Honestly, if you ask yourself why anyone should talk about North College Hill at all, let me start with a bit of history: the area around today's North College Hill was born in the early 19th. Century as an agricultural village, which was later officially declared a city in 1916 – a classic Ohio rise from the Kornfeld to the suburbs. I always find it fascinating how the old “College Hill Township” has entered modern Hamilton County without losing the charm of its founders.
I often travel by train from Cincinnati to Hamilton, because the B30 and the nearby I‐75 make the car almost superfluous – a short transfer and you are in the middle of the colorful drive. What I particularly like about this spot is the mixture of small, family-run shops and the quiet, trees-lined streets that give you the feeling that you have landed in another time, while the neighbors are talking loudly about the latest construction project.
Of course, there are some North College Hill sights that you shouldn't miss, but I'm saving myself counting – that's better to discover on site when you just refresh your nose and try out the local cafes. And if you ask where you can park best, grab one of the public parking spaces at the town hall; they are not exactly luxurious, but they do their job. So, that's it from me – now you're going to feel the real life here.
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Here's how it works:
Advantage:
You can assess light, perspective and location before visiting the site – ideal for photography, sunrises and sunsets.
To find the exact point where the sun disappears behind the skyline, use the azimuth display on poi-travel.de. In North College Hill, the sun travels further northwest below the horizon in summer, while in winter it takes a more southwesterly angle. With the embedded line on the map, you can determine your tripod position down to the metre.
The first stop of my little Odyssey leads me over the short but surprisingly curvige journey to Eden Park in the heart of Cincinnati – yes, this is a cat jump from North College Hill, but the view of the skyline is worth walking the car a few minutes longer. I remember the day I was standing there with a friend who said it was "to be touristic" and then suddenly we were followed by a group of ducks who apparently wanted to enjoy the same panorama. Parking is a bit of a fight at the weekend, because the small car parks are quickly full, but a short walk from the main parking lot to the viewpoint is completely enough.
A short detour to the south brings you to American Sign Museum, a shrill temple of neon glowing nostalgia, which reminds me of the 80s again and again, when I was standing in a diner behind the counter and admired the bright ad boards. The collection is huge, and I spent more than a dozen hours there because I wanted to photograph every sign – a bit childish, but hey, this is my way of collecting history. The entrance is free if you know yourself with a small donation bag, and the parking is right in front of the museum, which is practical if you do not want to return after a long day in the traffic jam.
If you feel that you have enough of bright lights, then that is Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal exactly the counterpart. This Art Deco wonder is not only an architectural gem, but it houses a natural history museum, a historical museum and an IMAX theatre. I once saw a movie over the deep sea, while a thunderstorm went over the city outside – that was a perfect example of how the museum completely ignored the weather outside. The parking spaces are generous, but the real secret is the free bike parking place if you want to cycle a bit through the city after the visit.
A little further east, just half an hour drive, this is Great American Ball Parkthe home of the Cincinnati Reds. I'm not a big baseball fan, but the stadium has a charm you can't deny – the view of the Ohio River, the sound of the cheerful crowd and the occasional “click” of the hot dogs that come from the grill. I visited a game there once because my cousin persuaded me, and in the end I was more enthusiastic about the hot dogs than about the game itself. Parking is a little adventure on the day of the game: most places are reserved, but a few street spots nearby are still to be found when you come early enough.
For those who prefer to immerse in nature, Miami Whitewater Forest a real jewel. The forest lies south of Hamilton and offers hiking trails, a small lake and even a canoe rental. I spent a weekend there because I thought a bit of paddle would calm my soul – it did until a curious beaver suddenly jumped out of the water and almost stole my paddle. The parking spaces are well signposted at the main entrance, and the visitor center always has a few current maps for the hiking trails.
A short detour to the west leads you to National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. The museum is a powerful monument that tells the story of the escape workers and the slave liberation. I was there on a rainy afternoon, and the silence inside was almost tangible – a contrast to the loud streets of Cincinnati that I had crossed before. The building itself is an architectural statement that extends over the river, and parking is easy to handle thanks to the nearby underground garage.
Whether you're looking for a neon museum, a historical port, a sports stadium or a quiet forest, the surroundings of North College Hill offer a colourful range of experiences that go far beyond the city's borders. My personal tour has shown that North College Hill Attractions not only can be found in the actual city, but in the neighboring neighborhoods and nature reserves, which make life so surprisingly varied.
So, next time you go to Ohio and think you need something "real" little town feeling, get the first stop: North College Hill Public Library. I know libraries sound like dusty reading rooms, but here you have the feeling to stumble a bit into the past while you get a WLAN signal that is stronger than my self-confidence after the third coffee. The building is a real jewel from the 1930s, and parking is usually a Klack – until you arrive there on Saturday night, then parking becomes a small Survival game, because the neighborhood inhabitants suddenly want to return all their books.
A short walk further (and yes, this is a bit ironic, because I actually prefer to drive by car) leads you to St John the Baptist Catholic Church. I don't always understand the hype about church architecture, but here you really feel that an angel has personally moved the roof. The stained glass windows cast a light game that even lights up my tired soul. If you're lucky, you hear the silent murmuring of a choir sample – this is the acoustic equivalent to a free espresso, only that you don't get a caffeine crash.
Now comes my personal favorite spot I almost always look over because it is not on the usual tourist checklists: North College Hill Historical Society Museum. The museum is housed in the old town hall, which has lost a bit of its former splendour, but this makes the charm. I found an old city plan example there that showed that the “city center” was only a field where cows graze. Practical: The museum has no entrance fee, and parking is right in front of the door as long as you are not there at the same time as the local senior round – then parking like a swarm bees.
If you're looking for something that tears you out of the historical trot, take a look at the Hilltop Park. The name is a bit exaggerated because the “hill” is rather a slightly raised piece of earth, but the view over the surrounding suburbs is surprisingly good, especially at sunset. I once made a picnic with my neighbour who claimed he had the best BBQ recipe in the world – I only enjoyed the sound of the grill flames because the food tasted more like burned rubber. The park has a small playground, and parking is an open field that you simply use as long as you are not there in the middle of the weekend when the families with strollers turn the field into a mini-camping area.
Another highlight I like to mention is that North College Hill Community Center. This is the place where you ask yourself why you should ever visit a gym outside the city. The swimming pool is crystal clear (yes, at least clear enough to see your own swimsuits), and the gym has devices that look like they survived the 80s. I visited a Zumba course where the instructor had more energy than a Duracell-Hase on Red Bull. Practical note: The center has a free parking space behind the building, but only if you come early enough – otherwise you have to share with the parents of teenagers who turn their cars like a carousel.
And because I don't just want to mention the usual sights, here's a little secret tip: North College Hill Farmers Market, which takes place every second Saturday in summer on the small square in front of the town hall. I don't understand why people are in the snake for hours for handmade jams, but the result is usually a sweet porridge that reminds you of your childhood – or what you believed as a child that it tastes so. Parking is a bit tricky here, because the road quickly gets full, but a short walk from the library is enough to reach the whole.
Finally, if you really want to feel like a local, take a look at the North College Hill Trail, a short section of the Little Miami Scenic Trail that sounds through the neighborhood. I lost my running shoes there because I was too busy admiring the small art installations that local artists have set up there. The way is well maintained, and parking is at the beginning of the trail at the old fire department store – there are always a few free places as long as you are not at the same time as the local group there.
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