Touristy things in any city can get a bad rap for their cheesiness or crowdedness and the long-running joke that you won’t find locals in these places. But in Cincinnati, we tend to send tourists to places we love visiting, too.

From the iconic stops like Fountain Square and Findlay Market to the wackier, off-the-beaten-path attractions like museums dedicated to ventriloquist dolls and lucky cats to a giant singing soup can, there are just some things in Cincinnati that both tourists and locals need to check out at least once in their lives.

The Tyler Davidson Fountain at Fountain Square Wear something bronze-ish, hold blue streamers and call it a day. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Smale Riverfront Park Photo: Scott Dittgen
Sip, Bite and Stroll at Findlay Market 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine At more than 150 years old, Findlay Market is Ohio’s oldest continually operated public market. Go for the farmers market, butcher shops, flower stalls, OTR Biergarten and eclectic eats. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Get Smart at the Cincinnati Museum Center 1301 Western Ave., West End Union Terminal is home to several smaller museums within the Cincinnati Museum Center, including the Cincinnati History Museum and the Children’s Museum, both of which were named in the top 10 best museums of their kind by USA Today’s 10Best. Not only does the Cincinnati Museum Center host extraordinary traveling exhibits, like Dinosaurs of Antarctica or The Science Behind Pixar, its history museum allows visitors to step back in time to become immersed in Cincinnati’s history, from the earliest settlers to traditions only found here, like our chili. The museum has everything from costumed interpreters to a recreation of the bustling Public Landing as it was in the 1850s and a replica of the Queen of the West, a side-wheel steamboat. At the Children’s Museum, kids can dive into arts, culture and science. The museum has over 1,800 hours of programming each year and offers hands-on fun for kids of all ages with its eight themed play areas, including two designed for younger children. You can also catch a documentary in the museum’s state-of-the-art IMAX theater or hear the stories of courage and perseverance from survivors at the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center. Photo: Devin Luginbill
Meet Fiona and the Gang at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens 3400 Vine St., Avondale When you visit the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, the first thing you’ll want to do is meet true Cincinnati royalty. Fiona, her baby brother Fritz, mom Bibi and step/dad Tucker will all be at Hippo Cove waiting to see you. There are also tons of other adorable animals to stop and see while you’re there, from elephants and manatees to giraffes and lions. If you’re lucky enough to go in April, you’ll see an explosion of color from the tulips and daffodils of Zoo Blooms. And toward the end of the year, the zoo comes alive with millions of bright, twinkly lights for the Festival of Lights. Photo: facebook.com/Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden via Michelle Peters
“When my parents first moved down here a few years ago, my mom spent a good month referring to ‘the OTR.’ That feels like a good start” -AMPduppp Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Take a Tour of the American Sign Museum $15 per person Explore a museum featuring over 100 years of signage. This 20,000-square-foot museum has everything from pre-electric signs to beautiful art-deco neon signs to modern plastic-faced signs. 1330 Monmouth Ave., Camp Washington. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Become One With Nature at the Krohn Conservatory 1501 Eden Park Drive, Walnut Hills Located in historic Eden Park, the Krohn Conservatory is an aluminum-and-glass Art Deco destination (in the shape of an upside-down heart) filled with more than 3,500 plant species from around the world. Permanent displays include a rare orchid house, a steamy tropical room, a succulent-filled desert space and a fun walk-through rainforest rock waterfall. Photo: Stephanie Scarbrough
Learn From the Past at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center 50 E. Freedom Way, The Banks Recently named the best history museum in the country in USA Today’s 10Best, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is renowned for its focus on how oppression and slavery have impacted society. The museum does this by sharing stories of slavery, the Underground Railroad, the Civil Rights movement and those who are enslaved today. Permanent exhibits include “Slave Pen,” an 1800s holding pen recovered from a farm in Mason County, Kentucky, that’s a somber and sobering reminder of slavery’s history in the United States and our region. There is also “ESCAPE! Freedom Seekers and the Underground Railroad,” which uses storytelling, roleplaying and interactive activities to share stories of those who resisted slavery. The museum also hosts various traveling exhibits, events and programming aimed at promoting its mission of social justice and inclusive freedom. Photo: Facebook.com/FreedomCenter
