Parks & Recreation - Cincinnati, Ohio



Parks & Recreation - River Fun

Without the Ohio River, there would be no Greater Cincinnati. Though it may not be steeped in quite as much lore as the Mississippi, the Ohio is what ties the tristate area together historically and recreationally.

The average depth of the Ohio in front of Cincinnati is 26 feet. Flood stage is 52 feet. And, boy, do we flood! The Great Flood of 1937 decimated the city. In the spring of 1997, the river spilled millions of gallons of water into the downtown area, wiping out the Children’s Museum as well as numerous riverfront businesses—a reminder that the river is never to be taken lightly, even in this age of flood walls.

The river brings good things too. Since the dams were built in 1929 (ironically to ensure a minimum water depth), river trade has increased more than 800 percent. You’ll see lots of barges slowly plying their way on the Ohio any day of the week. Two-thirds of all river freight is some type of energy-producing commodity: coal, coke, petroleum. Every kilowatt of electricity in the area is produced from coal, which arrives by river barge.

All that commerce and industry has its downside, of course. The river may be beautiful, but the adjective “pristine” does not apply. “Look but don’t touch” might be the best way to approach the Ohio River. Water quality has improved over the last few decades, but let’s face it: Cincinnati is downriver from many industrial areas and the city itself contributes more than its fair share of pollution.

Most of the year, swimming in the river is technically OK—at least in the select areas not afflicted by a mean undertow. But during the summer months, the Cincinnati Health Department frequently issues advisories not to swim in the river because of high concentrations of bacterial nasties. At any time of year, there are hundreds of better and safer places to swim than the Ohio River. See Coney Island and the other water parks in the Kidstuff chapter as well as the numerous swimming opportunities outlined in the Parks and Recreation chapter.

Fishing is OK too. Fish are more numerous and healthier now than in the ’70s, but all three states warn to steer clear of eating walleye, carp, channel catfish, white bass, and paddlefish caught in the Ohio. High levels of chlordane and PCBs are sometimes found in these bottom feeders. Fishing, boating, and other river sports are covered in detail in the Parks and Recreation chapter.

The centerpiece of the river is the Tall Stacks festival (due again in 2009). But there’s life on the river every day of the year—even when it freezes over, as it did back in the 1970s and crazy people walked from Ohio to Kentucky without benefit of a bridge!

A few years ago, if you were talking river attractions in the region, you might be talking about boating. Or Jet Skiing. Or even marine fireworks displays. Today you’re talking casino gambling. In fact, one of the world’s largest riverboat casinos, the Argosy VI, is harbored in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, a few minutes downstream from Cincinnati. That once-sleepy little town has fast become the most popular tourist destination in the region. And a bit farther along the river is the (for now) sleepy burg of Rising Sun, with yet another riverboat casino, the Grand Victoria II.

And now a word about the geography of the Ohio River valley and its corresponding Average Average Average

Parks & Recreation - Parks And Recreation

Even most longtime residents of Greater Cincinnati haven’t taken advantage of the numerous recreational opportunities in this area. Besides beautiful parks with lots of activities, there are rivers and lakes that provide hours of relaxation and recreation. And, of course, there are the standard sport and health clubs that can be found in most towns. Information about all of these pursuits can be found in this chapter.

1. Argosy VI

City: Cincinnati, OH
Category: Parks & Recreation
Address: 777 East Eads Parkway, Lawrenceburg


2. Belterra Casino Resort

City: Cincinnati, OH
Category: Parks & Recreation
Address: 777 Belterra Drive, Belterra

3. Caesars

City: Cincinnati, OH
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (888) 766-2648

Description: This Caesars casino is a bit farther downriver (about two to two-and-a-half hours), but the trip might be worth it to those in the market for pure opulence. Located a few miles from Louisville, Caesars is one of the world’s largest gaming vessels. The $50 million casino offers 2,800 slot machines, as well as 140 blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and craps tables.Opened in 1998, the boat contains an impressive 93,000 square feet of gaming space. The vessel is divided into seven themed casinos on its four decks, each representing an era in world history. State law no longer requires Caesars to cruise, so you can enter and leave the docked vessel at will.

4. Grand Victoria II

City: Cincinnati, OH
Category: Parks & Recreation
Address: 600 Grand Victoria Drive, Rising Sun

5. BB Riverboats

City: Cincinnati, OH
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (859) 261-8500
Address: 1 Riverboat Row, Newport

Description: BB offers dozens of package cruises—sightseeing cruises, meal cruises, holiday cruises—aboard the open-air barge River-Raft, the large-capacity FunLiner, the steamboat-era River Queen, or an authentic replica of a Mark Twain stern-wheeler. Especially popular are the one-day trips to nearby scenic river towns. Packages and prices vary greatly, depending on the ship, day of the week, season, and age of the ticket buyer. A popular day trip is the cruise to Rabbit Hash, Kentucky.

