CINCINNATI, Ohio -- On a summer day here, you can quench your thirst for wheat beer, Mexican food, fine art, home furnishing bargains and even shop for new architectural tile to update a bathroom shower, fireplace surround or kitchen backsplash.

To accomplish that last goal, start your day in Over-the-Rhine with a visit to Rookwood Pottery Co.'s showroom at 1920 Race St. If you make an appointment, a staff member can show you the company's four lines of architectural tile and the 100 colors that are available. 1-513-381-2510; www.rookwood.com.

Afterward, stroll just a block down the street and eat lunch at Findlay Market, Ohio's oldest, continuously operated farmers market at 1801 Race St.

Then drive up the hill to Eden Park Boulevard for a visit to the Cincinnati Art Museum where you can see an outstanding collection of Rookwood pottery plus French impressionism. 1-513-721-2787; www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org.

After you tour the museum, it's an eight-minute drive from there to Mount Adams, a neighborhood that overlooks Cincinnati. It's the site of an earlier location of Rookwood Pottery and the former building, with kilns intact, has become the Rookwood Bar and Restaurant at 1077 Celestial St. 1-513-421-5555; www.therookwood.com.

At the bar, try Rivertown Brewing's Hefe Weizen, a wheat-based beer that's especially refreshing on warm summer days. Dine in one of the old kilns or opt for a table in the dining room, where there's a display case filled with Rookwood pottery.

If you'd rather see downtown Cincinnati, commune with the young and hip at Nada, a busy Mexican restaurant at 600 Walnut St. There's a large outdoor patio and an upstairs bar; reservations are a must. Telephone: 1-513-721-6232.

Then travel north of downtown for about 20 minutes to the town of West Chester. There you'll find a Frontgate Outlet center (8939 Union Centre Blvd., 45069), which has a collection of upscale home furnishing, travel and clothing outlets. There's a Frontgate showroom and outlet center as well as The Territory Ahead and Ballard Designs, two of Frontgate's sister companies. Frontgate offers cushions, outdoor furniture, towels and outdoor rugs at 50 percent off. Ditto for some outlandish Halloween decorations and its famous artificial Christmas trees.

There's also a TravelSmith, which sells travel goods and clothing; discounted shoes and Echo scarves appear to be the best buys.

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