Cincinnati Observatory 3489 Observatory Place, Mount Lookout Built in 1873, the Cincinnati Observatory is the oldest public observatory in the United States, housing fully-functional 19th century telescopic technology for the public to use. Seated atop Mount Lookout, the original building and the infamous dome added in 1895 are a significant fixture in the city’s history. Known as “The Birthplace of American Astronomy,” the Cincinnati Observatory is a bedrock for astronomical discoveries and advancement. Photo: Brittany Thornton Photo: Brittany Thornton
The newest exhibition will feature 100 of Sikander’s works across multiple mediums, spanning her 35-year career. Photo: facebook.com/cincinnatiartmuseum
Go Beyond the Glass at Newport Aquarium 1 Levee Way Newport Aquarium aims to take visitors beyond the glass of their tanks and discover the wonder of the underwater world. Named one of the top 10 aquariums in the country by USA Today’s 10Best, Newport Aquarium is home to some of the sea’s coolest animals. Walk over the Shark Bridge, a tightrope bridge over the shark tank, or explore a long-ago sunken ship and see the creatures that call this accidental reef home in the exhibit Shipwreck: Realm of the Eels. All new is Hatchling Harbor, a 25-foot-long tank home to a new ecosystem for hundreds of colorful animals, many of them babies. You can also meet the aquarium’s four shark rays, including the famous Sweet Pea, laugh at the penguins’ antics and see a rare white alligator. Photo: Casey Roberts
Embrace America’s Pastime at Great American Ball Park and the Reds Hall of Fame Museum 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, The Banks Pro baseball was born in Cincinnati, and the Reds Hall of Fame Museum wants to preserve that history and create a lasting memorial to the Reds. See how the experience of going to a baseball game has changed over the years with the museum’s “Then & Now” exhibit, learn some fun trivia about historic firsts for the team and its players in the Reds’ First display and see bobbleheads, scorecards and tickets from seasons gone-by. The museum also hosts special exhibits that show you parts of baseball history that may get lost nowadays in the bright stadium lights and million-dollar contracts, like the “Women in Baseball” exhibit or “Shades of Greatness,” which shared the history of the Negro League. After, if the Reds are home, buy a ticket to the game and check out Great American Ball Park. The stadium’s view of the Ohio River and the decorative tall stacks create the perfect backdrop to America’s favorite pastime. Photo: Ron Valle
Drink in Cincinnati’s Beer History Along the Brewing Heritage Trail 1801 Race St. or 73 E. McMillan Ave., Over-the-Rhine Once one of the largest brewing boomtowns in 19th-century America, the Queen City was home to major pre-Prohibition beer kingpins and, in recent years, has bolstered an ever-expanding craft brewing scene. Over-the-Rhine’s Brewing Heritage Trail explores, preserves and celebrates the city’s storied past as a beer-producing capital with a series of guided tours and a free walking trail. “Hop on” the trail at either terminus — which stretches about three-fourths of a mile between Findlay Market (1801 Race St.) and Grant Park (73 E. McMillan Ave.) in Over-the-Rhine — and follow embedded medallions in the sidewalk to discover historic buildings, brewing sites, public art and more. A number of guided tours are also available to complement the self-guided trail. Photo: Steve Hampton/Brewing Heritage Trail
Jungle Jim’s International Market 5440 Dixie Highway, Fairfield; 4450 Eastgate S Drive, Eastgate Jungle Jim’s is an amusement park for foodies, and not just because of its kitschy statues and animatronics that photograph really well. The huge store (more than 6 acres) contains equal parts weekly shoppers scanning the aisles for super fresh seafood, exotic produce and international eats from more than 70 countries and visitors wandering, mouths agape at the wacky decor, likely with a beer in hand. The singing soup can is a beloved sight to snap a photo of; same goes for the elaborate restroom hidden behind a port-a-potty facade. This Hogwarts of grocery stores offers nearly 1,500 different kinds of hot sauce. The aisle is pretty hard to miss: It’s the one with the giant fire truck on top of it. Photo: junglejims.com
The Loveland Castle Photo: Brittany Thornton
Get Just Slightly Freaked Out at Vent Haven 33 W. Maple Ave., Ft. Mitchell Vent Haven is the only museum in the world dedicated to the art of ventriloquism. In addition to more than 800 figures (don’t call them dummies), guests can view a library of vent-centric books, playbills and thousands of photographs. You schedule a tour of the museum for just $15. The museum also hosts the international ConVENTion every year for hundreds of ventriloquists. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Explore Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum 1763 Hamilton Cleves Road, Hamilton Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum offers visitors ample time to reflect amongst both art and nature. The park spans over 300 acres of meadows, lakes and hiking trails and features more than 80 permanent sculptures to view. Also on the grounds is an 1820s pioneer house and an indoor ancient artifacts museum with objects dating back to 1550 B.C. Photo: facebook.com/Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park
