We were in Cincinnati for a wedding (which we knew would be fun!) We also explored all around downtown, OTR, and the Blink Festival – which was unexpectedly REALLY fun! Here’s everything we did in Cincinnati….
Lime Scooters
Lime Scooters are scattered all around the city, and are an easy and fun alternative to an Uber if you’re going a short distance while the weather is nice. Download the app, and scoot to your next destination! We had a BLAST.
Exploring Downtown Cincinnati
We walked all around downtown past all of the stadiums – baseball, football, and some other sports (hockey?) We visited the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, which is an important museum with two floors depicting the history of (and modern) slavery and the Underground Railroad. Cincinnati played a significant role in the Underground Railroad since it’s located right across the river from Kentucky. The museum is fascinating, well done, thoughtfully curated, and interactive. While the subject matter is challenging, it provides valuable insights into the key events and figures that shaped our history from the founding days of our country, through the Civil War, to the civil rights movement of the 1960s, as well as the ongoing efforts for equality today.
OTR (Over the Rhine) Snapshots
(taken with my Fuji xs20)
The adorable “OTR” section of Cincinnati has plenty of cute boutiques and restaurants. We LOVED our late lunch at Pepp & Delores, where we discovered the best pasta on the planet: the Limone, which is a citrusy mix Meyer lemon and al dente noodles with chili flake, parmigiano-reggiano, garlic breadcrumb, and ricotta. Also, the ricotta and grilled appetizer, meatballs, and caesar salad with walnuts make me want to drive back to Cincinnati.
The Alcove Kitchen + Bar is a beautiful, bright restaurant with excellent Cincinnati beers (that they brew) and a fantastic craft beer friendly menu.
The American Sign Museum
My Aunt Jessica’s recommendation made its way onto our Cincinnati bucket list. The American Sign Museum is tucked away in an unexpected part of town, so it feels like a destination in itself. The neon signs are undeniably cool, and I enjoyed the unique exhibits on the history of letters, neon, and motion—especially as a marketing nerd! However, we explored the museum in about 20 minutes. While it offers an interesting experience, you won’t need to dedicate much time to it.
Blink Festival
Apparently, 2 million people visit Cincinnati for Blink Festival. After walking around at night during Blink, I can confirm the 2 million people attend this cool light & arts festival. Attendees walk around downtown and check out different artistic light installations in parks and on buildings. It’s pretty spectacular and worth the visit!
Ribs at Montgomery Inn
Ribs and Saratoga Chips at Montgomery Inn were enthusiastically recommended as the “best ever” by a foodie wine friend so of course we had to try… which meant we had to go at 3 pm, the minute it opened, so we could make our flight.
Where to Stay in Downtown Cincinnati
We stayed in two places – the Marriott Renaissance Cincinnati Downtown Hotel and the Kinley Cincinnati Downtown Hotel. Both were nice, but the Renaissance was much roomier (we had a suite!) – stay there!
Cheers, ya’ll!
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Check out more of our travel guides – Wine Tasting in Sonoma & Napa, Family fun in Hilton Head, Glamping in Virginia, and Fairhope Alabama Travel Guide
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