But I know what you’re really wondering…Is there anything to do in Cincinnati?

The answer is a resounding YES! Here are some resident favorite activities broken down by common interests:

If you…

Have kids or are a kid at heart:

Smale Stadium Riverfront Park: on the Ohio riverfront, the park sits between the Paul Brown and Great American Ballpark and includes playgrounds, a carousel, family sized porch swings, a rose garden, multiple fountains and a flying pig!

Newport Aquarium: home to the largest jellyfish gallery in the Midwest, you can get up close with penguins and mermaids and Santa have been sighted in the Shark Tank.

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden: a world-class zoo and horticulturist’s paradise

Tumblebees: at KidsFirst offers gymnastics classes and open gym sessions starting at six months

Kings Island Amusement Park: The largest amusement and waterpark in the Midwest offers rides, a kid’s area, Soak City Waterpark and Dinosaurs ALIVE

Starlight Drive In:  Visit an old style drive in movie.

Like Sports:

FC Cincinnati: an MLS Soccer Team that began play in the USL in 2016

Cincinnati Cyclones:an ECHL team that plays at US Bank Arena

Cincinnati Reds:the oldest franchise in major league baseball, opens the season each year with the largest Opening Day Celebration in the country

Cincinnati Bengals AFC Champions 2022!

UC Bearcats:  Football - AAC Champions 2021, and went to the Cotton Bowl  - Basketball

Xavier Basketball: appearing in the NCAA tournament 26 times, of teams yet to make a Final Four appearance, Xavier has the most all-time tournament wins with 24

Tennis - Western & Southern Open: the oldest tennis tournament in the US still in its original city and the second largest American summer tournament after the US Open, come see some elite players like Roger Federer and Serena Williams, and many more!

Like Beer: 

Craft Beer Central!- in 2020 Smart Asset compared 384 cities and rated Cincinnati as the top city in the nation for beer drinking. We have 31 breweries in the Queen City which offer around 112 different beers. Thats 10.20 breweries per 100,000 residents!

Madtree Brewing, Rhinegeist Brewery, Fifty West Brewing Company and Urban Artifact are just a few of the 50+ craft breweries in Cincinnati!

If the brewery itself isn’t your style check out Taft's Ale House or the The Growler House to name a few for some of the largest craft selections in town.

Cincinnati Bock Fest Cincinnati Beerfest and OTR Beer Fest

Like Food:

Cincinnati Style Chili: with only about 140 options including Skyline, Goldstar and Camp Washington.  Cincinnati Chili is not traditional. It’s served over spaghetti or a coney often with oyster crackers on the side, so whether it's a 3-way, 4-way or 5-way make sure to try some!

Sotto Cincinnati - Old world Italian ambiance serving food with a modern Italian flair listed on Open Tables top 100 restaurants in the nation

The Eagle - A food and beer hall

Taste of Cincinnati: held downtown each Memorial Day weekend a great opportunity to try some different food from around the area

Graeters Ice Cream: founded in 1870, Graeter’s is a Cincinnati tradition, the family still utilizes the same recipes and methods of production at their plant off Reading Road

Aglamesis Bros.: opened in 1908 Aglamesis Brother’s is being run by the third generation and is known for delicious ice cream and candies

Goetta: made of ground meat and steel cut oats, Goetta was popular with the German settlers who emigrated to Cincinnati in the 19th century, 80% of the Goetta produced by the largest producer is consumed in Cincinnati

Findlay Market: at the center of Over-the-Rhine Findlay market was founded in 1852 and is now the oldest continuously operated public market in Ohio, offers fresh meat, seafood and produce by local suppliers

Like Festivals:

The list goes on and on, Festival Park Newport has a festival for everyone: Goetta Fest; Bacon, Bourbon & Brew Festival; Brew Ha Ha, Cincy Blues Fest, Taste of Newport, PNC Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo,  Newport on the Levee Summer Concerts.

Octoberfest Zinzinnati: the largest October fest in the country held downtown on 5th street

Bockfest: celebrating the coming of spring and the brewing heritage of Cincinnati, complete with the crowning of the Sausage Queen each year

Riverfest & Fireworks:  Celebrate the end of summer with a daylong festival and spectacular fireworks over the Ohio River.

