We’re considering going to Cincinnati to take in a show, but I’m not too familiar with the area. Do any Ohio dopers have suggestions for things that we might enjoy? It will be my husband and I, my sister (in her 50’s) and my 74 year old mom. Are there any good places to shop?
Any advice is appreciated.
I have recently spent close to six weeks in Cincinnati for business (thankfully not all on the same trip). I was sick of the place by the end of that, but that is not the city’s fault.
I enjoyed touring the Union Station, which is the art deco-iest place I have ever seen. It also houses the history museum, run by people who really love model train sets.
There are some good restaurants around Cincinnati. Downtown is mostly bland upscale business fare, but if you cross the river into Covington or Newport there are some good options. I liked Chalk, Chez Nora and Dee Felice Cafe in Covington, and in Newport the “Newport on the Levee” complex has a few good restaurants (I liked Istanbul Cafe).
Moving to IMHO from GQ.
Colibri
General Questions Moderator
One of the best zoos in the nation. There is also a very nice botanical garden, but this may not be the best toime of year…
Eat Cincinnati Chili 
There are several chains … Skyline Chili comes to mind. Make SURE you get it served “5-Way.” Yum. I want some NOW !!!
Not a Buckeye, but I’ve been there and Graeter’s ice cream is a must. And weather permitting, you can go to Serpetine Wall on the river front. I would also recommend having dinner on one of the River Boat restaurants across the river (in N. Kentucky) for an incredible view of the city.
And yeah, everyone always recommends Cincinnati chili, but I think it’s gross.
I’ve been to cinci, if only for a weekend. I was extremely underwhelmed. One thing they have going for them is a local branch of the Hofbrauhaus, a famous brewery from Munich. The beer’s top notch, so give it a shot.
Jungle Jim’s is a supermarket that I think is technically in Kentucky but it is a must see. You may wonder why someone would travel to see a supermarket. Trust me, this is the weirdest and probably the best one you will ever see. It grew from a produce stand into a six acre monstrocity. They have entertainment (varies buy day), a train, and the widest selection of food I have ever seen in the U.S. Some people travel hours to go there and a few use it for a destination. It is worth seeing for a couple of hours.
The zoo is really good too. I like Cincinnati. It isn’t New York City but it is Midwestern laid back and there is plenty of stuff to do on a smaller scale if you just look around.
Thank you all for the advice! My husband had mentioned Jungle Jim’s in a joking sort of way, but it actually looks really cool, judging by the link. Maybe we can check out the aquarium, have some chili (never heard of it before) and go to one of the restaurants that Driver8 suggested.
It’s in Fairfield, Ohio, north of Cincinnati, so not really close to Kentucky. It’s actually closer to Indiana. Definitely worth a visit, though.
Used to also be some shops and what not up on Mt Adams, as well as Eden Park which can be nice.
I’ll second a couple of the suggestions upthread. The zoo is very nice, and the Museum Center at Union Station is very good. Downtown has some very expensive, very nice restaurants, and some, as Driver8 says, that are the sort of bland places you see in downtowns everywhere. My favorite restaurant downtown is Bistro JeanRo, which is moderately pricey but charming and wonderful. (Not to be confused with its sister restaurant, Jean-Robert at Pigall’s, which is Mobil Four-Star/AAA Four-Diamond and damned expensive).
If you cross the river into Newport, there is a pretty nice shopping and dining area called Newport on the Levee. I find it to be pretty much just a nice mall, but the walk along the river is pleasant, and the aquarium is wonderful. If anyone in your group has mobility issues, they might find walking through the aquarium to be daunting, and the admission is steep, but it’s a hell of an aquarium, especially for the Midwest.
One town over from Newport is Covington, which has a neat old main street. There are a couple of restaurants there that have decent Jazz most nights – Chez Nora is my favorite.
Back on the Ohio side of the river, just a few block from my house, is the oldest continually-operating observatoryin the Western Hemisphere. They have public viewings most Thursdays and Fridays. You have to call for reservations, but it’s only $5 a person. I spent Halloween looking at the bands on Jupiter and a ring nebula. The telescope has this glorious old steam age look, and you get a very sharp view. When we went, we saw Jupiter, then we had to stand around awhile and wait for the other guests to step up and look, then they swung the telescope around to find the nebula. So, there will be a fair bit of standing around waiting your turn. I thought it was worth it, but just a head’s up.
