• One serious half-dome. Boasting a rotunda that holds the distinction of being the largest half-dome in the Western Hemisphere, the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal draws just as many visitors with its impressive architecture and 75-year history as it does with its three museums (Cinergy Children’s Museum, the Cincinnati History Museum and the Museum of Natural History and Science) and IMAX Theater.

• Midwestern munchies. From the town’s famous Cincinnati chili (which residents will gleefully drizzle over anything from hot dogs to spaghetti) to Findlay Market (pictured above), a public market and foodie haven that’s been operating since 1855, this river city is known for good noshing.

• River recreation. Its location along the Ohio River - the Mississippi’s largest tributary - makes this a destination full of opportunities for outdoor fun. Riverboat cruises down the Ohio River, available from companies like River Escapes Cruises and BB Riverboats, are popular among tourists and a great way to see the cityscape from a new vantage point. The river is also a hub for land-based entertainment and outdoor festivals, the best example of which is Cincinnati Riverfest, a free event held annually on the Sunday before Labor Day. Each year, over 500,000 people descend upon the Sawyer Point waterfront to view one of the nation’s largest privately-funded fireworks displays.

• Players a plenty. For sports enthusiasts, Cincinnati offers year-round intrigue with the MLB’s Cincinnati Reds and the Great American Ballpark; the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals and Paul Brown Stadium; the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks and Cincinnati Gardens and numerous college teams.

• Park ‘n ride amusements. Adrenaline junkie teens, splashing tots and ‘coaster crazy adults will find a summer’s worthy of family entertainment at nearby amusement and water parks like CoCo Key Water Resort,  Coney Island, Kings Island and The Beach Waterpark.

For more on what to see and do in Cincinnati, check out the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati Visitors Bureau.

Tags: cincinnati, ohio, regional gems

This entry was posted on Friday, July 11th, 2008 at 2:41 pm and is filed under Family Travel, Regional Gems, Top 5 Lists. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.