Like the Outdoors:

Purple People Bridge: the bridge built in 1872 was repurposed as a walking bridge and connects downtown Cincinnati and Newport

Ault Park: events, trails, gardens, multiple picnic spots and playgrounds

Red River Gorge - Daniel Boone National Forest: a 2-hour drive from Cincinnati offers rock climbing, trails and camping sites

Krohn Conservatory: located in Eden Park the conservatory has more than 3,500 plant species and is home to the International Butterfly Show

Ohio River Paddlefest: rent a kayak or bring your own, Paddlefest travels 8.9 miles up the Ohio River

Little Miami Scenic Trail: The Little Miami Scenic Trail is the third longest paved trail in the United States, running 78.1 miles though five southwestern counties in the state of Ohio

Biking trails: Lunken Airport, Miami Whitewater Forest, Loveland Bike Trail, East Fork State Park

Mammouth Cave National Park: 3 hours south of Cincinnati is the world’s longest known cave system offering cave tours, surface hikes, canoeing on the Green river and camping

Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum: founded in 1845, Spring Grove is one of the largest cemeteries in the US, and remains one of the most beautiful places in Cincinnati. 

Perfect North Slopes: That right, just 45 minutes from Cincinnati we have a ski slope and tubing!

Like Music:

Bunbury Music Festival: in early June, past year's lineups have included: The Killers, Florence and the Machine, DeadMau5, Umphrey’s McGee, and Of Monsters and Men

Concerts in Washington Park OTR: There are always free concerts going on in Washington Park. 

Like the Arts:

Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal:  This beautiful Art deco train station houses the Cincinnati History Museum, Duke Energy Children’s Museum, Museum of Natural History and Science and the OMNIMAX Theater

Taft Museum of Art: Our 200-year-old historic house holds an extensive art collection of European and American masterworks

Aronoff Center for the Performing Arts: home to the Cincinnati Ballet, Cincinnati Music Theater, Cincinnati Playwrights Initiative, Contemporary Dance Theater and touring Broadway shows

Cincinnati Music Hall: home to the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and Cincinnati Opera the Music Hall is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Cincinnati

Contemporary Arts Center: 

Cincinnati Art Museum: located in Eden Park - free admission!

American Sign Museum: the museum preserves and displays a collection of signs, neon and otherwise and also demonstrates the making of neon signs

Playhouse in the Park

Like Dancing:

Salsa on the Square: Held every Thursday in the summer months at Fountain Square, live music and dancing

Have a Dog:

Washington Park Dog Park: complete with a creek and water fountain for dogs to play in

Otto Armleder Dog Park

Mt. Airy Forest Dog Park

Neighborhoods:

Hyde Park: on the East side of Cincinnati, Hyde Park Square features a park in the center surrounded by shops and restaurants, offers a short commute downtown or to the hospital 

Oakley: young professional neighborhood with affordable housing and walkable square

OTR - Over-the-Rhine: believed to be the largest, most intact urban historic district in the US, OTR as it's called underwent a huge renovation in 2001, and now is one of the most popular areas for new restaurants and bars

Covington, KY - Mainstrasse Village: across the river in Kentucky, this area is one of the most walkable communities, offers many restaurants and bars with live music most nights

Mt. Adams: surrounded by Eden Park, Mount Adams has some of the best views of the river and city, with its narrow streets and eclectic shops you feel like you escaped the city

Downtown Cincinnati: Fortune 500 corporations, urban living, world class arts organizations, dining and shops all co-exist within easy walking distance to one another

Many more family oriented neighborhoods exist in both Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky priced within a resident’s budget, you can own a home here!  Explore other Cincinnati Neighborhoods.   And don't forget Northern Kentucky which is just 10 minutes from the Hospital.

Also, Cincinnati happens to be a very popular place to film movies, here are a few you may recognize:

2018: Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile

2017: The Life and Death of John Gotti

          Inconceivable

2016: The Killing of the Sacred Deer

2015: Miles Ahead- Sony Pictures Classics

2014: Carol- Salt Film Productions

2011: The Ides of March- Cross Creek Pictures

2005: Elizabethtown- Paramount Pictures

2004: Mr. 3000- Touchstone Pictures

2003: Seabiscuit- Universal/Spyglass Entertainment

2000: Traffic- USA Films

          Summer Catch- Warner Brothers

1991: Lost in Yonkers- Columbia Pictures

1988: Rain Man- United Artists

Cincinnati’s central location lends itself to lots of easy day or weekend trips:

1 Hour

Dayton, OH: home to the National Museum of the Air Force

2 Hours

Louisville, KY: home to the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail

Lexington, KY: catch a Kentucky basketball game

Columbus, OH: go check out an Ohio State football game

Indianapolis, IN: home to the Indy 500

Red River Gorge/Natural Bridge State Park: go climbing, rapelling, camping