The Most Iconic Activities in Cincinnati

Cincinnati is one of the Midwest’s hubs for arts and culture. Whether your idea of a fun vacation involves discussing Renoir’s brushwork or knocking beers back at a ballpark, the city’s got you covered. Here are four iconic Cincinnati activities that out-of-towners shouldn’t miss:

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

The rundown: It’s the country’s second-oldest zoo, and with more than 500 types of animals and 3,000 types of plants, it’s one of the biggest. 

Neighborhood: Avondale 

Highlight: Feed a giraffe or watch cheetahs sprint up to 70 miles per hour during one of the dozens of daily Animal Encounters. 

Fun fact: The zoo’s original collection had a talking crow.

Cincinnati Museum Center

The rundown: You get three museums in one (the Cincinnati History Museum, the Museum of Natural History & Science, and Duke Energy Children’s Museum), plus an OMNIMAX theater and the Cincinnati History Library and Archives. 

Neighborhood: Downtown  

Highlight: The Dinosaur Hall features a T. rex skull and a 20-foot-long allosaurus skeleton. 

Fun fact: The museum complex is housed in the art-deco Union Terminal train station, which was built in 1933 and houses 94 miles of track.

Cincinnati Art Museum

The rundown: The collection has more than 65,000 pieces, ranging from American and Egyptian sculptures to paintings by Titian and Picasso. 

Neighborhood: Mount Adams 

Highlight: See the galleries in a different light during monthly themed Art After Dark events, which offer drinks and live entertainment. 

Fun fact: Staffers and local artists lead adults, teens, and kids in hands-on art workshops.

Great American Ball Park

The rundown: It’s the home of MLB’s Cincinnati Reds and their Hall of Fame & Museum. 

Neighborhood: Downtown 

Highlight: Guided stadium tours let you sit in the dugout and see the press box up close. 

Fun fact: The park is set right on the Ohio River, so many seats have views of the water and Kentucky.