The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is the second oldest zoo in the country and earned the award for USA Today’s Reader’s Choice best zoo in the nation. It is located a few blocks away from the University of Cincinnati’s Campus and it is home to a wide variety of animals including the world’s most famous hippo, Fiona. During the holiday season, they host the “PNC Festival of Lights”. The festival consists of spectacular light shows and displays. The zoo hangs 4 million lights every year and has won the Reader’s Choice award, “Best Zoo Lights” for the past four years.The Cincinnati Zoo is not an attraction you would want to miss during your time spent here.
Located at: 3400 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45220
The Newport Aquarium is located just across the river in Newport, Kentucky. The Aquarium is home to many unique creatures. Some of the local’s favorites are the albino alligators, Snowflake and Snowball. The Aquarium also has a variety of sharks for you to see. “Shark Central” is a 5000 gallon exhibit where you are able to touch a variety of shark species. Another local favorite to see here are the rare shark rays called Sweet Pea and Scooter. With the 70 exhibits to explore, we are sure you will see something incredible. If you get hungry after your visit, Newport on the Levee is home to many local restaurants and it even has a mall.
Located at: 1 Levee Wy, Newport, KY 41071
It is no surprise that the Cincinnati Bengals have spiked in popularity in recent years due to their widely known first round pick quarterback, Joe Burrow, and their appearance in Superbowl LVI.. Bengals games are a Cincinnati staple. Located at the Paul Brown Stadium, a Bengals game is packed with passionate fans and great seats. These games are often sold out, but you can still enjoy some barbeque and drinks at the well-known tailgating in the Stadium’s parking lot. The Paul Brown Stadium is located on the river right next to their neighboring baseball team the Reds, a Cincinnati summertime staple.
The Reds also have a pretty famous title, too. The Reds are known for the fact that they were the first professional baseball team to be established in the U.S. Watching a Red’s Game in the Great American Ball Park is a great way to spend your evening. There is a beautiful view of the Ohio River and Northern Kentucky located right next to the ballpark. They have delicious food and beverage options and often end the game with fireworks. Aside from all the activities they have inside the stadium, you can also visit the Red’s Hall of Fame. It is an interactive museum where you can learn more about the team and the history behind them.
Findlay Market is Ohio’s oldest, operating market. Located in Over-The-Rhine, it holds over 50 vendors who sell ethnic foods, meat, fish, coffee, plants, and everything in between. The market is open Tuesday through Sunday and on the weekends there is a farmer’s market where you can purchase locally grown produce and flowers. They host fun events and have live music. There is plenty of culture waiting to be explored at Findlay Market.
Located at: 1801 Race St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Although Cincinnati is a relatively urban area, it has some great parks to explore. Smale Riverfront Park is located downtown by the river. It has a playground, a garden, and a splash pad. It’s located a short walk from the Purple People Bridge which can be used to walk across the river to Kentucky. Krohn Conservatory is located in Eden Park. This conservatory contains over 3500 plant species from all around the world.. You will feel like you are walking through a jungle while viewing all of these incredible plants. Possibly the most incredible part of this conservatory is the butterfly exhibit. While in the butterfly room, you will be amongst thousands of free flying butterflies. You are welcome to observe these butterflies and you probably won’t be in there for too long before one of them lands on you! Ault Park is one of Cincinnati’s largest parks. Located in the Mt. Lookout neighborhood, this park is the perfect place to have a picnic. The park also offers a beautiful pavilion that is perfect for any photoshoot. There are plenty of trails and lookout points to explore here.
Cincinnati has an abundance of breweries in the tristate. There are about 80 breweries surrounding the city. All the breweries offer their own unique beer and atmosphere. Two of the most well known breweries in Cincinnati are Rhinegeist and Madtree. Rhinegeist is a large brewery located in the heart of Over-The-Rhine offering an industrial vibe with a beautiful rooftop overlooking the city. Madtree, located in the suburb of Oakley, offers a large beer garden with 32 exclusive taps. Madtree is a pet-friendly brewery with outdoor seating. Both Rhinegeist and Madtree offer unique food choices exclusive to Cincinnati.
Cincinnati has so many different museums to explore. One of the most famous museums here in Cincinnati is the American Sign Museum. This museum holds the largest amount of vintage and neon signs in the nation. These signs include old ice cream parlors, gas stations, and restaurants. This museum has so much to see and is the perfect place to take trendy pictures. The next museum you have to check out is the Contemporary Arts Center. The Contemporary Arts Center is located right in the middle of downtown and with its extraordinary architecture, you can’t miss it. The museum offers a wide collection of modern art. There’s multiple floors to explore here and the daily admission is free. Another museum you have to see is the CIncinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal. This is an old train station that holds three different museums. The three museums are the Cincinnati History Museum, Duke Energy Children’s Museum, and the Museum of Natural History and Science. There is a lot of history to learn here.
Cincinnati is home to so many restaurants and local businesses. It is known for many unique food choices. One of them being, Skyline Chili. Skyline Chili is very popular in the midwest and especially in its home city of Cincinnati. Their dishes consist of chili served on top of hot dogs or a big plate of spaghetti as well as a heaping portion of cheese. Another food chain we are known for is LaRosa’s Pizza. LaRosa’s was first opened as a tiny restaurant in Cincinnati and since 1954 has grown tremendously throughout the area. LaRosa’s offers unique pizza choices as well as other Italian dishes. It is a must try while in Cincinnati. The next chain Cincinnati is known for is Graeter’s Ice Cream.
Graeter’s was founded in Cincinnati in 1868 and quickly became the most popular ice cream shop in the city. They have a wide variety of flavors and sundae combinations. There are many locations throughout the city and surrounding areas. Another food item in Cincinnati is goetta. Goetta is very unique and is native to Cincinnati. It is a german inspired breakfast sausage consisting of ground meat, grains, pin-head oats, and spices. Goetta is very popular in Cincinnati, but almost unheard of anywhere else. It is a must try while eating brunch in Cincinnati.
