Road Trippin’: the Ohio Valley
As our world gradually goes back to normal, people are eager to travel to new places – even if it’s just a short drive from Indy! The Ohio Valley, referring to sections of Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky around the Ohio River, offers many interesting destinations for an overnight or day trip. From artisanal farm dinners to craft beer canoeing, we have a roundup of 5 unique places to visit in the Ohio Valley.
1. Urban Stead Cheese
Walnut Hills, OH
This Cincinnati-based company is a little slice of cheese-filled heaven! Urban Stead Cheese believes in creating cheese with the smallest footprint possible, and bettering their community while doing it. They not only craft and sell their own cheese made from locally sourced milk, but they offer a spacious place for people to enjoy their “cheddar for the better.” Grab a beer or wine in their family-friendly tasting room, check out how the cheese is made in their state-of-the-art kitchen, or pick up a handcrafted charcuterie board for your next picnic or party.
2. B-Line Bourbon Trail
Northern Kentucky
Kentucky’s newest bourbon trail weaves right along the Ohio River. The B-Line Bourbon Trail is a collection of Craft Bourbon Distilleries, Bars, and Restaurants in Northern Kentucky. Some of the stops include New Riff Distillery in Newport, Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar in Covington, and Boone County Distilling Company in Boone County. Not a bourbon fan but want the swag? Just get your B-Line Guide stamped by two distilleries, two restaurants and two bourbon bars on the trail and you are eligible for B-Line glasses, T-shirts, hats and other souvenirs.
3. Carriage House Farm
North Bend, OH
Established in 1855, Carriage House Farm has been single-family owned for five generations. The farm provides produce for some of the best farm-to-table restaurants in the Ohio Valley. Carriage House Farm now offers an on-farm market and a casual dining experience with Chloe’s Eatery; try the smoked pulled pork, butchered in house! Additionally, the farm hosts a series of on-farm dinners, classes, and food events featuring local chefs and food connoisseurs.
4. Fifty West Brewing Company
Plainville, OH
Like a little outdoor adventure mixed with your small-batch beer? Fifty West Brewing Company has it all at their family-friendly campus (yes, it's so big they call it a campus). Started in 2012, Fifty West offers kayaking, canoeing, cycling, sand volleyball, running clubs, futsal, pickle-ball, and most recently corn-hole leagues. Just want to kick back and relax? No problem, grab an Americana-inspired burger from their burger bar and watch the activities unfold.
5. Findlay Market
Cincinnati, OH
Findlay Market is Ohio’s oldest continuously operated public market, and was named one of the top ten public markets in the world by Newsweek. Operated in the same iron-framed building since 1855, Findlay Market vendors sell everything from local produce to artisanal goods to gelato. A personal favorite of mine, Maverick’s ethically sourced and handmade chocolate is a must-try. The market itself is surrounded by shops, restaurants and breweries, bridging the gap between uptown and downtown Cincinnati. On the weekends the area comes alive with events, live music and curated tours of the city.
Whether your ideal summer adventure includes sipping genuine Kentucky Bourbon or buying local goods from one of the country’s oldest open-air Markets, our neighbors in the river valley have destinations that are worth the trip.
Want to dive deeper into what the Ohio River Valley has to offer? Check out our sister publication, Edible Ohio Valley!
