How to get away without going away

The world is opening up, but many might be feeling some first-trip-in-a-year-and-a-half jitters. Even if you’re vaccinated and COVID-19 is no longer a concern, you might be balking at the price of plane tickets, especially when they double in a day. If you’re ready for an adventure, but not ready to venture that far off the path, there are multitudes of exciting things to do right here in Cincinnati. After a while, you might even forget that you are in the Queen City and slide into pure, travel bliss.

Stay here:

Check into the 21c Museum Hotel for a comfortable stay and art museum all in one. Located at 609 Walnut St., incredibly close to Great American Ball Park and Smale Riverfront Park, 21c is home to unexpected art (on the sidewalks and the elevators) and the popular Metropole restaurant.

Visit here:

Before the light is gone and after checking in, head to the Carew Tower Observation Deck. When you get to the top, take a deep breath and take in the view. Close your eyes, listen to the sounds of the city, and, suddenly, you are miles away without ever stepping foot on a plane.

Eat here:

Head back down to earth and grab a bite at Sotto, Cincinnati’s premier basement Italian restaurant. The goat cheese and honey grilled bread is a must try, and you can’t go wrong with any of its pasta options. Make sure to snatch a reservation beforehand, because Sotto books up quick.

Drink here:

If you and your partner need an after-dinner drink, the apothecary-themed Sundry and Vice is the perfect location for an intimate craft cocktail. Sundry and Vice offers a “unique take on pre-prohibition style cocktails and modern seasonal drinks,” Dean McHone, general manager, says.

End here:

You can finish the night with a walk across the John A. Roebling Bridge, the wondrous blue suspension structure that served as the prototype for the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City. The lit-up walk with the Ohio River swirling underneath is the storybook end to a true Cincinnati staycation.