7 minute read
Sports & Recreation
Little Miami Scenic Trail Named Top 5
This local bike trail received national recognition from multiple media outlets in 2021
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When it comes to seeing the sights and sounds of Greater Cincinnati by foot — or by bike — we’ve known for a while that the Little Miami Scenic Trail is one of the best around.
But it’s always nice when other people finally catch on, isn’t it?
Afar magazine, a guide focused on experiential travel, features the Little Miami Scenic Trail as one of the five best urban trails in the United States.
The Little Miami Scenic Trail is the longest
single trail in the Miami Valley Trail network, beginning just east of Cincinnati in Anderson Township and stretching up to Springfield, Ohio, via 78 miles of paved, multi-modal paths. What seems to be especially important to Afar is not what the trail is like but where it can take you. The magazine makes special note of the trail’s stops in Loveland, Milford and Lebanon, as well as the accessibility of Caesar Creek and John Bryan State Parks.
Here’s what Afar says: “The Little Miami Scenic Trail runs 78 miles from Cincinnati to Springfield in Ohio, making it one of the nation’s longest paved multi-use trail networks. A large portion of the trail borders the banks of the Little Miami River, allowing pedestrians to get off foot to kayak or canoe instead. As the longest single path in the Miami Valley network, the well-shaded Little Miami Scenic Trail connects many of the region’s towns and cities, including the historic downtown areas of Loveland, Milford, and Lebanon. Two state parks, John Bryan and Caesar Creek, can be reached from the trail, as well as a number of eateries and breweries to unwind and refuel. The entire Cincinnati region has 116,000 acres of protected greenspace, including 351 parks and nearly 40 nature preserves.”
It may be the “Little” Miami Scenic Trail, but it’s definitely been getting some big attention recently. The Little Miami Scenic Trail was also a factor in Forbes recently naming Cincinnati as a top 2021 destination for travelers. The trail is continuing to expand. Construction began in February on the Beechmont Bridge Connector, a new halfmile link between the Little Miami Scenic Trail and the Ohio River Trail. This will officially add the Little Miami Scenic Trail to the Cincinnati Riding or Walking Network (CROWN) project to link up over 100 miles of the
area’s trails.
Led by Tri-State Trails (an initiative of regional sustainability alliance Green Umbrella), Wasson Way, Ohio River Way and a public-private partnership, the 34mile CROWN urban trail loop will connect more than 100 miles of pre-existing and to-be-constructed trail systems while boosting economic development, improving transportation options, stimulating businesses and promoting healthy activities.
Currently in mid-construction with various segments complete and open for recreation, it will serve as a hub to access the Little Miami Scenic Trail, Ohio River Trail, Mill Creek Greenway, Wasson Way and Murray Path. It also will include downtown’s Smale Riverfront Park, which was named one of USA Today’s top 10 riverwalks in 2021, and Riverfront Commons in Northern Kentucky. miamivalleytrails.org.
The Loveland portion of the trail.
Savana Willhoite
Best of Cincinnati
Voting results from CityBeat’s 2021 readers’ poll Barre
1. Pure Barre Oakley 2. The Barre Code 3. DEFINE: body & mind
Biking Trail
Climbing Gym
1. University of Cincinnati Campus
Recreation Center 2. Climb Time 3. Mosaic Climbing
Coach/Manager (Pro/College)
1. Luke Fickell (University of
Cincinnati Men’s Basketball) 3. Matt Thomas (Cincinnati Cyclones)
Golf Course (Public)
1. Blue Ash Golf Course 2. Devou Park Golf Course 3. Aston Oaks Golf Club
Health Club/Gym
1. YMCA 2. Mercy Health HealthPlex 3. Planet Fitness
Hiking Trail
1. Cincinnati Nature Center 2. Loveland Bike Trail 3. Sharon Woods 4. Ault Park 5. Mount Airy Forest 6. Miami Whitewater Forest 7. Devou Park Backcountry Trails 8. Bender Mountain 9. East Fork State Park 10. Winton Woods
Jogging Route
1. Loveland Bike Trail 2. Eden Park 3. Ault Park
Cincinnati is ready for the pitch — but this time, we’re not talking about Reds baseball. With its exciting teams, supportive sports bars and festive culture, the Queen City has become quite a haven for soccer. In fact, WalletHub has called it one of the best soccer cities in the country.
