CINCINNATI, OHIO | 291 MILES | 3.5 HOURSÂ
Roughly the same population as Saint Louis, Missouri, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Cincinnati, Ohio, is a Midwestern hidden gem of the architectural marvels, culinary delights, culture, and vibrancy that come with an urban setting.
Start immediately after crossing into Ohio via the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge by exploring the 45-acre Smale Riverfront Park, which offers family-fun elements like a carousel and several playground areas, plus giant swings perched over the riverfront, walking paths, sculptural monuments, and the Black Music Walk of Fame. Just north is the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, devoted to telling the story of slavery in America and well worth a visit. Flanking the museum to the west is Paul Brown Stadium, home of the NFL’s Bengals; to the east is Great American Ball Park, home of the Cincinnati Reds, Major League Baseball’s first pro team.
A 17-minute walk from the park, the Taft Museum of Art is housed in a 200-year-old Federal-style wooden mansion — a piece of art itself. Inside, visitors can see Rembrandts and Turners, Italian majolica painted pottery, and Chinese porcelains, a rare and coveted collection. Stop by the café for afternoon tea or the garden with occasional flow yoga classes. When you work up an appetite, indulge in the city’s unique spin on chili — served over a bed of spaghetti — at Skyline Chili, or tuck into a towering strawberry shortcake sundae at Graeter’s, both with locations nearby and across the city.
For more greenery in the heart of the city, Eden Park is home to countless meandering trails, water features like Mirror Lake, a reflecting pool that features a huge fountain in the center and paved walking paths surrounding the lake frequented by walkers and runners. Krohn Conservatory, an indoor botanical garden within Eden, is designed in the Art Deco style. Inside the conservatory are 3,500 plants from across the globe, including bonsai, cacti, carnivorous pitcher plants, and rare orchids. The Krohn includes a live butterfly component during summer. Eden also boasts the Cincinnati Art Museum with its rich collection of nearly 70,000 pieces of artwork. It’s one of the oldest art museums in the country and has a significant number of Middle Eastern and ancient Roman works.
Wind down your visit at Over-the-Rhine, a hip neighborhood near Downtown full of restaurants, breweries, and shopping opportunities. Findlay Market, a collection of vendors, and Jungle Jim’s, a massive store selling grocery items and oddities from all over the world, will end your Cincinnati trip on a high note.
