Brought to you by experienced Roadtrippers
April 23, 2012

Grab your suitcase, the car keys, and a little sense of adventure because it’s time to hit the road. iSPYCINCY enlisted the help of Roadtrippers, Tatiana Parent and Brandon Hite, to determine some of the best weekend getaways that you may or may not have thought to consider.

The parameters defining the list: 1.) Within 2 hours driving distance of Cincinnati; 2.) Includes a worthwhile food element; 3.) The intangible “IT” factor that would have you screaming to your friends, “Gotta check this place out!”

Ready. Set. Go!

Road Trip 1: Tango & Cash, A Drive-in Movie Theater & Homemade Root Beer in Central Ohio

After a long week of work nothing makes you forget the humdrum monotony of your 9-5 like an offbeat road trip. Heading northeast from Cincy you’ll come to Mansfield where the notorious Mansfield Reformatory is located. This 19th c. reformatory is not only reportedly haunted, but it’s also the prime shooting location for the films The Shawshank Redemption and Tango & Cash. It’s a quirky attraction, but actually quite an impressive architectural achievement, so you can put those professional Instagram photography skills to use.

After you’ve built up an appetite in the big house, drive down to Porky’s Drive In, also in Mansfield, where the burgers are big, the fries are fresh-cut and the root beer is homemade. In the evening, why not catch a flick at an old school drive-in movie theater? You may be surprised to learn that Ohio has dozens of these still in operation! At the South Drive-In in Columbus, you can even bring your own grill. Starting May 17th, the drive-in also plays host to a flea market. When you’re ready to rest your weary head for the day, the 50 Lincoln Short North B&B located in the heart of the trendy Short North Arts District in Ohio, features a full breakfast with homemade breads and fresh fruit. Or, if you’d like a more plush accommodation, I’d recommend The Worthington Inn, a stately vintage country inn that has an onsite restaurant voted one of Columbus’ Top 10 restaurants.

Road Trip 2: Ladies Weekend to Louisville’s Wine Country

It’s the weekend, the guys are golfing then watching the game on TV, so you and your gal pals head down to Louisville. If you’re feeling cultural, visit Louisville’s Speed Art Museum, which has over 6,000 years of art and creativity on display, making it Kentucky’s largest art museum. For a serendipitous night on the town, 610 Magnolia features a decadent prix fixe 6-course meal.

Follow up with an opulent night stay at the 1888 Historic Rocking Horse Manor Bed and Breakfast, it’s not only a lusciously-ornate B&B, it also provides guests with a full gourmet breakfast. Or alternatively, the Springhill Winery and Plantation B&B means after you’ve enjoyed a day of on-site wine tasting you can take a stroll around the vineyard and then retire to your 19th century-decorated room for the evening. Each room is named after a wine, so you can choose from the Chardonnay, Cabernet, Beaujolais or Pinot Noir Suites. In fact the whole area around Louisville is a oenophile’s dream. Before you head back to Cincy, be sure to drop by the 20,000 square foot Crazy Daisy Antique Mall and the Joe Ley antique store, featured on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and voted one of Louisville’s best antique stores.

Road Trip 3: BroTripping from Cincy to Indy: Baseball, Booze & The Slippery Noodle

Be sure to pack appropriately for this weekend excursion – your first stop is at Haspin Acres Motocross Park, where after a night watching dirt drag racing and doing some off-roading, you can stay overnight and camp at the park. Once back on the road and in Indy, check out the schedule for the Indianapolis Indians, the Minor League baseball team in town. If that doesn’t fit your schedule, head on over to the White River State Park on the west side, or visit the NCAA Hall of Champions. For the evening, the Slippery Noodle Inn, the oldest building standing in Indianapolis, features live blues music (starting at 9 pm). I’d also recommend ordering a generous helping of their famed nachos. Before you head back home in the morning, make a pit stop at the Indianapolis City Market, fresh food in a great atmosphere nicely rounds off this trip from Cincy to Indy.

Of course there are plenty of other wonderful destinations, in or around the Cincy area, that deserve , if nothing else, a weekend getaway. This is just a mere sampling of the adventures to be had in your backyard. If you are interested in some serious excursions, then you’d be wise to check back with Roadtrippers.

About the authors: Tatiana Parent is co-founder at RoadTrippers and Brandon Hite works for the startup on social media and content. Roadtrippers centralizes discovery, planning, and booking into one beautifully designed experience, making it easier than ever to create and share amazing trips or bucket lists of must-see places. Everything is hand-curated to ensure anything and everything that make up the soul of America and a great road trip is highlighted. Whether it’s for a weekend trip or a three-month epic cross-country journey, Roadtrippers is travel inspiration and planning with a twist of a lime. 

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PHOTO CREDITS (in order from top to bottom and left to right) 

Indianapolis Indians Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanrooy/4671811196/
Mansfield 2 Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/spiderfiend/30726745/
Porky’s Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/theamericanroadside/1463785412/
610 Magnolia Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikelutz/6274700289/
Joe Ley Antiques Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/krooooop/3242551757/
Indianapolis City Market Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/minidriver/6899372311/

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