How to Spend the Perfect Weekend in Northern Kentucky
Embark on 36 hours of fun things to do in Northern Kentucky with this itinerary.
Need a weekend away? Northern Kentucky and its variety of entertainment options allow visitors and residents to immerse themselves in all things fun. If you’re looking to spend a weekend in Northern Kentucky, here’s a weekend itinerary that takes you all over the region. Whether you follow it to a T or cherry-pick your favorite activities, you are sure to have an unforgettable 36 hours filled with fun things to do in Northern Kentucky.
Friday
Your weekend in Northern Kentucky begins at Hotel Covington, which occupies two historic buildings – a former department store and YMCA – in the heart of the city. Both buildings have been rehabbed into stylish guest quarters that include lofts and five penthouse suites with views of the Covington skyline. One suite even includes views of the fairytale tower on the corner of the building.
There’s no need to stray far from the hotel for the first night in town. For dinner, stroll down the block to Opal Rooftop Restaurant & Bar, a stylish, new American restaurant dedicated to open-fire cooking that’s become a hot spot since it opened in late 2023.
Everything from bread and cauliflower to flatiron steak and duck breast is cooked on Opal’s 88-inch Grillworks grill, so dishes coming out of the kitchen are perfectly fired with just a kiss of smoke. And while there’s not a bad seat in the house, especially during the early evening when golden-hour light streams through the dining room’s massive windows, a seat on the outdoor terrace yields particularly impressive views of downtown Covington.
After dessert, grab a nightcap at nearby craft cocktail bar Second Story, where the decor seems to have taken inspiration from bohemian artists in 19th-century Europe, San Francisco’s psychedelic Summer of Love and art collective Meow Wolf’s maximalist style.
Saturday
For a true taste of Northern Kentucky, start the day at the venerable Anchor Grill in Covington, which is going on nearly 80 years in business. It’s an old-school, no-frills diner with a “wonderful waitstaff – downhome Kentucky people – and delicious breakfast,” says Maija Zummo, senior manager, international and domestic communications at meetNKY, the area’s convention and visitors bureau.
Try the goetta – a sausage patty made of pork and oats that’s found only in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky – in an omelet, sandwich or biscuits and gravy. Glier’s Goetta factory is just around the corner from Anchor Grill, and if you’re visiting at the end of July, you can hit Glier’s Goettafest, a two-weekend long celebration of the regional specialty.
Fueled by all that sausage, get ready to fill your day with plenty of fun things to do in Northern Kentucky. Take advantage of Red Bike, the area’s bicycle rideshare program. Head to one of Covington’s six stations and rent a two-wheeler for just $5, then cruise down the Riverfront Commons Trail, a multiuse riverfront trail between Covington and Newport (future trail development will connect Ludlow, Covington, Newport, Bellevue, Dayton and Fort Thomas). Cycle past Roebling Bridge, where 18 elaborately detailed murals on the river floodwall depict the history of the area.
There’s even an online scavenger hunt based on the artwork that will have you searching out a beer stein, a nude woman and an ad for Mom’s Home Cooking. “We love street art up here,” Zummo says.
Cross the Licking River and continue to Newport’s BB Riverboats. Board a historic vessel for a two-hour sightseeing tour, during which a banjo-playing host regales passengers with tidbits and tales about Northern Kentucky. The company also offers brunch, lunch and dinner, historic, holiday and themed voyages, with tickets starting at just $29.
After disembarking, make the quick five-minute walk to entertainment, dining and retail district Newport on the Levee. Grab a quick lunch at Barking Box, which is located inside a shipping container and serves an unlikely combo of croissants stuffed with Nutella and other sweet fillings and fancy hot dogs. Try the Denmark dog, which is topped with mashed potatoes, cheddar and bacon.
Next, head across the street to Newport Aquarium to spend the afternoon with otherworldly aquatic creatures. Of note is Gator Alley, home to two exceedingly rare white alligators as well as a trio of critically endangered baby Orinoco crocodiles.
If aquatic apex predators aren’t enough adrenaline for you, check out nearby Immersive Gamebox, a digital gaming venue where augmented reality visors and motion sensors create a whole different world inside a private gaming room.
When you start to feel hungry, Zummo recommends doubling back to Covington for dinner and nabbing a table at Mama’s on Main, an Italian eatery where the dining room is as red as the sauce. The food is delicious, she says, and the decor is “highly Instagrammable and inspired by Botticelli and Andy Warhol’s ‘Birth of Venus.’”
The restaurant offers an impressive selection of Italian wines as well as housemade limoncello to accompany its pastas and parmesans.
Finally, take in some after-dinner entertainment at Newport’s MegaCorp Pavilion, an indoor/ outdoor venue that has hosted national acts like My Morning Jacket, The Kills and Pete Davidson.
Sunday
A fitting way to wrap up your visit is Sunday brunch at Burlington’s Tousey House Tavern. Located in a 200-year-old home, the kitchen turns out Southern comfort food in “a comfortable atmosphere that makes you feel as if you’re sitting around your own table for Sunday dinner,” Zummo says.
She’s particularly enthusiastic about Tousey’s take on a hot brown sandwich, calling it a must-try. In addition to the classic open-faced version of the sandwich, brunch-goers have the option of ordering a “Breakfast Brown,” which is served on a buttermilk biscuit and smothered in sausage gravy.
As you wrap up your weekend in Northern Kentucky, one final not-to-be skipped experience: the quirky Vent Haven Museum in Fort Mitchell. It’s the world’s only ventriloquism museum, comprising over 1,100 ventriloquist dummies as well as memorabilia, photos, posters and recordings. The collection is only open to the public via guided tour, which must be scheduled in advance.
Get to Know Northern Kentucky
Want to learn more about living and working in Northern Kentucky? Check out the latest edition of Livability Northern Kentucky.
