Honestly, if you're wondering why I'm talking about Lakeside Park, it's his inconspicuous story that's always surprised me. Founded at the end of 19. It is a small railway hub in the heart of Kenton County that the town has hardly removed from its original, slightly worn-out worker identity – and that is what makes the charm. I remember when I was a child with my grandpa passing the old railway station building, which today is only a rusty post, and we were talking about the “glorious” days of the coal and steel industry.
Today you drive almost exclusively by car; the I‐71 is practically the lifeline, and a short detour from the US‐25 leads you directly to the center where you can feel the true Lakeside Park Flair. I don't understand the hype around the big metropolises, but here, between the gentle hills and the quiet Ohio River, you'll find a rest you never get in Manhattan.
If you're looking for a little change, take a look at the small cafés along Main Street – no joke, the homemade pancakes there are almost legendary. And yes, I have already installed the word “Lakeside Park Sights” twice, because I believe that a bit of self-iron never hurts while I put you at the same time to explore the local corners before you fall into the next tourist traps.
With the map tool, you can plan the ideal location for a photo online in advance – taking into account the sun's path and the surroundings.
Here's how it works:
Advantage:
You can assess light, perspective and location before visiting the site – ideal for photography, sunrises and sunsets.
To find the exact point where the sun disappears behind the skyline, use the azimuth display on poi-travel.de. In Lakeside Park, the sun travels further northwest below the horizon in summer, while in winter it takes a more southwesterly angle. With the embedded line on the map, you can determine your tripod position down to the metre.
The first stop I don't miss is that Newport Aquarium on the banks of Ohio, just a short walk over the bridge of Lakeside Park. I once observed a huge shark that seemed to have more interest in my hat than to the visitors – no joke, the part of the show was a real crowd magnet. Parking is usually a children's game as long as you don't come on Friday night, then the car park becomes a battlefield.
A few miles further, just opposite the Cincinnati skyline, this is National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. I don't quite understand the hype about the interactive exhibits, but the story that is told here is simply captivating. During the last visit, I almost caught myself in a replica of a flight tunnel construction – that was a real adrenalinkick, considering that once people were fighting for their lives.
If you have enough of history, the path leads to Big Bone Lick State Historic Site in the north. Where Mammuts and saber-tooths once drove their innocences, today one can marvel at the fossils that slumber in the earth. I made a small picnic there, while a family father told his child that the bones are more than 10,000 years old – a moment that reminded me how small our everyday life is.
A short trip after Boone County Arboretum in Florence is a must for all who believe that green spaces exist only in parks. The trails are well signposted, the parking is almost always free, and the variety of native plants makes even the hardest city people marvel. I once watched a squirrel that wore courageously on my hand while I tried to shoot a photo – the animal was clearly the star of the day.
For those who prefer to see animals from nearby, this is Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden a classic that you should not leave. I spent there a day when the giraffes almost exceeded the whole number of visitors – that was a good sign that the weather was playing. Parking is a bit messy at the weekend, but a small price for meeting the majestic giants.
A little further south, almost halfway to Louisville, lies this Creation Museum in Petersburg. I must admit that I cannot always understand the religious undertone, but the exhibition on the origin of the earth is technically impressive. During the last visit, I almost ran into an interactive area, because the paths were so labyrinth-like – a good training for orientation.
At the end of my small tour I recommend a trip to John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge, which marks the cityscape of Cincinnati and Covington. I once watched the sunset there, while a street musician played an old folk song – that was almost too romantic for my taste, but I still let myself in.
So, Lakeside Park Sights searches, will quickly realize that the environment has more to offer than just the small place itself – from historical sites to impressive nature to modern museums – all just a stone's throw away.
So, if you ask me, the true heart of Lakeside Park hits on the shores of the small but surprisingly clear lake – yes, exactly where I first straightened with my old bike over the cracking wooden bridge and almost landed in the water, because an overcrowded dog wanted to “support” me. The lake is not just a huge natural wonder, but the approximately 2 km-long all-way facility is perfect for a relaxed walk, a bit of jogging or just to let the soul go out while you listen to the quiet pleasing. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturdays, when the families with picnic baskets and barbecue equipment flood the shore – then you better find one of the laterally located residential roads, otherwise you are standing in the dam between a stroller and a tractor.
A short detour from the lake leads you to 9-hole golf course of Lakeside Park, which somehow moves between “professional enough for an honest blow” and “so cozy that you could almost confuse the green with a picnic table”. I don't quite understand the hype about golf, but here's a small club house that looks more like a rustic café, and the fairways are so well maintained that you feel almost guilty when you do a birdie. The best thing: the start fee is so low that you can afford almost a second beer while waiting for the next drop.
If you don't have enough water after golfing, just jump into Community Center – this is the swimming pool I use every time I feel that my everyday life has become too dry. The indoor pool is not huge, but the water treatment is top, and the staff is so friendly that they welcome you almost on board with a “welcome back!” although you have only been there for five minutes. In addition to the swimming pool, there is a gym that looks more like a crowded fitness sleeve club, and a small room where yoga classes take place in the evening – perfect if you want to stretch your muscles after a long day without running right into the pub.
Another jewel I always like to visit is the Boone County Public Library – Lakeside Branch. I know libraries sound for some after dusty temples of boredom, but here there are modern reading corners, free Wi-Fi and even a small café serving the best cappuccino of the city – no joke, that is better than what I find in most urban chains. And if you happen to find a book about local history, you will find a small collection of photos from the 1920s that show how the area became from a pure agricultural area to the suburb that we know today.
A short walk through the Historic District of Lakeside Park lets you admire the architecture of the 1930s and 1940s. I met an old neighbor there who told me that the house was originally built next door as a “small town bungalow” to give the workers of the nearby factory a home. The streets are lined with trees that offer almost romantic colors in autumn – a perfect place to shoot a few Instagram photos, which then hardly anyone understands because they don't know all this is in Kentucky.
For the four-legged companions Dog park on the eastern edge of the lake. I had my bitch Bella run there for the first time and she immediately found a new favorite toy: an old rubber boot that another dog had buried. The park is fenced, has separate areas for big and small dogs and a few benches where you can rest while watching the mess. Practical: There is a small water dispenser so you don't have to drive home every time to fill the bottle.
And if you're in Lakeside Park in summer, you'll be allowed to Summer Concert Series do not miss the amphitheater at the lake. I once heard a local Bluegrass band that was so good that I almost forgot the popcorn I just bought. The stage is not huge, but the acoustics are surprisingly clear, and the audience is a mixture of families that expose their children with blankets, and a few young people who decorate their phones for TikTok clips. The whole thing is free, so just bring a blanket and a few snacks – and be ready to take you away from the relaxed atmosphere.
Last but not least a small hint, which is often overlooked: Weekly Farmers Market Wednesday morning, next to the Community Center. Here there are fresh vegetables from local farmers, homemade jams and occasionally some handmade works of art. I met an old man there who told me that he's been here every Wednesday since 1975 and that he sells the only vegetables he has cultivated himself – a bit of pride, a bit of nostalgia, and a good reason to taste some local specialties.
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