Cincinnati Sights

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Carew Tower, Cincinnati's tallest building.

• Carew Tower & Observation Deck, 441 Vine Street (Downtown), ☎ +1-513-579-9735, www.cincinnati.com/visitorsguide/stories/022701_carewtower.html. M-Sa 10AM-5:30PM, Su 11AM-5PM. The Carew Tower served as the basis for the design of the later Empire State Building. During the mid- to late-1980s, a giant inflatable gorilla was attached to the upper floors! The 49th floor of Cincinnati's tallest building provides a breathtaking, inexpensive, and gorilla-less view of the city. Take a high-speed elevator to the 45th floor, then choose from walking up four flights of stairs or taking another elevator to the 48th floor and walking up one flight. The admission is collected once you reach the top. Adults $2.00, Children $1.00. (39.0603,)

• Cincinnati Observatory Center, 3489 Observatory Place (Mount Lookout,), ☎ +1-513-321-5186., www.cincinnatiobservatory.org. The Cincinnati Observatory was the first professional observatory in America, and is now operated by volunteers. Hosts star gazing events, which, are remarkable considering light pollution has nearly surrounded the observatory.

• Fountain Square, Fifth and Vine Streets (Downtown; sandwiched between the Westin Hotel, Macy's, Carew Tower, and the Fifth Third building), www.myfountainsquare.com. The newly renovated Fountain Square holds the Tyler Davidson Fountain, newly added and renovated restaurants, an ice skating rink, a big screen video board, free Wi-Fi, and a hands-on water wall! (39.0605,)

• John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge, (Riverfront), www.cincinnati-transit.net/suspension.html. The John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world at 1,057 feet (322 m) when the first pedestrians crossed on December 1, 1866 — a status it maintained until 1883. It served as the prototype for Roebling's design of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York. This bridge was featured in the movie Rain Man.

• Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum, 4521 Spring Grove Avenue, www.springgrove.org. This sprawling cemetery dates back over 160 years, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2007. The unique layout, designed by Adolph Strauch, makes it feel less like a cemetery and more like a park that just happens to have people buried in it. The arboretum features many National Champion trees. To find the graves of the many famous people buried here, stop by the office on your way in for a free map.

• www.cincinnati.com/visitorsguide/stories/022701_carewtower.html
• www.cincinnatiobservatory.org
• www.myfountainsquare.com
• www.cincinnati-transit.net/suspension.html
• www.springgrove.org