Planning road trips for ECU @ all three of you. Any suggestions on where to stay and what to do are most appreciated!

For Cincinnati-

Hotels, if you want to walk to PBS, I would suggest:

Downtown:
The Westin, Hyatt, The Hilton, or the 21c museum.

Covington:
Marriott or the Holoiday Inn

Dining:
There are plenty of options to eat at on the Banks which is right between Paul Brown and the Reds Stadium.

The Banks Restaurants I would suggest:
Christian Moerlein-A local brew pub with fantastic food
The Yardhouse-100+ Beers on tap
Holy Grail

Other Restaurants downton:
The Seante-Great Hotdogs
Bakersfield
A Tovla

Places to visit-
Since our games arent on campus this year, you will have to visit our campus!

If you are into craft beer, then there are plenty of craft breweries around town. Rhinegeist is downtown and is an easy walk/ taxi drive away from the hotels listed above.

The Cincinnati Museum Center

There are more that I will post at a later time

Keystone Bar and Grill is a great place to eat and drink as well (Located right across from Paul Brown Stadium in Covington, KY and right next to campus). Their specialty is craft Mac and Cheese and they typically have a 50+ brew menu.

I would also look at the Hampton right next to campus or the Kingsgate Marriott, they tend to have fairly decent deals during football season, but as both are next to campus and not downtown, it would make finding alternate travel to the stadium a must.

For more info I would check our official tourism website for more trip ideas outside of the game and drinking at our MANY bars and breweries. https://cincinnatiusa.com/

Highly recommend the 21c Museum Hotel if you want a unique experience. It's a contemporary art museum and a hotel. I stay there occasionally on my trips back.

Without a doubt check out rhinegeist and christian moerlein tap rooms at the breweries in OTR while you are there. Moerelein Lager House is an absolutely fantastic restaurant as well.

Beer and food! Perfect stuff bearcats! I forgot the game would be at PBS this year, I'll certainly trek over to campus too.

(03-13-2014 01:36 PM)FrancisDrake Wrote:  Planning road trips for ECU @ all three of you. Any suggestions on where to stay and what to do are most appreciated!

For USF:

Stay at the La Quinta, Wingate, or Embassy Suites on campus. Prices aren't bad and it will save time for you.

To do:

Are you kidding me? This is Tampa freaking Florida. Disney World is an hour east on I-4, the gulf coast beaches are less than an hour to the west, and at night Ybor City near downtown is the place to be.

Where to stay: Center City. You could walk to a lot of sights that way. Something towards Old City/Society Hill would be nice. I live in the city so haven't had to get a hotel. I know two people that stayed in the Marriot and liked it. I'm sure you could find better.

What to do: Independence Hall is one of the coolest historical buildings anywhere IMO. The Liberty Bell is right across the street amd now has a long (but free) museum dedicated to it. The National Constitution Center is also right there if you're deeply interested in American history. City Hall is cool, and visiting the Love Park fountain is a must. Philly's coolest sight is the Benjamin Franklin Parkyway leading to the Art Museum. The Art Museum is the oldest in the country and also has the Rocky steps. There is a Rocky statue that tourists are always taking pictures with. Boathouse Row (which is in the It's Alwats Sunny intro) is right behind the Art Museum. Really a beautiful area to walk by. South Street is where a lot of tourists go, although in the last five years it has been taken over by inner-city teenagers. Many Philadelphians consider Jim's Steaks on South Street to be the best in the city. What else...dining, like I've recommended to others Osteria is my abd my girlfriend's favorite restaurant in the city (and we've been to A LOT). The owner, Marc Vetri, is considered by many to be the best Italian chef in America. Try our two main local breweries' beers when you're here: Yards and Philadelphia Brewing Co. Yards makes a great IPA. I also like their Brawler a lot. I recommend walking or taking cabs instead of taking public transportation. You have to buy tokens (they're in the process of phasing them out) and many out-of-towners feel unsafe on the subway or buses.

(03-13-2014 03:12 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(03-13-2014 01:36 PM)FrancisDrake Wrote:  Planning road trips for ECU @ all three of you. Any suggestions on where to stay and what to do are most appreciated!

