When the sun is shining and the temperature is rising, you need a place to cool down. Here are some great spots in NKY, perfect for chillin’ on a hot summer day.
Take a Dip
When it’s time to cool off, go to the Florence Aquatic Center, where you can float down a lazy river, splash in the zero-depth pool or zip down the spiral slide. Families love to frolic in the spray grounds and under the sprinkling “funbrellas.” You can drop in with a daily pass or buy a membership. You don’t even have to live in Florence to enjoy this classic summertime experience.
Skating By
Lace up your skates at Northern Kentucky Ice Center in Crescent Springs and spin (or slide) your way across the ice. They offer daily public skating sessions, perfect for everyone, from the wobbly-kneed beginner to the next Olympic figure skating hopeful.
Penguin Palooza
Be transported to the arctic home of playful penguins at Newport Aquarium. Watch the adorable waddlers as they hop up rocky, snowcapped cliffs and slide down a snowbank into icy water.
Cone by Cone
Northern Kentucky knows ice cream, which is why the options here are so delicious. We’ve got Graeter’s and Cold Stone, of course. You can also indulge in more than a dozen homemade flavors at Schneider’s Sweet Shop in Bellevue or Piper’s Café in MainStrasse offers hundreds of flavors of their creamy soft serve.
Super Slushie
Frosthaus, in Covington’s Roebling Point neighborhood, specializes in boozy (and non-boozy) frozen drinks. Be sure to sip carefully to avoid the dreaded brain freeze!
Cupful of Heaven
For the creamiest frozen treat around, come to Golden Gelato in downtown Covington. They make all their gelato and sorbet from scratch using traditional Italian methods and locally sourced ingredients. You will love the flavor selection and you may even want to try an Affogato, a scoop of vanilla gelato topped with a shot of espresso.
NKY Ice Balls
A summertime favorite that is sure to cool you down is the ice ball, available at Sweet Tooth Candies & Ice Cream on Newport’s West Side. What’s an ice ball? Picture a scoop of ice cream covered in a snow cone, giving you the smooth texture of the ice cream with the syrupy, crunch of the snow cone ice. Get creative with the flavor combinations and you’ll see why this dessert is perfect for hot afternoons.
This summer, let Northern Kentucky cool you down and chill you out.
About the author: Jill Morenz is the Director of Community Initiatives and Communications for the Catalytic Fund and also runs the NKY Public Arts Network. She is an enthusiastic evangelist for all things NKY.
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