Originally published in the Miniature Gazette, July/August 2025, pages 34–35. The version below contains live links for your convenience.
Connecting with Cincinnati
We are delighted to welcome you to Cincinnati! The 2025 NAME National Convention draws near, and this is the last article about our host city. Let’s get back to basics with where we are, traveling here, getting around, and information about the downtown area around the Westin hotel and Fountain Square.
✑ Mileage estimates, shown between tilde characters, are distances from the Westin-Cincinnati, our official convention hotel, located at 21 East Fifth Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202.
Grasping the Geography
The City of Cincinnati sits in the southwestern corner of Ohio, north of the muddy Ohio River. Kentucky lies across the river to the south and Indiana beckons to the west. Portions of all three states comprise our “Greater Cincinnati Metropolitan Area,” also called the Tri-State.
Our I-275 beltway passes through three states and crosses the Ohio River twice. Major highways through Cincinnati include I-75 and I-71 running north to south, I-471 heading south, I-74 heading west, and U.S. Highway 50 running east to west. It’s not unusual for commuters to live and work in different states. The good news is that rush hour is tame compared to other large American cities!
Driving into Cincinnati, especially from the north, you’ll view verdant vistas with rolling hills (unless it’s drought season). Perhaps you’ll perceive it becoming even greener and hillier the closer you get. Experts say that’s because Ice Age glaciers stopped here. Back in the 1880s, it was charmingly proclaimed that Cincinnati was built on seven hills that “surround the city like a crescent”; in reality, we have more than seven hills!
Speaking of verdant vistas, we take green space seriously and have a lot of it! If you’re craving a nature walk, notable parks in the city include Burnet Woods, Smale Riverfront Park, and Eden Park with the Art Museum and Krohn Conservatory nearby. <cincinnati-oh.gov/cincyparks/visit-a-park/find-a-parkfacility>.
Traversing the Terrain, aka Transportation
Coming to Cincinnati via Air
When you fly into the Cincinnati / Northern Kentucky International Airport, you might raise a brow that it is located in Hebron, on the Kentucky side of the river—the airport’s “CVG” code stands for Covington. ~13 mi~ 3087 Terminal Drive, Hebron, KY 41048 <cvgairport.com>
Coming to Cincinnati via Rail
Amtrak’s Cardinal, an intercity passenger train, makes three weekly trips in each direction between Chicago and New York City, passing through Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Washington D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia and other points in-between. Our station is the Art Deco Cincinnati Union Terminal. ~2 mi~ 1301 Western Avenue Cincinnati, OH 45203 TICKETING: <amtrak.com/home.html> SCHEDULE: <content.amtrak.com/content/timetable/Cardinal.pdf>
Getting Around by Bus
Regional transit authorities serving the area include the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) that runs METRO buses and the Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK). Government Square is the main transit station, located near Fountain Square. <go-metro.com> and <tankbus.org>
Getting Around by Streetcar
Free to ride and handicap accessible, the Connector is an electric-powered streetcar that operates along a 3.6-mile loop around the Central Business District. As Fountain Square is stop #18 on Walnut Street, just east of the Westin, you might like to take it to see Music Hall and Findlay Market. It operates daily every 15 minutes: M–F 7:30a – 11:30p, Sat 8:30a – 11:30p, Sun 9:30a – 9:30p. <cincinnati-oh.gov/streetcar> View a route map with retail shops: <cincinnati-oh.gov/sites/streetcar/assets/Maps/streetcar_map_2023.pdf> Or see a simplified route map: <assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/v1/clients/cincy/streetcar_map_hotels_2022updated_f44b90c6-c482-4052-b15d-da37f982d1a6.pdf>.
Getting Around by Trolley
Also called the Southbank Shuttle, the Trolley is operated by the Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK). It serves the cities of Bellevue, Newport, and Covington in Kentucky and travels to Downtown Cincinnati, so it can take you to Newport Aquarium and BB Riverboats. It has a stop at Fountain Square, runs every fifteen minutes, and costs $2 per ride. From April through October it runs on weekdays from 6a – 11p and on weekends from 10a – 11p. <tankbus.org/bus_routes/southbank-shuttle> or <tankbus.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/SBS-Map-Pad-Front-FInal-2022.pdf>
Getting Around by Taxi Cab, Lyft, & Uber
You’ll have to do your homework to determine the best ride for you. We have the typical assortment of taxis, Uber, and Lyft.
