Boys, keep out! Explorer Chick has women-only tours all over the world, but they call Cincinnati their home. With trips ranging from backpacking in the Grand Canyon to glamping in Belize, the tours focus on exploring new places and getting your heart and blood pumping for adventure. The website makes it easy to book — sort tours by where you want to go and what kind of experience you want to have. Up for hiking? Rappelling? Surfing? All three? Click on those options and see where Explorer Chick can take you. And if none of your gal pals can go with you, don’t worry; it’s super-easy to bond with and befriend the other badass ladies on your trip. explorerchick.com.
Crystal Grace launched Grace + Grit Spa after a message from God changed her life. Dealing with depression, anxiety and PTSD after a personal tragedy, she decided to get a facial as an act of self-care. The rest, as they say, is history. Grace + Grit aims to serve by offering affordable services — massages, facials, craniosacral therapy, reiki, waxing — to fortify and embolden people to be able to live their best, healthiest and happiest lives. The entire team of therapists and estheticians is dedicated to providing healing and restorative treatments, including for those undergoing cancer treatment as well as their caregivers. Grace + Grit’s “What Love Does” initiative provides spa services at no charge to those navigating the cancer journey. The spa’s website offers several ways to participate: Warriors can request services, people can nominate others, and the public and professionals can donate dollars or time to the cause. graceandgritskin.com.
Despite Gen Z’s attempt to bring back the over-plucked, 1990s thin-brow aesthetic, healthy, thick brows will always be in style. And the estheticians at 501 Salon & Spa are experts in beautifying your eyebrow hair. Being dyed, waxed, plucked and chemically fluffed is not always a super pleasant experience — especially the plucking and waxing part — but this Aveda salon makes it as enjoyable as it can be. Services are performed in the upstairs spa, where you also can get a massage, facial and even lash extensions. It’s warm, quiet, calm and smells amazing. The highly trained staff will give you the brows of your dreams — especially if you aren’t quite sure what that looks like. They’ll help shape and color them to best fit your face, all while you lay back and relax. 501salon.com.
If you’re looking for a low-impact, high-intensity workout, the bungee classes at Fly Bungee Fitness in Loveland can help you soar to new heights. Fly Bungee Fitness reps say their workouts offer 70% lower impact than traditional workouts do and are designed for people of all abilities. Beginners will start with the SimpliFLY class and can graduate to the intermediate ModiFLY or level-three IntensiFLY when ready. Fly Bungee Fitness also offers Bungee Blast, aerial and dance classes, and their bungees and harnesses are professional and high quality to ensure your safety throughout the workout. flybungeefitness.com.
If you want to hide from the world amongst nature without actually being, you know, in the elements, A.J. Rahn Greenhouses in Spring Grove Village is the way to go. In the ’60s, the Rahn family became known for their high-quality flowering plants —and still carry on that legacy today with rows and rows of flowers and hanging plants no matter the season. It’s easy to spend a leisurely weekend morning or afternoon wandering among all the flora and mentally calculating if you possibly have more space for yet another hanging basket (or seven). Don’t forget to say hello to Cali the greenhouse cat, who often can be spotted snoozing by the flowers. ajrahn.com.
Covington’s Sole by Style is a sneakerhead’s paradise. The streetwear boutique is stacked with floor-to-ceiling shelves showcasing the best and rarest shoes. Find sought-after styles like Travis Scott x Air Jordan Black Phantoms, a New Balance collaboration with JJJJound, a pair of Cactus Plant Flea Market Nike Dunks decked out in Swarovski crystals and a $12,000 pair of Jordan 1 Fragments. Every color combo, texture and taste are represented. Need a pair of furry Grateful Dead Bear Nikes? Sole by Style has them in orange, green or yellow. Want some Imran Potato Caveman Slippers? Head here. And you don’t just have to stop at your feet; cover the rest of your body with clothing from brands like Chrome Hearts, Supreme, Off-White and Louis Vuitton. Every item is authenticated, and the shop itself is like a premiere shoe shop in New York or LA (minus the around-the-block lines). And while Sole by Style is always selling, they also buy, trade and consign. solebystyle.com.
