When I was in high school, Over-The-Rhine was a place I only heard about on the news - the murder capital of Cincinnati. When my sister sent me a link to the Queen City Underground Tours website, I was apprehensive when I saw the address. But Over-The-Rhine is not the same area it was when I was a kid. There are still some sketchy areas, but it has become a nice little historical, artsy district with boutique shops, a beautiful public park, and great restaurants.
I now live in California, and I took the underground tour with my family when I went back to Ohio for Christmas. I learned more about Cincinnati on this tour than I ever knew about it when I actually lived there. For instance, you will learn why the area is called Over-The-Rhine.
The tour is mostly above ground and involves some walking, but it's not strenuous, definitely good for the whole family. If you go during the winter time, make sure you dress warmly.
We went in an abandoned building that used to be a popular stage venue and gathering place for the immigrant population, and it was featured in a movie as a building in Harlem. The building is likely to be restored within the next few years, but it was really neat to see. We also went into the basement crypt of a beautiful local church.
The highlight of the tour is going into the underground tunnels where they used to make lager beer. The history told here is really interesting, and you actually access the tunnels through an occupied apartment building. A word of caution for anyone with mobility issues: the stairs to get down to the tunnels are really steep and narrow. Our guide said he had a 90-year-old grandmother on a tour once and she did fine, but think twice before taking your own grandma down there.
After the tour we ate at Taste of Belgium, which is just down the block. Amazing chicken and waffles. But if you want a real taste of Cincinnati, order the goetta, which is ground sausage and oatmeal. Apparently it's another Cincinnati tradition that I never knew about growing up, but it's really good. Also, Christian Moerlein beer, which is mentioned on the tour and still brewed in Over-The-Rhine, is available for a good price at the local Costco.
The regular price of the tour is on the expensive side, but two-for-one Groupon/LivingSocial deals come up frequently. So if you're planning on traveling to Cincinnati, add it to your city subscriptions.