There are so many great things to do in Cincinnati and, while, the Zoo, parks, Kings Island, and our great Museums are all excellent options to explore The Queen City, there are several unique places and activities that are lesser known.
Anderson Ferry Delhi Twp/Riverside (Ohio side) and Hebron (Kentucky side)
Continuously operated since 1817, the Anderson Ferry (Nationally Registered US Historic Site) has transported everything from horses, carriages, bicycles, and vehicles across the Ohio River for the past 200+ years. Its location makes it a fun, historic (and efficient!) alternative to getting to CVG.
Cost: $5 one-way for cars. You can also purchase rides in bulk for occasional and daily travelers.
Anderson Ferry Road on the Ohio side to Kentucky Route 8 on the Kentucky side
Artie’s Birthday Castle King Arthur’s Court
For those of us who grew up in Cincinnati, this is the next best thing to the castle at Johnny’s Toys (IYKYK). For everyone else, Artie’s Birthday Castle is where, on your birthday, you can unlock the castle door to discover treasures Artie the Dragon has left for the birthday kid. Sign up for free here.
Tip: Parents also have the option to purchase additional toys to be wrapped in their special golden paper and placed in the castle alongside the provided gifts.
King Arthur’s Court
3040 Madison Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45209
Bellevue Hill Park Clifton Heights
This Cincinnati Parks destination is nestled in Clifton Heights and its hilltop location features an overlook where you can enjoy magnificent panoramic views of Downtown Cincinnati. The park also includes a playground, pavilion, paved walkway, and public restrooms.
2191 Ohio Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45219
Bender Mountain Nature Preserve Delhi Twp
Over three miles of heavily wooded hiking trails (ranging from easy to challenging) among more than 130 acres of protected nature preserve. But first, go creeking as you cross the Rapid Run stream before you get to the trails.
6320 Bender Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45233
Cincinnati Food Tours
Cincinnati’s original food tour, featuring options from the original Findlay Market tour, OTR tour, and Streetcar Food Tour, to Cincinnati City Tour, and other neighborhood tours (Walnut Hills, Hyde Park, and Pendleton).
Cincinnati Observatory Hyde Park
Did you know that the Cincinnati Observatory is the oldest professional observatory in the US? It is considered the “birthplace of American Astronomy” and is home to daytime and nighttime events for all ages.
Cincinnati Observatory
3489 Observatory Place
Cincinnati, Ohio 45208
The Dixie Terminal Fountain District
One of the more lesser known architectural icons in Cincinnati, The Dixie Terminal is a former streetcar terminal, stock exchange, and office building built in 1921. The Rookwood Architectural Faience (tin-glazed pottery) entry arch is made with Rookwood Pottery Tiles and greets you as you make your way inside the long and elaborate arcade.
The Dixie Terminal is not open to the public beyond its entryway, but I assure you it is worth taking a peek inside to see its beauty and details.
The Dixie Terminal
49 E Fourth Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Glenwood Gardens Woodlawn
Glenwood Gardens is a gorgeous Great Park with 338 acres of gardens, prairies, forests, wetlands, and trails. Its highlights include the Highfield Discovery Garden, a 12-acre space with seven smaller gardens designed to explore the natural world ($7 per person admission), as well as the annual Fairy Tale Festival, which takes place each June and is essentially a Renaissance Festival for littles.
10397 Springfield Pike
Cincinnati, Ohio 45215
Note: Admission to Great Parks destinations requires a Motor Vehicle Permit
Graffiti Alley Oakley
One of the more obscure things to do and see in Cincinnati, Graffiti Alley is just that: concrete retaining walls along Duck Creek that are covered with graffiti. The walls were built to control flooding along Duck Creek, which connects the Norwood flood plain to the Little Miami River.
The trail starts on Rosslyn Drive just behind Cobbs Car Care Center
Kantine Biergarten West End
Casual restaurant and biergarten serving authentic southern German fare.
Kantine Biergarten
1220 Harrison Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45214
Live Music Arnold’s Bar & Grill
Arnold’s is the oldest continuously operating bar in Cincinnati (c. 1861) and one of the oldest in the US. So, not only is it a must visit Queen City institution, they also have live music in their courtyard several nights a week year round. Order delicious American tavern fare and take in live music in an intimate setting. Click here to view their calendar.
