The Cincy Region is where Ohio’s Midwest friendliness and Kentucky’s Southern charm are connected by the historic Roebling Suspension Bridge. It’s where urban art and street food meet green spaces and waterways. Now there’s a direct British Airways flight to the region, here are some great reasons to recommend a visit.
GANGSTER TOURS
Did you know that Newport in Northern Kentucky was the original Sin City? During the 1920s Prohibition era, outwardly legal restaurants became speakeasies and corruption was the norm. Later the alcohol bootleggers turned to gambling, running casinos, horse tracks and country clubs with slot machines.
Celebrities such as Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin were regular visitors during the gambling boom, not to mention gangster Al Capone. When the scene moved West in the 1960s, the first nine casinos in Vegas were of Newport origin.
Now, your clients can tour the streets hearing fascinating stories of Newport’s former underbelly.
GOETTA (AND OTHER FOODIE FUN)
Relaxing over chilli and a beer is a way of life in Cincinnati. Chilli parlours serve the delicious spicy sauce over spaghetti or as a topping for the local “Coney” hotdogs, along with a mound of grated cheese.
Another local specialty is goetta, patties of meat, oats and herbs, which can be enjoyed for breakfast or as street food. There’s even a summer goetta festival. In the wider Northern Kentucky area, you’ll find more dishes related to the region’s German heritage, alongside authentic fried chicken.
Cincinnati’s craft beer scene is strong, so there are plenty of opportunities to visit breweries. And, of course, clients shouldn’t miss a self-guided tour of the famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
GOOD TIMES
You might be surprised to learn the Cincy Region has the biggest Oktoberfest outside of Munich. It also boasts the largest light experience in the United States, Blink (next up October 2024), when Cincinnati hosts colourful and eye-catching illuminations.
Year-round, clients can visit the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center to learn how escaped slaves were smuggled to “free states” via a secret network of safe houses.
The Cincinnati Art Museum includes works by Van Gogh, Monet and Picasso and there are giant murals from today’s cutting-edge artists throughout Downtown, while designs in neon dazzle at the American Sign Museum.
The region’s booming bourbon bar and distillery scene earned the Northern Kentucky and Cincy region a spot on Conde Nast Traveler’s list of the Best Places to Go in the USA in 2023.
Alternatively, there’s family-friendly fun to be had at Cincinnati Zoo, Newport Aquarium and Kings Island theme park or on relaxed Ohio River cruises. And catching a Cincinnati Reds baseball game or a Bengals football match is a must.
