Best Things to Do in Northern Kentucky

Northern Kentucky is the other half of Cincinnati — the riverfront towns of Covington and Newport, a bridge away from downtown, plus the small towns and rolling farmland that run south toward the Ark Encounter. It blends a big-city day with quiet Kentucky evenings, which is why families and groups like basing here. From historic Main Streets to a world-class zoo, here are the things worth your time on both sides of the Ohio River.

On the Riverfront

Newport on the Levee

A riverfront entertainment district with restaurants, a movie theater, and skyline views directly across from downtown Cincinnati — the easiest first stop in Northern Kentucky. Park once and walk to the aquarium, the riverboats, and the Purple People Bridge.

Newport Aquarium

Walk through underwater tunnels, cross a rope bridge over a shark tank, touch stingrays, and meet the penguins. One of the region's top family attractions, and a full morning or afternoon. Pair it with lunch on the Levee next door.

BB Riverboats

Sightseeing, lunch, and dinner cruises on the Ohio from the Newport landing, with skyline views the whole way. Book the sunset sailings in summer and the themed dinner cruises in fall.

The Roebling Suspension Bridge

The 1866 prototype for the Brooklyn Bridge, by the same engineer. Walk it from Covington to Cincinnati's Smale Riverfront Park — the best free thing to do on the river.

Neighborhoods & Views

Mainstrasse Village, Covington

A historic, walkable neighborhood of 19th-century German brick buildings filled with bars, restaurants, and shops. This is Northern Kentucky's best evening out: dinner on Main Street, a drink at a beer garden, and the Goose Girl fountain in the middle of it all.

Devou Park Overlook

The best skyline view in the region, from a hilltop park above Covington. Go at sunset for sweeping views of Cincinnati and the river, and bring a camera. The Behringer-Crawford Museum of local history is in the park too.

Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption

A Gothic cathedral in Covington modeled on Notre-Dame de Paris, with one of the largest stained-glass windows in the world. Free to visit, and ten minutes from Mainstrasse.

Family Favorites

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

Just minutes across the river and one of the nation's top zoos — home to Fiona the hippo, a world-class primate collection, and gardens that make it a full day for all ages. Buy tickets online and go early on weekends.

Florence Y'alls Baseball

A fun, affordable minor-league night 20 minutes south of the river, with fireworks Fridays, kids' promotions, and the famous water tower. Summer evenings here are hard to beat for a big group.

The Ark Encounter

Forty minutes south in Williamstown, the life-size Ark is one of Kentucky's biggest attractions. Our Ark Encounter guide covers how to plan it and our where-to-stay guide covers where a big family sleeps.

Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal

Across the river in an Art Deco train station: a children's museum, a natural history museum, and an OMNIMAX theater under one dome. The right call on a rainy day.

Outdoors & Local Flavor

Big Bone Lick State Historic Site

Known as the birthplace of American paleontology, with walking trails, a bison herd, and natural-history exhibits, 30 minutes southwest of Covington.

Braxton Brewing Company

A Northern Kentucky staple for craft beer, with a rooftop patio and rotating local brews in the heart of Covington. Good for an afternoon stop before Mainstrasse.

Scenic Backroads & Bourbon Stops

Rolling hills, quiet country roads, and a few small distilleries just outside the city — the unhurried side of Northern Kentucky. New Riff Distilling in Newport is the closest and one of the best young distilleries in the state. If it leaves you wanting the full bourbon experience, start with our Bourbon Trail weekend guide.

A Three-Day Northern Kentucky Plan

Day one, the river: Newport Aquarium in the morning, lunch on the Levee, the Roebling Bridge and Smale Park after, dinner in Mainstrasse Village.

Day two, the zoo or the Ark: a full day at the Cincinnati Zoo, or the Ark Encounter if it is the reason for the trip, with a Florence Y'alls game that night.

Day three, slow: Devou Park in the morning, Braxton or New Riff in the afternoon, a pool evening at the house.

Where to Stay

Our Williamstown vacation homes put you between the Ark Encounter and the riverfront — large houses with pools and game rooms that sleep 12 to 30, 35 minutes from Covington and Newport. They are the ideal base for a trip that mixes Cincinnati days with quiet Kentucky evenings, and for the price of a downtown hotel block you get a whole house, a kitchen, and a hot tub.