Queen City has thrills, culture

At less than three hours away, Cincinnati -- the Queen City -- is the perfect destination of a summer road trip. It offers a plethora of museums, attractions, adventure and sports. \nIf you just want to relax in the Ohio River Valley, then Eden Park is for you. It covers more than 5,000 acres of the city and offers fishing, biking, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, golfing, camping and horseback riding. \nPerhaps you want to go to Cincinnati because of its rich historical value. William Henry Harrison, the ninth president of the United States, is entombed here, and a visit to his monument is free to the public. The house of Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of "Uncle Tom's Cabin," is also free to visit. \nFort Ancient, a 2,000-year-old park filled with Native American mounds, can be visited for a $5 fee. Not quite as old is the Roman Catholic Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, built in 1910. It is a small-scale Notre Dame cathedral in the middle of the city that features the world's largest stained glass window at 24 feet by 67 feet. A $2 donation is requested when visiting the Basilica.\nIf you like history but would rather find it in a museum, Cincinnati has no shortage of them either. The first is found at the Museum Center at Union Terminal (1-800-733-2077) and houses the Museum of Natural History and Science, the Cincinnati History Museum, the Cinergy Children's Museum, the OMNIMAX Theater and the Cincinnati Historical Society Library. The price of visiting all the attractions is $15.50. Cincinnati also is home to a medieval-style castle, the Loveland Castle Museum, which you can visit for only $2. \nThe National Railway Historical Society Library and Museum highlights the important history of the rails and is free to the public. The Cincinnati Art Museum, showing more than 100,000 works, is located in Eden Park. Admission is $4 for college students and free Saturday. The city also features a Contemporary Arts Center where admission is $2 for students and free Monday. \nCincinnati also offers plenty of performing art venues such as the Aronoff Center for the Arts. It is the city's premier place to see the Cincinnati Ballet, theater and Broadway shows. There is also the Children's Theatre of Cincinnati, with all tickets under $15. The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park offers 11 shows a year with tickets ranging from $34-42. The Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival, hosting works from classical theater in a contemporary style, is a bit cheaper, with tickets under $20. \nIf you prefer music, then the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra is for you -- however, their new season will not begin until September. The Cincinnati Opera, being the second-oldest opera company in the country, does have a summer season. The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra also performs this time of year with a free summer concert series in various parks. The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra performs this summer at Riverbend Music Center. \nWhile not all sports teams have summer seasons, Cincinnati is home to quite a few, including the country's oldest professional baseball team, the Cincinnati Reds. Tickets to see the Reds play can be as cheap as $5. The city also is home to the NFL's Bengals, hockey teams The Cyclones and The Mighty Ducks, the arena football's Cincinnati Swarm and a professional soccer team, The Riverhawks. \nThe most well-known Cincinnati attraction is Paramount's King's Island, with more than 300 rides and attractions and a 30-acre water park, all for $42. \nThere are also numerous attractions in Cincinnati such as The Beach Water Park located near King's Island that features the Midwest's only water coaster. Admission is $25. The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens is located in 70-acres and houses 700 animal species and 3,000 types of plants. It can be visited for $11.50. The Newport Aquarium also exhibits more then 11,000 species and features glass walls and floors for $16. Coney Island in Cincinnati features water slides, miniature golf, live shows and festivals, all for $12.50. \nCincinnati offers numerous things to please everyone. Whether you want to make a day or a weekend of it, the Queen City is your place to visit. Information on her attractions can be found at www.cincyusa.com, www.ohiocities.com or www.cincinnati.com.