This past summer I traveled to Cincinnati, Ohio for the first time. It was a tennis trip, with my primary goal being to attend the Cincinnati Open held just outside of Cincinnati in Mason, Ohio. I added on about two full days of time for exploring the city as well. Cincy is an interesting blend of midwest culture, lying at the confluence of the Ohio and Licking rivers, with Kentucky just across the river to the south, and the state line with Indiana about 16 miles to the west of the city. It’s Ohio’s third largest city behind Columbus and Cleveland. Here are all the things I saw and enjoyed during my time in the Queen City!
Stay
I was met with a bit of a puzzle when I first booked the trip in deciding where to stay. The Cincinnati Open venue lies about a half hour outside downtown Cincinnati, and most of the sightseeing I wanted to do was within downtown Cincy. I threw around the idea of staying downtown for the first half of my stay and then moving to a hotel closer to the tennis for the second half, but I hate jumping around hotels so much on a short trip so I ultimately decided to book halfway in between the two for the full duration of my stay. I landed on the Best Western Plus Hannaford hotel, located in the Kenwood area just off I-71. The hotel was convenient for my needs, a budget-friendly suburban hotel with free parking, easy access to the highway, and plenty of restaurants and amenities in the immediate area. The reviews I read had a few complaints about the highway noise, and the hotel is located literally overlooking I-71, but if you’re a city girl like me who’s used to a higher amount of ambient noise it’s not bad.
Getting Around
I flew in and out of the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), which is located about a half hour outside Cincy in Hebron, Kentucky. I opted for a rental car for this trip as I wasn’t sure how reliable and affordable rideshare would be for getting back and forth to the Cincinnati Open. Even for my downtown sightseeing, I found Cincy to be a pretty car-friendly city, with ample cheap parking in lots and street meters. If you’re staying downtown the entire time, you can definitely get around the city pretty easily via foot, public transit, and rideshare.
See and Do
I spent the most time while I was in Cincy exploring the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, also called OTR for short. This is one of the largest urban historic districts in the nation, originally settled by immigrants from the Rhineland region of west Germany. Its collection of ornate late nineteenth century architecture today makes up a walkable district teeming with shops and restaurants, and at the heart of it lies its most notable attraction, the historic Findlay Market. I loved wandering the streets, and was pleasantly surprised by the amount of art I encountered as well – it seemed like there was a cool mural around every corner. Another architectural gem of the OTR neighborhood is Cincinnati Music Hall, a performing arts venue in an exquisite 1878 National Historic Landmark building that sits across from the serene Washington Park.
Early in the morning on my second day in Cincy, I ventured across the Ohio River to the Covington, Kentucky side, which offers great views of the Cincy skyline and the iconic John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge. John A. Roebling designed this bridge to span the Ohio River, and at its opening in 1867, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world. It would later be overtaken in 1883 by Roebling’s more famous piece – the Brooklyn Bridge. The Riverfront Commons Trailhead at the base of the bridge on the Covington side offers parking and is a great photo opp spot.
Upon returning back to the Cincy side, I parked and paid a visit to the Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Due to its unique location on the Ohio River and on the border between the free states and slave states, Cincinnati was a key Underground Railroad stop for many enslaved African Americans on the journey to freedom. The Freedom Center provides a reflective experience covering the story of the Underground Railroad and modern slavery through interactive exhibits and video.
That afternoon, I brightened things up with a stop at the American Sign Museum, a collection of signs that tell over 100 years of the history of signmaking, from wooden signs through the neon era. It’s sensory overload to walk down the museum’s “Main Street’ surrounded by all of the vibrant neon signs. I even got to experience a neon-making demonstration while I was there.
From the American Sign Museum, I took a drive through the hilly neighborhood of Clifton, which has elegant historic homes and Mt. Storm Park with its “Temple of Love” gazebo.
On my last day in Cincy, I made a quick stop at the Cincinnati Union Terminal. In addition to housing Cincy’s Amtrak station, this National Historic Landmark art deco building is also home to several museums that make up the Cincinnati Museum Center, including the Cincinnati History Museum, The Children’s Museum, the Museum of Natural History & Science, and the Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX® Theater. I didn’t visit any of the museums, but did a quick walkthrough of the main atrium to take in the building’s impressive architecture.
My last stop on the way to the airport was the Devou Park scenic overlook in Covington. Located atop a hill, this park offers a quiet space to take in sweeping views of Cincinnati and Covington. It was a good final stop to sit and relax for a bit and close out a great trip.
Eat and Drink
In the heart of the OTR neighborhood is Findlay Market, the oldest surviving market in Ohio, built in 1852. It today houses over 50 merchants, with a combination of indoor and outdoor space. I stopped here for lunch twice during my time in Cincinnati, eating at The Arepa Place, Carl’s Deli, and enjoying a brew on the market’s patio beer garden.
A few blocks away from Findlay Market is Rhinegheist Brewing, Cincinnati’s largest craft brewery. In addition to an overwhelming draft list, the brewery has some awesome space to hang out in. Its indoor taproom is spacious and offers cornhole and other games. But on a sunny day, the rooftop is the real spot to be, with gorgeous city skyline and hillside views.
For lunch one day, I stopped at Taglio OTR, a restaurant serving delicious pizzas. I chose this restaurant because they serve local Three Primes beers, which had come recommended to me by a friend. Not only were the beers great, but Taglio’s signature hot honey and pepperoni pizza was well worth the stop.
Another brewery I had the chance to visit while in Cincy was Urban Artifact Brewing, located in the basement of the historic St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Cincinnati’s Northside. The thing they do best is fruit tart beers, and I especially loved their black raspberry Capy Snacks. I’m also a sucker for a pickle beer, and theirs was probably among my top favorites.
One of Cincinnati’s more unique eats is its chili – it’s a Cincy thing. Cincy-style chili is spiced meat served over spaghetti and heaped with shredded cheddar cheese. Get it as is (a 3-Way), with onions or beans (4-Way), or all of the above (5-Way). And don’t forget the oyster crackers. You can get it at a number of diners throughout Cincy, with one of the most popular chains being Skyline Chili. It’s a great stop for some munchies after a brewery!
Another Cincy must is Graeter’s Ice Cream, an ice cream company that has been family-run since its creation in 1870. You can find it at various locations throughout Cincy and the midwest. I enjoyed some on the grounds of the Cincinnati Open, the perfect treat for a hot summer night watching tennis.
My time in the Queen City, driven by a love for tennis, ultimately became a rich exploration of history, architecture, and of course delicious brews and bites. Whether you’re a history buff, a craft beer enthusiast, or just looking for a unique midwest weekend getaway, grab yourself a 5-Way chili and discover all that Cincinnati has to offer.
C to Shining C 