Through a series of lucky circumstances I managed to combine a business trip and a visit home to Cincinnati. It’s been a while since I was back in the 513 outside of a major holiday. I enjoy seeing it this way though. Things are much more laidback without the stress of those seasons.
As I was prepping for this trip a surprising number of people I work with asked me questions like “What is there to do in Cincinnati?” And since I’m here for the weekend I decided to write down a few things I always try to do when I’m home.
Drive along the Ohio River
It’s pretty hard to avoid the Ohio River when traveling through the Greater Cincinnati Area. It runs right across the middle of the region from east to west and State Highway 52 follows it all the way on the Ohio side. I always drive the scenic way home when I first get into town just to see the river. It’s best at sunset, when the light reflects up off the water just right.
Eat Some Chili
You can’t bring up Cincinnati without talking about chili. That thin meat based sauce just tastes like home to me. Natives will argue endlessly about where you can find the best coneys in town. However, since I’ve been away for a while I’ll take just about whatever I can get. As long as I have the option of ordering it on dogs or spaghetti, I’m in.
Grab a Pint
Cincinnati’s German heritage and midwestern catholic culture have made it a great beer city. There are dozens of great microbreweries in town and I’ve yet to find one I didn’t like. On this particular trip I hit up Mt. Caramel Brewing Company and Fifty West. They’re a ways out on the east side, so they have a more relaxed vibe than in-town greats like Rhinegeist and Madtree.
Go for a Hike
There’s a lot of great hiking in Greater Cincinnati, especially on the east side of town in the Appalachian foothills. I try to get a short day hike in every time I’m home. There’s a great variety of trails in East Fork State Park and at the Cincinnati Nature Center for hikers of any skill level.
So those are just a few of the things I did to enjoy my home city this weekend. For native Cincinnatians, I’d love to hear your go-tos. And if you’ve never been, I highly recommend checking out The Queen City.