Cincinnati, Ohio 8 minutes / Windows Media Player

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In the heart of the American midwest, Cincinnati is located in southern Ohio, near both Indiana and Kentucky. As a stop on I-75, a major north-south highway route, many people find their way to the Cincy area, and there's plenty of things that are worth your visit.

As our first stop in town, we saw America's first professional baseball team, the Cincinnati Reds. Founded in 1869 as the Red Stockings, the Reds play right on the riverfront and next year will move to their new home, The Great American Ballpark.

A real treat was our hotel, the Westin Cincinnati. With a perfect downtown spot, this was a great starting point. And with weekend rates that meet almost any budget, you can enjoy a little luxury without breaking the bank.

And speaking of not breaking the bank, the 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid cut our gas costs in half for the trip. The car uses a gas/electric mixture to really improve fuel economy. We averaged 5.2 litres per 100 km, which is virtually unheard of in your average car.

The Westin was our home base and a central spot for our Cincy visit.

Our 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid was amazing on gas and helped to cut down our costs on the trip.

There are a lot of other neat things to do in Cincy. We spent time at the Cincinnati Zoo, which was the second zoo in the U.S.! Filled with animals from all over the world, this is a great summertime destinations that has programs and events from April to November. The zoo is very well put-together. We enjoyed checking out the primates, felines, penguins and a bunch of other exotic animals.

Over the left field wall, you can see the new ballpark being built for 2003.

The primates are hunting for shade on a sunny afternoon at the Cincinnati Zoo.

Museum Center, located in the old train station at Union Terminal, now houses 3 museums under once roof.

If you're looking for something indoors, Museum Center is a great idea which is unique to Cincinnati. There are 3 museums all located under one roof, in a majestic old train station at Union Terminal. You can see the Cincinnati History Museum, complete with an entire model city. The Museum of Natural History and Science takes you through the history and creatures of the area; and the Cinergy Children's Museum is sure to keep the little ones busy. Combine this with the OMNIMAX theater and you're sure to find something to do for an afternoon.

Or, heading back outdoors, Paramount Kings Island is a great way to have fun in the sun. They have rides and attractions for everyone, but the rollercoasters are a big draw. "The Beast" just celebrated its 20th anniversary and is still the longest wooden rollercoaster in the world. And keeping the tradition alive is "Son of Beast", which is the world's tallest, fastest, and only looping wooden coaster.

Speaking of outdoor activities, we were also treated to an Indy Car race at the Kentucky Speedway in nearby Sparta, Kentucky. On race weekends, this venue can pack in up to 65,000 fans. This is racing at its finest seen with fans who are truly into the sport. But apparently this is nothing compared to NASCAR weekends!

Face/Off - One of the many coasters at Paramount Kings Island.

Shopping and eating at Newport on the Levee, across the river from downtown Cincinnati.

The green flag drops to start the Indy Car race at the Kentucky Speedway, just south of Cincy.

An evening sit on a patio in Mount Adams.