Best things to do in Cincinnati

Home of the oldest zoo building in the United States, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is known for its extensive breeding and conservation program. In 1987, the oldest portions of the park were designated as National Historic Landmarks: the "Elephant House," the "Reptile House," and the "Passenger Pigeon Memorial." The reptile house claims the title of the oldest--it was built in 1875.

Keeneland, home to one of America's premier thoroughbred horse racetracks, offers live racing and a world-class reference library dedicated to the sport. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the complex began operations in 1936. Notable races include the Blue Grass Stakes and Beaumont Stakes, well known as preparatory races for Kentucky Derby hopefuls. The track's annual horse auctions draw buyers from around the world. If you can’t catch a live race, try one of the racetrack's self-guided tours of its active facilities.

Housed in a working train station, Cincinnati Museum Center boasts several museums, an Omnimax theater, a library, and travelling exhibitions throughout the year. Cincinnati Union Terminal was a major railroad center in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today the station is only serves the thrice-weekly Cardinal. Spend time admiring the grand Art Deco building, considered to be a symbol of the city, before popping into a few of the museums. You can learn about Cincinnati at the city's history museum or discover interesting facts about the world and beyond at the natural history and science museum. If you are travelling with kids, don't miss the children's museum. Check the lobby kiosk for the terminal's free guided tour schedule.

Home to more than 360 aircraft and missiles, National Museum of the US Air Force is the world's largest and oldest military aviation museum. Located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the museum houses a long list of aircraft and artifacts of historical and technological significance. See missiles, fighters, one-of-a-kind test planes, and bombers, including the plane that dropped the Fat Man atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan. Don't miss the museum's collection of presidential planes, including those used by Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Richard Nixon. Wear comfortable walking as 92,900 sq m (1 million sq ft) of exhibits span three hangars. Some exhibits are outside, so dress appropriately for the season.

An exciting new experience awaits you by way of the Cincy Brew Bus. Located in Cincinnati, OH, this one-of-a-kind ride is an educational, engaging way for you and your group to witness Cincinnati’s many local breweries, wineries, and distilleries. This tasting tour provides a background of the area’s rich history in the beer, wine, and bourbon-making business, which dates back more than 158 years.

Tour goers can sit back and relax while the Cincy Brew Bus takes them on one of the several available trips through the city. Choose a tour that visits some of Cincinnati’s finest beer breweries. Or, opt for an outing centered on the city’s wineries and distilleries. These memorable excursions feature both classic gems and up-and-coming hot spots. From weekend tours to weeknight tastings, you can find an adventure that fits into your schedule.

Riders who book a brewery trip will enjoy a three to five-hour experience with a visit to a different brewery each hour. Along with loads of fun memories, riders receive a behind-the-scenes look at the business, take part in fun fact trivia, and are given a take-home souvenir glass on the beer and wine tours.

With dozens of trips and a range of prices, there’s not a beer-loving group in sight that won’t find a trip perfect for them. To speak to one of Cincy Brew Bus’ friendly tour guides or to reserve your spot on the next tasting tour, call (513) 258-7909 today. You can also explore their many options, locations, and dates by visiting them online.

Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum is a nonprofit garden cemetery and arboretum located at 4521 Spring Grove Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio. It is the fourth largest cemetery in the United States and is recognized as a US National Historic Landmark.
The cemetery dates from 1844, when members of the Cincinnati Horticultural Society formed a cemetery association. They took their inspiration from contemporary rural cemeteries such as Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, and Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The numerous springs and groves suggested the name "Spring Grove". On December 1, 1844 Salmon P. Chase and others prepared the Articles of Incorporation. The cemetery was designed by Howard Daniels and formally chartered on January 21, 1845. The first burial took place on September 1, 1845.
In 1855, Adolph Strauch, a renowned landscape architect, was hired to beautify the grounds. His sense and layout of the "garden cemetery", made of lakes, trees and shrubs, is what visitors today still see. On March 29, 2007, the cemetery was designated a National Historic Landmark. The Spring Grove Cemetery Chapel is listed separately on the National Register of Historic Places.

At, Ark Encounter you can journey back to Biblical times to meet Noah, his family, and the animals. In addition to the life-size arc, this theme park also features a zoo with exotic animals from around the globe, a restaurant, ziplines, and a gift shop. The extensive multimedia exhibits "teach" about the times before, during, and after the flood, the life on the arc, and other events mentioned in the Bible.

A stunning Art Deco greenhouse is the backdrop for exotic plants at Krohn Conservatory. Completed in 1933, the conservatory is home to more than 3,500 species from around the globe. Visit the Palm House to see the 6.1 m (20 ft) waterfall and goldfish stream, as well as many palm varieties. After checking out the miniature wonders of the bonsai collection, head to the desert garden to see aloes, agaves, and yuccas. The orchid display encompasses hundreds of orchids, including monstera deliciosa--the enormous fruit-salad plant. In the Tropical House, breath in the deep, earthy smell of damp, warm soil and the leafy foliage of banana trees, cycads, and vanilla vines.