Soar to New Heights at the Swing House 1373 Avon Place, Camp Washington The Swing House is a whole-building art project — a freestanding 1880s three-story brick home in Camp Washington where owner and artist Mark de Jong has removed the interior walls and upper floors and built a swing right in the middle of the opened-up interior. Made from pine he salvaged from third-floor joists, the swing is attached by 30 feet of natural fiber rope to a metal beam on the ceiling. Visit during the monthly open house event every second Saturday from noon-4 p.m. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Step Back in Time at Serpent Mound 3850 OH-73, Peebles History buffs will love a visit to Serpent Mound, the largest ancient earthworks site in the world. At over 1,300 feet long and dating between 1,000-2,000 years old, this mound was built by people of the Adena culture and has been carefully studied, yet still baffles some scientists. There’s a sheltered area for picnicking, several additional archeological sites and beautiful wooded grounds, meaning you can make a trip to Serpent Mound a full-day getaway. Photo: facebook.com/SerpentMound
Feel Like You’re in a Fairy Tale World at the Mushroom House 3331 Erie Ave., Hyde Park Architect Terry Brown was a University of Cincinnati professor of architecture and interior design, but to most in our region, he’s known as the guy behind Hyde Park’s famed “Mushroom House.” Guests at street level will notice a winding entry staircase and a misshapen exterior constructed of metal, glass, ceramic and warped wood shingles, suggesting a fairy tale or bizarre, otherworld-esue appearance that looks like a very large mushroom. The one-bedroom, one-bath, 1,260-square-foot structure was built by Brown from 1992 to 2006 and served as his second residence until his death in 2008. Note: The home is private. Photo: Zillow.com
Be Charmed at the Lucky Cat Museum 2511 Essex Place, Walnut Hills Located inside Essex Studios, the museum boasts a one-of-a-kind collection of Japanese maneki-neko “lucky cat” figures. The glass displays stretch across the walls, containing thousands of styles, colors and sizes of cats. Some are golden, others white with red ears and a green bib. Some don black fur or are chipped. Some are stuffed, others ceramic and plastic. There are some wacky ones, too. All of them, however, carry an undeniable charm. There’s even a gift shop. Photo: Kellie Coleman
Visit Handsome at the Greater Cincinnati Police Museum 308 Reading Road, Pendleton Handsome was the city’s first police dog. Found by a patrolman in 1898 as an abandoned puppy, the mutt quickly became a fixture at the police station and soon joined daily patrols, chasing down thieves and murderers. He reportedly assisted in hundreds of arrests in the course of his career. After his death in 1912, the beloved Handsome was stuffed and placed in a glass case to honor his contributions. He is now on public view at the Greater Cincinnati Police Museum, also home to thousands of local law enforcement artifacts and a memorial wall to fallen local, state and federal officers. Photo: Megan Waddel
See Antique and Vintage Cars Up Close at Collection21 21 Kenton Lands Road, #4, Erlanger Collection21 is a personal collection of American-made automobiles from the 1900s through the 1980s that’s open for tours on Fridays and Saturdays. The collection is made up of over 200 cars and tours are complimentary, but Collection21 does ask for a $15 donation per person; 100% of those proceeds go to Housing Opportunities of Northern Kentucky, a nonprofit that provides homeownership opportunities for lower-income residents through their lease-to-own program. Photo: facebook.com/Housing Opportunities of Northern Kentucky (HONK)
Summon Aliens at the Spaceship House 222 Wright St., Covington In the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, Finnish architect Matti Suunerro designed less than 100 Futuro houses — or flying saucer-esue homes — and Covington has one of them. It was purchased in 1973 by Rob Detzel, who first saw it in an issue of Family Circle. He made arrangements for its display at a home and garden show, then took it on a tour of sorts; in 1987, it landed — er — it was delivered to its current location. The community embraces its presence and the Futuro House has even been included in a mural titled “Love the Cov” by Jarrod Becker, on the wall at Kroger’s Covington location. In 2013, Covington’s Mayor Sherry Carran declared Nov. 2, the 40th anniversary of Detzel’s purchase, “Futuro House Day,” officially naming the property it’s on “Area 89.” Note: This is a private residence. Photo: Google Street View

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