Discover Campbell: Culture, Nature, and Parks

For planning a trip to Campbell, specific themes can help you find your bearings: historic districts in Newport, paths through parks, and opportunities for wildlife watching. The places and activities differ considerably, so you can consider culture, outdoor activities, and events as separate areas of interest.

Historic Places and Culture in Newport

Newport has six historic districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The East Row Historic District includes 1,070 houses and is the second-largest historic district in Kentucky. All buildings in the East Row Historic District are listed on the National Register. The district’s size and its register status make it a specific focus for visitors interested in historic neighborhoods.

The world’s largest swinging bell is also located in Newport. During the Newport Garden Walk 2026, at least eight selected private gardens will open to visitors; the event also includes a vendor market. These examples offer different points of interest: a historic neighborhood, a notable landmark, and a time-specific garden event.

Aquarium and Newport on the Levee

Newport Aquarium is an underwater-world attraction in Newport. One of its features is the Shark Bridge, a rope bridge just inches above a shark tank. This direct connection to the tank gives the aquarium a different profile from the city’s historic places.

The aquarium is located at Newport on the Levee, two minutes from downtown Cincinnati. Newport on the Levee offers festivals, special events, and live bands year-round, as well as restaurants, entertainment, and shopping. Specific events and programs may change. For help planning your arrival: Newport is about a 25-minute drive from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.

Parks and Trails

Alexandria Community Park has more than three miles of paved walking paths and several nature trails. The distance refers to the paved paths; the nature trails are a separate way to explore the park. Annual events at Alexandria Community Park include a fishing tournament, summer movie nights, Dog Day, and a Haunted Walk. The event list may change over time.

The 72-acre Pendery Sports Park has eight baseball fields, an NBA-sized basketball court, six soccer fields, and a walking path more than three-quarters of a mile long. Tower Park in Fort Thomas has 86.6 acres of woodland, as well as hiking and biking trails, sports facilities, playgrounds, and recreational amenities. The Fort Thomas Museum in Tower Park covers the founding of Fort Thomas and the community’s development over the past 155 years. The parks thus bring together sports facilities, trails, and local history.

Wildlife Watching and Outdoor Activities

The Campbell County Environmental Education Center is a year-round facility near A.J. Jolly Park in Alexandria. It includes aquariums, an observation beehive, and areas for bird and wildlife watching. Programs include bird identification, day and night hikes, nature crafts, and tree identification. Available programs may vary depending on the schedule.

St. Anne Woods and Wetlands provides habitat for native species, including Jefferson salamanders and wood frogs, which have become rare in Northern Kentucky. A.J. Jolly Park in Campbell County covers approximately 1,000 acres of land and water and offers about 20 miles of horseback riding trails. A.J. Jolly Golf Course is a scenic 18-hole golf course on the shores of the park’s lake. The riding trails and golf course offer different types of activities.

Events Throughout the Year

The annual Sun Valley Music Festival at A.J. Jolly Park features bluegrass performers. The 2026 edition also includes food, drinks, arts and crafts, and activities for children. The 2026 Festival on the Lake at A.J. Jolly Park includes food, arts and crafts, family activities, and music. The two events connect the park with different types of programs; these details refer to the editions specified.

Other specific event connections can be found in Newport and at Alexandria Community Park. The recurring events at the park may change, while the Garden Walk and the festivals mentioned are tied to their respective editions. If you would like to include events in your trip plans, check the dates for each edition.

Discover more destinations: Newport, Wilder, Lawrence County, Floyd County, Allen County, Harlan, Clark County, Bullitt County.

For the main travel overview: Kentucky.