Indiana's 'Whiskey City' Near Cincinnati Has Fun Parks, Nearby River Access, And Scenic Trails

At a corner where three Midwestern states meet, Indiana's "Whiskey City" waits to welcome visitors across the state line. Lawrenceburg is a small rural town with a thriving Main Street, fun parks, scenic trails to explore, and convenient river access for boating, paddling, and fishing. It's also been in the whiskey business nearly since the town was founded in the early 1800s and is still home to one of the country's largest distilleries. When Prohibition hit in 1920, many of the town's distilleries closed, but one was allowed to stay open to produce "medicinal whiskey." That same distillery remains open today, despite having changed owners and names several times since.

The community sits on the banks of the Ohio River where Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana converge, just 30 minutes from downtown Cincinnati or 20 minutes from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG). If you want to escape Cincinnati's crowds and traffic, visit Lawrenceburg for a day or two. It's the perfect combo of rural simplicity with nearby urban amenities. The city loves to host an event that brings the community together, and occasionally to show off its whiskey. 

Lawrenceburg's event schedule is packed with fun festivals and concerts. Come bike a scenic riverside trail or take the kids to a park during the day and stay for the evening entertainment. If the whiskey is what you're after, try Proof 124 Table and Tavern and their selection of over 100 bourbons and whiskeys.

Lawrenceburg boasts several fun and well-maintained local parks and a public pool, making it a great choice for a day trip with kids. Arch Street Park, George Street Park, and Todd Creech Memorial Park all have brightly colored playgrounds for younger kids to burn off some energy, and the Lawrenceburg Skate Park has three bowls and a road course for older kids and aspiring skaters who are "too cool" for the playground. Don't forget your pads!

Cool down at the Pat O'Neill Memorial Pool and Splash Park. The pool is clean, the staff is friendly, and your kids will love the splash park area. Bring a small, soft-sided cooler with your picnic lunch inside, or purchase concessions to tide you over until mealtime. If you don't need a full day of swimming but still want to cool off for a minute, try the splash fountain at Lawrenceburg Civic Park instead. Kids can run through the jets, and adults might soak their feet for a minute for a quick cool down. This isn't a "bring your swimsuit" situation, but it's a nice "run through the sprinkler" option on a hot day.

Ludlow Hill Park offers another fun playground, and also more room to run around with pickleball and tennis courts, a football field, walking trails, and two catch-and-release fishing ponds. If you're visiting in the winter, don't miss Perfect North, one of the top-rated ski resorts in the Midwest.

Being directly on the Ohio River has its ups and downs, but the incredible views and plentiful recreation opportunities are big perks. The Tanners Creek Boat Ramp at Ratliff Landing is conveniently located between Lawrenceburg, Greendale, and Aurora, Indiana. There are six lanes for launching boats and plenty of parking, so you'll never have to wait long to get on the water. Whether you want to explore upstream on Tanners Creek or paddle across the Ohio to the USS Sachem Ruins, this is a good place to start.

This stretch of the river still sees some barges and bigger boats, but it's also part of the Ohio River Way, a 308-mile paddling trail that stretches from Ashland, Kentucky, to West Point, Kentucky, passing Cincinnati and Louisville along the way. Paddlers and boaters entering the river from Tanners Creek can paddle north to Shawnee Lookout and the Great Miami River, or south to Aurora and Hogan Creek. For seasoned paddling adventurers, there are several other parks and tributaries within a half day's paddling distance both up and down the Ohio River.

If you prefer to stay on land but still want those pretty Ohio River views, the Dearborn County Trail is a paved multi-use riverside path that connects Lawrenceburg to Aurora, Indiana's "City of Spires" and jewel of Victorian mansions. This scenic trail is mostly shaded, a welcome comfort in the hot summer months, and only 4.5 miles long between towns. Take advantage of the affordable River Cities Bikeshare Program, and you can easily visit both towns in one day.