Some of the Best Parts of Cincinnati…Are in Kentucky
Just across the Ohio River, the cities of Northern Kentucky are still very much a reflection of neighboring Cincinnati, OH. You’ll see plenty of Bengals and Reds gear, as well as that of FC Cincinnati, the city’s Major League Soccer Club. But you’ll also find more of that unbridled Kentucky spirit. It’s a little more independent, a little more raucous — perhaps even saucy — and a little more real.
Speaking of spirit, there are plenty more Kentucky spirits here, too. Sure, Cincy is a bourbon town, but when you head over into the Bluegrass State, the status of that barrel-aged whiskey is elevated to near religion.
So if a trip to Cincy is in your future, make sure to include the city’s other half — in Northern Kentucky. (By the way, if you fly in you’ll be off to a great start, as the airport is actually in Northern Kentucky. The airport code “CVG” is named for Covington, KY.) Ready to explore?
Ninety-five percent of US bourbons are made in Kentucky, and the northern part of the state is your gateway to it all. This is the home of 11 of the best bourbon bars in the nation, according to The Bourbon Review, which also once named the region the “Best Bourbon Weekend Trip.” And the locals have made it easy for you. Their bourbon trail is called The B-Line® and includes a collection of craft distilleries, bourbon bars, and restaurants that specialize in the spirit.
If getting outdoors is your jam, Northern Kentucky has you covered. There are cycling options from mountain biking to cruising on urban rentals, paddling on kayaks or stand-up paddleboards, a slew of hiking trails and art walks, fishing, orienteering, horseback riding, and one of the world’s best disc golf courses.
If you’re traveling with the kiddos, Northern Kentucky (aka “NKY”) has plenty of family-friendly accommodations, restaurants, and attractions. But you can expect a different take on the family vacay here (because IYKYK, right?).
Northern Kentucky has a diverse food scene, with establishments that often draw on the area’s German heritage. So many German immigrants settled here throughout the 1800s that one of the neighborhoods in Covington (a place chock-full of bars, restaurants, and shops) is called Mainstrasse Village — Mainstrasse is German for Main Street. But there are also restaurants presenting flavors from Italy, Cambodia, the Netherlands, Japan, India, the Mediterranean, and more. For truly local fare, check out Dixie Chili’s version of Cincy-style chili as well as goetta, which is sausage-like with ground pork and beef, onions, garlic, steel-cut oats, and lots of spices.
Wind through the quaint streets of Northern Kentucky and shop local. You’ll find vintage records, pop culture and science fiction toys, antiques, handmade souvenirs, artisanal candles, hat shops, and perhaps even a mummified cat (trust us, keep reading, it’ll make sense). Yep, things are about to get arcane.