Cincinnati,
Ohio, is a city rejuvenated and, with its across-the-river neighbour, Northern
Kentucky, is now so highly regarded as a great place to visit or live that Condé
Nast Traveler ranked the so-called “CINCY” region of Cincinnati and Northern
Kentucky among the 23 best places to visit in 2023.
From
the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center - where you can learn
how escaped slaves were smuggled to “free states” via a secret network of safe
houses - to the original
Sin City of Newport,
KY, there is something for everyone in the CINCY region. The CINCY
Region is where Ohio’s Midwest friendliness and Kentucky’s Southern charm are
connected by the historic Roebling Suspension Bridge. It’s where urban art and
street food meet green spaces and waterways. Now there’s a direct British
Airways flight to the region, here are some great reasons to recommend a visit.
It’s a great place to relax, have fun and enjoy great food with
a cool vibe, all washed down with a glass of something local, whether it’s bourbon
(Northern Kentucky is the start of the famous Bourbon Trail) or beer
(Cincinnati is home to numerous craft breweries). In fact, relaxing over chili (the
Cincinnati spelling) and a beer is a way of life in Cincinnati. Chili parlours
serve delicious spicy sauce over spaghetti or as a topping for the local
“Coney” hotdogs with a mound of grated cheese. Another local specialty is
goetta - patties of meat, oats and herbs, which can be enjoyed for breakfast or
as street food - which are so popular there’s even a summer goetta
festival.
You might be surprised to learn the CINCY Region has the
biggest Oktoberfest outside of Munich. It also boasts the largest light
experience in the United States, Blink (next up October 2024), when Cincinnati
hosts colourful and eyecatching illuminations.
And if the you fancy delving into local history, what better
starting point than over the river in Northern Kentucky and a “gangster tour”
in Newport, where you can relive the days of 1920s Prohibition, when
speakeasies masquerading as outwardly legal restaurants and corruption were the
norm. Over time, the bootleggers turned to gambling, running casinos, horse
tracks and country clubs with slot machines, attracting celebrities such as
Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, not to mention legendary gangster Al Capone.
Finally, the Cincinnati Art Museum includes works by Van
Gogh, Monet and Picasso and there are giant murals from today’s cutting-edge
artists throughout Downtown, while designs in neon dazzle at the American Sign
Museum. Alternatively, there’s family-friendly fun to be had at Cincinnati Zoo,
Newport Aquarium and Kings Island theme park or on relaxed Ohio River cruises.
And, of course, catching a Cincinnati Reds baseball game is a must.
