DiscoverOhio.com

Too Much Fun for Just One Day

Cincinnati Attractions

Cincinnati, the "Queen City," has always been a tourism hot spot, popular with travelers of every interest. Looking for delicious restaurants in Cincinnati? Check. In search of a shopping excursion? Cincinnati has you covered. Maybe you want to get up-close to wild animals? No problem in Cincinnati. There are literally hundreds of attractions, events, malls, restaurants and other activities worth exploring. So let's go! Cincinnati is waiting for you!

• Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal
  Once a bustling train station, Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal is now a major regional cultural attraction. The Cincinnati Museum Center is currently hosting "A Day in Pompeii." The Roman city of Pompeii was frozen in time by the catastrophic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 A.D. Room-sized frescos, marble and bronze sculptures, jewelry, gold coins, and hundreds of priceless ancient artifacts join body casts of the volcano's victims, eerily preserved in their final frantic moments. This exhibit is a must-see for any tourism adventure. There are other attractions at the Cincinnati Museum Center year-round; and while you are at Union Terminal, visit the Cincinnati History Museum, Omnimax Theater, Duke Energy Children's Museum and Museum of Natural History. For more history experiences, visit the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center on the banks of the Ohio River.
  View related itineraries
• Restaurants
  Some of the best Ohio restaurants can be found on the banks of the Ohio River in Cincinnati. Montgomery Inn serves up ribs glazed with its world-famous barbeque sauce. The ribs are arguably a Cincinnati attraction all on their own. A Cincinnati staple is chili and there are many restaurant options, including SkyLine Chili. If you're looking for some of the freshest foods along with a unique experience, check out Jungle Jim's. While not a restaurant, the grocery store is a far cry from your local supermarket. You can find food from every culture imaginable. Many people simply tour Jungle Jim's in awe at the variety offered.
• Shopping/Malls
  No trip is complete without a shopping excursion in Cincinnati. One of the most popular shopping destinations is Ikea in West Chester, Ohio, just north of Cincinnati. The Swedish store specializes in ready-to-assemble furniture, appliances and home accessories. Another attraction for shopping enthusiasts is Cincinnati Premium Outlets, which boasts more than 100 outlet stores. Last but not least, Kenwood Towne Centre is a Cincinnati attraction all its own, offering a unique shopping experience. Check out the three leading department stores and 180 specialty retailers within Kenwood Towne Centre.
• Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden
  The Cincinnati Zoo was recently rated the No. 1 attraction locally and one of the top zoos in the nation by Zagat Survey. More than one million people traveled to the zoo's award-winning exhibits, and more than 500 animal and 3,000 plant species annually. There are animals from every continent at the Cincinnati Zoo, along with some of the most beautiful blooming flowers in the more than 20 on-site gardens.
  View related itineraries
• Kings Island
  Experience pure excitement at Kings Island with more than 80 rides, attractions and roller coasters. Get a bird's-eye view of Cincinnati on WindSeeker, a spinning swing that flies riders 301 feet in the air. The amusement park features some of the best roller coasters anywhere, including Diamondback, a 230-foot tall steel monster that reaches speeds up to 80 miles per hour; Flight of Fear, an indoor coaster that catapults riders from 0 to 54 miles per hour in just four seconds in a heart-pounding adventure in total darkness through four inversions; and Drop Tower, where you plunge 315 feet straight down at a speed of 67 miles per hour on the tallest Gyro drop in the world! New to Kings Island in 2012 is the Soak City Waterpark, which features more than 50 water activities, including 30 water slides, tropical lagoons, rushing rivers, surfable waves and a massive 650,000-gallon Wave Pool. Soak City is included free with Kings Island park admission. Step back millions of years and walk among the mighty Stegosaurus, the meat-eating Tyrannosaurus Rex, the three-horned Triceratops and the flying Pteranodon. Dinosaurs Alive! at Kings Island features more than 60 life-sized dinosaurs in a 12.5-acre Jurassic forest setting, including 56 animatronic models.
• 2012 World Choir Games
  The 'Olympics of Choral Music' comes to the United States, and specifically, Cincinnati, for the first time. From July 4 - 14, 2012, Cincinnati will host more than 20,000 participants from over 20 countries for a worldwide singing competition. The World Choir Games will feature entertainment-packed opening and closing ceremonies, awards ceremonies and hundreds of public performances, including "Friendship concerts," free choral performances on city streets, public squares, attraction venues and parks. Click here for ticket information.

Discover Ohio