Quick Hits: Cincinnati

Does Cincinnati even have a nickname? Who knows. 

When my time in Chicago sadly ended, I was even more bummed that my next stop was Cincinnati. I strategically planned to minimize my time there, and you know what? I'm upset I did that. Cincy is hands-down my sleeper pick for best city to visit. Unfortunately, I didn't have any time to take photos, but here are some of the things that made my first trip to Ohio awesome: 

*I have a confession to make. I'm a sucker for a cool city skyline. I think a well defined skyline is a huge plus in a city, and Cincinnati has the perfect balance between buildings and small city feel. The Great American Building juts out above the riverfront stadiums, and at night you get a phenomenal view. 

*Ok, another confession. I like going to casinos. Sit me down at a blackjack table and (bankroll willing) I'll be there for hours. Cincinnati has a Horseshoe Casino downtown, and as luck would have it I was a winner. Definitely a nice entertainment feature to have in the middle of the city. 

*Cincinnati's riverfront area is a sports haven. The first thing you notice as you cross the Ohio River are Great American Ballpark (home of the Reds) and Paul Brown Stadium (home of the Bengals). This part of town is spacious, but also growing as a number of new apartments and restaurants were being built. I got to check out Bengals training camp, luckily they still don't look as good as my Patriots. 

*Trendy word alert: gentrification. Cincinnati has it in droves. The residents are doing an awesome job of converting what could be run-down neighborhoods into bustling dining and nightlife areas. I spent time in the Mt. Adams and Clifton Heights neighborhoods, and both have bustling bar scenes and tons of cool housing options. They've done a great job of renovating the old while holding onto the architectural integrity. You know, if that's what you're into. 

So all in all a VERY successful trip. Would I move to Cincinnati? Probably not. Would I take a trip there again? Absolutely.