6. Queen City Riverboat Cruises

City: Cincinnati, OH
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (859) 292-8687
Address: 303 O’Fallon Drive, Dayton

Description: This company offers charter and regular public cruises aboard the Spirit of Cincinnati and the Queen City Clipper paddleboats. Meals can range from a continental breakfast to a formal dinner. Theme cruises include Monte Carlo night and Italian American night. Prices vary. A two-hour lunch on the Spirit of Cincinnati, for instance, starts at $27.95 with a buffet.

7. RiverBarge Excursion Lines Inc.

City: Cincinnati, OH
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (888) 456-2206

Description: Sure, you can do a quick hop aboard a BB Riverboat or other such boat for an excursion downriver. But if you want a real family adventure, try the RiverBarge Excursion Lines Inc., which operates the 750-foot-long R/B River Explorer, a flat-bottomed vessel that plies the Ohio River. A round-trip “River to Rails” voyage that begins in Cincinnati continues to Ripley, Marietta, Portsmouth, and other points. Finally, voyagers hop aboard vintage 1920s rail cars and take a side trip to the Hocking River Valley.

8. Satisfaction II and Satisfaction III YachtS

City: Cincinnati, OH
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (513) 231-9042
Address: 4609 Kellogg Avenue

Description: These two luxurious yachts are available exclusively for corporate and private functions and accommodate 10 to 150 guests. Unlike many seasonal charters, the ships are fully enclosed and are in service year-round. Prices range from $50 to $125 per person.

9. Shadowbox Cabaret

City: Cincinnati, OH
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (859) 581-7625
Address: 1 Levee Way

Description: Shadowbox Cabaret is a combination theater, sketch comedy, and rock music club, presenting a rotating schedule of shows, nightly Wednesday through Saturday. Tickets are $20, $10 for students and seniors.

10. Showboat Majestic

City: Cincinnati, OH
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (513) 241-6550

Description: Walk the gangplank to the Showboat Majestic for such theatrical chestnuts as A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and The Odd Couple. The floating theater hall is housed inside a nearly 100-year-old riverboat, a National Historic Landmark.

11. Purple People Bridge

City: Cincinnati, OH
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (859) 581-7529

Description: This pedestrian-only bridge opened in 2003 and presents the opportunity to stroll across the Ohio River. It’s easiest to park in the Newport on the Levee, which has a 2,000-car parking garage. Then walk across the river to Bicentennial Commons—a park encompassing Sawyer Point, Yeatman’s Cove, and the Serpentine Wall (a stepped and winding concrete walkway along the river). This is also a great way to get to Great American Ball Park without paying outrageous ballpark garage fees. If you’ve read about the Purple People Bridge Climb, however, please be advised that this attraction has closed.

12. John Roebling Suspension Bridge

City: Cincinnati, OH
Category: Parks & Recreation

13. National Steamboat Monument

City: Cincinnati, OH
Category: Parks & Recreation

Description: The huge red paddle-wheel replica of the riverboat American Queen is billed as America’s only monument to the steamboat age. The 60-ton paddle wheel is positioned atop two three-story towers. Working tall stacks release steam toots every minute.

14. Anderson Ferry

City: Cincinnati, OH
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (859) 485-9210
Address: 4030 River Road, Hebron

Description: The Anderson ferry crosses the river about every 15 minutes between Hebron, Kentucky, and Delhi just below the Trolley Tavern. Hours are 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. November through April and 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. May through October. On Sunday and holidays, the ferry doesn’t open until 11:00 a.m. The cost is $3 per car each way. Smart commuters know this is the shortcut from the west side of Cincinnati to the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. You avoid the car-strangled spanner known as the I-75 bridge.

15. Augusta Ferry

City: Cincinnati, OH
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (606) 756-3291

Description: From just west of Higginsport, about 5 miles from the Clermont County line on U.S. Highway 52, you can catch the Augusta ferry to Augusta, Kentucky. This ferry provides the only river crossing for 63 miles between Cincinnati and Maysville. Keep a keen eye on the road for a sign that points toward the river and says Augusta, KY, 1 mile. The ferry runs 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily, with between three and five departures an hour, depending on the number of cars waiting. Crossing time is 10 minutes and the cost is $5 per car.
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