Kicking off the empty nester years—our first weekend trip

Ripley, OH and Maysville, KY

Getting it started right!

After going to the Underground Railroad Freedom Center in downtown Cincinnati, we were surprised to discover that two key pieces of abolitionist history were only within an hour of us.

Intrigued, we decided to plan a trip to this area. Ripley, OH and Maysville, KY are across the Ohio River from each other due east of Cincinnati. So, we packed our bags and made our way to two small river towns.

Follow our itinerary for a slice of life that includes mouth-watering food, a bit of history, an eclectic museum, a bourbon distillery museum, a peaceful family-run winery, a hidden bar, a punctual bed and breakfast, an antique mall and a tour of log cabins.  

We headed out early in the morning on a Saturday and packed a ton of stuff into two days.

Day 1

John Rankin House Historic Sight (Ripley, OH): You can find this at the top of the hill in Ripley. Unfortunately, we had come a few weeks after the house closed for the summer, but we were still able to scope out the property and see where escaped slaves ran up the hill to the house. John Rankin and his wife housed slaves and shepherded them to freedom as part of the Underground Railroad.

The John Rankin house sits atop a steep hill slaves had to climb to get to a safe hiding place.

John Parker House (Ripley, OH) (also closed and impossible to contact): We made it down the hill to the John Parker House where Parker helped slaves cross the Ohio River and then led them to John Rankin’s house. We will go back another time when we can go inside, but you can see how close to the river this house was.

Buck’s Grill (Maysville, KY): Stopped for lunch at this highly recommended BBQ joint. Don’t let the two-headed stuffed calf on the wall spoil your appetite. This type of thing is indicative of our lives and our personalities, a small taste of our adventures to come.

Kentucky Gateway Museum (Maysville, KY). After lunch we trekked across to a museum that houses the biggest collection of miniatures (oxymoron much?) in the country—the KSB Miniatures Collection. Absolutely fascinating. There were music sheets about 1 inch in size with handwritten scores. A must do!

A miniature house from the museum.

Old Pogue Distillery (Maysville, KY): Next door to the Kentucky Gateway Museum. Highlights the development of bourbon in the 1700s and 1800s.  We’re not big bourbon fans, but the docent was really knowledgeable about the history of the area.

Miranda-Nixon Winery (Ripley, OH): Since we didn’t partake in the bourbon tasting, we decided to go back over the river to relax over a nice glass of wine on a beautiful fall day. To say this place was breathtaking would be an understatement. Not only were the wines great, the winery overlooked their beautiful vineyards, their dogs hang out with the customers and the owners are truly delightful. They do have limited hours on Fridays and Saturdays, so double check before you go.

Golden Retriever, Hannah, at winery. We love Goldens!

Caproni’s on the River (Maysville, KY): It was then time to head to our dinner reservation. The view of the Ohio river was spectacular and the steaks were Jeff Ruby-quality or better. But what stole the show was the slice of transparent pie. I know Kentuckians will gasp when we say this, but it was like pecan pie without the pecans. This was hands-down the best piece of pie we had ever eaten.

Amazing pie and steaks!

Kenton Stories with Spirit and Chandler’s Bar (Maysville, KY): We capped off the night by bar hopping in downtown Ripley. We discovered a hidden gem…a very tiny bar behind a bookstore that you had to enter from the back. Speakeasy vibes. Everyone knew each other and the place was genuinely charming. After a drink, we moseyed on over to an old bar called Chandler’s for another drink. It looked like an old apothecary. Really cool atmosphere.  

Moon River Bed and Breakfast (Maysville, KY): We decided to stay at a bed and breakfast because we thought it would be cozy. When we arrived, we discovered the house was in the process of being renovated so not everything was in order. I am sure it has been fully restored at this point. The owner was very accommodating and was waiting for us when we arrived. He also provided a wonderful home-cooked, sit-down breakfast with steak, eggs and other delicious items. It’s important to note that the breakfast time was non-negotiable and was decided by the owner. For a weekend away, we were hoping to sleep in a bit, but he said we had to be down for breakfast at 8 am. After breakfast, we felt hurried to take showers and check out as he told us he had to leave Maysville that morning.

Day 2

Olde Piano Factory Antique Store (Ripley, OH): Fun antique mall in an old piano factory. They even have an old piano from the factory to look at when you enter.

Old Washington, KY: On our way back to Cincinnati, we signed up for a tour of some log cabins from the 1790s in Old Washington. You can buy tours from the Visitor House. We learned more than we ever wanted to know about log cabins built from flat boats—yesteryear's mobile homes—Harriet Beecher Stowe stories and more, thanks to a well-educated docent. We ate lunch at this cool restaurant in the log cabin district called Lil Jumbo Coffee. Check it out!

What we learned from this trip:

• Call ahead to ensure things are open, even if they say they are open on Google

• Check lodging reviews more thoroughly

• Get the PhotoCircle app and create an album for each weekend trip and a general Empty Nester Vibes album for smaller outings

Not from this area?

• Join a social media group that focuses on travel in your state and uncover historical gems others have visited. We joined Ohio Road Trips. The advice we get from this group is invaluable