Cincinnati Natural History and Science Museum

The Cincinnati Museum Center houses four quality museums including a natural history museum.

You can buy one pass that gets you into this museum, the Cincinnati History Museum and a children’s museum. Admission to the Holocaust museum and the IMAX experience are extra. We did the basic pass, opting to come back another day to explore the rest.

I was most excited for the Cincinnati history museum but, as it turns out, this one was my favorite of the two. They won me over at the front door with the Neil Armstrong Space Exploration Gallery. Using photos, some original artifacts, a few reproductions and a little technology, they do a good job telling this Ohio native’s story as the first person to walk on the moon.

Dinosaur Hall was a lot of fun and there was a jaw dropping long horn bison to appreciate as well. I had no idea such a beast ever existed. It was as big as a car!

Another highlight was going through a simulated cave and the joy of seeing a living bat up close. Lots of people find bats threatening or frightening but I think they’re neat little guys!

I learned that, in geologic terms, we are living in the Anthropocene Age. You know, it has never crossed my mind to wonder about this. I’m probably not alone in my failure to consider my place in the grand scheme of time. In case you’re wondering, Anthro means human and cene means recent. The name basically means the humans have left a lasting mark on the planet.

No kidding.

This is just one reason I enjoy museums so much. Sometimes they feature interesting or pretty things to enjoy and they often show you things you didn’t know existed. If you’re paying attention, a good museum will always give you something to think about and hopefully an idea to revisit another day.

There’s something for everyone here including some thought provoking stuff you might not expect to see. Learn more about the museum here and about the building that houses it here.

Details

Union Terminal in Cincinnati was designed with an attention to detail that simply isn’t found much in modern architecture.

There’s a lot to unpack in the above picture- the lights, the jaw dropping mosaic tile artwork, the ceiling, the marble and the font on the directional sign “to trains” are all worthy of our study.

The space is both grandiose and simplistic. Ornate and streamlined. That’s the thing about art deco style – they keep the lines clean but make a big statement!

It’s a showstopper, isn’t it? Come back tomorrow. We will visit one of the museums that lives in this building!

Sonesta Suites Of Blue Ash

When choosing a hotel, I have different preferences for different kinds of trips. If it’s a road trip where I’m rolling in late and out again early, cost, clean and convenient are the three C’s.

If it’s a longer trip and it’s possible to stay within walking distance of my activities, a downtown location is terrific. If looking for something quieter or will need the car a lot, I prefer to stay away from downtown city streets that can easily be congested and where parking costs add up quickly.

When we stayed in Cincinnati this last time, I wanted a convenient location in a quiet neighborhood with free parking. I have stayed in downtown a couple of times and that wasn’t the right setting this trip.

After a quick look at the area around Cincinnati proper, my eye wandered up the map to Blue Ash, a nice suburb with reasonable prices and convenient access to the highway. It was a 15 or 20 minute drive to our first destination each day but I didn’t mind since we had no reason to return to the room during the day and there were bookstores to visit on the way back both days.

We eventually chose to stay with Sonesta Suites. I don’t recall ever staying with this chain before but we couldn’t have been more pleased.

It’s set up like condos with a variety of room types. I had chosen a king suite so these two introverts could have a little space to stretch out. The suite was to have a living room and nice eat-in kitchen.

It was a full house when we checked in and we learned upon arrival that we had been upgraded to a deluxe suite. That meant we had a second bedroom and bathroom. Both were unneeded but it was fun to have!

It was all so light, airy and comfortably furnished, we hated to leave. Plus, we were able to park close so we could keep an eye on the car. Not that it mattered. The neighborhood seemed safe and it was so peaceful we awoke to the sound of chirping birds each day.

The eat-in kitchen has full sized appliances and is equipped well enough that I could have cooked a meal here. Of course, that didn’t happen but we did order food to enjoy here each evening.

You can tell they have taken some steps to cut costs and to reduce plastic waste. At breakfast they use big bowls of yogurt rather than disposable single serves. There are pitchers of cold drinks and a nice display of baked goods rather than prepackaged granola bars and bottled drinks. I liked that about them a lot. Plus, the hot food was decent too.

We won’t always have an upgraded room but I plan to make this hotel my go-to anytime I need a place to stay over there.

