I grew up and lived in Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati for about 28 years. I definitely didn't take advantage of all the fun and cool things to do. In the past 5 years Cincinnati has transformed itself into a wonderful place to visit and spend a long weekend going to a music festival, Reds game, or discovering all of the craft breweries it is now known for.
How to get to downtown from the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
If you are traveling to the downtown area don't rent a car. The 2X TANK bus is reliable and safe. It picks you up on the baggage claim floor and takes 20-30 minutes to get downtown for only $2! The last bus leaves the airport at 12:23 pm for those late arrivals.
Once downtown most hotels are within walking distance from the 4 downtown stops, just ask your driver and they are more than willing to tell you what stop to get off at. If you are staying in Covington, just across the river from Cincinnati, you will want to get off at the Covington Transit Center and take another bus or shuttle from there. Check out tankbus.org for schedules and maps.
Where to stay
Cincinnati hasn't caught onto the hostel thing yet nor does it have a big couch surfing community. AirBnb is a really great option, you can get an entire house for around $145, or a private room for around $45, depending on the time of year. Covington and Newport, Kentucky are great options for lodging, it has good public transportation called Southbank Shuttle.
If you want to stay in a hotel there are so many options downtown:
Westin, Hyatt, Millennium, Renaissance, Cincinnatian, Residence Inn, 21C Museum hotel
What to do
MMM Beer
Cincinnati has a rich history of beer, they even have underground tunnels in Over The Rhine (OTR) where they would roll barrels of beer from the brewery to the bars. I highly recommend taking the Ultimate Underground tour provided by American Legacy Tours which will explore the newly discovered tunnels vital to Cincinnati’s brewery heritage. Tours start mid-March, last 90min to 2 hours, cost $30 per person. They also offer other historical tours of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky americanlegacytours.com
Located in Covington, KY this brewery got a humble star. With a love for brewing Braxton has become an entrepreneurial obsession. Melding technology and tradition, at Braxton ideas are born and fermented. The tap room has a great ambiance, Projection TVs for all of the sporting events, and not to mention Storm on NITRO. If you see Richard Dube (the head brew-master) tell him Elly sent you! image credit
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Ei8ht Ball Brewery is located just a short trolley ride from downtown, in Bellview, Kentucky. Attached to Party Source, a locals beer, wine, and spirits heaven, Ei8ht Ball is tucked away in the back of the store. This is a locals hangout, no frills here just 42 good beers on tap. image credit
Rhinegeist, translates to "Ghost of the Rhine" and refers to our place in the historic Over-the-Rhine Brewery District in Cincinnati. A great addition to the OTR scene, this brewery, that now serves cider, is a great place to meet up with friends, play some cornhole or watch the game. As soon as the streetcar starts, it will drop you off right at the front door!
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Cincinnati Beer Week
So what is Cincinnati Beer Week? The mission statement says it’s “… a grassroots movement aiming to educate, inspire and celebrate well-crafted beer in a welcoming environment.” For the eight days of the “week”, bars, restaurants and stores all over the Greater Cincinnati become Official Cincinnati Beer Week Venues and hold special events like beer tastings, beer-pairing dinners, and brewery nights. The drinking starts June 19, 2016.
Sports
When you're in the birthplace of professional baseball, you know you're in a place where sports are special. Cincinnati has some world renowned teams, college and professional. Cincinnati Reds, Bengals, Cyclones, University of Cincinnati Bearcats and Xavier Musketeers make up the sports plethora of the Queen City.
The Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon is a 42.195 km race run the first Sunday of every May. There is a 5K race, a 10K race, and a half-marathon in addition to the traditional marathon race. Added in 2014, there is a 2-mile "Flying Fur," event for dogs and humans to participate in, so bring the pupps!
Cincinnati Festivals
It seems like there is a festival happening every month in the Queen City. Whatever you fancy, there is something for you.
Paddlefest, WEBN Fireworks, Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, Maifest, Cincinnati Music Festival, Bunburry Music Festival
Off the beaten path
American Sign MuseumThe American Sign Museum is the premier institution for preserving historic signs and promoting the contributions the sign industry makes to commerce, culture, and the American landscape. Stroll down memory lane when signage was neon, big and flashy. This is something completely out of the ordinary. Take an Uber here, as public transportation isn't the best in this area. Open Wednesday through Sunday; $15 adult admission.
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Krohn ConservatoryLocated in Eden Park, it contains more than 3,500 plant species from all over the world. The conservatory changes throughout the year with special exhibits and programs, including the ever-popular International Butterfly Show where thousands of butterflies are free to fly throughout the Krohn Conservatory showroom in a specially-themed garden. Permanent exhibits include the rainforest waterfall and exotic plants in the Palm, Tropical, Desert and Orchid houses as well. Check website for hours; $7 adult admission, $4 children.
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You're thinking "Why do I want to walk around a cemetery?" and I can understand why you may think that, but from the cemetery’s beginning (1845), the grounds have been used to as an arboretum for the study of plants. The attention to the grounds of the cemetery continues today with over 1200 species and 19 State Champion trees. Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum is located at 4521 Spring Grove Avenue, take an Uber to get here. Admission is free. image credit
Excellent article
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