Under $100: Cincinnati

While Cincinnati may not immediately come to mind when thinking of your next destination, the city has a lot to offer. Its unique location means Cincinnati is an interesting mix of northern, southern and midwestern ways and habits. Whether you find yourself there on business or just passing through, you can have your fun for a day for under $100.

Taste of Belgium, Cincinnati, Ohio © 5chw4r7z | Flickr

Start your day out sweetly at Taste of Belgium, a Belgian-owned eatery established in 2007. The waffles start at $3.75 and the crêpes — which come in varieties like lavender sugar and lemon curd — start at $5. With four locations across the city, you’re sure to find one near you.

Next, head to the second-oldest zoo in the United States, the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens, founded in 1873. With more than 1,500 different animals of 500 different breeds, from red pandas to baby lion cubs, you’ll easily find something to keep you entertained. Even better, admission to the zoo is only $16.

Sleeping Lions at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens © Seth Johnson | Dreamstime

If you’re ready for lunch, you can’t leave Cincinnati without trying some of their signature Cincinnati chili. Piled onto a bowl of spaghetti and topped with a mountain of shredded cheese and diced onions, Cincinnati chili, seasoned with cinnamon and cocoa powder, is quite different from your typical spicy dish. Whether you stop by one of the many Skyline or Gold Star franchises, or one of the non-chain restaurants in the area such as Camp Washington Chili, you can expect a bowl to start around $5.

Skyline Chili © Dina Roberts Wakulczyk | Flickr

During baseball season, you can spend the afternoon watching a game at the Great American Ballpark. The Cincinnati Reds are America’s oldest professional team, and you can catch afternoon games starting around 1 p.m. You can get tickets for as little as $30 during the week.

For dinner, try one of Cincinnati’s newer restaurants, M Wood Fired Oven, a popular gourmet pizza joint. Toppings range from truffles to figs to pine nuts, but if your palate just isn’t feeling adventurous, they also offer more traditional options such as The Butcher, which is their version of a meat-lovers’ pizza. Pizzas come in one size and start at $14.

To wind down your night, check out the sunset across the Ohio River at Devou Park, which boasts the best views of the river and Cincinnati skyline. The park also offers many events and recreational opportunities, but the locals agree it’s the view, especially as the city begins to light up at dusk, that draws you in.

The Drees Pavillion Gazebo in Devou Park, Covington, Kentucky © Paul Lemke | Dreamstime