Aloft Newport On The Levee
If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, head across the river into Kentucky. I love the Aloft Newport of the Levee. Aloft hotels in general are modern and a little funky, and this one is also within a few steps of dining, shopping, and the Newport Aquarium.
Read reviews on TripAdvisor | Book a room here
See The Colorful Plants At The Irwin M Krohn Conservatory
The Irwin M. Krohn Conservatory in Cincinnati has more than 3,500 plant species from all corners of the globe and is a horticultural gem. The conservatory features unique themed houses that include a desert and a tropical rainforest, complete with waterfalls.
Built in 1933 during the Art Deco era, the Krohn Conservatory became known for its unique architecture of aluminum and glass, as well as its diverse species of plants inside the greenhouse. Various “houses” have different plants from around the world and include the Fern House, Palm House, and the Desert House. Also of interest is the John Carroll Bonsai Gallery of miniature trees and the seasonal floral show room that bursts into color several times a year.
It is managed by the City of Cincinnati Parks Department and hosts various events and changing exhibits throughout the year.
Address: 1501 Eden Park Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio
Go For A Picnic In A Cemetery
Anne Kitzman
Ok, this doesnt really sound much like a romantic thing to do in Cincinnati, but dont worry: this particular graveyard isnt your spooky Halloween style affair. Spring Grove Cemetery is actually a beautiful spot. Incorporated in 1845, this is actually a cemetery and arboretum developed after a cholera epidemic , but it was designed to be a peaceful public park.
That part of the bargain definitely worked out. Spanning 733 acres, the park encompasses a ton of beautiful trees from around the world, lakes, lawns, footbridges, winding paths and scenic hills. So pack some snacks and join the locals for an honestly-not-spooky picnic beneath the trees.
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Inside Old St Marys Church
Ranking as the oldest church in the city, Old St. Marys Church is one of the most beautiful and historic Cincinnati places to visit.
The Greek Revival church was built in 1840 by German immigrants and the building has been continuously used as a church since that time. As a traditional Roman Catholic church, daily masses are offered in Latin and English with an additional German mass on Sundays.
The richly adorned interior features paintings, sculptures and stained-glass windows.
Hyde Park Farmers’ Market
Every Sunday through the end of October, find the best produce of the season and learn more about sustainability. All the member farmers are dedicated to making our food supply more environmentally friendly. They operate without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, or genetically modified seed. Their livestock is raised without antibiotics or growth hormones. They’re composting food waste formerly sent to the landfill. Please bring your own shopping bags, as the market is aiming to do away with plastic wherever possible.
Come shop at Hyde Park, 2700 Erie Road in Cincinnati.
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Honorable Mention: Queen City Visual Narrative: An Exploration Of Cincinnati’s Iconography
What comes to mind when you hear the word “Cincinnati”? Eighteen local and regional artists would tell you that we are much more than just sports teams and chili. The city’s spirit lies within its people, within the hidden gems scattered throughout the city and within its rich history. This new exhibition shines a light on both the highly recognizable landmarks and the lesser-known iconography throughout the city, all of which combine to paint a picture of what makes Cincinnati the “Queen City.”
The exhibition’s opening reception runs from noon-3 p.m. Saturday at 1628 Ltd. . The reception is free to attend, but reservations are required because there’s a maximum of 40 people allowed per viewing session . Each session runs approximately 45 minutes. The exhibition is on view through Feb. 25. eventbrite.com.
Honorable Mention: Elf The Musical
Based on the beloved holiday film, this hilarious fish-out-of-water comedy follows Buddy, a would-be elf who’s unaware that he is actually a human until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to find his true identity.
Two area theater companies are bringing this magical Christmas play to life for the holidays. You can catch “Elf The Musical” at Covedale Center for the Performing Arts through Dec. 26 . Tickets are $31, $28 for seniors, students and children. For tickets, call 513-241-6550 or visit cincinnatilandmarkproductions.com.
Geared toward grades K-8, the Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s “Elf The Musical Jr.” takes to the Taft Theatre stage through Dec. 12, with shows this weekend at 2 and 5 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Masks are required of all ticketholders ages 2-up, regardless of vaccination status. Taft Theatre is located at 317 E. Fifth St., Downtown. Tickets are $10-$40. tafttheatre.org.
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Visit A Sign Graveyard
Where do Signs go to die? Cincinnati.
Whatâs something you see hundreds of every day, but never really notice them? Signs. I visited the one and only American Sign Museum. Here you walk through a half century of sign making history from gas lit signs, to light bulbs, to plastic, to neon. It was sensory overload but so incredibly interesting.
I walked through the space with sign expert Jesse. He explained the various changes in sign making history, and shared interesting stories about some of the businesses. The curating of the museum was really impressive. And quite frankly, itâs an Instagram heaven with all of the colors and figures. The non-profit museum actually rents out the 20,000 square foot space for private events. They even hosted a high school prom there!