Eric Boltz was paralyzed from the chest down after he was struck by a car in 2015. Boltz’s wife, Yvonne, decided to take her husband’s recovery diet into her own hands and source nutritious food and herbal medicines herself. Seven years of farm work later, the Boltz family now owns and operates Boltz to Nutz Farm, a wheelchair-accessible, raised-bed market garden in Loveland. The couple sells their products through an online service that connects customers with more than 80 local farmers, artisans and chefs and delivers the farmers’ products twice weekly. And now the Boltzes are moving into their next phase — offering adaptive cooking classes and retreats. boltz2nutz.com.
If you want to explore beyond mall makeup stores or are looking to up your shelfie game with some new, independent and ethical beauty brands, Launch Party is a perfect one-stop shop in Over-the-Rhine. The coral-colored shelves are lined with everything from makeup, skin care and genderless fragrances to 10-free nail polish, cold-processed scalp systems and fun accessories, all from small businesses — including local ones. Items are hand-picked by owner Brit Cochran, a globe-trotting professional makeup artist with a passion for thoughtful and unique beauty products. Visit the store for in-person education and guidance, or shop online; each product features icons that indicate traits like whether it is vegan, eco-friendly, women owned, cruelty free or has a social impact. The store also provides full ingredient lists and brand info. With a goal of representing and celebrating the beauty of people of “every race, gender identity and age,” Launch Party’s products reflect the same ethos: to create a feel-good — and look-good — experience. shoplaunchparty.com.
The Friends of the Public Library — a nonprofit arm of Cincinnati Public Library — has used paperbacks galore for just $1 at the organization’s used bookstore and warehouse. The selection, especially when you’re on the hunt for mass-market paperbacks, is outstanding and covers every fiction genre. Whether you’re looking for a few of those ’80s romance novels with a bare-chested Fabio on the cover or you’re trying to make your way through Joanne Fluke’s Hannah Swensen mysteries (with recipes!), chances are you’ll find what you’re looking for — along with a few other books you’ll probably have to make room for on your reading list. cincylibraryfriends.org.
Close your eyes and breathe in the salty air. Feel your body relax and listen to the sound of the waves. No, you’re not in the Bahamas — you’re in Westwood, but it genuinely feels like you’re near the ocean at By the Sea Salt Therapy. Salt therapy, or halotherapy, is a wellness remedy that helps some people breathe easier, alleviates stress and anxiety, and even provides better sleep. At By the Sea in Westwood, you’ll sit in a beach chair and kick back while a halogenerator pumps superfine, medical-grade sodium chloride through the air. You’ll walk away feeling refreshed, relaxed and invigorated. By the Sea also has a wellness boutique on site where you can buy bath and body goods, skin-care products, essential oils, diffusers and more. bytheseasalttherapy.com.
Pets are family, and taking care of them is a form of self-care for owners, too. Mr. Nigel’s Salon Care for Pet Hair really rolls out the red carpet for its four-legged clients. Mr. Nigel’s pairs your pet with a stylist, who takes care of him or her for the whole visit. Some of the luxurious menu items include a blueberry facial, hemp shampoo and a grapeseed oil pad and nose application. Mr. Nigel’s, an upscale, full-service pet hair salon named after owner Michelle Goldfarb’s goldendoodle, is basically a puppy palace and a mini-getaway for your beloved animal — who really deserves a break from all the stress of being the glue that holds your life together. mrnigels.com.
Packed to the gills with gorgeous, quality furniture, Recycle Cincinnati is every thrifter’s and vintage furniture lover’s dream. Recycle Cincinnati sells a variety of pre-owned furnishings, from appliances, TVs and decor to antique furniture and one-of-a-kind items, like a Wurlitzer piano or 1970s pinball machine. You can browse their Facebook pictures, then call and plan to see your favorite pieces in person at practically any time you want. Love something but wish it functioned a bit differently or came in a different color or finish? They can make that happen, too. recyclecincinnati.com.
Aside from feeling like a total badass who hangs out in warehouses, wandering the treasure trove that is Cincinnati ReUse Center can also serve as the ultimate DIY inspiration. The Cincinnati ReUse Center sells an impressive assortment of new and used building materials, like kitchen and bathroom cabinets, sinks, appliances and furnaces. Whatever you need, they’ve got it. Most impressive, though, is their room of paint and stains from quality brands at insanely good prices — perfect for a cheap upgrade to your cabinets. reusecenters.org.
