Season Opener: Spring in Cincinnati

Across town at the Cincinnati History Museum, Bennie Butler dresses as a Civil War soldier and tells of the 1862 Siege of Cincinnati, when Confederates hungrily eyed Cincy's pork supply but didn't invade because forts built by the Black Brigade deterred them. The history lesson holds particular relevance for the native Kentuckian, an African-American brimming with passion for his adopted city. "We have two [professional sports] franchises, all these museums, a symphony orchestra. ... There is so much to see," Bennie says. "Every time I go to Eden Park, I imagine I'm an explorer looking across the river."

He isn't the first, and he won't be the last. Whether you want to admire blooming trees, home runs or thoughtful museums, finding Cincinnati's springtime sweet spot turns out to be pretty easy.

(A version of this story appeared in Midwest Living® March/April 2012. Click ahead for our Trip Guide and more photos from our trip.)