While I was staying in Long Island for two weeks at the beginning of July I made a quick trip over to Cincinnati for a few meetings. I was there for about 36 hours and decided to make the most of my time there… especially because this was my first solo trip without my little dog Fred. I love traveling with Fred, but for a whirlwind trip like this, being able to pop into various shops, not to mention go to my meetings without worrying about him, was definitely a little bonus to my mini-vacation.

I hopped a flight from LaGuardia over to Cincinnati and hit the ground running early. I arrived in town around 9:30am and was able to check into my hotel right by the Reds baseball stadium. After a quick outfit change to make sure I would be comfortable in the heat wave, I headed down to the waterfront for a nice view.

This bridge caught my eye and made me think of NY. No wonder it did, the same designer / architect, John A. Roeblin also did the Brooklyn Bridge! After getting a glimpse of my hometown state in Ohio, I started on a long day of walking through downtown and the OTR (Over-the-Rhine) district on a quest for views and snacks.

First up on my walk was the area of 13th & Vine. I found a few very cute little shops and managed to grab some gifts & low-waste essentials, all in the same block! If you’re in the area definitely check out Kismet & Simply Zero!

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After some shopping I was getting hungry so I continued up Vine street to the very edge of OTR to grab lunch at Essen Kitchen. I got both a breakfast sandwich and comfort box, and both were absolutely delicious. Don’t even get me started on the biscuits *swoon*. Check them out if you’re up in that area for some amazing vegan soul food.

After lunch I obviously needed some dessert so I went around the corner to check out Findlay Market. There are so many great options both within the market and in the adjoining streets, so if you’re hungry definitely take a stroll around and I’m sure you’ll find something to tempt you.

Since I was in the mood for some vegan friendly desserts, I got some treats from both Harmony Plant Fare & Like Mom’s Only Vegan. LMOV only sells desserts (and delicious ones at that), but Harmony is a full lunch and vegan deli counter so if you want to stay vegan within Findlay, check out this dynamic duo to keep your tastebuds happy.

After picking up my sweets I headed towards Washington Park to find a nice tree to sit under to take a break from the hot sun. On the way there I noticed a BUNCH of amazing murals all around downtown and OTR. Definitely keep a look out for some beautiful installations all over the city.

Once I got my fill of murals and hot streets, I made my way to Washington Park. Kids were playing in the spout fountains while I found a nice spot under some trees to relax for a few minutes and indulge in my cookie sandwich. From my shaded oasis I could see the famed Cincinnati Music Hall. Maybe next time I’m in town I’ll go catch a show.

At this point I had spent quite a few hours walking around in 90 degree heat & sun and sitting under a tree wasn’t cutting it, so I made my way over to the Coffee Emporium on my way back downtown for some very welcome iced tea & AC.

Upon reaching downtown I headed back to my hotel for a shower and to change for dinner. Dinner that evening and the following morning were all work-related meetings so I wasn’t able to explore much more. In light of that, I was glad that I made the most of my first day exploring downtown Cincinnati.

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After finishing up my meetings in the early afternoon, I made my way back down to the waterfront and sat in some of the amazing swings overlooking the Roebling bridge I had seen the day before. I took in the view and enjoyed the breeze for a while before heading back to the airport.

Overall I really enjoyed my whirlwind trip to Cincy. I saw some interesting art and architecture, had some delicious food, and met some really great people. I’ll be back in town occasionally in the future so if you have any suggestions on places to check out please drop them in the comment section below!

~ Happy Travels, V ~

All photos taken on first gen iPhone SE and edited on the Snapseed App.