Cincinnati visit to art museum - Info appreciated (Brooklyn, Reading: good hotels, houses)

[goshenretire]

We will be visiting Cincinnati middle of December to visit art museums, especially the Cincinnati Art Museum. We would appreciate recommendations & information about:
(1) Good hotels near the art museum?
(2) Are we better off staying at hotel in Cincinnati near museum or across the river in KY?
(3) Safety of area around art museum?
(4) Traffic in Cincinnati - should we be concerned with this near the museum?
(5) Traffic between Cincinnati & Bellevue?

Any other info. that might help us is most appreciated!!
Thank you.

[cincydave8]

1 - The Art Museum is located in Eden Park, so there's not a hotel within walking distance. I'd stay in the Residence Inn on 4th street which is across the street from the Taft Art Museum or in 21C Hotel which houses an ever changing art gallery in the lobby.

2 - Personal preference. The Ky hotels will probably be cheaper but you lose the amenities and walk-ability of downtown.

3 - Extremely safe. It's located on the edge of one of the city's best parks and next to the urban island neighborhood of Mt Adams. Mt Adams is very nice and extremely safe.

4- No, Mt Adams can be confusing to navigate and can get crowded but nothing crazy, the highways are going to be your typical mid-sized city highways (aka crowded during rush hour).

5 - Unless you're attempting to cross the bridges during rush hour, you won't have a problem.

[WRnative]

Don't miss the Taft Museum of Art.

https://taftmuseum.org/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taft_Museum_of_Art

The Duncanson murals alone are worth the visit for art lovers IMO. Duncanson was an important 19th century Cincinnati painter.

https://taftmuseum.org/duncanson-murals/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_S._Duncanson

For hotel recommendations, check the tripadvisor.com hotel ratings for Cincinnati, and read through/post on the TA Cincinnati forum.

I also would recommend a visit to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and a walk out on the adjacent Roebling Suspension Bridge, which preceded its famous descendant, the Brooklyn Bridge, by about a couple decades.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_A...pension_Bridge

[motorman]

Originally Posted by cincydave8

1 - The Art Museum is located in Eden Park, so there's not a hotel within walking distance. I'd stay in the Residence Inn on 4th street which is across the street from the Taft Art Museum or in 21C Hotel which houses an ever changing art gallery in the lobby.

2 - Personal preference. The Ky hotels will probably be cheaper but you lose the amenities and walk-ability of downtown.

3 - Extremely safe. It's located on the edge of one of the city's best parks and next to the urban island neighborhood of Mt Adams. Mt Adams is very nice and extremely safe.

4- No, Mt Adams can be confusing to navigate and can get crowded but nothing crazy, the highways are going to be your typical mid-sized city highways (aka crowded during rush hour).

5 - Unless you're attempting to cross the bridges during rush hour, you won't have a problem.

Nothing much to add; cincydave8 adequately addressed the issue. Basically, the Art Museum, Eden Park and Mt. Adams adjoin each other atop several surrounding hills overlooking the Ohio River basin. For good reason, this whole locale is generally considered Cincinnati's most beautiful area. Added to this, Mt. Adams is not only a tourist attraction, but also (per sq. ft.) the city's wealthiest neighborhood. If you can spare the time, I encourage you to wend your way through it before leaving for elsewhere - especially to the balcony of the venerable Holy Cross Immaculata Church and its dramatic view of downtown.

If you do choose to stay in Bellevue, Ky, you'll still have little problem reaching the Art Museum. Just get on I-471 North, cross the "Big Mac" bridge and take the first exit ramp on your left after coming out of the Lytle Tunnel (the "Reading Rd/Eden Park" exit). Then, at the bottom of that ramp, turn right, drive up across Gilbert Ave. and straight into Eden Park. Hereon, all you'll have to do is make two more right turns and you'll be in the museum parking lot itself.

[motorman]

^ I'd like to correct and clarify my earlier directions: you do not drive through the tunnel, but rather proceed (now on I-71) about a mile in the left lane to the exit mentioned. I apologize for the confusion.

[soozycue520]

Plan on visiting the Krohn Conservatory. It is also in Eden Park. They will have their Christmas display up. They have replicas of Cincinnati buildings and attractions, with a train display running through the display and plants. It is really cool.

A lot of downtown hotels will have holiday displays, too, if you are interested in that kind of stuff.

Taft Museum has an antique holiday display this time of year.

[AC1970]

Eden Park & Mt. Adams itself is very safe. True.
But if you walk far North/East out of the Eden Park neighborhood, you'll be in E Walnut Hills. Don't. Do google it.

[soozycue520]

Here you go, AC1970. Bashing my neighborhood. *One post.*

If you have not been to East Walnut Hills in the last few years, you have no idea of what you speak. East Walnut Hills had its renaissance years ago. Walnut Hills is having its renaissance right now. As with ANYWHERE in Cincinnati, always be aware of your surroundings. It is an awfully long walk from the Cincinnati Art Museum to any "dangerous" area.


Don't scare away the tourists from your computer in Mt. Pleasant SC.