Cincinnati

Cincinnati, Ohio is home to skyline chili, the Reds and the Bengals, the Cincinnati Art Museum, the Ohio River and the Contemporary Arts Center. But I have to admit that one of my favorite establishments is White Castle. Miniature steamed burgers, fed-up employees and sleazy customers - what a terrific combination.

Since you can find White Castle almost anywhere in the South, I'll mention my other favorite Cincinnati hangouts - the Blind Lemon in Mount Adams and the S.S. Adventurer Steamboat.
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Mount Adams is quaint, cozy, Cincinnati hip, pedestrian-friendly, varied - the neighborhood attracts a younger crowd looking for entertainment. We've spent several chilly nights hanging out by the outdoor fire pit at the Blind Lemon. Next door is a restaurant that is always packed with people. We also enjoyed the jazz bar farther up the street.

Eden Park is quiet and idyllic. Folks jog, walk with their dogs, play with their children and lounge on the lawns. The park is also home to the Cincinnati Art Museum. The museum maintains permanent collection as well as temporary exhibits. Even though we weren't huge fans, we enjoyed a Jasper Johns exhibit with an extra-large straw chair.

An Evening in Mt. Adams

Downtown is a working area interspersed with restaurants, museums and bars. The Contemporary Arts Museum offers unique exhibitions such as installations, modern art and computer-generated works. We enjoyed the inside out Volkswagen bug. There are also plenty of restaurants and bars to amuse most visitors.

We enjoyed a nice meal at the Key Club, an historic building that lends flavor to the city. I think the building has been around since the 1700's.

A steamboat ride down the Ohio River is a blast. In addition to taking in views of downtown Cincinnati on the Ohio side and the more bucolic Kentucky side, we learned about local history from our friendly captain. The river is calming, so even if you could care less about geography and facts, it's relaxing and fun.

Mostly home to students, Corryville is more sprawling than the rest of the city. We drove by the Frank Gehry Library on the University of Cincinnati campus. Yes, it's weird - the windows seem warped and they are arranged in odd shapes and sections. He did incorporate lots of brick so the building still feels attached to the rest of the campus.