Margarita Madness At The Purple People Bridge : May 17th

Road Trip? Study Says Ohio is a Top State to Vacation in This Summer

Ohio ranked as the fifth best state to vacation in, with Indiana and Kentucky following closely behind.

May 22, 2023 at 9:21 am

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Photo: Hailey Bollinger

While Gambling.com doesn't say it outright, we're pretty sure Cincinnati's the No. 1 reason Ohio ranks so high.

As people start making summer travel plans, Cincinnatians apparently don't have to go too far to get to a top vacation spot, according to a recent study from Gambling.com. In fact, we're already here.

This study looked at the best states to vacation in this summer, with Ohio taking the fifth spot, behind Virginia, Florida, Illinois and Georgia. Neighbors Indiana and Kentucky ranked sixth and seventh, respectively.

To create these rankings, Gambling.com looked at five metrics: accommodation availability (number of two-room accommodation options on Booking.com for two adults and two children between June 11-18); accommodation affordability (percentage of rooms under $200 a night), the state's crime rate, how much sunlight each state gets in the summer and the number of parks and landmarks in each state. Each data point was measured out of 100 using the PERCENTRANK formula and averaged.

Ohio scored 63.6 overall, scoring the highest in room affordability (83.6/100) and the number of landmarks and parks we have (73.4/100). Kentucky scored highest in room availability (93.8/100) and for its crime rates (63.3/100 — keep in mind: the lower the crime rates the higher the score), for an overall score of 61.2.

Seven Greater Cincinnati Hotels Earned Four Diamonds on AAA List: According to AAA, 4-Diamond hotels offer upscale amenities.

Gambling.com isn't the only one singing our praises, either. Last year, Condé Nast Traveler named Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky one of the best 23 places in the U.S. to travel to in 2023, citing Northern Kentucky's bourbon culture and Over-the-Rhine nightclub Ghost Baby as top reasons.

And AAA earlier this year awarded Four Diamond status to seven Greater Cincinnati hotels and two restaurants: Boca and Nicola's. Meanwhile, the Lytle Park Hotel was named one of the top 500 hotels in the world by Travel + Leisure.

Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Make Condé Nast Traveler's "23 Best Places to Go in the U.S in 2023" List: The magazine points to the bourbon culture in Northern Kentucky in particular as a reason to pay a visit to the Tri-State.

And when you think about how many cool things the Queen City has to offer, it's really no wonder why Ohio and Kentucky rank so high on the list. We're home to so many fun, touristy attractions you can spend days exploring, like Kings Island, Findlay Market, the Cincinnati Museum Center, the American Sign Museum and even a ventriloquist doll museum (if you can brave it).

And if you're a sports fan, summer is an excellent time to be in Ohio, specifically Cincinnati, as you can catch a Reds game at Great American Ball Park, an FC Cincinnati soccer match at TQL Stadium or a pre-season Bengals game at Paycor Stadium.

Ohio's also home to a number of charming small towns and even beaches, as well as close to plenty of other worthy road trip destinations. And let's not forget the kooky roadside attractions throughout the Buckeye State, with Hug Me Jesus just north of Cincinnati in Monroe taking the weird cake.

But, if you're not planning on straying too far from home this summer, check out some Cincinnati bucket list things you can check off in the upcoming season below.

Slideshow

32 Greater Cincinnati Activities to Add to Your Summer Bucket List

Put on Your Dancing Shoes for Salsa on the Square520 Vine St., DowntownBust out your best moves or learn how to salsa every Thursday night at Fountain Square during the summer. Salsa on the Square is free and features live local and regional Latin bands that specialize in salsa, merengue, cumbia and Latin jazz. There are also two large dance classes to help you get the moves down, and Mazunte is there to serve up tacos, tostados and guacamole. For a refreshing drink after all the dancing, grab a margarita at Fountain Square’s full-service bar.

Meet Fritz and the Other Babies at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden3400 Vine St., AvondaleA stroll through the zoo grounds may be the perfect thing to do this summer in Cincinnati. Kids, teens and adults alike can enjoy viewing all the many animals and botanicals throughout the facility. You can see some of the newest additions to the zoo, like Fiona’s baby brother Fritz, Larkin the penguin chick and a pair of adorable bat-eared fox kits. Plus, see if you can spot the baby bumps on Lightning the sloth and Stevie the bongo.

Hit a Beach Within Driving Distance of CincinnatiOhio may not be on a coast, but don't let that fool you — we have plenty of breezy beach options for when the water is calling your name. Yes, they may be on a lake or riverfront, but they check most of our boxes when we're in need of a little sand between our toes, sunshine on our skin and a cool, refreshing dip in the water. Follow the link to find some beachy inspiration.

Catch a Reds Game and Chow Down on the New Eats100 Joe Nuxhall Way, The BanksGreat American Ball Park debuted a slate of new snacks for the 2023 season, including a Cheeseburger Frybox (hamburger topped with nacho cheese, iceberg lettuce, grilled onions, pickles and Thousand Island dressing served on French fries) and the vegetarian-friendly Curve Ball (veggie burger topped with iceberg lettuce, grilled onions, pickles and Thousand Island dressing served on a brioche bun). And that’s only some of the many new menu items you’ll find throughout the ball park. Eat up because if the Reds are losing, you’ll at least leave the ball park with a full stomach.

Take a Journey Downriver in a Kayak or CanoeThe Queen City boasts many canoeing and kayaking spots, plus some road trip-worthy locations within a few hour's drive – all perfect for floating a weekend away. Check with each business about reservations, specific rental fees and what you can and can’t bring with you. (We’re looking at you, ca-brewers). If you’re searching for a little more of an aquatic adventure, the 22nd annual Paddlefest on the Ohio River is happening Aug. 5. Paddlefest is open to kayaks, canoes and standup paddleboards, as well as participants of all paddling experience levels. Motorized boat traffic will be prohibited on the river during this time, making for smooth paddling, and you can choose between the full 9-mile route or a 4.5-mile route.

Dine and Drink Al Fresco at a Bar or RestaurantSweet, sweet summertime is upon us, which means it's time to figure out which local rooftop bars and restaurant patios you should plan to visit for all your breezy sunshine and noshing needs. And this year, we're taking the guesswork out of the equation. Visit the link above to see some of the best places to dine and drink al fresco in the Cincinnati area.

Watch a Dazzling Display of Fireworks on the Fourth of July or Camp Out for the WEBN / Western & Southern’s FireworksIt wouldn’t be summer if you didn’t take the time to watch at least one fireworks show. Cincinnati’s skies will be decked out in all kinds of colors as Fourth of July celebrations take place. Some of the most popular include Red, White & Blue Ash (also featuring concert headliner Collective Soul); Coney Island’s Balloon Glow; Fourth of July at Kings Island; Red, White and BOOM with Cincinnati Pops at Riverbend and numerous community events. And if you just can’t get enough fireworks, don’t forget about Cincinnati’s big end-of-summer bash Riverfest and the WEBN / Western & Southern Fireworks. Just make sure you grab your spot early and respect the blanket-claiming process.

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About The Author

Katherine Barrier

Katherine Barrier is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s journalism program and has nearly 10 years of experience reporting local and national news as a digital journalist. At CityBeat, she oversees the digital and social media strategies, edits web and print content and writes for the dining and arts...