First time visitor, what to see? (Cincinnati, Washington: hotel, neighborhoods, taxi)

[sdurbanite]

As part of my mini-Midwest Road Trip next week, I've included Cincinnati as a pitstop and am looking for some suggestions on what to do and where to eat.

Mostly interested in checking out the interesting neighborhoods and the pulse of the city. So far I've come up with Mt. Adams and Over-The-Rhine, anymore areas I should check out? Contemporary Arts Museum is on my list. Is there an overlook there like they have in Pittsburgh?

Hoping to make it to a Reds game one night and imagine that I should be able to get tickets easily on the day of the game, especially on a weeknight.

Finally, I've been told that no trip to Cincinnati would be complete without trying out the chilli. Can someone please tell me where to find the best darn chilli in town and what to order?

Looking forward to your responses!

[CGSmiths]

I think Skyline has the best chili. It's a heartily debated subject, though! I get a cheese coney and a 3-way, which is chili on spaghetti with cheese.

The Museum Center in old Union Terminal is great, but if you are having nice weather you couldn't do better than a walk by the river. You could take the Purple People Bridge across and see the aquarium.

I haven't been yet, (I grew up in Cincy and go back to visit family) but I would like to recommend checking out Park + Vine at 1109 Vine Street. It's an eco general store that is getting great press! I can't wait to go!

If you are into books and beautiful buildings, then you should check out The Mercantile Library on Walnut. It's a great place to relax. You could do a morning's sightseeing, then go there to plan your afternoon.

At the ballpark you could try regional foods like LaRosa's pizza and Montgomery Inn ribs, but they won't be as great as if you were at the actual restaurants.

Have a great time!! It's easy to do there!

[HuskerDu]

Mt Adams is key for views and quality nightlife. If you are staying in a hotel downtown and drinking it is a $10 taxi fare. Newport, KY is right across the bridge and there are several restaurants that have outdoor seating by the river ($7 taxi). Downtown and OTR are very cool to wander around also. Plenty of pulse to be found. Even though it is a Cincinnati thing, Skyline Chili is pretty much franchised everywhere these days. It is still arguably the best, but you will need to visit some of the crappier areas of town to get the true chili-parlor experience (Camp Washington Chili, Price Hill Chili). Have fun.

[sdurbanite]

Thanks to the two posters above, it's exactly the info I was looking for

So which is the best Skyline Chili location to visit? Should I add LaRosa's Pizza and Montgomery Inn (the restaurants) to my dining options? What streets in OTR and Mt. Adams should I visit?

I'll have a car and love driving around and getting lost in places I've never visited.

Park & Vine sounds cool, as well as the Museum Center in the Union Terminal.

[The Don]

Big Butter Jesus.

[sdurbanite]

^^Yikes! That statue scares me, and intrigues me at the same time. Never realized that Cincy was a part of the Bible Belt.

[CGSmiths]

I lived in the city for 17 years and didn't realize it was part of the Bible Belt either.

My favorite Skyline is in Clifton. It's definitely one of the oldest.

Find a copy of Cincinnati Magazine. They will have the most helpful restaurant guide you can find. They even have a whole issue devoted to dining out- or at least they used to. Every issue has a guide in the back, though. You will find great stuff. There's a great Thai place in Mt. Adams and I've heard nothing but good things about Nada downtown.

Cheers!

[aquila]

My favorite Skyline location doesn't exist because I'm a Gold Star fan. Trust me...go with Gold Star.

[gman5431]

Skyline is the Cincinnati classic. Gold Star cannot compare. My favorite location is in Oakley on Madison Road. There is at least two locals downtown and one of them is like 2 blocks from the ballpark. Reds games are the best and they are playing Mon-Wed night against the Astros. They are playing well right now. You should have no problem getting tickets right at the window and unlike a lot of places we have some affordable tickets at 5, 7, and then 14 bucks for the cheapest seats.

G Man

[aquila]

Originally Posted by gman5431

Skyline is the Cincinnati classic. Gold Star cannot compare.

Your a**! (I say that in a teasing manner. ) Gold Star can take down Skyline any day! Gold Star has richer flavor, and it's not as runny. When I get a coney from Gold Star, at least the cheese isn't melted and the bun isn't soggy from the chili.

But...this isn't the Skyline vs. Gold Star thread. We already did that a long time ago. Perhaps it needs to be resurrected.