The Tennis Traveler: Ten things to do in Cincinnati

The last 1000-level tournament until the fourth quarter of the season is taking Ohio by storm with the latest edition of the combined Cincinnati Open.

Inspired by the Buckeye State is this top-tiered travel itinerary from resident reporters Stephanie Livaudais, David Kane, Steve Tignor, Matt Fitzgerald and yours truly. With years of tennis travel under our belts in this notable Ohioan city, it was only fitting to expand the usual top fiver into a Top 10 list for Cincinnati. Without further ado…

1. Graeter’s Ice Cream

Four generations of the Graeter family have been satisfying sweet tooths of all ages, since the very first ice cream cart in Cincinnati to their multi-state franchise today. Try the Key Lime Pie, which is August’s flavor of the month, or our personal favorites Butter Brickle and Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip.

2. Shake It Records

On the market for vinyl? Shake It Records Label is nearly 50 years old, and going strong to this day with a collection of over 25,000 titles on vinyl and 15,000 CDs. A wide collection of DVDs, books, and related artist finds are also available. Step inside for a funky blast from the past, and stay for a groovy time.

3. Lucky Cat Museum

Instead of flying a day’s worth of time over to Japan for a bit of luck, visit the Lucky Cat Museum in Cincinnati and be greeted by over 2,000 figurines. Open Tuesday through Saturday, the collection presents many variations of the mythical beliefs, like accumulation of wealth and attraction.

4. Mushroom House

Have the Smurfs inspired mushroom-living, or is this coincidence at its finest? In the Hyde Park neighborhood, an architecturally structured mushroom house was once a one-bedroom home to architecture professor Terry Brown. His passing in 2008 marked the home a cherished landmark in the city for the world to see.

5. Skyline Chili 3-Way

Cincinnati chili is a must-try Buckeye dish when taking residence in the city. If you’re going to do it right, it has to be the Skyline way. Skyline Chili opened its doors in 1949 and soon become the destination spot for Cincinnati chili. Make sure to try their Cheese Coneys and 3-Ways for a true experience into Cincinnati cuisine.

6. Cincinnati Union Terminal

This building is an award-winning site as it displays surrounding museum attractions as well as limited-time exhibitions and events. The Cincinnati Museum Center educates visitors on science and history, with art scaling the train station from front to back.

7. Mita’s

James Beard nominee Jose Salazar opened Mita’s as a celebration of Latin cuisine through relaxed, upscale dining. Open six days a week, this restaurant has everything from tapas to family style plates, to a Spanish wine program and private dining options. Salazar has two other restaurants in Cincinnati, including an NYC-inspired deli and a Moroccan Wine Bar.

8. Urbana Cafe

For over a decade, Urbana Café prides itself on quality coffee through sustainable means. There are six shops throughout Cincinnati, all of which offer a variety of coffee subscriptions, signature blends and brewing tips and tricks. Like what you taste? Keep an eye out for Urbana coffee in grocery stores and specialty markets as they also sell wholesale to retailers.

9. Cincinnati Art Museum

This museum comes as a highly regarded experience from our staff. Standing as one of the oldest art institutions in the country, the museum has over 73,000 works of art spanning 6,000 years of humankind. This is also the final week of the “From Shanghai to Ohio: Woo Chong Yung” exhibition, so make sure to time your visit before August 18.

10. Great American Ball Park

One of Major League Baseball’s most fan-friendly stadiums sits in the heart of Cincinnati. Wear red and cheer on the color, enjoy the designated Family Zone, and even go as far as to host an event. Perhaps one can enjoy the best of both worlds with a day session of tennis before taking in America's pastime under the lights.