Sometimes you need to pre-game at individual national stores before hitting the cacophony of a mall, and Kenwood is just the place to do it. The TJ Maxx-Marshalls-HomeGoods-Michaels combination on Kenwood Road are the best beacons to the bang-for-your-buck shopping strips that dot the entire area. Who doesn’t love thumbing through the giant rug rack at HomeGoods, feeling all the soft blankets at TJ Maxx, smelling the candles at Marshalls or scooping up cake-decorating supplies at Michaels? Dangerously close to one another, these stores give “window shopping” a whole new meaning and put you into the right frame of mind for the money suck that awaits in the department stores at Kenwood Towne Center. marshalls.com.
Yes, obviously veterinarians are animal doctors who cater to house pets like dogs and cats, but Whiskers and Paws Animal Hospital in Kenwood takes that concept a step further: It has literally built out its office to feature two separate waiting rooms — one for felines and one for canines. This is a physical manifestation of veterinarians/owners Dr. Kevin Rebrovich’s and Dr. Carrie Ellis’ dedication to being a certified fear-free and cat-friendly facility. Both have undergone additional training and ongoing education to make sure the vet experience is as stress free as it can be — for pets and owners — and Whiskers and Paws is recognized by the American Association of Feline Practitioners for their commitment to care for cats. The practice was also recently accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association, certifying excellence across more than 900 standards of quality; less than 15% of veterinarians in North America are AAHA certified. The recognition is unsurprising as Whiskers and Paws is the new(ish) practice launched by Ellis and Rebrovich, two highly respected and beloved longtime local vets who excel at compassionate care. The office offers services ranging from standard checkups and vaccinations to surgery, diagnostic imaging, dentistry and even acupuncture. And it is decked out in modern farmhouse decor, with a mini fridge and coffeemaker for those waiting for appointments. All of this adds up to the entire team at Whiskers and Paws creating the most considerate vet experience for pets and people. And we truly appreciate them for it. whiskersandpawshospital.com.
While there are plenty of great used bookstores in Cincinnati, Duttenhofer's Books stands out as a particularly special one. An unassuming storefront on West McMillan Street in Clifton, Duttenhofer's has a wide selection of used books at very affordable prices. The bookstore has an excellent selection of poetry, art, local history, philosophy and plenty more — it's nearly impossible to leave empty-handed. If you don't happen to find exactly what you came for, you're certain to walk away with something new and exciting — perhaps a beautiful coffee-table book full of glossy Cézanne reproductions, or a first edition of your favorite novel. At the very least, you can always grab a few free, handmade bookmarks from the counter. duttenhofers.com.
Those who love knitting or crocheting with yarn made of natural fibers know there are a few benefits to choosing alpaca yarn over wool. Alpaca fleece tends to be warmer. It’s also lighter, stronger and more resilient than wool — plus it’s a more environmentally sustainable option, especially when you buy locally from Sunburst Valley Alpacas, a small farm on the West Side. Sunburst Valley has a small herd of alpacas they source their fleece from, which they sell through their online store. Not only do they offer raw fleece, but Sunburst Valley also has natural and dyed batts and skeins of handspun, natural and hand-dyed yarn. All dyes are heavy-metal free, and the yarns come in a variety of colors (the farm also can custom dye a skein so you can seamlessly finish that cozy blanket or trendy hat pattern). If you want to skip the crafting process, the farm also sells handcrafted hats, socks, ear warmers and fingerless mitts made from their own alpaca yarn. sunburstvalleyalpacas.com.
Couples who are over cookie-cutter, blank-canvas venues should consider embracing the maximalist Somerhaus design. Every inch of the event space in Over-the-Rhine is dripping with something beautiful, strange and unique — perfect for making long-lasting photos extra memorable. Of course, the space comes from the minds behind Somerset, so the wild, dreamy loft has everything from vintage kimonos to a pink Jeep. The configurable space allows you to walk down the aisle under a canopy of plants and a giant wooden canoe, meaning you won’t need to pay for an expensive decorator. Add it to your list of venues to explore. Your photographer will thank you. somerhaus.space.
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