I've got six hours to spend in Cincinnati.  I've never spent any time in the city and would love to catch some highlights while I'm there.  Any suggestions? 

 

 

 

 

Walk through the lobby of the Omni Netherland Plaza Hotel (Hilton) at 5th & Race (follow signs to the Palm Court or walk toward the piano player if you hear one).  Visit the top of the Carew Tower at 5th & Vine (same building as the hotel), it costs $2. 

I agree with both of those suggestions.  The Carew Tower observatory is very cool. 

 

I'd also suggest grabbing something at Graeter's on Fountain Square, across the street from the Hilton/Carew.  Check out the development taking place either down at the Banks (just walk toward the Ohio River), and see the Roebling Suspension Bridge.  Alternatively you can check out the rebirth of Over-the-Rhine by taking a walk up Vine to about 13th Street; it would be about 10 minutes from Fountain Square.  While on the way, you can check out the Contemporary Arts Center at Sixth and Walnut, which is worth it to walk through the building.  Until the Riverfront Park is completed, the best place to catch a little quiet reflection time downtown is either Piatt Park (along Garfield/8th between Vine and Elm Streets) or Lytle Park, on the far eastern edge of downtown at 4th street.  If you check out Piatt Park be sure to take a look at City Hall, the Isaac Wise Temple, and St. Peter in Chains Cathedral. 

 

If you're looking for food, plenty of good options.  I'd recommend grabbing a bite and a pint at Nicholson's on Walnut between Sixth and Seventh, or at Nada.  If you are feeling the trendy vibe, try Senate or Lavomatic in the Gateway Quarter on Vine Street (just past 12th street). 

 

If you are willing to wander just a bit from downtown, taking a cab up to Mt. Adams and walking around/having a bite to eat is also a good time.  You can also check out Eden Park and/or the Art Museum if you do that. 

 

I've got six hours to spend in Cincinnati.  I've never spent any time in the city and would love to catch some highlights while I'm there.  Any suggestions?

 

What day of the week will you be here?

Walk Vine and Main between Central Pkwy. and Liberty St., if you want to see the progress happening in Over-the-Rhine. Or just to see a sample of the neighborhood, since you've never been.

 

Eat some chili and Graeter's ice cream.

 

What day will you be going? Someone might have some date-specific advice.

If you want a cool bar and the weather is good, stop by Neons, its on 12th street between Sycamore and Main.  They have a big Beergarden, and while you're there order a Christian Moerlien OTR - which is a bit of Cincinnati history.

 

I'd also recommend if you have time, checking out a tour from these guys or at least patronizing their gift shop (Cincy Haus) near 12th and Vine:

 

http://americanlegacytours.com/

 

4. Watch the river flow and (hopefully) enjoy the sun while sitting on the steps of the Seprentine Wall at Yeatman's Cove Park, Pete Rose Way east of US Bank Arena

Also possible: rent a bike under the purple (people) bridge and bike along the Serpentine Wall/river. From there,  you could go across the river and do a short bike tour of Newport and/or Covington, KY, or go somewhere else nearby on a short trip. (If your leg muscles are up for it, Mt. Adams could be a fun trip as you'd be right at the foot of it.)

http://www.wheelfunrentals.com/ListLocations/90

 

One of my absolute FAVORITE things to do in Cincinnati is go for urban walks on the hillside steps.

http://www.ohioswallow.com/book/Walking+the+Steps+of+Cincinnati

Since the river basin is relatively flat, you would probably venture into Mt. Auburn to the north of downtown/OTR or Mt. Adams to the east. There are other options, too. That book I linked to is a great resource, if slightly outdated. Another resource is this UrbanOhioan's (joetraveler's) maps:

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=24907.0

 

If you find yourself near Findlay Market, it is a relatively short walk up the Ohio Avenue steps to the university. There's a park at the top of the steps with great views of the skyline. If you aren't exhausted from your whirlwind day, this is more fun than a bus (or you can bus up the hill and walk back using the steps).

 

Just as a heads up, the part of Over-the-Rhine north of Liberty (the "NoLibs") is a bit shady after dark.

Until 1849, today's Liberty Street, then called Northern Row, was the corporation line forming Cincinnati's northern boundary. The area north of Northern Row was not subject to municipal law and was, appropriately, called The Northern Liberties. During the first half of the 19th century, the Northern Liberties attracted a concentration of bootleggers, entrepreneurs, saloons, gambling houses, dance halls, brothels, and other institutions not tolerated in the city of Cincinnati. Among those was the city's first Roman Catholic Church, St. Peter's Church of the Dominican Society, erected in 1818 on the northwest corner of Liberty and Vine streets. Unregulated freedom beyond Liberty Street ended in 1849 when The Northern Liberties became the first suburb annexed to the growing Queen City.

via http://www.findlaymarket.org/market-history/

you guys are awesome, thanks for the suggestions.  @natininja, I'll be there on a Saturday. 

Def worth the trip to see inside the half dome at the former Union Terminal now the Cincinnati Museum Center.  It is free to go inside and marvel, it only costs money to get to the exhibits.  I guarantee you have never seen anything like it.  Pictures cannot communicate the vast space and the vibrancy of the colors.

If you want to do a tour, there is a Segway tour place at Vine and Central Parkway.  Might be a unique and fun way to see the city.

Great suggestions all around!

Take a gander here too:

 

http://wikitravel.org/en/Cincinnati

 

Actually if anyone has anything to add or update to this (particularly the graphics), please do so!

 

I've been doing a lot of work on this to try to update it to reflect the current state of downtown Cincy/OTR.

My wife, 2 sons (ages 7 and 10), and I are visiting Cincinnati this Saturday (June 11) for a wedding.  We will be arriving Friday night, and have all day to tour Cincinnati (since the wedding is not until the evening on Saturday.  Any suggestions of what to do?

 

This website looks good:  http://www.wheelfunrentals.com/ListLocations/90 (is the bike riding and swimming good)?

 

Any other suggestions of what to do in Cincinnati this Saturday morning/afternoon with the family?

 

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

I'm not sure what to tell you to do with kids. The bike riding is a good idea, you may even want to rent one of their pedal-powered cars so you can all ride in it and save money. There is a splash playground, or whatever that's called, right near the bike rental place.

 

You might consider going to Union Terminal (famous art deco train station -- really an incredible building). There is a museum there with kid-friendly exhibits, as well as an Omnimax theater (like IMax except the screen is a quarter sphere). The zoo is another option. Or Krohn Conservatory (I think there is a very cool butterfly show there now).

Findlay Market is a seriously cool place to go with kids, also if you are staying Downtown the open air observation deck in the Carew Tower is a cheap thrill.  Fountain Square is beautiful and has  has lots of eating places and a Greaters Ice Cream which is arguably the best anywhere.  :-)

If swimming is a must, Coney Island has a seriously massive swimming pool with six water slides and a few rides which would be great for kids, but you will need to drive about 15 minutes out of Downtown.

 

Carew Tower observation deck and Graeter's, for sure.

 

If the kids can handle a short building tour, look around the Hilton hotel in the Carew Tower before or after you go to the top. There is a brochure employees there should be able to give you with a map of the floors/areas to look at. It's more over-the-top amazing art deco. Between Carew Tower and Union Terninal, Cincy's art deco is mind-blowing.

Thanks--these are great suggestions.

Cincinnati was great.  We did the bike riding, the splash playground, Fountain Square, and the Carew Tower observation deck.  We ate lunch at Skyline Chili.  Wish we had time to do more.  Thanks again for all the great suggestions.

Glad you enjoyed yourselves! :)