into each drink as the venue itself. Days before the race, we sampled punch recipes dating back to the 1700s, as well as innovative newer creations. Through the open windows of The Woodburn Brewery across the street, I caught a glimpse of Hans Solo. Laughing at the thought, I insisted on investigating. Once inside, I realized the life-size cutout of the action hero was indeed propped at the bar and one of the brews on tap was called Hans Solo. The coffee-infused blonde ale, like the “Star Wars” movie itself, resulted in an immediate request for more. Dashing in and out of the Hyde Park neighborhood is easy, as it’s a quick twoblock span of high-end shopping, restaurants and a widely popular ice cream shop called Graeter’s. Of all the neighborhoods we explored, Over-the-Rhine (OTR) has the best comeback story. Nearly 45,000 immigrants, most of German descent, and roughly 38
breweries once inhabited this 2-square mile area. Prohibition and anti-German sentiment during the early part of the 20th century sent people packing and the area became a hub for miscreants. Thanks to a real-estate development organization that spent more than $250 million to revive it, OTR is now one of the largest intact urban historical districts in the country. Breweries are back with an official OTR Brewery District, along with upscale shops and restaurants as well as at nearby Findlay Market. As Ohio’s oldest continuously operated public market, Findlay welcomes more than a million visitors a year. Debating between Maverick Chocolate Co. and Bretzel for a late afternoon treat, we opted for gourmet Bavarian-style pretzels, as it was the perfect tie to our American Legacy Tour. Ranked as one of the Top Five Underground Tours in the U.S. by National Geographic, this route takes curious visitors and locals alike
through OTR, explaining its history before descending three stories below the street into former lagering tunnels. Here is where we found ourselves anxiously squirreling down a dimly lit staircase. We listened as guides explained how more tunnels are being discovered and how it continues to transform the city of Cincinnati. Whether you prefer to trek through the city on foot or explore beneath it, Cincinnati has plenty of reasons for a road trip … or, in our case, a return trip.
CRUISING TO COLUMBUS Not quite ready to leave the Buckeye State, we resumed our course. Less than two hours later, we cruised into downtown Columbus. This time of the year is all about Ohio State football games, but during our visit, the buzz in central downtown revolved around the grand opening of Hotel LeVeque. One of the city’s most iconic
PHOTOS COURTESY OF EXPERIENCE COLUMBUS; CAMERON MITCHELL RESTAURANTS; MIKE BEAUMONT
40 | POINTS NORTH | October 2017