Even with all the temptations of great Bourbon, I managed to avoid overindulging on my tasting tour through northern Kentucky. But I still like to start the day with a brisk walk to clear my head. In Covington, there’s nothing better than a jaunt over the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge. Popularly called the “Blue Bridge,” it connects the city to Cincinnati on the other side of the Ohio River.

The bridge is a short walk from the Hotel Covington. Like the Buffalo Trace Distillery, the bridge is one of Kentucky’s National Historic Landmarks—and with good reason. When it was completed in 1867, the 1,057-foot span over the river was the longest in the world. Moreover, it’s one of only two bridges by noted civil engineer and designer John A. Roebling still standing. It’s considered a prototype for his most famous project, the Brooklyn Bridge.

There are other healthy ways to get a jump on the day in Covington. The former German neighborhood of Mainstrasse has become a lively entertainment district of shops, galleries, and restaurants, including the breakfast and lunch spot Cedar (701 Main Street, 859-360-1187, cedarculinary.com). The self-described “scratch kitchen” focuses on fresh, local ingredients prepared and served without the intervention of either microwave or freezer.

Cedar’s biscuits are terrific, but the most popular dish is “The Hangover” (right). The bounteous bowl features breakfast potatoes, chorizo, avocado, sunny eggs, and spicy seasonings. If I hadn’t been saving my taste buds for more Bourbon, I might have been tempted to see if the Devil’s Punchbowl lived up to its name. Cedar’s more potent version of a Bloody Mary, it features habañero pepper, a house-made pickle, and spicy candied bacon.