Dear Cincinnati
Dear Cincinnati,
I just want take my arms and wrap them around you. My lifelong friends came, saw, and conquered Cincinnati for the first time, and you couldn’t have made them feel more welcome.
Three couples, empty nesters, reunited in an unfamiliar city for three days. None particularly tech-savvy. All card-carrying homebodies. What could go wrong? Absolutely nothing. You were at your finest, Cincinnati, and deserve another jewel in that Queen City crown.
Of course, I was the unofficial tour guide, ready with suggestions but willing to let them steer the boat in the direction they wanted to go. We did some things together like dinner at Taft’s Ale House and brunch at Sleepy Bee Cafe. But I was so proud of what they were able to do and discover on their own. Sometimes together, other times as couples.
For perspective, Marsha and Rob stayed at an Airbnb in Over-the-Rhine. They walked the neighborhood in the evening and were amazed by the number of people out and about on a Wednesday night. Beth and Terry chose an Airbnb in Covington. They explored Mainstrasse and found the Southbank Shuttle was an easy way to get back and forth across the river. Gayle and Ron chose the AC Hotel by Marriott at the Banks. They loved the gorgeous views, and the proximity to Great American Ball Park. All three couples navigated the Cincinnati Bell Connector with no problem, mastered the Red Bike system, and couldn’t get over how convenient it is to walk, ride, or pedal around town. Your history, your parks, your restaurants, your beer! You knocked it out of the park, Cincinnati! Specifically, out of Great American Ball Park. A grand slam from our Cincinnati Reds on Thursday night was the icing on the cake! Even the Chicago Cubs fans in our group were impressed by the fireworks from the steamboat smokestacks. So affordable and so much fun! If I heard it once, I heard it a dozen times in three days. “Cincinnati is so amazing. I can’t believe we haven’t been here before.”
Three days was a whirlwind, but it doesn’t take long to realize why Cincinnati was named one of “52 Places to Go in 2018.” Don’t worry. My friends will be back. They’ve only touched the tip of the iceberg. For now, there are new memories and shared experiences centered around a town called Porkopolis that has grown into a world-class city. Until next time, keep shining, Cincinnati!
Proudly,
Barb Cooper