essentials

Essentials Clip-clop through downtown on a horse-drawn carriage ride offered by one of the companies stationed near Fountain Square (Fifth and Vine sts.), Cincinnati's entertainment hub where you'll find plenty of things to do. Don't forget to snap some photos of the iconic 1871 Tyler Davidson Fountain before or after your tour.

Pay a visit to the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal (1301 Western Ave.), home to three stellar museums and a state-of-the-art theater. Learn about the Queen City's past at the Cincinnati History Museum , stroll through prehistoric landscapes at the Museum of Natural History & Science , let the kids take charge at the The Children's Museum and become immersed in breathtaking films at the Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX Theater .

Meet all sorts of fascinating creatures—from Bengal tigers to horned puffins to dart frogs—in a beautiful garden setting at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden (3400 Vine St.). Be sure to check the schedule for the always-amusing shows and feedings, and if you happen to be visiting during the holiday season, don't miss the spectacular PNC Festival of Lights event.

See a Reds—the world's first pro baseball team—ballgame or go on Great American Ball Park Tours ' (100 Joe Nuxhall Way) guided behind-the-scenes tour of the Reds' 42,271-seat stadium.

Reflect on Cincinnati's role in the fight for freedom at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center (50 E. Freedom Way). Interactive exhibits, professional displays, special-effects films and a children's gallery portray the history of slavery in North America, focusing on the secret network followed by thousands of fugitive slaves seeking liberty.

Shop ‘til you drop, then linger over food or drinks in Mount Adams (just north of downtown), one of Cincinnati's most exclusive residential and business districts. Reminiscent of San Francisco, this hip, architecturally stunning hilltop community features narrow streets and an eclectic mix of places to eat, bars and specialty stores. Many restaurant decks afford panoramas of downtown, the Ohio River and parts of Kentucky.

Explore Eden Park (950 Eden Park Dr.), a lovely 186-acre green space linked to Mount Adams by the Art Deco-style Ida Street Viaduct. Walk or jog along worn paths and soak up views of the lakes, gardens, memorial tree groves and other landmarks; peruse 6,000 years' worth of captivating art and artifacts at the Cincinnati Art Museum (953 Eden Park Dr.); enter greenhouses filled with tropical and desert plants, orchids and bonsai at Krohn Conservatory (1501 Eden Park Dr.); or watch a modern American or European drama at Playhouse in the Park (962 Mt. Adams Cir.).

Get tickets to see a show at either the Aronoff Center for the Arts (650 Walnut St.) or Music Hall (1241 Elm St.)—stylistically different but equally lovely buildings. The pair houses many of the city's music, theater and dance companies.

Eyeball some world-class pieces at the Taft Museum of Art (316 Pike St.). Displayed in an 1820 Palladian mansion that's a work of art in itself, the museum's outstanding collection includes sculpture, Chinese porcelains, old masters paintings, European decorative arts, antique watches and more.

Brave The Beast and the Diamondback, two roller coasters guaranteed to make you scream, or perhaps the Banshee, the world’s longest inverted roller coaster. Kings Island in nearby Mason (6300 Kings Island Dr.) is a destination that thrills families not only with hair-raising rides but also with live stage shows, animatronic dinosaurs, a Peanuts-themed kiddie area, and a water park featuring slides, wave pools and tropical lagoons.