For USF:

Stay at the La Quinta, Wingate, or Embassy Suites on campus. Prices aren't bad and it will save time for you.

To do:

Are you kidding me? This is Tampa freaking Florida. Disney World is an hour east on I-4, the gulf coast beaches are less than an hour to the west, and at night Ybor City near downtown is the place to be.

Had my first Ybor City experience about a month ago and agree it is a can't miss spot in Tampa.

If its football season stay in the Westshore area closer to stadium and more things to do in Tampa

(03-13-2014 03:32 PM)SouthPhillyFall Wrote:  I recommend walking or taking cabs instead of taking public transportation. You have to buy tokens (they're in the process of phasing them out) and many out-of-towners feel unsafe on the subway or buses.

wtf?

(03-13-2014 05:02 PM)JHG722 Wrote:  

(03-13-2014 03:32 PM)SouthPhillyFall Wrote:  I recommend walking or taking cabs instead of taking public transportation. You have to buy tokens (they're in the process of phasing them out) and many out-of-towners feel unsafe on the subway or buses.

wtf?

I guess you don't know many people who visit Philly and express their opinion of SEPTA, or maybe you just took it at Temple and accepted it for what it was. The RR is not bad but the subway is the worst in quality and network (essentially just a cross with a few trolley lines) and highest in shadiness. I've been on a dozen subway systems around the world, and I've been taking the BSL and El consistently for 7 years now---it's the worst system by far. Maybe you didn't notice a few years back when a business man was randomly killed waiting at Olney Transportation Center, or the woman waiting for the BSL who was randomly thrown into the track by a stranger because she didn't have a cigarette (viewable online).

If anyone questions what I said, check out the Facebook group People of SEPTA. Love Philly and I take the subway, but I think visitors would be comfortable taking a cab, maybe with the exception of taking the BSL for a Temple game.

(03-13-2014 02:17 PM)bctn8n Wrote:  For Cincinnati-

Hotels, if you want to walk to PBS, I would suggest:

Downtown:
The Westin, Hyatt, The Hilton, or the 21c museum.

Covington:
Marriott or the Holoiday Inn

Dining:
There are plenty of options to eat at on the Banks which is right between Paul Brown and the Reds Stadium.

The Banks Restaurants I would suggest:
Christian Moerlein-A local brew pub with fantastic food
The Yardhouse-100+ Beers on tap
Holy Grail

Other Restaurants downton:
The Seante-Great Hotdogs
Bakersfield
A Tovla

Places to visit-
Since our games arent on campus this year, you will have to visit our campus!

If you are into craft beer, then there are plenty of craft breweries around town. Rhinegeist is downtown and is an easy walk/ taxi drive away from the hotels listed above.

The Cincinnati Museum Center

There are more that I will post at a later time

I'm only doing the correction so they will know what to look for:

Senate is the place with the great hotdogs. It has been mentioned in national magazines as one of the best places to go for a dog. But it's not a hot dog joint.

A Tavola is a good, upscale pizza place.

Those two, plus Bakersfield are all on Vine Street just north of Central Parkway. On the weekend, they quickly fill up. There are a number of other restaurants down there, including Taste of Belgium, Salazar, The Anchor, Kaze, Lavomatic, The Eagle, Abigail Street...

Downtown restaurants tend to be upscale, but there are plenty of options. I personally like Nada, an upscale Mexican place at the corner of Sixth and Walnut. For less upscale, my most frequent visit is to Taqueria Mercado just up the street, which I think still has entertainment on Saturday night.

There are four upscale steakhouses downtown, two of which are national chains: Morton's, Ruth's Chris, Prime, and Jeff Ruby, the local favorite.

This past weekend, I stayed at the Museum Hotel (21C), a branch of the Louisville chain. Expensive, and artsy fartsy, but I enjoyed my stay. The Cincinnatian is the other high end hotel.

Someone mentioned The Banks, which is next to the Red's stadium and down the street from Paul Brown. Moerlein Lager House and The Yard House are very popular. There's also a Toby Keith's, Tin Roof, Mahogany, Crave, Wine Guy...and a beer/taco place - Jefferson Hall, Holy Grail, which is a sports bar that serves bar food.

