By David H. Ray
Among my greatest childhood memories are trips with my dad to attend the North American Christian Convention in cities across the nation.
I confess, in the earliest years, my excitement was not so much about the convention as in getting to go to places I”d never been before. Though we took in most of the convention, Dad always allowed a little time to see the city, too.
The NACC has always been more than just a convention. For many, it becomes a part of a family vacation. So I”m excited to invite you not only to this summer”s convention, but to come see Cincinnati, too!
Top Attractions
Cincinnati is conveniently located within 500 miles of 60 percent of the U.S. population and is accessible via three interstate highways. If you come by air, there are nearly 500 daily, nonstop flights between Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport and 120 cities; the airport is served by 10 airlines. After landing, it”s only a 15-minute drive to downtown.
Between the airport and the city, just off I-275 in Northern Kentucky, you”ll pass the exit to the new Answers in Genesis Creation Museum. This one-of-a-kind, 65,000-square-foot, high-tech museum includes more than 160 exhibits, animatronic displays of giant dinosaurs, educational video presentations, a planetarium, special effects theater, and even a walk through the Garden of Eden, allowing you to experience the biblical story of creation.
A variety of other area attractions will interest family members too. Kings Island, rated the No. 1 seasonal theme park in the country, is located northeast of the city, and features the world”s tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster and an Australian-themed water park. Right next door is the new Great Wolf Lodge, with 401 rooms and an expansive indoor water playground. Or you can get wet on 49 rides at The Beach Waterpark, or go for a swim in the world”s largest recirculating pool at historic Coney Island, alongside the banks of the Ohio River on the city”s southeast side. Riverbend Music Center, an outdoor concert venue seating more than 10,000, is located nearby; boats often drop anchor to listen to evening concerts there.
The top family attraction in the city is the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, home to some of the world”s wildest animals, jungle trails, and a seasonal zoo baby exhibit that delights all ages. The Newport Aquarium, just across the river from Cincinnati””and part of the larger Newport on the Levee entertainment complex””has 200 feet of underwater, see-through, acrylic tunnels where you can get “up close and personal” with a variety of sea creatures. They”ll even let you pet a shark. The zoo and aquarium, in a recent national survey, were rated among the top 25 attractions in the United States.
Cincinnati is on the northern bank of the Ohio River. On the opposite shore, historic Kentucky communities like Newport and Covington extend the city”s center. A convenient Southbank Shuttle connects downtown Cincinnati with Northern Kentucky. To enjoy the riverfront on foot, Sawyer Point, with its mile-long, park-filled green space, is great to check out. Or if you”d like to walk across the river, take the Purple People Bridge, a pedestrian-only connector between downtown Cincinnati and Newport.
Sports and Arts
Sports fans know that Cincinnati is home to the Reds, the first professional baseball team, originating as the Cincinnati Red Stockings in 1869. Playing in the new Great American Ball Park on the riverfront since 2003, the Reds have home series with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Washington Nationals scheduled during this summer”s convention. A hot dog, ball game, and stellar view of the river await you. The new Reds Hall of Fame and Museum adjoins the stadium, and provides a great glimpse into baseball history. If you like minor league baseball, the Florence Freedom play in Northern Kentucky, just minutes from downtown, and have home games during convention week, too. If football”s your thing, you might check out Paul Brown Stadium, home of the NFL”s Cincinnati Bengals since 2000.
Cincinnati is rich in the Arts. Music Hall, located in the city”s historic Over-the-Rhine district, opened in 1878 and still serves as the elegant concert setting for the internationally acclaimed Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Just a few blocks from the convention center is the Aronoff Center for the Arts, which has three theaters and hosts a variety of world-class performances, including those of the renowned Cincinnati Ballet. Tony Award-winning Playhouse in the Park is located above the city on scenic Mount Adams. Nearby Eden Park holds the glass-enclosed Krohn Conservatory, with more than 5,000 varieties of exotic tropical and desert plants, including orchids. The heralded Cincinnati Art Museum is also in this area.
A Vibrant Downtown
Other downtown attractions include the new Contemporary Arts Center, Taft Museum, U.S. Bank Arena, and historic Fountain Square. Recently having undergone a multimillion-dollar renovation, the square””located in the heart of the city””is a spacious gathering place for all sorts of city events. It features the Tyler Davidson Fountain, crafted in Bavaria and presented to Cincinnati in 1871. The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, located along the city”s riverfront, is a world-class Smithsonian affiliate that chronicles the key role Cincinnati played in the nation”s Abolitionist movement. Cincinnati was the home of Harriet Beecher Stowe, and the characters in her famous book, Uncle Tom”s Cabin, were based on escaped slaves she met in the area.
If you love to shop, Saks Fifth Avenue and Macy”s (which is headquartered in Cincinnati) are just a few steps from the convention center. And everything from fine dining to fast food is nearby, too. Tower Place Mall, just over two blocks away, features three levels of eating and shopping pleasure. Before you leave the building, though, be sure to take the elevator up to the 49th-floor observation deck for a panoramic view of the city from Cincinnati“s tallest landmark, Carew Tower, built in 1930.
Just north of the convention center is historic Findlay Market, famous for its fresh produce and meats, It has been in continuous operation since 1852, and its vintage vendors still draw customers from throughout Greater Cincinnati. Northwest of downtown is Union Terminal, a magnificent, art deco-style building dedicated in 1933 as a railroad transportation center for the city. It now holds the Cincinnati Museum Center which includes three great museums: one a great hands-on experience for children, and two others that take you back to Cincinnati”s past and on a sweep through natural history. The center also boasts a great rotunda, with a grand mosaic, and a five-story Omnimax theater.
Lifelong Memories
Greater Cincinnati is also famous to our fellowship of churches, being the home of Standard Publishing, which has served the Christian community for more than 135 years. Its prominent publication, Christian Standard, dates back to 1866. The city also holds Cincinnati Christian University, founded in 1926, with a campus that sits high on the west side and offers a panoramic view of the city. Cincinnati also was the site for two landmark debates in our movement”s history: Alexander Campbell took on skeptic and socialist Robert Owen in the city in 1829, while later, in 1837, Campbell debated Cincinnati”s Catholic Bishop, John Purcell, at the Sycamore Meeting House, just a few blocks from the convention center.
Finally, before you leave Cincinnati, be sure to sample some of our famous Skyline Chili and savor a couple of scoops of Graeter”s ice cream. They”re both unique, city favorites. A nighttime carriage ride around the downtown square, or a sunset riverboat cruise on the Ohio River would finish off your visit in style.
Our city”s convention bureau says: “Stay with us and we”ll stay with you.” So, this summer, make some lifelong memories for your family””and enjoy the convention, too. Come see Cincinnati!
David H. Ray is executive minister with Christ”s Church at Mason (Ohio) and one of the local arrangements chairmen for this summer”s NACC.
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