This article is part of LINK’s 2025 Back-To-School Guide. Find everything you need to know to start the school year off right here.
There’s still some summer left, and kids still need entertainment.
So, we’ve gathered some ideas for last-minute summer activities to round out the season before back-to-school gets into full swing.
Keep reading to find some end-of-the-season inspiration.
Grab a creamy whip
To the uninitiated, a creamy whip may seem like soft serve ice cream in a cone, and well … that’s technically what it is. Creamy whips are more than a frozen treat, though. They’re summer, tradition and community with a walk-up window. For those not familiar with this regional term, creamy whip is just the regional way of saying soft-serve ice cream.
Find our roundup of creamy whips around NKY here.
Visit a local splash pad before they close
Wilder Splash Pad
The splash pad runs from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. through Labor Day, weather permitting. It’s in City Center Park, which also offers two shelters, a playground, half-court basketball, a pitching wall, a tennis practice wall, two pickleball courts, a concession stand and restrooms. Located at 110 South St., Wilder.
Latonia Water Park/Splash Pad
The splash pad in the Bill Cappel Youth Sports Complex is open and free to Covington residents until Aug. 3. The park offers hoses, sprinklers, slides and play equipment. Located at 4305 Decoursey Ave., Covington.
Spend some time on the water
Looking for ways to get out on the water this summer? Maybe it’s time to visit one of NKY’s kayak kiosks.
With plenty of lakes and, of course, rivers, around the region, there are tons of spots to enjoy the warm weather on the water, but you may not own a kayak, or if you do, you might not have space to store it. That’s where kayak kiosks come into play. Schack’s Yaks has an innovative twofold program: It provides lockers so those with kayaks can store them by the river, so they don’t have to lug them around and find creative storage solutions. It also offers hourly rentals starting at $15 for the first hour and $10 for every additional hour in kayak kiosks for people looking to take a quick trip on the river. Learn more about Schack’s Yaks here.
Take a last-minute local trip
Looking to go on a little adventure this summer, but don’t have to time to go too far? You’re in luck, and there’s plenty to explore around Northern Kentucky that’ll make you feel like you’re worlds away. From the views at Devou Park to a trip back in time at Rabbit Hash to spending time in local waterways, there are so many ways to get out and enjoy the region. Find our list of last-minute trip locations where you can escape NKY without actually leaving here.
Go back in time at Big Bone Lick State Historic Site
Fun fact: NKY has a site that, according to the National Park Service, is “the key to understanding the life of the Ice Age on the North American continent.” Big Bone Lick State Park in Union is on the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail and is known for its salt springs and prehistoric animal fossils. Visitors can view life-size replicas of prehistoric animals, visit a bison herd, explore 4.5 miles of trails, camp, hike, swim, bird-watch, orienteer, picnic and more.
The park is open year-round and admission is free. It also features 62 campgrounds with a camp store, showers, grills, laundry and restrooms.
Big Bone Lick State Park is located at 3380 Beaver Road, Union. Learn more at parks.ky.gov.
Explore the history of NKY at the Behringer-Crawford Museum
Located in Covington’s Devou Park inside the Devou family’s 19th-century home, the Behringer-Crawford Museum offers a unique look at the region’s history. Exhibits focus on cultural history, archaeology, industry and performing and visual arts. The museum offers rotating exhibits as well as educational and cultural events and programs that range from the seasonal Holly Jolly Days to family fun days to music programming and more.
The Behringer-Crawford Museum is located at 1600 Montague Road – Devou Park, Covington. Find more information at bcmuseum.org.