Sleek Downtown Hotel Minutes from Popular Cincinnati Attractions

A 9-foot-tall statue of a woman stands on the top of Cincinnati's Tyler Davidson Fountain. Her arms are outstretched to her sides, and water sprays out of her hands from more than 400 small holes, as if she's lording over the 20 tons of bronze below her. She must share her H2O kingdom, though; it was built in 1871 to serve as a public drinking fountain and celebrate the gloriousness of water. It's since become an iconic landmark for Cincinnati, which grew up as a port city on the Ohio River.

Millennium Hotel Cincinnati resides just a few blocks from Fountain Square. The upscale hotel serves as a convenient base camp for visiting many downtown attractions, whether you want to stroll through the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden or take in a game at Great American Ball Park, home of the Cincinnati Reds.

Strings of twinkling lights suspend from the ceiling in the hotel's posh lobby, and they illuminate overstuffed leather sofas and glossy tiled floors. Up in the hotel's North Tower, there's a nice view of the city skyline from many of the superior rooms, some of which feature floor-to-ceiling windows. Each room exudes a sense of sophistication, with neutral hues and light wood furnishings, and all come equipped with wireless Internet access.

For a bite to eat, the Bistro on Elm serves gourmet entrees such as lobster with linguini and Yankee pot roast. A Cincinnati Reds pennant hanging above the bar adds a touch of local pride to the place, and all bartenders must stir drinks with baseball bats.

Downtown Cincinnati: Dynamic Riverside City Minutes from Historical Breweries and Victorian Architecture

Cincinnati is positioned in the southwest corner of the state near the Kentucky border and on the banks of the Ohio River. Cincinnati grew rapidly as a port city in the early 19th century, when it was crowded with steamboats and riverboats; today, it's still possible to ride an old-fashioned riverboat to scope out the city's skyline.

Though it's back on land, it can feel like you're walking underwater in certain parts of Newport Aquarium. Many of its exhibits have transparent floors and underground tunnels, which let you get an up-close view of tropical fish and sea creatures.

Further downtown, Fountain Square sits in the nucleus of Cincinnati's cultural attractions. Walk one direction and you'll find Cincinnati Museum Center, which is housed in a historical train station and features a popular exhibit on Pompeii, the ancient Italian city where many residents were preserved in volcanic ash. It's also worthwhile to visit one of many nearby chili parlors to try out the city's famous recipe, a sauce-like version that typically includes seasonings such as cinnamon and cloves.

Take a five-minute drive or cab ride north of downtown and you'll find Over-the-Rhine, a quiet enclave reminiscent of a charming European village. It's lined with Italianate buildings and several historical breweries, as well as Findlay Market, a public bazaar open year-round. Vendors here set up shop both outside and inside to sell fresh flowers and international foods.

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