Cincinnati

The Carew Tower served as the basis for the design of the later Empire State Building. During the mid- to late-1980s, a giant inflatable gorilla was attached to the upper floors! The 49th floor of Cincinnati's 2nd tallest building provides a breathtaking, inexpensive, and gorilla-less view of the city. Take a high-speed elevator to the 45th floor, then choose from walking up four flights of stairs or taking another elevator to the 48th floor and walking up one flight. The admission is collected once you reach the top.

The Cincinnati Observatory was the first professional observatory in America, and is now operated by volunteers. Hosts star gazing events, which, are remarkable considering light pollution has nearly surrounded the observatory.

The newly renovated Fountain Square holds the Tyler Davidson Fountain, newly added and renovated restaurants, an ice skating rink, a big screen video board, free Wi-Fi, and a hands-on water wall!

The John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world at 1,057 feet 322 m when the first pedestrians crossed on December 1, 1866 — a status it maintained until 1883. It served as the prototype for Roebling's design of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York. This bridge was featured in the movie Rain Man.

This sprawling cemetery dates back over 160 years, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2007. The unique layout, designed by Adolph Strauch, makes it feel less like a cemetery and more like a park that just happens to have people buried in it. The arboretum features many National Champion trees. To find the graves of the many famous people buried here, stop by the office on your way in for a free map.

Sawyer Point is one of Cincinnati's party parks, where in the summer radio stations throw free outdoor concerts. The park is also used to host the Tall Stacks festival. A popular place to laze about is the Serpentine Wall steps that lead into the Ohio River.

Mt. Echo is famous for its stellar view of downtown Cincinnati. The band Over-the-Rhine's "Ohio" album cover was shot from this park.

Ault Park is great for bikers, hikers and joggers. An annual 4th of July celebration is held there with music and fireworks. Ault Park also has great examples of natural glacial history throughout the park.

Eden Park home to the Cincinnati Art Museum, Playhouse in the Park, Murray Seasongood Pavilion, and the Irwin M. Krohn Conservatory.

The park is named in honor of Cincinnati's first African American mayor, Theodore M. Berry. This park features an International Plaza with ceremonial flags, an earth sculpture in the form of two interlocking hands, a pavilion to provide settings for communal gatherings, celebrations and events, Commissioned sculptures, a serpentine-shaped sitting wall, garden areas representative of the continents, and a bike trail.

Rainforest-under-glass. 5000 varieties of exotic tropical, desert and orchid plants. One of country's largest public greenhouses with beautiful seasonal floral shows.

Art Beyond Boundaries is a visual art gallery showcasing the work of local artists with disabilities. They also have showings at Pendelton Art Center's Final Friday.

The Cincinnati Art Museum is in the beautiful Eden Park, which perfectly reflects the artwork the museum houses. According to the Zagat Survey, The Cincinnati Art Museum ranks with The Art Institute of Chicago and The Museum of Modern Art in New York as the best art museums in the nation. The museum features special exhibitions and a terrific collection of art by Cincinnati artists including the worlds largest collection of Rookwood Pottery. The Damascus Room is a particular interesting artwork and should be seen by all of the museum's visitors.