• Cincinnati Taxi Hub – 513-969-7308
• Moe’s Airport Taxi – Call or text 513-332-2862 <cincinnatitaxi.net>
• Yellow Taxi Cincinnati – 513-549-2469 <cincinnati-taxi.com>
• Lyft – Download the rider app <lyft.com/ride-with-lyft>
• Uber – Download the rider app <uber.com/global/en/ride/app>
• GoGoGrandparent – Membership required. 1-855-955-2318
<gogograndparent.com>
Parking
The Westin-Cincinnati offers valet ($48.00 daily) and/or self-park ($21.00 daily) in the garage under the building. Valet includes in and out privileges; self-parking does not. 21 East Fifth Street 45202
Close, off-site parking is available at the Fountain Square South Garage (416 Vine Street 45202) and the Fountain Square North Garage (520 Vine Street 45202). Rates vary.
The Fountain District website provides more parking options. <www.thefountaindistrict.com/parking>
On-street parking in the Central Business District and Over-the-Rhine (OTR) is enforced from 9a to 9p Monday through Saturday and from 2p to 9p Sunday. The first 10 minutes of parking are free.
Interactive maps of parking facilities will help orient you: <bestparking.com/cincinnati-oh-parking> or <en.parkopedia.com/parking/underground/the_westin_cincinnati/45202/cincinnati>
Exploring the Environs
Happenings on Fountain Square itself will keep you fed and entertained, and our lovely lady with her ever-flowing hands will help keep you cool! A daily Fountain Bar opens at 11a, plus offers Happy Hour every evening from 4–6p <myfountainsquare.com/bar/>; fan-favorite food trucks rustle up lunch from 11a – 1:30p <streetfoodfinder.com/FountainSquare>; and free live music starts at 6p: Tues Jazz, Wed Blues, Thurs Salsa, Fri Dueling Pianos, Sat Rock, and more <myfountainsquare.com/events/>. Events are rain or shine, but in case of severe weather, check cancellations on FB <www.facebook.com/MyFountainSquare/>.
Myriad dining and shopping options are located within walking distance of the Westin and Fountain Square. Explore the Fountain District website <thefountaindistrict.com>:
MAP: <static1.squarespace.com/static/65f85001dfddd902977a9bbb/t/66e30e1866240f5a91a91b3e/1726156312991/FD_MAP.png>
EVENTS CALENDAR: <myfountainsquare.com/events/>
DINING: <www.thefountaindistrict.com/dining>
SHOPPING: <www.thefountaindistrict.com/retail-services>
THE ARTS: <www.thefountaindistrict.com/arts>
Colorful Cincinnati Colloquialisms
• “Big Mac Bridge” – Refers to the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge (I-471) because its color and shape remind us of McDonalds’ golden arches.
• “Cattywampas” – Means something is crooked or off-kilter.
• “Cheese Coney” – Others might call it a Chili Dog.
• “Cornhole” – The bean bag toss game that got its start in Cincinnati.
• “Cut-in-the-Hill” – What we call the steep I-75 / I-71 highway in Northern Kentucky, directly opposite Cincinnati.
• “Hoagie” – A sandwich on a bun, also known as a Sub or a Hero.
• “I’ll tell you what…” – How many of us like to start a sentence.
• “Please?” – Rather than saying “Excuse me” or “What,” we say this to ask you to repeat yourself. From the German “Bitte?”
• “Pony Keg” – A store that sells beer and other beverages.
• “Reading Road” – Rhymes with the color red. You’ll know who is NOT from here when they pronounce the name of this thoroughfare.
• “Split the Pot” – Everyone else calls it a 50/50 raffle.
• “The Beast” – The longest wooden roller coaster at Kings Island.
• “The Reds are in Town” – Not referring to the Brits. Means that the Cincinnati Reds baseball team is playing at home.
• “3-way, 4-way, or 5-way” – Ways to order toppings for Cincinnati Chili.
• “UDF” – Not a union. An initialism for locally-owned United Dairy Farmers chain of stores; we go there for ice cream, snacks, and gas.
• “Warsh” – Adding an ‘R’ to the pronunciation of “wash” is common in parts of the Tri-State.
• “Who Dey” – A phrase expressing support of the Bengals football team. “Who dey think gonna beat them Bengals?!”
• “You’re Fine” – Means “You’re okay.”
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Adapted from <wlwt.com/news/local-news/26613304#!bKcJiG> and <wlwt.com/article/part-ii-the-funny-things-cincinnatians-say/2492311#!bKcQCd>
On behalf of our entire 2025 NAME National Convention Committee and our local Miniature Society of Cincinnati club members, we look forward to seeing you soon! Safe journey!
PHOTO CREDIT:
Connector Streetcar from <cincinnati-oh.gov/streetcar>
Contact: Ingrid Farnam-Koblish,
The Miniature Society of Cincinnati,
cincyminis@gmail.com. ◆