8 Absolutely Amazing Places To Visit In Cincinnati

Great American Ballpark replaced Cinergy Field in 2003 as the new home of the Cincinnati Reds. Located on the Ohio River, the open aired ballpark is designed to evoke the days of riverboats in The Queen City. Smokestacks shoot steam when home runs are scored, there's Cincinnati craft beer a plenty, and many seats offer great views of the river. Grab a cold one, sit back, and root, root, root for the home team.

Back in the day - and that would be the 1800s - Findlay Market was where Cincinnati's elite lived because it was central to the freshest food (this was before fridges were invented). Today, it's the city's weekend meeting place for fresh produce and meats and great shops. You can spend a day here taking in this historic market. Tip: Check out the brewery tours from the market to learn about another great part of Cincinnati history. As it turns out, Cincinnati was quite the place for beer (and is again today).

Over-the-Rhine has gone through an amazing transformation recently and today it's home to some of Cincinnati's best restaurants as well as great nightlife, arts venues, and parks. Spend some time walking Vine Street and then stroll over to Washington Park and unwind while you watch kids play in the lighted fountain.

The Purple People Bridge is a walking bridge that takes you from Cincinnati's Riverfront Park to Newport on the Levee. It's a great way to get some exercise while checking out the Ohio River and all the great things that surround it. Standing in the middle of the bridge is breathtaking - you can see rows of bridges and the curve of the river as you look east. It's even more beautiful at night.

There's a reason Spring Grove Cemetery is so special - it's the second largest cemetery in the country and on the National Historic Register - but it is also an amazing arboretum with spectacular trees and gardens. Visit Spring Grove for a self guided walking tour, and make sure you take your camera.

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens is a sprawling zoo (and internationally known research facility) with fantastic exhibits and all kinds of animals - from reptiles to tigers. Check out the cat house to watch cheetahs and Bengal tigers and don't miss Insect World. You can spend a day at the zoo, so wear your walking shoes.

Kings Island is home to the longest roller coaster in the world, The Beast, as well as a multitude of hair raising roller coasters and other rides. Of course, if you're not exactly a thrill seeker you can still have a great time checking out the gardens, shops, and the fireworks display at the end of the night.

Eden Park and the adjacent Mount Adams neighborhood is at the heart of Cincinnati. In Eden Park, you can relax at Mirror Lake (pictured) and walk through gardens to Krohn Conservatory and views of the city. In nearby Mount Adams, you can visit Playhouse in the Park, the Cincinnati Art Museum and stroll the hilly streets the give way to amazing views.