Cincinnati

An old industrial city on the Ohio River, where the Italianate streets of Over-the-Rhine, the Roebling Suspension Bridge and the Underground Railroad Freedom Center tell the story of German immigrants and abolition.

Cincinnati is in the southwestern corner of Ohio, on the north bank of the Ohio River, facing Covington and Newport in Kentucky across the water; together the three cities form one metro area. In the 19th century it rose on river trade and pork packing, earning the nickname Queen City of the West, and waves of German immigrants left behind a beer culture and the Italianate streetscapes of Over-the-Rhine. Separated from the slave states only by the river, it also became a key crossing point on the Underground Railroad. The main sightseeing areas are: downtown and Fountain Square; the Ohio riverfront with Great American Ball Park, the Freedom Center, Smale Riverfront Park and the Roebling Suspension Bridge; Over-the-Rhine to the north, with Washington Park, Music Hall and Findlay Market; Mount Adams and Eden Park on the hills to the east (home to the Cincinnati Art Museum and Krohn Conservatory); plus the Cincinnati Zoo and Union Terminal's Cincinnati Museum Center. Classic day trips include Kings Island to the north, the National Museum of the US Air Force in Dayton, and Ark Encounter in Kentucky to the south. Spring (Apr–Jun) and autumn (Sep–Oct) have the most pleasant weather; summers are hot and humid, and winters are cold but brightened by holiday light events. Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) is south of the river in Kentucky, about 20 minutes' drive from downtown; the free Connector streetcar runs between downtown and Over-the-Rhine, while other sights are mostly reached by car or taxi. Plan to stay 2–3 days, and don't miss a plate of Cincinnati chili piled with shredded cheese, along with local goetta.

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Where to eat