Eden Park is (I think) the biggest park in the city. It’s where the big art museum is. It also has the Krohn Conservatory, which is free. It’s a good way to spend an hour or two.
If you want to take in an art museum, consider The Taft, a small but excellent gallery in a beautiful old house near downtown.
There’s not a lot going on in Fountain Square right now, but if you’re going to be downtown, you should drop by and oogle the fountain.
Graeter’s ice cream shops are all over the place. If you have a sweet tooth at all, you must try their ice cream. When my wife’s current employer was trying to recruit her to move to Cincy, they shipped her a box of Graeter’s ice cream.
There is a neighborhood called Mt. Adams, which is at the top of a very high hill overlooking the city. Drive up there to gawk and some old houses and to get a great view of the city. There are also some good restaurants, either for lunch or dinner.
I hope this helps. Have a great time in our fair city!
I love looking at the old Victorian houses. It’s a beautiful city!
I second the Skyline chili. 5-way is the way to go. And do shop at the old train station. (It looks kind of like an old radio from the outside.)
We ate great German food while we were there. The city has a lot of German roots.
Before you leave, make a run to a bakery and stock up! Wonderful pastries!
Keep an eye out for George Clooney…
The Southgate House in Covington may be the most awesome live music club in the world!
NOT TO BE MISSED!
My younger brother lives in Cincinatti. I wasn’t even “whelmed”. Mostly we just went to some local bars with his friends and then the Kentucky Derby.
Another Cincinnatian chiming in-
Jungle Jim’s is my happy place. Not only do they have a fantastic international grocery and produce section, but they also have a great selection of beer and wine. You can also get a guided tour if you would like. However, it is not laid out in the most sensical way… in fact, it drives my wife up a wall because it’s layout is so random.
I personally enjoy the Cincinnati Art Museum in Eden Park, which I believe may also be free, with the exception of some traveling exhibits. The museum’s architecture is very nice on it’s own, and there is some great art there. The Contemporary Arts Center can also be intriguing, depending on what they have up.
Depending on when you are in town, there may be ice skating on Fountain Square, which is a good time. In the downtown area, there is some excellent Gothic architecture, and generally the streets are not too crowded, so you can actually take some time and look at it.
There are some fine restaurants in the area, including all of the Jean Robert concepts (I think there are 3 or 4 now), Chez Nora, the Montgomery Inn (if you like ribs in sweet sauce), Skyline Chili (be warned, it is not for everyone), and there are also several wineries in the area that have restaurants (Vinoklet and Valley Vineyards). Lastly, if you like ice cream at all, go to Graeter’s. I love ice cream, and can tear through an entire pint of Ben and Jerry’s or any other ice cream in one sitting with ease. This is not the case with Graeter’s… i have to take my time and savor it. For ice cream lovers, there is an ecstacy that goes with this experience.
Maybe more later if I can think of it. Also- if you say something, and someone replies “please?”, they are not telling you that you need to say please, they just want you to repeat yourself.
And if someone suggests a round of cornhole, it’s an outdoor game involving throwing a beanbag at a target. It’s a lot of fun, and completely innocent.
Honest.
If you’re in Mt. Adams, check out The Blind Lemon, my favored hometown hangout. It’s a tiny place and easy to miss. It’s tucked down some stone stairs and a narrow walkway between buildings but it has a sheltered patio area. It might be usuable, depending on the weather. It’s all dark wood and very cosy.
It was my preferred retreat when I was a student at UC. I spent many an afternoon curled up in a patio chair, studying and drinking coffee. Great place to have a civilized drink in the evening too. Don’t know about the music as that’s changeable and I haven’t been there for a long time. It used to run high to pretty decent acoustic stuff but generally I prefer my bars without music anyway.
Darling George is from Kentucky, not Cincinnati.
I wish this thread had existed before my travels (or I had started it myself or something). The observatory and Jungle Jim’s sound like fun!
I’ve tried Skyline Chili and will have to second the “it’s not for everyone” comment. It wasn’t awful, just a little weird in a way I didn’t like.
Graeter’s is pretty good too.
Probably a bit late here, but I need to come in to defend the “other” Cincinnati ice-cream establishment, Aglameci’s. Their 1913 Oakley parlor is a step back in time, with tin ceilings, a marble bar, and Tiffany lamps. They tend to be lost in the glare of the more famous Graeter’s, but are unquestionably the better shop (in my opinion, of course!).