Downtown Tour we wrote - let us know what you think
Boundaries: 5th and Freedom Way Street, Elm St. and Walnut.
Parking: Parking Garage at Fountain Square
Public Transit: City Center
Cincinnati Riverfront has always been important to the city and has changed drastically over the last 100 years. From a place for riverboats and business, to parking lots and sports stadiums, the Riverfront has always been crucial to the townâs prosperity. In 1996 the City of Cincinnati began to engage a plan of urban redesign along this area, and the development became known as âthe Banksâ. With both the Cincinnati Reds and Cincinnati Bengals wanting new stadiums, the city decided to completely redevelop the way the city used the Riverfront property and included in its plans mixed-use residential. At the time, the idea was perceived as far-fetched and unlikely to happen by many around Cincinnati. But in 2011, all available apartments were sold out and much of the space reserved for retail and restaurants will be fully leased by 2012. This development changes the way both locals and tourists will enjoy the city. No longer will it be necessary to have a meal in Newport or Covington before a professional football or baseball game.Â
l      Turn Right off of Fountain Square and head west. The large building on the southwest corner is Carew Tower.
l    Carew Tower, completed in 1930 after 13 months of labor, was largest building in Cincinnati until the completion of the Great American Insurance Building in 2011. Although it is not the tallest building, it sits at a higher elevation than the Great American Insurance Building. The building is considered a great example of French Art Deco and is the model for the Empire State Building. Consider taking the elevator to the 49th floor to visit the observation deck. Also worth a visit is the Orchids restaurant inside the Hilton, the hotel attached to the tower. If you are looking for something sweet, consider Abby Girl Cupcakes.
l       Head South on Vine St. and stop at Fourth St. At the SW Corner of Fourth and Vine is another iconic building, the PNC Building, which at one time was the Central Trust building. Like the Carew Tower, this building also inspired a building in New York--the Woolworth building. When it was completed in 1913, it was the second tallest building outside of New York in the world.
l   The large building at the north east corner of Vine and Fourth street is the Ingles Building. The Ingles building is the first concrete reinforced concrete skyscraper of its time. When constructed, many builders were critical, believing that the building would collapse under its own weight. In fact, when it was first built, legend says that reporters gathered and spent the night there over three nights to be the first to report that the building had collapsed
l   Go about 100 feet and head left on Odgen Place. Youâve walked about 2 blocks, and it is time for a beer in Cincinnatiâs beloved OâMalleys in the Alley.  In fact, you should drink two because you found it. While popular, many people have a difficult time finding this pub. Inside you will find mostly locals getting a beer after work or workers from the service industry. Either way, the environment is warm and friendly, and you are likely to overhear patrons discussing city politics while watching the Reds play.
l   Continue west and turn left on Race. Take the first right on Third street and stop when you get to Head First Sports Cafe. Aside from having great drink prices before and after all Reds and Bengals Games, Head First Sports Cafe was featured in George Clooneyâs Golden Globe nominated movie Ides of March. Ryan Gosling and Paul Giamatti meet for the critical moment that is the catalyst for much of the drama in the movie. After getting a photograph inside, turn around and head back to Elm St. Turn south and then turn east on Second St and travel for two blocks. Turn South on Vine St (it changes names to Rosa Parks St). After a block, turn east on Freedom Way.
l   The large museum midway on the block is the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Built near the same time as both the Paul Brown Stadium and Great American Ballpark were completed, the Freedom Center was one of the first buildings in a 20 year redevelopment plan along Cincinnatiâs Riverfront. More than a look at history, the museum exhibits serve as a call to action to help fight against modern day slavery and to encourage the protection of civil rights for both the national and international communities.
l    Look south and you will see the Roebling Bridge. When completed in 1868, it was the worldâs longest bridge.  Roebling would go on to build the Brooklyn Bridge in New York, using this as the model.
l      Head east on Freedom Way. The large structures to your left and right are part of the mixed residential properties that have brought the new lift into the riverfront project known as the Banks. Over 16 years in the works, the Banks project has encompassed highway redevelopment, two major sports stadiums, and the Freedom Center Museum. But it is the addition of restaurants, the Cincinnati Reds Museum, and apartments that have brought this project to life. Over the next decade the Banks is considered the place to be in Cincinnati.  To the south on Joe Nuxall Way is the most anticipated restaurant, the Christian Moerlein Lager House. Owner Greg Hardman believes that Lager Houseâs restaurant will not be a great place for food and beer but also help rebuild the Cincinnati Beer Business because of its visibility to so many people going to Reds and Bengals games.Â
l     Head east on Joe Nuxall Way towards Second St. The second most popular restaurant here is the Toby Keithâs I Love this Bar. This is also worth a quick look, if you havenât seen one in another town.Â
l      Continue north on Main St. for two blocks, turn west on Fourth St, and stop at Walnut. Daniel Burnham, famed architect and planner for the 1803 Worldâs Columbian Exposition and much of Chicagoâs city planning, built and designed several buildings in Cincinnati. At the north west corner of Fourth and Walnut, the Union Savings Bank & Trust Co, at the South East corner of Fourth and Walnut the First National Bank Building, the First National Bank Building at the forth and Walnutâs South East Corner, and the South East corner of Fifth and Walnut the Traction Building.Â
l    Head north to Fifth St. and turn east to finish at Fountain Square.
Fountain Square 520 Vine St, 513-763-8036, www.myfountainsquare.com
Carew Tower Observation Deck, 441 Vine St. 513-579-9735
Omni Netherland Plaza at Carew Tower 35 West Fifth St. 513-421-9100, www.cincinnatihilton.com
OâMalleyâs in the Alley 25 Ogden Place, 513-381-3114
Head First Sports CafĂŠ, 218 West 3rd St., 513-721-3767 www.headfirstsportscafe.com
Paul Brown Stadium, 6 Paul Brown Stadium, 513-455-4999, www.bengals.com
National Underground Freedom Center, 50 East Freedom Way 513-333-7606
Christian Moerlein Lager House, 115 Joe Nuxall Way, 513-421-2337, www.moerlienlagerhouse.com
Toby Keithâs I Love this Bar, 145 Second St., 513-721-8629 www.countrybaroh.com
Holy Grail Restaurant, 161 Joe Nuxhall Way, 513-621-2222, www.holygrailcincy.com
Cincinnati Reds Baseball Hall of Fame Museum/Great American Ball Park, 100 Joe Nuxall Way, 513-381- 7337 cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/cin/hof/index.jsp
Route Summary (5 to 25 words per line)
1.    Start at 520 Vine St (Fountain Square)
2.    Head south toward E 5th St
3.    Turn right on to E 5th St
4.    Turn left onto Vine St.
5.    Head north on Vine St turn right onto Ogden Pl
6.    Go west on Ogden and turn left onto Race St
7.    At 3rd ,head west at Head First Saloon and then backtrack east, travel a block
8.    Turn right on Elm and travel south to 2nd St
9.    Turn left and travel west about a block until you get to Vine St (aka Rosa Parks)
10. Turn right and go South to E Freedom Way
11. Turn left on Joe Nuxhall Way and continue on Main St for three blocks
12. Turn left on E. 4th St and travel one block.
13. Turn Right onto Walnut St.
14. Turn left onto E. 5th St. end at Fountain Square.
Instead of ending your walk, begin at the intersection of Walnut and 5th St. and start the Lytle Park Tour.
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