zoo – The zoo in Cincinnati is known nationally as one of the best zoos you will find. Every effort is made to place animals in a replica of their natural habitat so visitors are able to see them roam and enjoy their surroundings. The Cincinnati Zoo has all of the typical zoo residents – giraffes, bears, elephants, large cats, etc. – but it also offers some more unusual attractions in the Nocturnal Exhibit and Insect House!

Union Terminal – This beautiful historic old train station is filling with stunning mosaics and is home to three distinctive and unique museums: the Cincinnati History Museum, Museum of Natural History and Science, and the Children’s Museum. All three museums offer a bevy of hands on interactive experiences. There is also an Omnimax theatre onsite, so there are more than enough options to keep you entertained for a full day at Union Terminal.

Outdoor Fun: Hiking, Canoeing & Kayaking – Though central Ohio is quite flat, southern Ohio is full of rolling hills with rivers cutting through them. There are numerous parks surrounding Cincinnati that offer wonderful hiking trails and the opportunity to enjoy the wildlife so abundant in the Midwest. Some to check out include Sharon Woods, Rowe Woods and Woodland Mound.

There are also numerous opportunities to canoe and kayak not far from the city. You can go north and explore the Little Miami River (try Morgan’s Canoe Rental or Little Miami Canoe Rental) or just west into Indiana and meander down the Whitewater River (try Green Acres Canoe – they also offer tubing).

EAT: Skyline Chili and Graeter’s Ice Cream – No visit to Cincinnati would be complete without sampling these two hometown favorites. Skyline Chili is the most popular place in town for what is known nationwide as Cincinnati Chili. You won’t have trouble finding a Skyline; there is one on almost every corner. Be sure to try a 3, 4, or 5-way which contains different combinations of spaghetti, chili, beans, onions and cheese!

Graeter’s Ice Cream has been featured on The Food Network and was heralded by Oprah Winfrey as her personal favorite. The thing that makes Graeter’s Ice Cream so unique is the chips. Because of the way the ice cream is made using the French Pot method, the chocolate is added in liquid form resulting in chips of varying size – sometimes as big as golf balls!

Graeter’s Ice Cream website, graeters.com


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