Cincinnati’s premier draw is FC Cincinnati (fccincinnati.com), the region’s Major League Soccer team. Playing in the brand-new TQL Stadium in the historic West End, FC Cincinnati welcomes up to 26,000 fans for every game. The stadium also is home to other exciting matches. In 2021, TQL Stadium hosted the 2022 World Cup qualifying match between the U.S. Men’s National Team and Mexico. The stadium also saw Rose Lavelle — Cincinnati’s homegrown Olympian — and the U.S. Women’s National Team take on Paraguay in a FIFA international match. By the way, don’t miss the mural of Lavelle at The Banks downtown (44 W. Freedom Way).
And Cincinnati is ready for an even bigger stage: The city is in the hunt to become a host for future World Cup matches, a hearty endorsement of the exuberant soccer culture happening here in the Queen City.
Across the street from TQL Stadium, fans can gather at The Pitch (1430 Central Parkway, thepitchcincy.com), a soccer-themed bar. With artificial turf on the ceiling and soccer memorabilia everywhere, the bar is a fútbol fan’s dream.
Don’t forget about the collegiate level.
Francisco Huerta
Catch women’s soccer games at the University of Cincinnati (Gettler Stadium, W. Corry and Dennis, gobearcats.com) and both men’s and women’s soccer at Xavier University (Corcoran Field, 3800 Victory Parkway, goxavier.com). The region has plenty of club, amateur and youth teams as well.
Personal Training/ Crossfit Gym
1. ProForce Sports Performance 2. Trilogy Fitness Systems 3. Queen City CrossFit
Pick-Up Basketball Court
1. Cincinnati Athletic Club 2. Blue Ash Recreation Center 3. LA Fitness (Oakley)
Pilates Studio
1. Body Alive 2. The Breathing Room 3. Prism Pilates
Place to Camp
1. Hocking Hills 2. Red River Gorge 3. East Fork State Park
Public Pool
1. Sunlite Pool at Coney Island 2. Ziegler Park 3. Versailles State Park
Running/ Biking Event
1. Flying Pig Marathon 2. Queen Bee Half Marathon 3. Cyclones Frozen 5K/10K
Soccer Facility
1. Soccer City 2. Town & Country Sports Complex 3. GameTime Training Center
Softball Fields
1. River City West 2. Schmidt Boat Ramp & Ballfields 3. Mid-America Ballyard
Sports Coverage
1. FOX Sports Ohio 2. 700WLW 3. Pardon The Punctuation
Summer Camp
1. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical
Garden 2. Camp Ernst 3. Camp Joy 4. Camp Kern 5. DAAPcamp 6. Cincinnati Nature Center 7. Cincinnati Museum Center 8. Cincinnati Art Museum 9. Camp at the J 10. Cincinnati Reds Baseball and
Softball Camp (TIE) 10. Great Parks of Hamilton County (TIE)
Team (Amateur/Minor League)
1. Cincinnati Rollergirls 2. Florence Y’alls 3. Black-n-Bluegrass Roller Girls
Team (College)
1. University of Cincinnati Football 2. Xavier University Men’s
Basketball 3. University of Cincinnati Men’s
Basketball
Team (Professional)
1. Reds 2. FC Cincinnati 3. Cincinnati Cyclones
Tennis Courts
1. Queen City Racquet & Fitness Club 2. Sawyer Point Park 3. Camargo Racquet Club
Volleyball Courts
1. Fifty West Brewing Company Production Works 2. Cabana on the River 3. Grand Sands Volleyball
Yoga Studio
1. Body Alive 2. Aloha Yoga Center 3. College Hill Yoga
More Caves at Mammoth Cave National Park
Just a short road trip away from Cincinnati, Mammoth Cave National Park in September 2021 announced the discovery of eight more miles of caves within what is already the largest cave system in the world.
Park officials said in a statement on Facebook that the discovery brings the number of known miles of passages in the southern Kentucky landmark to 420.
The discovery was made, officials said, by mapping and exploration by the Cave Research Foundation.
According to the National Park Service (NPS), volunteers from the Cave Research Foundation come to the park every year to map newly discovered passages.
Mapping caves can be difficult, the
NPS says, because openings can easily hide in the dark, under piles of rock and behind narrow crevices. The team uses compasses to measure direction, laser range finders to measure distance and an instrument called an inclinometer to measure slope.
Although the work may be treacherous at times, the NPS says mapping cave systems allows officials to see what parts of a cave might be vulnerable to a highway chemical spill or where park trail improvement plans should be cautious due to historic artifacts.
Mammoth Cave National Park is a three-hour drive south of Cincinnati and offers tours of the caves, hikes, canoeing on the Green River, horseback riding and camping. 1 Visitor Center Parkway, Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, nps.gov/maca/ index.htm.
2021 Best of Cincinnati
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