| Cincinnati has been called a "Smaller Chicago" and has | | | | the history of the locomotive at this exhibit that is |
| plenty in common with the Windy City. | | | | fun for the kid in all of us. |
| It sets on the Ohio River at the very bottom of | | | | 4. The Newport Aquarium |
| Ohio. But Cincinnati is anything but | | | | Just across the river in Newport, Kentucky is the |
| bottom-of-the-barrel. | | | | amazing Newport Aquarium. It hold 70 exhibits and 14 |
| A happening downtown area, world-class restaurants, | | | | galleries along with 5 acrylic underwater tunnels that |
| excellent professional and college sports teams and | | | | allow you to get up close and personal with tiger |
| plenty of events for the whole family. | | | | sharks, stingrays, piranha, alligators and more. They |
| Here are just 5 (I could have picked 50) that you | | | | have the only pair of shark rays in the Northern |
| don't want to miss on a trip to Cincinnati. | | | | Hemisphere. |
| 1. Kings Island. | | | | You could find all of the above in any guidebook. I |
| This huge amusement park just north of the city is | | | | want to leave you with one more you won't find in |
| dedicated to the Roller Coaster in the same way | | | | many guide books -- but shouldn't miss: |
| Disney World is dedicated to cartoon animals. They | | | | 5. Jungle Jim's International Market |
| are everywhere. And not just any ol' coasters. The | | | | Located in Fairfield this place is "foodie heaven." Yes, |
| Beast is the world's longest and fastest wooden | | | | it is only a supermarket - but it is unlike any |
| coaster. The newest coaster, Diamondback (opened | | | | supermarket you have ever seen. First there is the |
| 2009) carries on this tradition. It boasts 10 vertical | | | | size: It is 6 acres! Then there is the departments and |
| drops between 100 and 200 feet each, two helixes | | | | selections: Everything is "Over-the-Top" Big. Cheese |
| (cork screws) and a splashdown at the end. They call | | | | Shoppe - More than 1,200 from 40 countries. Wines - |
| it the tallest, fastest and meanest coaster in their 36 | | | | 12,000 wine labels and City Beat's "Best of Cincinnati |
| year history. | | | | 2009." Hot Sauce - Fuggitaboutit! Over 1,400 brands - |
| Yeoooow! | | | | all under a vintage fire engine. Not to mention live |
| 2. The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center | | | | seafood, 16 foot long wall of Jelly Bellys and more |
| This museum chronicles the stories of fugitive slaves | | | | than 50,000 imported grocery items from more than |
| who came north to and through Cincinnati seeking | | | | 75 countries and regions around the world. |
| freedom and the underground that helped them. It | | | | Saying Jungle Jim's is only a supermarket is like saying |
| also presents disturbing stories of human trafficking | | | | the Beatles were mildly successful. Trust me, this is a |
| still going on around the world today. | | | | "Do Not Miss." I never do. |
| Very interesting and frighting. | | | | Oh, one more thing - Make sure you visit the |
| 3. EnterTRAINment Junction | | | | restrooms. Yes, the restrooms. |
| Would you believe that the world's largest indoor | | | | See you in Cincy. |
| train display is in Cincinnati? Well, it is. See it and learn | | | | |