Things to do in Ohio
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Greenup Café
Greenup's French owner has imported the flavors of his homeland to this cheerful, bohemian bistro in an old brick warehouse. Get your croissants and croque monsieur (egg and ham sandwich) for breakfast; meatloaf hoagies and black-bean burgers for lunch; and pastries anytime.
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Bootsy's
True, it's trendy. And loud. But you gotta love a place vibed after Bootsy Collins, a Cincy boy done good as the funk bassist for James Brown and George Clinton. Check out Bootsy's gold records and other memorabilia while sipping mojitos and noshing on sushi, paella and duck tacos.
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Newport Aquarium
Meet parading penguins, Sweet Pea the shark ray and lots of other razor-toothed fish at Newport's large, well-regarded facility.
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Boyd Wurthmann Restaurant
Hubcap-sized pancakes, 23 pie flavors, fat sandwiches and Amish specialties such as country-fried steak draw locals and tourists alike. Cash only.
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Cleveland Botanical Garden
Has a Costa Rican cloud forest and Madagascan desert exhibits. An ice-skating rink opens nearby in winter; skate rentals cost $3. Parking costs $5 to $10 per day and gives access to all the museums here.
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Lehman's Store
Lehman's Store is an absolute must-see. It's the Amish community's main purveyor of modern-looking products that use no electricity. Ogle the wind-up flashlights and nonelectric waffle irons, and then take a pie break at the café inside.
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West Side Market Cafe
This is a smart stop if you're craving well-made breakfast and lunch fare, and cheap fish and chicken mains. The cafe is inside West Side Market itself, which overflows with prepared foods that are handy for picnicking or road-tripping.
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Ohio Historical Center
The Ohio Historical Center has been changed from a fusty relic house to an interactive museum. For those planning to tour the Hopewell Indian sites, a visit is invaluable. After your serious research, you can join the kids and dress up in period costume.
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Krohn Conservatory
The vast greenhouse sprouts a rainforest, desert flora and glorious seasonal flower shows (separate admission $3 to $6).
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Christmas Story House & Museum
Remember the beloved 1983 film A Christmas Story, in which Ralphie yearns for a Red Ryder BB gun? The original house sits in Tremont, complete with leg lamp. This attraction's for true fans only.
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National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
Cincinnati was a prominent stop on the Underground Railroad and a center for abolitionist activities led by residents, such as Harriet Beecher Stowe. The Freedom Center tells their stories. Exhibits show how slaves escaped to the north, and the ways in which slavery still exists today. Download the free iPhone app for extra insight while touring.
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Town Fryer
Town Fryer offers deeply unhealthy Cajun and Southern comfort foods, like fried catfish and maple-bacon mashed potatoes, but aren't we all really here for the fried Twinkies and Oreos? It's located between downtown and University Circle.
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Slims
This bright, simple Northside restaurant serves organic and seasonal dishes - maybe a Chilean vegetarian stew or citrus-braised pork belly - at long communal tables from 5:30pm 'until the food runs out.' Cash only; bring your own vino.
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Findlay Market
Indoor-outdoor Findlay Market greens the somewhat blighted area at downtown's northern edge. It's a good stop for fresh produce, meats, cheeses and baked goods. The Belgian waffle guy will wow your taste buds.
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Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Arts
This center displays modern art in an avant-garde building designed by Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid. The structure and its artworks are a pretty big deal for traditionalist Cincy.
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Music Hall
The acoustically pristine Music Hall is where the symphony orchestra, pops orchestra, opera and ballet hold their seasons. This is not the best neighborhood, so be cautious and park nearby.
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Severance Hall
The acclaimed Cleveland Symphony Orchestra holds its season (August to May) at Severance Hall, located by the University Circle museums. The orchestra's summer home is Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, about 22 miles south.
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Montgomery Inn at the Boathouse
Almost as renowned and addictive as Cincinnati chili are Montgomery Inn's barbecued ribs. There are a couple of outlets, but this riverside one is the best, taming carnivores with 13.5 tons of meat weekly.
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West Side Market
The European-style West Side Market overflows with greengrocers and their fruit and vegetable pyramids, as well as purveyors of Hungarian sausage, Mexican flat breads and Polish pierogies.
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Lolita
It's the lighter-fare sister of Lola (downtown). Munch on Iowa prosciutto, mussels and Neapolitan-style pizzas with cold local beer. Five-dollar food specials rock happy hour (5pm to 6:30pm, and after 9:30pm or so).
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Great Lakes Brewing Company
Great Lakes wins numerous prizes for its brewed-on-the-premises beers. Added historical bonus: Eliot Ness got into a shootout with criminals here; ask the bartender to show you the bullet holes.
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Procter & Gamble World Headquarters
- Cincinnati, USA
- Sights › Tower
East of Fountain Square is the postmodern Procter & Gamble world headquarters, often called the 'Dolly Parton Towers' due to its resemblance to the country singer's most prominent features.
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Sokolowski's University Inn
The portions are huge, enough to fuel the hungriest steelworker. It's cafeteria style, so grab a tray and fill it with plump pierogi, cabbage rolls and other rib-sticking Polish fare.
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Wexner Center for the Arts
North of downtown, the university area has many casual storefronts. The campus's Wexner Center for the Arts offers cutting-edge art exhibits, films and performances.
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Fountain Square
Fountain Square is the city's centerpiece, a public space with a seasonal ice rink, chess tables, concerts, a Reds ticket kiosk and the fancy old 'Spirit of the Waters' fountain.
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