Cincinnati, OH
3
Perhaps the greatest thing about Cincinnati, is it's proximity to some of the greatest events and tradition in American culture. Cincinnati is within two hours of the Indianapolis 500, The Brickyard 400, The Kentucky Derby, The Dayton Air Show, The Maddison Regatta, Buckeye Football, UK Basketball. Cincinnati has great baseball, constant summer festivals thanks to strong German heritage, and the WEBN Fireworks Labor Day Weekend. When you move away from Cincinnati you miss the river the most, and the lights of the city dancing off the water on a hot summer night while drinking a Margarita from Don Pablo's patio, a Beer from The Boathouse, or strolling along Newport's reinvigorated waterfront.
Bob Hope best said it years ago, If there's ever a Nuclear War, go to Cincinnati, they're 5 years behind the rest of the country. The conservatism and resistance to change will drive you mad at times, most notably being the WORST road, and road improvement planners in the country. If you travel, you see the other cities doing things much better. From the cut in the hill, the 22nd worst bottleneck in the country, where 75/71 splits at the end of the bridge, creating chaos every morning, from confused drivers to semi's doing 35 in the fast lane. As others have commented Cincy drivers rate only ahead of Canadians for the worst drivers. Dyslexia reigns, you do have to pass on the right, because they all drive down the left lane I pay my taxes I'll drive where I want. There are countless 2-lane paved over cowpaths that should have been 5 or 6 lanes 10-15 years ago, yet they're stil quabbling with the locals that would rather waste 1/2 hr. in traffic, then lose 20 ft. of yard or deal with more traffic flow.
In Cincinnati, when they ask what school you went to, they're talking about HIGH SCHOOL, which is pathetic, and after 25 years here, still can't believe it. They put way too much weight into high school football, and not enough into college.
If you're a New Englander, you'll like Hyde Park, Mt. Lookout, Mt. Adams more, if you're a Southerner, you'll like Northern KY more. Much friendlier and down to earth.
When visiting Cincinnati, best ribs, Montgomery Inn, best burger/chili- Zips in Mt. Lookout, Ice Cream- UDF Chocoloate Chip, and anything Graeter's
Best Views-Devou Park in Park Hills, KY, Celestial-Mt. Adams- Mt. Echo, Eden Park. Loveland Bike Trail is great for exercise.
There's better places to be, and far worse.