Uncover Cincinnati: Discover the Best Things to Do
Cincinnati, located in the southwestern corner of Ohio along the Ohio River, grew up as a river port city, and the "Queen City" still embraces its river past with annual steamboat races and waterfront eateries. Cincinnati has several distinct neighborhoods home to more than 300,000 residents, including elegant Mount Adams, scenic Walnut Hills, and the quirky and fun Over-the-Rhine. The city's varied history and vibrant future combine to offer visitors plenty of exciting things to see and do, from major league sporting events and historic house tours to popular amusement parks. It's not an exaggeration to say that Cincinnati offers something for everyone.
01 Get up to speed at the Contemporary Arts Center
The Contemporary Arts Center focuses on the cutting edge, or in their words, "the art of the last five minutes." Featuring bold and relevant pieces, the museum showcases paintings, photography, sculptures, and even performance art. Many exhibits are informative, such as one focusing on "activism, education, and media production in trans, queer, and feminist movements," while others are interactive. The Contemporary Arts Center offers a valuable opportunity to engage with the here and now of the art world and shouldn't be missed.
02 Explore a unique part of history at the American Sign Museum
Seeing them in old photographs and movies, it's easy to take the astounding craft involved in making the signs that once lit up Main Streets across the continental United States. Witnessing them in person is an extraordinary purpose. The hallways to the museum glow in multicolored neon light that shines from the glass tubes of these signs, with tons of cool vintage designs and fonts alongside stunning art. Some of the pieces are enormous, like a McDonald's sign featuring the long-forgotten mascot Speedee that once towered over a store in Huntsville, Alabama, and now sits in the main hall of the museum. Numerous plaques offer detailed information about the signs, including how they were made, and there is a documentary you can watch that gets into even more detail. The American Sign Museum is educational and fun, providing a glimpse into a unique part of American history.
03 Get up close and personal with aquatic life at the Newport Aquarium
Countless aquariums exist throughout the United States, but few offer as expansive and intimate an experience as does the Newport Aquarium. Located in Newport, Kentucky, just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, this stop on your tour includes numerous activities and opportunities to see the type of wildlife you'd ordinarily have to trek deep into the waters to catch a glimpse of. With a wide range of aquatic life, from glowing, purple jellyfish to fierce, ferocious sharks, there are tons of creatures to see, offering an experience you just can't find elsewhere. Those who are up for it can even walk across a rope bridge just inches above a tank of sharks. For anyone visiting the Cincinnati area, the Newport Aquarium is an alluring destination.
04 Visit a beautiful stadium on a Great American Ball Park Tour
Cincinnati has a thriving sports culture, and no team from the area is, perhaps, as iconic as its Major League Baseball team, the Cincinnati Reds. Great American Ball Park is a truly beautiful stadium with an outfield that overlooks the Ohio River, where, legend has it, Adam Dunn blasted a home run in 2004. Tours will take you onto the field, through the dugouts, and even into the press box where commentators call games. It's a great opportunity for a behind-the-scenes look at the big leagues and shouldn't be missed by anyone who loves America's National Pastime.
05 Catch a show at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park
If you're a theatre aficionado, the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park is an important stop on your visit to Cincinnati. Located in gorgeous Eden Park, the playhouse holds great historical significance, having garnered a reputation for bringing some of the most important performances to Ohio. Their schedule is packed with a variety of shows, including musicals, dramas, and comedies from acclaimed plays. Upcoming productions include Karen Zacarías' fresh take on the classic Western Shane, Nathan Alan Davis' comedy Origin Story, and August Wilson's Seven Guitars, which features live blues and lyrical dialogue.
06 Eat, drink, and be merry at the Fountain Square Entertainment District
A day full of exploring a new city can build up quite the appetite. Luckily, the Fountain Square in downtown Cincinnati provides all sorts of fine dining and opportunities to let loose for a while. Whether you're looking to snag a tasty burger at Americano or settle in for a finely crafted Italian meal at Sotto, you're guaranteed to find something to satisfy whatever your craving may be. Afterward, perhaps you might want to enjoy a delectable cocktail at Igby's. There are all sorts of fun activities on the Square as well, from Japanese-style karaoke to roller skating and even a boxing club. It's a cool area to just walk around in, with fun stuff to do at every turn.
07 Explore the cosmos at Cincinnati Observatory
At the peak of Mount Ida, which overlooks downtown Cincinnati, is the Cincinnati Observatory. It features two massive telescopes you can use to gaze at the stars. It's the oldest professional observatory in the United States, and the 1845 Merz und Mahler 11-inch refractor may well be the oldest telescope in the world that is still in use. There are tours, opportunities to learn from some of the top astronomers in the world, and fun activities for kids and adults alike. The Cincinnati Observatory offers a stargazing experience, unlike many others.
