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CINCINNATI IN A DAY – THE COMPLETE GUIDE

a group of people walking on a city street

Cincinnati is back on the map as one of the best 8 cities in the country to visit.  Over 26 million visitors a year stream into the Queen City, so there is a wide smorgasbord of things to choose from. But what if you only have one day to visit? Here’s our list of must see sights that are unique to the city and won’t break the bank.

8:00am Rise and Shine and head to the banks of the Ohio River.  Enjoy breakfast at Taste of Belgium Bistro and enjoy an authentic Belgium waffle brought to Cincinnati from Belgium transplant Jean-François Flechet.  Don’t forget to add a side of Eckerlin’s goetta made from 6th generation German butchers.

 

a group of people walking in front of a store

9:00am Take an early morning stroll along Smale Park, a beautiful belt of greenery and gardens along the river’s edge. Enjoy a ride on Carol Ann’s Carousel.  Walk across the Roebling Bridge, the prototype for the Brooklyn Bridge and view Cincinnati from it’s southern neighbor Covington KY.  Take a left and stroll down Riverside Drive to see antebellum mansions and historic George Rogers Clark Park.
a train crossing a bridge over a body of water
10:30am Return to Cincinnati and walk 2 blocks north and catch the Cincinnati Streetcar (only $2.00 for all day pass). Notice the multi story art on the side of the buildings?  Download a self guided map of the murals by Art Works.
11:00am Ride the streetcar north to Findlay Market and visit the oldest urban market in the state of Ohio.  Browse the market and pop into Maverick Chocolate for a free sample of award winning hand crafted chocolate made right on the premises.
a group of people walking down the street
Noon Hop on the Streetcar and depart at Washington Park.  You are now in the heart of Over the Rhine, a beautifully restored German neighborhood. As you stroll through the park, you can watch the dogs romp in the dog park or the children in their playground.  Thirsty?  Enjoy a beverage on the deck. Notice Music Hall, the huge Gothic Victorian structure built in 1878.
a large brick building with grass in front of a house with Cincinnati Music Hall in the background
12:30pm Walk one block east to Vine Street.  You are now in the Over the Rhine business district, home to over 100 bars, shops and restaurants. Click here for a walking map of OTR. If you like board games, visit The Rook and choose from hundreds of games.  Or walk one block east to 16bit video arcade bar and play all day for free.
a person holding a bottle of wine

Walk one more block east to Main Street for a craft cocktail at Japps owned by the top rated bartender in the country Molly Wellman.  Or how about an alcohol infused homemade ice cream at Buzzed Bull? 

1:30pm Hop on the streetcar and head south to Fountain Square. Relax on the Square and enjoy the spray from the Tyler Davidson Fountain. 

2:30pm For a view of the city, walk across the street to Carew Tower and ride to the 49th floor observation deck for a panoramic view of the tri-state area.  Stroll into the lobby of the Netherland Hilton and step back into past at the Palm Court.  You’ll feel like you’re in 1940’s movie set!

a room filled with furniture and vase on a table

3:00pm Walk one block north to 6th and Walnut and visit the Contemporary Art Center.  It’s free.  Visit the UnMuseum on the 6th floor for children of all ages!  Right next door is 21c Museum Hotel.  This is a contemporary art gallery within a hotel offering exhibits on the first 2 floors – all complimentary. 

4:30pm It’s Happy Hour and your choices are unlimited!  Take in the view at the Astor on 4th street or walk to the stadium area for a view of the Ohio River on the upper deck at AC Hotel.  Enjoy an authentic German lager and a view at Moerlein Lager House.

6:00pm Dinner is served all over town from the Banks of the Ohio River to downtown to Over the Rhine.  Guide to Cincinnati’s Top Restaurants.

8:00pm  Nightlife never ends at Jack Casino, Cincinnati’s 100,000 sq ft urban casino. Or if you prefer a quiet evening with a little music check out: Cincinnati’s Lounges.

a group of people standing on a sidewalk

If you would like to relax and see the city like a VIP, we are at your service.  We do all the work, so you can have all the fun!

Riverside Food Tours offers guided Food and Culture tours in 7 different neighborhoods, 7 days a week.

We are the experts at showing off the city and every tour includes a professional guide, a full meal of wonderful food and drink tastings from 5-7 local restaurants plus the sights, the stories and the history of the city!  Choose from the following:

Cincy Top 10 $49, Cincinnati Streetcar  $59, Over the Rhine Ethnic Eats $59, Wine and Dine Evening  $69, Mainstrasse Village $59, Madison Avenue $59, Roebling Bridge $59

We are the highest rated Food and Culture tour in the city by Trip Advisor.

Information and Tickets: Call 513-289-0035  or visit our Webite: Riverside Food Tours/Calendar

~Laura Noyes   January 2019

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