The Arcade Cleveland opened in May of 1890 as the first indoor shopping center in America. It was designed by John M. Eisenmann and George H. Smith and financed by some of the most esteemed businessmen of the late 19th century, including John D. Rockefeller and Charles Brush. Today, the gorgeous building is one of Cleveland's most popular landmarks and premier destinations for shopping and dining. You can even stay in the luxurious Hyatt Regency Hotel that occupies the top three levels!
Photo courtesy of the Cincinnati Observatory Center
In 1842, Cincinnati professor Ormsby MacKnight Mitchel had a dream: to build a local observatory in the heart of Cincinnati that would help expand astronomy research. He went door to door, soliciting $25 a piece to invest in his endeavor. Eventually, he was able to make his dream a reality, with the observatory building coming to fruition in 1843. The building served as a strictly research-focused center until 1999, when it was resurrected into a center for astronomy education. Today, the observatory is open to the public for tours during the week and public stargazing most Thursday and Friday evenings.Set amidst the backdrop of Miami County's vast farmland and the tree-lined Great Miami River, the Eldean Covered Bridge is one of only two covered bridges remaining in the area. While it was once the second longest of its kind in Ohio, it is the longest "Long Truss" covered bridge in the nation. Visitors are welcome and encouraged to cross over the bridge on foot or by car, but no matter how you decide to journey across, the gorgeous barn-red bridge will no doubt take you back to another time.View this post on Instagram
The John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge, named for the civil engineer who designed it in 1867, has been an iconic bridge along the Cincinnati skyline for nearly a century and a half. It was the first bridge to employ several new techniques, making it an engineering marvel during the time of its construction. When you're in the area, make sure to take a stroll across it to get a better look and mark the RoeblingFest on your calendar in June, when hundreds of Roebling enthusiasts come together to celebrate the landmark.
Former president William McKinley spent much of his life in Canton, where he practiced law and married his wife, Ida Saxton. The McKinley Monument is the final resting place for the 25th President of the United States and his wife. This breathtaking, round building is located in Canton, towering above the trees in Canton and settled at the top of 108 steps. If you're interested in learning more about President McKinley, head down the street to the McKinley Presidential Library & Museum, which serves as an educational center of history and science for both the local community and a global audience.View this post on Instagram
While this stunning theater is one of the state's most beautiful buildings, featuring Spanish-Baroque architecture with breathtaking details (including the 21-foot high chandelier!), it was created as "a palace for the average man." Thomas W. Lamp, the Scottish architect in charge of the Ohio Theatre project in the 1920s, envisioned a place where anyone, regardless of wealth or status, could go and see a film or a live performance. To put the finishing touches on the theater, they chose Ann Dornan, one of the first women to graduate from the Columbia School of Architecture, who traveled around the world to select art and furnishings. Today, you can experience all of the history and majesty at one of the 100+ performances the theater puts on each year.View this post on Instagram
Photo courtesy of Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens
Located in one of our favorite Akron neighborhoods, Merriman Valley, Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens is a prime example of the area's stunning architecture. The castle-like residence served as the home for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company's founder Frank A. Seiberling and is a popular landmark and tourist attraction today.North by Northside is a brand new music and arts festival that will be held in the heart of Cincinnati's Northside neighborhood over Memorial Day weekend. Come out and see nearly 50 acts between six venues! You can find the full impressive lineup here.View this post on Instagram
The Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum will host a number of ceremonial events throughout the weekend. The festivities will begin on Thursday at 5 p.m. with the local Cub Scouts' flag planting ceremony. Monday will be the busiest day of the weekend, packed full of patriotic events you won't want to miss! You can find the full itinerary here.
Photo courtesy of Coney Island
Kick off the summer at Coney Island with a day full of family fun, cannonballs, laughs and festivities. Relax at the full-service tiki bar and get splashed on at Typhoon Tower, the largest erupting hydro-storm in the world. With incredible waterslides, a pool slide, delicious Cincinnati foods and tons of water to cool off in — you're bound to have a great time!
Don't miss one of Cincinnati's longest standing traditions: the Blue Ash Memorial Day Parade. This annual parade will celebrate its 67th year in 2019, beginning at 10:15 a.m. at the intersection of Reed Hartman Highway and Cooper Road. You can watch it go around a 1.6-mile loop, ending at the Veterans' Memorial on Towne Square, where the festivities will conclude with a special ceremony.
When you move, you'll probably want to invest in a good ice scraper, snow boots, a raincoat, umbrella and a quality sunblock. Our weather rapidly changes, so don't be surprised if you get to experience all four seasons in just one week — it's all a part of being a true Cincinnatian!
Within just six hours, you could be in Indianapolis, Louisville, Nashville and so many other amazing road trip destinations! Plus, we're home to the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, making us the perfect home base for travel lovers.
Cincinnati is home to some of the best food in the country. Not only have we been on countless best-of lists for our incredible restaurants, but we also offer unique and delicious takes on popular dishes. We love our Buckeyes, not just the team, but the to-die-for chocolate-covered peanut butter balls that are a staple at every get-together. Goetta, a combination of sausage and oats, is one of our classic favorites. And trying our famous chili (and smothering it on absolutely everything) — is a Cincinnatian rite of passage.
Photo courtesy of Casey Burns via Taste of Cincinnati
Because of our increase in breweries, bars and distilleries over the past few years — we've become a great place for nightlife. In fact, Apartment Guide just named us as one of the top 10 best cities for nightlife in America! Plus, we throw some of the best festivals in the country, including the gigantic Taste of Cincinnati, the Panegyri Greek Festival, and the Juneteenth Festival.Born prematurely in early 2017, Fiona the hippo gained national attention as workers at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens fought to keep her healthy. Today she's thriving, both in life and on social media, with hundreds of thousands of people keeping tabs on her daily activities.View this post on Instagram
In the late 1800s, Cincinnati was nicknamed the "Paris of America" because of our gorgeous architecture that may or may not have had some influence from popular Parisian landmarks. The Apostolic Bethlehem Temple Church, Cincinnati City Hall, Cincinnati Music Hall and the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal are just some of the breathtaking Cincy landmarks that should be on your bucket list!