On Fountain Square is Rock Bottom Brewery, Palomino, McCormick and Schmicks, Boi Na Braza (a Brazilian steakhouse) Local 127, Via Vite (Italian), and a martini bar.

STAY AWAY FROM THE MILLENIUM HOTEL!!!!!!

There's more but dinner's calling.

Back from dinner:

My favorite Italian place is on 6th Street, around the corner from Walnut: Sotto. Expect to drop $100 for two. The more upscale version, Boca is next door. Hard to get in on the weekends without a reservation.

Oldest bar in the city: Arnold's. The courtyard is cool. The NBC show, "Harry's Law" used Arnold's as their hangout. The place has loads of character. They also serve food.

Another bar with character is Japp's on Main, north of Central Parkway. If you can get there early on a Saturday and get the owner/local celebrity bartender Molly Wellman to entertain you, it's a treat.

Dive bars downtown: O'Malley's in the Alley, Madonna's.

Bar downtown where you pay $15 for a cocktail: Obscura.

What to do: The tour that takes into you into the lager tunnels under the streets of Over-the-Rhine.

If the weather cooperates and you have means to get up there, over looking downtown is Mt. Adams. The Blind Lemon is a cool, little bar whose courtyard I recommend if the weather cooperates. November can be warm; November can be cold.

(03-13-2014 06:00 PM)SouthPhillyFall Wrote:  

(03-13-2014 05:02 PM)JHG722 Wrote:  

(03-13-2014 03:32 PM)SouthPhillyFall Wrote:  I recommend walking or taking cabs instead of taking public transportation. You have to buy tokens (they're in the process of phasing them out) and many out-of-towners feel unsafe on the subway or buses.

wtf?

I guess you don't know many people who visit Philly and express their opinion of SEPTA, or maybe you just took it at Temple and accepted it for what it was. The RR is not bad but the subway is the worst in quality and network (essentially just a cross with a few trolley lines) and highest in shadiness. I've been on a dozen subway systems around the world, and I've been taking the BSL and El consistently for 7 years now---it's the worst system by far. Maybe you didn't notice a few years back when a business man was randomly killed waiting at Olney Transportation Center, or the woman waiting for the BSL who was randomly thrown into the track by a stranger because she didn't have a cigarette (viewable online).

If anyone questions what I said, check out the Facebook group People of SEPTA. Love Philly and I take the subway, but I think visitors would be comfortable taking a cab, maybe with the exception of taking the BSL for a Temple game.

lol that is ridiculous. Maybe I could see SEPTA buses, but RR and the BSL, that is patently absurd. Is it a dump? Yes. Do plenty of people from Philly, the suburbs, and out of town use it without issue? Yes. No one from out of town is going to Olney unless they're going to a LaSalle game. I'm born and raised in the suburbs, obviously went to Temple, and I've been to Olney a grand total of once, of course, for a game. If you're going to Temple, the stadiums, City Hall, Market East, etc. you're not going to have any issues other than SEPTA not being reliable.

As far as people who visit Philly, my best friend is from Dallas and went to Temple for a year. Never had an issue on SEPTA and used it probably more than I did. His good friend from Dallas who I met and became good friends with through him has visited Philly several times and never expressed an issue. Never had anyone I know from out of the area say they feel unsafe on SEPTA.

(03-13-2014 09:00 PM)JHG722 Wrote:  

(03-13-2014 06:00 PM)SouthPhillyFall Wrote:  

(03-13-2014 05:02 PM)JHG722 Wrote:  

(03-13-2014 03:32 PM)SouthPhillyFall Wrote:  I recommend walking or taking cabs instead of taking public transportation. You have to buy tokens (they're in the process of phasing them out) and many out-of-towners feel unsafe on the subway or buses.

wtf?

I guess you don't know many people who visit Philly and express their opinion of SEPTA, or maybe you just took it at Temple and accepted it for what it was. The RR is not bad but the subway is the worst in quality and network (essentially just a cross with a few trolley lines) and highest in shadiness. I've been on a dozen subway systems around the world, and I've been taking the BSL and El consistently for 7 years now---it's the worst system by far. Maybe you didn't notice a few years back when a business man was randomly killed waiting at Olney Transportation Center, or the woman waiting for the BSL who was randomly thrown into the track by a stranger because she didn't have a cigarette (viewable online).

