10 Things to Do in Cincinnati on a Small Budget

Smale Riverfront Park is a beautiful green space right on the Ohio River, which separates Cincinnati from Northern Kentucky. Enjoy views of not only the river but the city behind you as well, in addition to the historic, architectural marvel that is the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge (which, if you’re so inclined, you can also walk across for free).

The park itself features plenty of unique spaces, including a carousel and adventure playground. You’re also right within walking distance of some of Cincinnati’s most notable landmarks, such as Paul Brown Stadium and the Great American Ball Park.

Mount Airy Forest, first officially recognised in 1911, is one of the earliest – some argue the first – urban reforestation projects in the United States. It’s the largest park in the Cincinnati parks system, at 1,500 acres.

What can you find across that expansive acreage? Expect hiking, horseback riding, gardens, a disc golf course, dog park and historic structures built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. An arboretum is also onsite, as well as a wheelchair-accessible treehouse.

Adult travellers and families will enjoy the Cincinnati Museum Center, which welcomes more than 1 million free visitors per year. The complex sits within Union Terminal, an Art Deco train station and national landmark.

The complex itself is comprised of the Cincinnati History Museum, the Cincinnati History Library and Archives, the Duke Energy Children’s Museum, the Museum of Natural History & Science and the Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX Theater. In total, you’ll find nearly 2 million artefacts across the complex. There’s almost something for everyone here.

Try a visit to the Spring Grove Arboretum if you enjoy a visit to a spooky spot during your trip in Cincinnati. Yes, you’ll enjoy a Gothic Revival-style arboretum and 733 acres of gardens, but you’ll also find a historic, 1800s cemetery set across the sprawling grounds as well.

The cemetery is the 3rd-largest in the United States and features breathtaking architecture in addition to a few notable burials. Visitors will find the graves of Civil War figures, founders of some of America’s most well-known brands (such as Procter & Gamble), politicians and more.

The Taft Museum of Art, named for former US president William Howard Taft, sits in the oldest domestic wooden structure in downtown Cincinnati. Once a residence for the city’s elite, it now holds an impressive collection of fine art.

Likely the most well-known artist on display is Rembrandt, but there are many other international works from the 1800s, as well as American paintings and Duncanson murals. Other galleries display Chinese porcelain, enamels, sculptures, furniture and even antique watches.

The free Contemporary Arts Center in downtown Cincinnati is known for hosting an endlessly rotating range of exhibits. A non-collecting museum, it always has something new and boasts what it calls “the art of the last 5 minutes.” The striking exterior reveals a contemporary space within, holding not only paintings but also sculptures, architecture, photography, new media and performance art.

Featured art themes and subjects in the past have been quite controversial. One thing’s for sure: you’ll always find something at the Contemporary Arts Center to shock, amaze or awe.

The Cincinnati Art Museum is expansive, to say the least. With more than 67,000 works of art, you can find something from just about any period over the last 6,000 years of history. The types of art on display range from contemporary and decorative to textiles and musical instruments, African and East Asian art to photography and prints.

The museum itself is notable as it was the first purpose-built art museum west of the Alleghenies (founded in 1881) and it’s now home to one of the Midwest’s most expansive art collection.

The Rookwood Pottery Company in Cincinnati’s charming and culturally significant Over-the-Rhine neighbourhood has been churning out beautiful works of ceramic art since 1880. Now, the company boasts an 88,000-sq-ft production facility, where it creates some of the finest art pottery and architectural tiles in the country with a small team of just under 100 employees.

You can see the company’s process and how a piece goes from inception to market when you take the free Rookwood factory tour.

Fountain Square, founded in 1871 in Cincinnati’s Central Business District, is always bustling and filled with interesting events or attractions – and it has been since the city’s settlement. Originally the site of a Native American mound, the current site features a mammoth fountain that’s grown to be one of Cincinnati’s most recognisable features.

On any given day, you can find street performers, art displays, dining and shopping on the square. During the week, it becomes a hub of activity for businesspeople, as the square is surrounded by several major headquarters, including the headquarters for Macy’s Inc.

The William Howard Taft Home is a 2-storey Greek Revival house sitting atop a Cincinnati hill. The elegant and lavish 1838 home was the birthplace of 27th US president, William Howard Taft.

A visit will teach you not only about the Taft family and the son’s rise to political fame, but also about Cincinnati’s history and historic class divisions. Many of the house’s furnishings are original or from the period. A separate structure on the property acts as an education centre.