A quick look at their website confirmed that all Sonesta locations are not created equally but I will certainly consider them in future travels!

Skyline Chili

Skyline Chili has been a Cincinnati tradition since 1949 when Greek immigrant Nicholas Lambrinides opened his first diner location. His family continues to run the business that has grown into a successful chain, using their founder’s original recipes.

Before I proceed, it is fair to note that I don’t like the food all that well but lots of people do. So when we were in the market for a quick lunch between stops and there was a Skyline nearby, it seemed like a good opportunity to introduce my fella to this local tradition.

Neither of us are big meat eaters. He eats fish and some chicken. I identify somewhere between vegetarian and pescatarian but I’m rarely excited to eat seafood. Skyljne does have a few meatless options on their menu including a burrito and their traditional chili dishes made with beans rather than meat.

Skyline is famous for its Cincinnati chili which is chili served over spaghetti. Add cheese to make it a three way, beans or onions to make a four way, or all of those ingredients to have a five way.

You can also get a hot dog with chili, mustard, onions and a giant mound of chili. Since their chili is a combination of savory and sweet, it’s a little hard to describe other than to say it’s distinct. You know you’re eating Skyline.

Personally, I think the best thing they offer is their brand of oyster crackers and a I always want to ask if I can buy some for the road. Don’t ask. They’re simply better.

As an aside, Skyline has been in the news lately for a controversial decision. For 75 years, Skyline served Coca Cola products. They switched to Pepsi this year and people are losing their minds. I feel bad for their marketing department.

Skyline has about 160 locations around Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and, for some reason, Florida. If you come to Cincinnati, you’ll find plenty of it including at the pro sporting events. I’m not sure how you would define Skyline. Fast casual, I suppose because the food is made quickly like fast food but you seat yourself and wait for a server to take your order.

Visit their website to view their menu and to find a location!

The Ohio Book Store

It’s no secret that books are an important part of my life and that I often seek out bookstores when traveling. That’s why it was important to me to prioritize finally visiting the Ohio Book Store in downtown Cincinnati last month.

The Ohio Book Store was founded in 1940 and is five floors of used and out-of-print books. The proprietor will meet you at the door and ask if you’re looking for anything in particular to aid in your search. If you’re just browsing or are interested in multiple topics, he will give you a map to aid in your expedition.

When I inquired about nature books, he asked a few questions before taking me to my desired section in the basement. When my fella asked about history, the guy asked questions to drill down to a specific area of history before sending him off to the third floor with a map and some instructions.

Each floor features rows of tall metal shelves and some makeshift ones as well. Tall windows facing Main Street provide lovely atmospheric light and a chair here and there welcomes the shopper to stop for a rest or a read.

This place is packed to the ceiling with unusual books, old books, things you’ve never heard of, and things you never knew you needed to read. It is not the place to come for new releases or bestsellers but I think that’ makes it all the more charming.

Although, I will admit that it’s a little overwhelming at first! Note the massive collection of National Geographic’s pictured here. I went hoping to find the August 1949 edition that I’ve been searching for these last several years. They had a dozen copies for $5 each. They have a selection of other old magazines like Life and local papers too.

They even do book repair and binding. That’s a sentence I never thought I would get to type. People just don’t take care of things the way they used to so it was great fun to see that department in the basement.

I found a nice little stack of things that I knew I would never see again and left behind some stuff that I now regret.

Perhaps a return trip should be on the books!

Want to visit the Ohio Book Store? Find everything you need to know on their website!

Rookwood Ice Cream Parlor

Tucked in the corner of the Cincinnati Union Terminal Museum Center is a nondescript door that leads into something unexpectedly special.

Rookwood Ice Cream Parlor feels like an art deco time capsule. That’s because it’s decorated with Rookwood Pottery tile. This iconic handmade tile comes from the Cincinnati based pottery that was founded in 1880. It’s world renowned pottery that can often be found in fine public buildings, in many historic homes, and even the New York City Subway.

This space was originally a tea room and later a home for the USO when World War II troop trains rolled through the city. Now they serve ice cream treats to museum goers and Amtrak travelers.

My only regret is that we didn’t stay and order some ice cream. Another day.

Here’s a closer look at the tile.

Isn’t it fantastic?