Arnold’s Bar & Grill
210 E Eighth Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Lucky Cat Museum Walnut Hills
Its collection of more than 2000 makes it North America’s largest display of Maneki Neko, which translates to “beckoning cat.” Lucky cats are figurines with their paw raised in a beckoning gesture, and they are believed to bring good fortune.
Visits are free; by appointment only (or open house style during Essex Studios Art Walks)
Essex Studios
2511 Essex Place #150
Cincinnati, Ohio 45206
By appointment only, Tuesday–Saturday, 3–6p
Mercantile Library Central Business District
Membership library founded in 1835 and is a place for readers, writers, and thinkers. Anyone can stop in to see the newly expanded and renovated space, while members can enjoy borrowing privileges, use of the library as a workspace, free admission to signature events, thrice-weekly yoga, and more.
414 Walnut Street (11th and 12th floors), Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Monday–Friday, 9a–5:30p
Saturday, 10a–3p
Sunday, closed
Ohio Book Store Central Business District
Five floors of books and magazines plus bookbinding, restoration, and repair department.
726 Main Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Store hours: Monday–Saturday, 9a–4:30p
Bindery hours: Monday–Friday, 9a–4:30p
Reading Garden CHPL Main Branch, Central Business District
Tranquil outdoor nook on the first floor of the south building that has been recently landscaped and where you can sit to enjoy a book, conversation, or sounds of the fountain.
800 Vine Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Monday–Wednesday, 10a–8p
Thursday–Saturday, 10a–6p
Sunday, 1–5p
Rookwood Pottery Behind-the-Scenes Factory Tours OTR
Rookwood Pottery is a prominent ceramics company that was founded in 1880. This pioneer in American pottery offers Behind-the-Scenes Factory Tours every Friday at 10:30a and Saturday at 10:30a and 1:30p. $15 admission.
1920 Race Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum Spring Grove Village
Nonprofit garden cemetery and arboretum. It is the third largest cemetery in the United States recognized as a US National Historic Landmark. Its picturesque grounds include 12 ponds, many fine tombstones and memorials, and various examples of Gothic Revival architecture. Its year-round events schedule includes tours, movie screenings, car shows, and more.
It is also a great landscape for seasonal photos.
Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum
4521 Spring Grove Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45232
Stand in two states at the same time Purple People Bridge
The Purple People Bridge is a pedestrian bridge connecting Newport (at the Levee) and Cincinnati (at Sawyer Point & Yeatman’s Cove). Towards the Ohio side there is a marker that shows where you can stand with feet in each Ohio and Kentucky at the same time. The historic, 150-year-old bridge also hosts events throughout the year and can be rented for receptions, parties, weddings, dinners, fundraisers, charitable races, and more.
Tower A Cincinnati Museum Center
Tower A is the original control tower of the train station at Union Terminal and, while regularly closed, it does open occasionally to the public for viewing of the active railyard, with tours courtesy of Cincinnati Heritage Programs. Check back about ongoing CMC events and opportunities to get a ticket to visit Tower A.
Cincinnati Museum Center
1301 Western Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45203
Underground Lagering Tours Brewing Heritage Trail
Cincinnati has a robust brewing history and Brewing Heritage Trail offers many different tours that lead you through the Brewery District in OTR, where there is a large network of underground lagering cellars. Tours that feature underground lagering cellars: Built on Beer, Brewers & Barons Trail, and Cincinnati Brewing & Distilling Tasting, plus private, custom tour options.
Brewing Heritage Trail
1939 Race Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Weeping Cherry Grove Mt. Lookout
In mid-March (dates vary by year; click here for updates) the trees bloom in the Japanese Cherry blossom tree grove. It is a beautiful and wonderful way to get excited for spring and the warm season to come.
Ault Park
5090 Observatory Circle
Cincinnati, Ohio 45208
Higan Cherry tree grove is located at the park intersection of Observatory Road and Observatory Circle; near the Ault Park Commons.
This list will be updated as new editions of the Unique Cincinnati series is published on Instagram.
In addition to what is mentioned above, you can also check out the Weekend Rundown, which is published weekly and features several FREE attractions happening in greater Cincinnati each week. To make it even easier, and to never miss making plans for the coming weekend, you can subscribe to the Weekend Rundown newsletter and it will be delivered directly to your inbox each week. Whenever you visit tourdecincinnati.com you should get a prompt to subscribe.
[Header image: detail photo of the elaborate arcade in The Dixie Terminal]
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