I wore a permanent grin walking around looking at and photographing all of the variety of signs, and am now forever aware of the signs around me! This is a wonderful one-of-a-kind stop on your Cincinnati visit!
Read Sign Museum Reviews | Visit Website
Why Cincinnati Was My Biggest Travel Surprise This Year
Little did I know that Cincinnati didnât need any of those glitzy thingsâ¦it instead had surprisingly cool history and personality that I didnât even know existed in middle America. It was sort of like that aloof, quiet kid in high school that you barely noticed until you were thrown together with him in biology lab, and suddenly you realized this dude is really cool.
When something can surprise me, Iâm pretty destined to like it. Iâm arrogant, I think I know everything â but when a destination or culture teaches me things I didnât know about, I get pretty excited. It goes back to being an explorer when you travel. I want to channel my inner Lewis and Clark and help you chart a path to someplace new. I write a lot about how I love the idea of feeling like I discovered a place see my posts about Wrangle Island, Saba , the Ross Sea, and Tuktoyaktuk.
On this trip, I discovered Cincinnati.
It was full of culture and quirkiness and I spent most of my time saying the words, âI had no idea Cincinnati had this!â
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A Little Vino A Little Brisket At Zin Valle Winery Craft Bbq And Wine Festival
Enjoy a day of great BBQ, and a glass of wine of your choice at the festival, from noon to 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 6, at the Zin Valle Vineyards, 7315 Canutillo-La Union Road, in Canutillo. The event is free and open to the public with $20 plates of BBQ and $6 glasses of wine. Enjoy early access with a VIP ticket for $54.13 including meal, wine and fees, available online.
Explore Over The Rhine
Topping our list of fun things to do in Cincinnati, Ohio is exploring the Over The Rhine District or just OTR.
Situated just north of downtown Cincy, the recently revitalized district is a hub of entertainment and ranks as one of the top places to go in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The neighborhood dates to the mid-19th century when German immigrants settled the area. At that time, a canal separated the district from Downtown Cincinnati. The Germans nicknamed the canal The Rhine after the river in Germany. Residents working downtown would say that they lived Over The Rhine and, even though the canal was eventually filled in, the name stuck.
Also sticking around is the historic architecture that graces the district like Greek Revival, Italianate and Queen Anne. Furthermore, OTR is home to hundreds of historic buildings, numerous landmarks and a few National Historic Places. Exploring the neighborhood on foot is one of the top historical things to do in Cincinnati.
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Honorable Mention: The Warrior Run
One in five individuals live with a diagnosable mental illness it’s more common than you think. In July 2008, Mariemont resident Jim Miller was lost to suicide. A group of his friends started the Jim Miller Memorial Mile as a way to commemorate Miller, who had coached Mariemont recreational track and recreational soccer. This race is now the Warrior Run, which supports 1N5, an Ohio-based non-profit that increases awareness and education about mental health in teens and adults. Participants can complete the 5K/1 mile on the official Warrior Run course, or virtually wherever you are. The in-person race starts at 5:15 p.m. Saturday at the Bell Tower at Dogwood Park, 3706 Pleasant St., Mariemont. An afterparty of music, kids’ games, food and fun follows the race. Registration is $35-$45 adults, $10 ages 5-22, free for ages under 5. cincywarriorrun.org.
Do You Need Travel Insurance
Dont forget to sort your travel insurance! Weve put together a roundup of Travel Insurance for backpackers check it out here, or if youre low on time, get a quote from World Nomads, our favorite travel insurance provider.
Getting an estimate from World Nomads is simple just click the button or image below, fill out the necessary info, and youre on your way!
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Ancient Middle East Gallery Opens
The Cincinnati Art Museum’s ancient Middle East collections number more than 1,000 objects, with the monumental architectural fragments from Khirbet et-Tannur a large Nabataean temple complex located 70 miles north of Petra in present-day Jordan as well as lavish royal goods, intricate votive objects and architectural fragments from the Assyrian, Achaemenid and Sasanian civilizations, among others.
Most of the collection has been in storage since 2004 awaiting new gallery space, and the wait is finally over. The museum’s 2,800-square-foot ancient Middle East gallery has been reimagined into light and airy new galleries incorporating contemporary reflections on ancient pasts and includes architectural changes like LED lighting, custom-built casework and new windows to allow more natural light and provide great views of the courtyard.
You can see the new space, the largest collection of Nabataean art in the United States and a new commission in glass from artist Shahzia Sikander that encourages visitors to rethink the way a 21st-century museum interprets ancient Middle Eastern art when the gallery opens to the public at 11 a.m. Saturday. Admission is free. The museum is open Tuesday-Sunday, with extended hours on Thursdays. Cincinnati Art Museum is located at 953 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams. cincinnatiartmuseum.org.
More Christmas And Holiday Fun:
Drive Through Christmas Light Shows are abundant in Cincinnati this year. Check out our list and visit one each week!
