Courtesy Cincinnati USA
Cincinnati, Ohio
The Ohio River is a huge force in Cincinnati and surrounding areas, and groups can explore the heritage of the river on a BB Riverboats paddle wheeler while enjoying lunch, dinner or a scenic sunset cruise.
“You learn the history of the Ohio River and get a great perspective of our city and Kentucky neighbors, Newport and Covington,” said Sherree Allgood, director of strategic communications at the Cincinnati USA Regional Tourism Network.
The area booms with riverside entertainment districts, including the Banks, a haven for restaurant-lovers in search of soul food, seafood and more.
“The Banks also features the Moerlain Logger Brewery, a place that captures the brewing and German history of our area,” said Allgood.
On the south bank of the Ohio River is Newport on the Levee, a multilevel retail center where movie theaters, bowling lanes and restaurants provide a variety of entertainment.
The center’s famed Newport Aquarium features more than 7,000 aquatic animals from around the world in a million gallons of water. Underwater tunnels, see-through floors and Mighty Mike, an 800 pound alligator, are stars of the show.
www.cincinnatiusa.com
Quad Cities, Illinois and Iowa
For an entertaining education about the Quad Cities and the Mississippi River, visit the River Music Experience in Davenport, Iowa, the place to have lunch, hear a live performance and have some personal time with one of the area’s best musicians.
“Ellis Kell, an accomplished blues musician, loves to spend time with groups,” said Jessica Waytenick, marketing and public relations manager for the Quad Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau. “He’s a genius about the music that comes from the Mississippi River.”
Have a meal or just relax and enjoy some sightseeing time aboard the Celebration Belle, the largest nongaming vessel on the Mississippi River. Themed cruises, from daylong journeys to big-band extravaganzas to fall foliage excursions, are also available.
Davenport’s Figge Art Museum exhibits work by notable artists such as Grant Wood and Frank Lloyd Wright, and its observation areas offer stunning views of the river that add to the experience.
“This huge building, all glass, is, in itself, the best place to enjoy the scenery,” said Waytenick.
www.visitquadcities.com
