Ask a local what’s best about Cincinnati and they may mention their beloved baseball heroes, authentic Cincinnati chili, or goetta sausage in the bustling Over-the-Rhine (OTR) district. Or, they could suggest you delve into the city’s past along the Brewing Heritage Trail, or on one of the iconic steamer riverboats that cruise up and down the Ohio River, which runs through the city’s center.

History is also on display in Cincinnati’s thriving art and design scene. The Cincinnati Art Museum, which holds tens of thousands of artworks, dates back to 1886. The Taft Museum of Art, housed in one of the city’s oldest wooden residences, opened in 1820 and remains a National Historic Landmark. The Contemporary Art Center has supported numerous world-renowned artists early in their careers, and also offers a genre-spanning performing arts program. Walk around downtown Cincinnati and you’ll notice numerous examples of Art Deco architecture, with buildings like Union Terminal and Carew Tower defining the skyline.

Cincinnati is also home to several parks and botanical gardens, and you can head outside the city for a hike at one of the many state parks and nature reserves in the surrounding area.

Cincinnati experiences all four seasons with gusto. Summer brings high temperatures — and football and baseball seasons that are in full swing. Dining outside is the norm at this time of year, and the river is teeming with activity. Vacation rentals in Cincinnati are popular in the fall because of the wealth of festivals in the city, including Oktoberfest Zinzinnati at Findlay Market and the city’s many incarnations of Fall Fest with events that pop up all over town. Come in the winter and you’ll find very cold temperatures, snow, and Fountain Square turned into an ice rink. Spring brings a return to warmer temperatures, the annual beer festival, and the city’s biggest and most famous event — the opening of the baseball season.

Markets

Markets are institutions in Cincinnati, and you can pick up handmade goods and vintage wares at various locations around town. The 30-year-old Peddler’s flea market is open daily and extends both indoors and outdoors with more than 300 stalls of bric-a-brac and second-hand treasures. Findlay Market, which dates back to the 19th century, is a collection of farm stalls selling fresh produce, homemade cakes, craft beers and spirits, and artisan foods and flowers.

Mt. Airy Forest

Around a 20-minute drive north of downtown, this pocket of wilderness and its network of short trails are easily accessible. Keep an eye out for mountain bikers and horseback riders as you explore almost 1,500 acres of park — Cincinnati’s largest — then settle down for a picnic surrounded by magnolias and lilacs. You can even fire up one of the on-site grills.

Cincinnati Museum Center

Housed inside the imposing Art Deco train station Union Terminal, which is a sight to behold in itself, the Cincinnati Museum Center takes the concept of museum-hopping to a new level. Explore the interactive, scaled-down town at the Children’s Museum, get a taste of the past at a recreated 19th-century exhibit at the History Museum, and launch an intergalactic experience in the Neil Armstrong Space Exploration Gallery at the Museum of National History and Science, all just steps from one another.