Cutting down your own Christmas Tree is a wonderful way to start the season! Heres our list of local Christmas Tree Farms and what you can expect in 2021.
Gas up the car, pack up some fun holiday snacks, and map out your route because its time for Neighborhood Christmas Light Displays!
Looking for some ways to see Santa in 2021? Were gathering up all the spots we can find for Pictures with Santa and Breakfast with Santa.
Take it easy this season and order your Christmas dinner from one of our wonderful local restaurants.
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Honorable Mention: Higher: A Rock Musical
The opioid crisis has affected millions of people from all walks of life in America, especially here in the Midwest. The crisis does not discriminate. Some people did not make it through, but for others, there is a tale of hope. American Legacy Theater presents one such story. Written by Mark Levine who spent 12 years working at Cincinnati’s Joseph House, a treatment center for veterans with various additions and directed by Matthew David Gellin, this original rock musical is the first of its kind in American musical theatre: telling a story of addiction honestly and without prejudice.
Each performance includes a post-show discussion with cast and creatives to explore the themes of the musical and how people may be able to move their newfound awareness into action for reducing the stigma of addiction.
This world premiere play opens Friday at the Carnegie, 1028 Scott St., Covington and runs through Nov. 7. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $30, $25 in advance. 513-443-5429 americanlegacytheatre.org.
Learn About The Immigrant Influence Over Cincinnati
German immigrants were among the earliest settlers of Ohio. Beginning in the 1830s, many lived in the area known as Over-the-Rhine, where there were German churches, clubs, schools, and even German-language newspapers. Today, nearly half of all Cincinnatiâs population claims some German ancestry. And that explains why Cincinnati has the largest Oktoberfest celebration outside of Munich!
Over the Rhine Neighborhood
A trip to Cincinnati means that you must stop in the Over the Rhine neighborhood near downtown. Its name comes from the fact that there was a canal that ran through Cincinnati and all of the Germans tended to settle on the other side of the canal that the Germans affectionately called the Rhine River.
Once thriving in the 1800âs with the flow of immigrants, it fell into dire straits and was known as the sketchiest part of the city up until just a few years ago. However, now itâs had a revival. One could say that the revival is a nice way of saying re-gentrification â but as I walked around the area on my visit, I found that itâs still quite a mix of cutting edge and sketchy all living together. Public housing is still being built and maintained in the area instead of being completely shut out. This gives it a bit of a different feel than a completely re-gentrified area. Itâs a thriving neighborhood that is full of history, great shops, architecture, and restaurants.
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Go On The Cincinnati Underground Tour
Anyone looking for fun things to do in Cincinnati, Ohio should consider joining the citys Underground Tour.
On a Cincinnati Underground Tour, entertaining tour guides lead participants through the Over The Rhine district, down to hidden city tunnels and into a crypt.
During the 2.5-hour tour, guests learn about the history of Cincinnati, why the tunnels exist and how they were used.
Highly rated as one of the cool things in Cincinnati to see, the tours fill up quickly so reserve your spot in advance!
Join The Best Cincinnati Tour
Rather than trying to figure out the cool places to go in Cincinnati on your own, join a local guide for a fabulous tour of the city!
On the Cincinnati Morning Tour, participants are led to 10 sights in the city plus get a taste of 5 top city eats along the way.
The 3.5-hour tour is highly recommended by fellow travelers. Read reviews and reserve your spot here!
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Like Animals The New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum Is For You
The museum in Las Cruces features livestock, including horses, sheep, a donkey and seven different breeds of beef cattle and is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for senior citizens, $3 for children 4 and under, and $2 for U.S. military veterans. Free admission through Labor Day for U.S. military personnel and their families as part of the national Blue Star program. Masks are required due to the State of New Mexico public health mandate.
Head Up The Carew Tower For Awesome Views
One of the best ways to first get acquainted with a new city is to see it from above. Its also pretty cool to do and a great excuse to post pictures on Facebook or whatever to get everyone jealous of what youre doing. For Cincinnati, the best spot to do this is the Carew Tower. Easily one of the best things to do in Cincinnati, going up this super cool building for views is also highly recommended if youre into your architecture.
Its a 1930s, Art Deco skyscraper, Cincinnatis second-tallest. Youll be snapping pics of it from below for ages before you even walk in the door.
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Things To Do In Cincinnati Ohio: Taft Museum Of Art
The Taft Museum of Art is a National Historic Landmark and one of the best small art museums in America. The museum is home to an extensive fine art collection of American and European paintings and decorative art.
Avid collectors of art, the Taft family donated their house designed in the Greek Revival style along with their admirable collection to the people of Cincinnati in 1927. The museum has since been home to works by grand masters such as Rembrandt, Goya, and Gainsborough, as well as the greatest Gothic ivory sculpture in America.
The museum offers a variety of activities, such as guided walking tours and gallery talks, live music shows and Art in the Afternoon, which features presentations of local artists works on Sunday afternoons.
316 Pike Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202, Phone: 513-241-0343
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