Quality Hotel and Suites Cincinnati is 9 miles from Paramount's Kings Island and less than 1.5 miles from Xavier University.

Aurora retreat
Aurora, Ind.
Nestled between the casinos of Lawrenceburg and Rising Sun, Aurora, Ind., enjoys a quiet charm.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Valley treasure
Georgetown, Ohio
Georgetown welcomes visitors with a subdued, comfortable blend
of small-town informality and historic reverence.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Winter getaways
Multiple destinations
Cold weather doesn't have to mean staying at home. Get out of the house and enjoy one of these quick winter getaways.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My Old Kentucky Dinner Train
Bardstown, Kentucky
Bardstown's My Old Kentucky Dinner train serves up sumptuous food and beautiful scenery with a pinch of railroad nostalgia.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Professional Football Hall of Fame
Canton, Ohio
Steeped in gridiron tradition and on technology's cutting edge, the Hall of Fame's crown jewel is the sleek, ultramodern GameDay Stadium exhibit, a $1.4 million shrine of interactivity.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three area zoos
Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Columbus
Exotic and educational, three zoos within two hours' drive of Cincinnati offer great getaways for Tristate families. So pick one and spend some quality time in the animal kingdom.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hiking Hocking Hills
Hocking County, Ohio
Hocking Hills boasts some of Ohio's best hiking and most spectacular features. And in the spring, it becomes a place of discovery with something to offer just about everyone.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kentucky Derby Museum
Louisville, Kentucky
Fresh from a $10 million expansion and renovation, the Kentucky Derby Museum reopened recently with exhibits detailing history and tradition from the first jewel in horse racing's Triple Crown.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neil Armstrong Air & Space Museum
Wapokeneta, Ohio
A treasure trove of memorabilia from the first man to set foot on the moon, the museum gives visitors a better perspective on the history of space travel and the politically charged space race.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Edge of Appalachia Preserve
Adams County, Ohio
"We walk to the edge of a cliff, where patches of ancient prairie cling. Below us, the rugged hills of the Ohio Brush Creek valley are resplendent in shades of russet, orange, green and yellow."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Columbus' virtual playground
Columbus, Ohio
Under the direction of Steven Spielberg, Sega GameWorks was created as the quintessential entertainment destination where the player is the attraction, the athlete on center court.

Drake Planetarium simulates in detail the astronomical configurations of our galaxy and universe, projecting elaborate star patterns on the ceiling of its darkened dome. Public programs include the calming Meditainment, an hour of relaxing meditation under the stars; and monthly thematic presentations, such as The Universe of Dr. Einstein. The Planetarium resides in the Norwood neighborhood, between Waterworks Park and Lower Millcrest Park.

Established in the 1840s, the Cincinnati Observatory Center has a rich tradition of educating the public about astronomy and space science. Visitors can hear various lectures, take workshops at the Observatory University, or participate in public stargazes, viewing the heavens through some of the world's largest telescopes. The Observatory lies in the eastern suburbs of Hyde Park, near Ault Park.

The Harriet Beecher Stowe House was home to the woman who wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin prior to her marriage, and was the birthplace of her first two children. Those who visit it find an elegant mansion and grounds, with period furnishings garnshing the interior, as well as exhibits on the history Stowe's life and times, and the history of the abolitionist movement and African-American culture in general. The house lies in the Walnut Hills district, just north of downtown, next to the Walnut Hills Cemetery.

With over 1.2 million visitors annually, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is one of the most popular zoos in the country. It features over 500 different animal species, and 3,000 plant species, and is involved with a bevy of research and conservation projects worldwide. Just a few of its many exciting animal exhibits include the Penguin Walkabout, the Flamingo Cove, Gorilla World, and the Dragons of Kimono. It lies just north of downtown Cincinnati, near Burnet Woods.

Cincinnati Area Parks

Within its boundaries, the city of Cincinnati contains 138 parks covering more than 5,000 acres, including the largest municipal forest in the country in Mount Airy Forest. These parks offer a wide variety of recreational activities, including lakes for fishing and boating, golf courses, campgrounds, playgrounds, picnic shelters, and miles of trails. For more information or to reserve park facilities, call at 513-352-4080.