What makes Melbourne sights so special is the quiet way, with the history whispering through the streets while I stroll through the main street with my coffee. I've always wondered why this little town in the heart of Campbell County never gets all the media rush – maybe it's because it was founded in 1795 as a border post and only in 1866 it took the official name "Melbourne", in honor of the British capital. The old half-timbered houses I love tell of a time when horse cars were the only “undergrounds” and that is a reason for me to melt every time I take the modern bus from Cincinnati over the I‐71 and stand in the historical core in a few minutes.
A short trip to the nearby Ohio River lets me breathe the same air that once shared frontier workers and smugglers – no joke, the water has more stories to tell than some city leaders. And while I sit here, I watch the locals in the little diner read their daily newspapers as if it was a ritual that measures the heart of the city. I don't understand the hype about big metropolises, but here, between the old church towers and the modern residential blocks, I find an authenticity that you rarely find in travel guides. Anyone who explores Melbourne quickly discovers that the real sight is the interplay of past and present, which is almost tangible here.
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The first place I have to put to each visitor is the majestic Roebling Suspension Bridge, which connects the Cincinnati skyline with the Kentucky horizon – a piece of engineering that cannot be overlooked in a sunny afternoon. I remember standing there with my old bike, feeling the cool breeze from the Ohio River and suddenly felt the feeling of floating over time. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because all the Brooklyn hipsters occupy the bridge for their Instagram shoots.
A few miles further, right on the banks of Ohio, this is Newport Aquarium. The first time I saw the sharks close by, while I wondered why I can't just have an aquarium at home – that would be much cheaper. Nevertheless, the experience of strolling through the glass tunnel while a huge giant shark floats over you is really great and lets you almost smell the water. Admission is not cheap, but the money is well invested if you want to turn off from everyday life for a few hours.
If you have enough of water, that is Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal That's right. The Art Deco building is a landmark that I admire every time I see the huge mosaic windows. I spent hours in the natural science exhibition, because I still can't decide whether I like dinosaurs or old railways. Practical: The garage is right under the building, so no stress to find the car – unless you arrive on Friday night, then parking is a little adventure.
A short trip to the surrounding area leads you to General Butler State Parkwhere you can walk between dense forests and the glittering Licking River. I made a picnic with my friend there while we tried to find the perfect place for a photo that is not ruined by a passing motorcycle driver. The park is well signposted, and parking is almost always free, except for the weekends in the summer when the families move with their caravans.
For those who prefer to experience something culture, this is American Sign Museum in Cincinnati an absolute must. I was there because I thought it was just a museum for old advertising signs, but the collection is a neon, wood and pure retro charm. I almost lost myself in a bright 1970s poster and had to reorientate myself because the colors were just too loud. The museum is located in a former factory building, parking is always a bit tight there, but a short walk from the main railway station is easy to find.
Another highlight that I do not want to conceal is the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden. I rediscovered my childhood when I fed the giraffes with my niece and asked me why I shouldn't just start a giraffe breeding program. The zoo is huge, so plan enough time, otherwise you miss the rare animals like the Red Panda. Parking is paid at the main entrance, but there are a cheaper car park a few blocks on that I always use when I want to escape crowds.
Whether you are looking for impressive engineering art, fascinating underwater worlds, cultural treasures or natural recreation – the surroundings of Melbourne, Campbell, Kentucky have more to offer than you would suspect at first glance. These Melbourne Attractions are not only a witness of regional diversity, but also a mirror of my own, slightly cynical, but always enthusiastic view of what this area really is.
This guide invites you to stroll through the most sloping corners of Melbourne and the sleepy little campbell in Kentucky – yes, I know that sounds like a mix of hipster trip and road trip motto, but that's what makes the charm.
Let's catch Federation Square the neon blue heartbeat of Melbourne, where tourists compete with selfie sticks and I wonder if this is not just a huge art project for people who spend too much time on Instagram. I met a street musician who spoke more about his cat than about his songs – a real one Melbourne Attractions-Moment that shows that culture is sometimes as flat as the weather.
A short walk further (and a bit of rain because the weather is never on time) leads to Queen Victoria Market. I bought my first fresh avocados there, which then developed my own life in my backpack and formed a small ecosystem almost all weekend. The market is a labyrinth of stalls, and if you're lucky, you'll stumble across a stand that sells handmade kangaroo leather hats – totally overrated, but a good discussion topic for the next pub evening.
If you have enough culinary adventures, take a look at Hosier Lane. The street is a huge graffiti museum that is constantly repainted because the city obviously cannot decide whether it prefers street art or cleanliness. I met an artist there who told me that every picture is a commentary on gentrification – I just nodded and continued because I actually wanted a good photo for my social media story.
A little nature always does well, and the Royal Botanic Gardens are the counterpart to all the urban hustle and bustle. I made a picnic there that was disturbed by a horde duck that apparently had the same interest in my sandwich as I did. The gardens are huge, so plan enough time, otherwise you will miss the small café by the lake, which serves the best flat-white city – no joke, that is really better than what I find in most hip cafés in Melbourne.
Now a jump over the ocean, more precisely over the continent, to Campbell, Kentucky. There are not the glittering skyscrapers, but there is a Historical Courthousethat looks like it stole a film set for Western series from the 50s. I made a tour there with a local historian who knew more about the old court proceedings than about the current weather – and this is already a performance in Kentucky.
Directly next to the court building Campbell County Museum. It is small, but full of curious artefacts, including an old Tractor-Lenkrad, which was allegedly used by a famous farmer who never said a word about his harvest. I saw an old photo of a horse car that reminded me of my childhood when I thought a horse could drive me to work – romantic, but completely unrealistic.
A must for anyone who wants to experience the real taste of Kentucky is the Campbell Distilling Co.. I tried a little sip of bourbon there, which was so smoky that I almost felt my lungs would rise in flames. The owner told me that they got the recipe from his great-grandfather, and I just thought: “Cool, but why is there not just more craft beer?”
The Main street of Campbell is another highlight – a few old brick buildings, a diner that has served the same pancakes since the 60s, and a poster that still announces “Welcome to Campbell – Where Everybody Knows Your Name”. I met an old man there who told me that he was born here before the word “Internet” was invented – a real witness of time that made me feel like living in another era.
At the end a short detour to Miller Park, the only place in Campbell where you can rest on a bank without a bad conscience while children play loud football. I made a picnic there that was disturbed by a dog who apparently thought my sandwich was a new toy – that is the true Kentucky experience, unfalsed and slightly chaotic.
So, next time you decide whether to fly to Melbourne or drive the road trip to Campbell, remember that both places have their own peculiarities, and I promise you will find more than just the usual tourist-Klischees. And if you ask yourself where you should go first – I would say start with what attracts you most, and then let you surprise yourself with the little unexpected moments.
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