08 Splash around in the Coney Island Amusement Park
Coney Island in New York is perhaps one of the most iconic amusement parks in history. But Cincinnati's Coney Island is arguably more fun, offering a memorable outing for those who love the water. Splash around in the expansive Sunlite Pool or take a plunge from its 9-foot diving board. The park's vast array of water slides includes the Cyclone, a 70-foot spiraling experience, and the speedy Silver Bullet. With over 70 interactive water play stations, Coney Island Cincinnati is a great place to take the kids and fun for adults, too.
09 Bask in awe at the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
Every great city has a great orchestra, and Cincinnati is no exception. Showcasing the top touring artists in the classical world as well as fun pop music programming, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra offers musical experiences of a wide variety. Upcoming events include a performance of Mahler's Symphony No. 7, a Chamber Players Series show of the music of Schumann & Schubert, and Ragtime in Concert.
10 Try a Mount Adams Neighborhood Exploration
Tourist attractions are great, but sometimes the best way to explore a new city is to simply walk through its streets. With its unique architecture and rich history, the Mount Adams Neighborhood offers a memorable experience to anyone who wishes to do just that. And with all sorts of fun events like the Egg Nog Jog and dog parades, there are plenty of tourist attractions there as well.
11 Peruse the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden
Located in Cincinnati's Avondale neighborhood, the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden is the second oldest zoo in the United States. The 75-acre park is home to nearly 1,900 animals and includes more than 500 species. Noted for its successful breeding program, the Cincinnati Zoo are the birthplace of the baby hippo Fiona and a notable reptile house. More than 1.2 million people visit the Cincinnati Zoo each year.
12 Check out a few more major league sports
Cincinnati loves its sports teams. The Queen City is home to the Cincinnati Bengals NFL football team and FC Cincinnati, a Major League Soccer team. Area college teams, including the Xavier University Musketeers and the University of Cincinnati Bearcats, are also popular.
13 Feel like a kid at Kings Island Amusement Park
Located 24 miles northeast of downtown Cincinnati, the 364-acre Kings Island Amusement Park has been delighting visitors since 1972. The park features more than 100 attractions, including 15 roller coasters and a 33-acre water park. Nearly 3.5 million people visit Kings Island each year, making it the second most visited seasonal amusement park in the United States (behind Sandusky, Ohio's Cedar Point.)
14 Peruse the Cincinnati Art Museum
Founded in 1881, the Cincinnati Art Museum is one of the oldest in the United States. The collection here includes more than 60,000 works and boasts many paintings by European masters and several French Impressionist and post-Impressionist paintings. Admission to the permanent collection is free.
15 Take in history via the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
Established in 2004, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center seeks to educate the public about the history of slavery in America and pay tribute to efforts to "abolish human enslavement and secure freedom for all people." One of the highlights of the museum is a former slave pen that was transported from Northern Kentucky and rebuilt on the museum's second-floor exhibit hall.
16 Become a collector while visiting the Taft Museum of Art
This elegant 19th-century house-turned-art museum is located in Cincinnati's Lytle Park Historic District. The previous owners, relatives of President William Taft, were avid art collectors who opened their collections to the public in 1932. Highlights of the museum include paintings by Turner, Rembrandt, and Whistler, as well as a 1909 painting of President Taft by Joaquin Sorolla.
17 Enjoy Ohio River Parks
One of the most enjoyable things about living in or visiting Cincinnati is the large number of parks and green spaces, many of which are located along the banks of the Ohio River. Smale Riverfront Park, Sawyer Point Park, and Riverview Park are all located in or just outside of downtown.
18 Splurge at Findlay Market
Cincinnati's Findlay Market in the city's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood is Ohio's largest continuously-operated food market. It first opened in 1852 and features more than three dozen indoor food vendors, selling everything from fresh fish to just-off-the-farm produce, as well as cheese, deli items, flowers, and ethnic foods.
19 See it all at the Cincinnati Museum Center
Located in the former Union Station railroad terminal, Cincinnati Museum Center is a mixed-use complex. It houses several museums, a library, a theater, and temporary exhibit halls. Visit the Cincinnati History Museum, the Museum of Natural History and Science, and the Duke Energy Children's Museum, all without leaving the premises.
20 Go green at the Krohn Conservatory
Krohn Conservatory, located within Eden Park near the Cincinnati Art Museum, was constructed in 1933. Operated by the City of Cincinnati, the Art Deco-style conservatory contains more than 3,500 plant specimens from around the globe. Highlights include the bonsai collection, the 75 plants in the orchid display, and the 45-foot-high Palm House. People also frequent the Tropical House with its large collection of ferns and bromeliads.
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