River Walk Downtown-Covington-Newport

Today we spent 2 1/2 hours doing the river walk through the International Friendship Park, Bicentennial Commons, Sawyer Point, Covington, and Newport. This is one of my favorite walks in the entire city. We parked in the lot at the beginning of the International Friendship Park on Riverside Drive. We first walked the twisting path through the gardens of Friendship park before walking through Bicentennial Commons and Sawyer point. We then followed the path through Smale Park across the Suspension Bridge to The Licking Historical Area in Covington. Our pace slowed as we read the many historical markers along the way before walking across the bridge to the Newport floodwall, through Newport on the Levee, across the purple people bridge and finally winding our way as walked back through Sawyer Point. Some of my favorite parts of this walk is reading the fascinating history from the French first claiming this area in 1749 to Mary Greene's statue on Mansion Row in Covington. Seeming I learn something new everytime I walk this winding 5.5 mile walk. Today my eye seemed to be drawn to the information on the black brigade in Sawyer Point and Smale Park and to the story of James Bradley, a slave who bought his freedom. His statue sits on a bench in Covington looking over the Ohio River to Cincinnati. The walk is an easy walk and always thoroughly enjoyable.

Of course, after finishing the walk we stopped for a beer at the Hofbrau House in Newport. The Dunkel was excellent as usual as were the pretzels and cheese. As usual, a thoroughly enjoyable day.