If anyone questions what I said, check out the Facebook group People of SEPTA. Love Philly and I take the subway, but I think visitors would be comfortable taking a cab, maybe with the exception of taking the BSL for a Temple game.

lol that is ridiculous. Maybe I could see SEPTA buses, but RR and the BSL, that is patently absurd. Is it a dump? Yes. Do plenty of people from Philly, the suburbs, and out of town use it without issue? Yes. No one from out of town is going to Olney unless they're going to a LaSalle game. I'm born and raised in the suburbs, obviously went to Temple, and I've been to Olney a grand total of once, of course, for a game. If you're going to Temple, the stadiums, City Hall, Market East, etc. you're not going to have any issues other than SEPTA not being reliable.

As far as people who visit Philly, my best friend is from Dallas and went to Temple for a year. Never had an issue on SEPTA and used it probably more than I did. His good friend from Dallas who I met and became good friends with through him has visited Philly several times and never expressed an issue. Never had anyone I know from out of the area say they feel unsafe on SEPTA.

For good measure I asked a friend tonight about this, a Midwesterner who now lives in South Philly. His reaction was "Can you imagine an out-of-towner getting to City Hall, trying to figure out the token thing, and then navigating those halls trying to figure out where they need to be? If you're going to the stadiums it makes sense. That's really it."

I'm sure North Carolina folks would hop on the BSL and welcome the sweet aroma of piss, the guy selling bootleg DVDs, the homeless person asking for money IN the subway car, the guy blasting music from his speakerphone, and the teenagers pretend fighting for fun with open arms. Does that stuff happen on the T, CTA, DC metro, or NYC metro? Sometimes, but not with such consistency and extremity as the BSL/El.

Cincinnati...hang downtown in Over the Rhein in the Gateway District.

Rheingeist Brewery

Zula for the best mussles you have ever had.

(03-13-2014 09:32 PM)SouthPhillyFall Wrote:  I'm sure North Carolina folks would hop on the BSL and welcome the sweet aroma of piss, the guy selling bootleg DVDs, the homeless person asking for money IN the subway car, the guy blasting music from his speakerphone, and the teenagers pretend fighting for fun with open arms. Does that stuff happen on the T, CTA, DC metro, or NYC metro? Sometimes, but not with such consistency and extremity as the BSL/El.

Happens in NYC all the time. My friend lives in Brooklyn and posts all the strange **** that happens on the MTA.

I didn't live in Boston long enough to notice on the T, but I would imagine weird **** happens there too.

DC, no. DC has the best public transit in the country.

SEPTA smells, it's dirty, has some unsavory characters and is in a major need of renovating, but you're very unlikely to feel unsafe.

(03-13-2014 11:18 PM)JHG722 Wrote:  SEPTA smells, it's dirty, has some unsavory characters and is in a major need of renovating, but you're very unlikely to feel unsafe.

Print that on the tourist brochures. We've got ourselves a winning catch phrase to convince tourists to use public transit!

(03-13-2014 11:34 PM)CollegeCard Wrote:  

(03-13-2014 11:18 PM)JHG722 Wrote:  SEPTA smells, it's dirty, has some unsavory characters and is in a major need of renovating, but you're very unlikely to feel unsafe.

Print that on the tourist brochures. We've got ourselves a winning catch phrase to convince tourists to use public transit!

Hey just being honest. We all wish it was as nice as DC's public transit.

(03-13-2014 11:37 PM)JHG722 Wrote:  

(03-13-2014 11:34 PM)CollegeCard Wrote:  

(03-13-2014 11:18 PM)JHG722 Wrote:  SEPTA smells, it's dirty, has some unsavory characters and is in a major need of renovating, but you're very unlikely to feel unsafe.

Print that on the tourist brochures. We've got ourselves a winning catch phrase to convince tourists to use public transit!

Hey just being honest. We all wish it was as nice as DC's public transit.

DC does have the nicest system I've been on in the US. Better than NYC, Boston, Chicago, or San Fran.