Parks

Are you on the hunt for scenic road trips, too?

Living in the Midwest, I’m lucky to be surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty and an amazing variety of pet-friendly places just waiting to be explored. I started this blog as a way to keep my family in the loop about our adventures, and to share a first-hand look at the places we visit, complete with photos and videos.

If you’re curious, feel free to browse through some of the spots we’ve discovered — from ancient mounds and peaceful nature centers to rugged rock formations, winding trails, cascading waterfalls, and tranquil wetlands. 

You’ll find links below to trail notes, images, and videos of many of the parks, preserves, and hidden gems we've enjoyed exploring.

Adena Mound, Williamson Indian Mound Ohio

Bacon Woods Trail Vermilion, Ohio

Black Swamp Nature Center  Wildlife Area Paulding, Ohio

Black Swamp and Old Sugar Beet Dam Paulding, Ohio

Brandywine Falls  Northfield, Ohio

Bridal Veil Falls Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio

Catawba Island State Park  Catawba Island, Ohio

Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve Yellow Springs, Ohio

Clinton Nature Preserve Tiffin, Ohio

Crane Creek State Park Oak Harbor, Ohio

Cuyahoga Valley National Park Ohio

Daniel Boone National Forest Kentucky

Eagle Marsh Nature Preserve Fort Wayne, Indiana

East Harbor State Park Marblehead, Ohio

Eden Haven Park Celina, Ohio

Evergreen Lake Trail Area, Whitehouse, Ohio

Evergreen Lake Trail  Swanton Township, Ohio

Evergreen Lake Oak Openings Preserve  Whitehouse, Ohio

Goll Woods State Nature Preserve Archbold, Ohio

Grand Lake Saint Marys and Celina, Ohio

Harrison Lake State Park Fayette, Ohio

Hermon Woodlands  Lima, Ohio

Hiestand Woods Park and Preserve, Van Wert, Ohio

Hiestand Woods Park and Preserve Van Wert, Ohio

Hiestand Woods Park and Preserve Creek Van Wert, Ohio

Hueston Woods State Park  College Corner, Ohio

Hueston Woods State Park  College Corner, Ohio

Hueston Woods State Park Dog Park / Beach,  College Corner, Ohio

Independence Dam State Park Defiance, Ohio

Independence Dam State Park Defiance Ohio 

John Bryan State Park Yellow Springs, Ohio

John Bryan State Park and Clifton Nature Preserve  Yellow Springs, Ohio

Kendrick Woods State Nature Preserve; Winter  Spencerville, OH

Kendrick Woods State Nature Preserve Artesian Spring  Spencerville, OH

 Kendrick Woods State Nature Preserve of springs and 4 minutes of South Trail. Spencerville, OH

Kendrick Woods All People's Trail Spencerville, Ohio

Kiser Lake State Park   St. Paris, 

Lake Front Park  Huron Ohio

Lake Loramie, Harvest Festival  Lake Loramie, Ohio

Lakeside Chautauqua Lakeside Ohio

Lindenwood Nature Preserve Fort Wayne Indiana

Litzenberg Memorial Woods  Findlay, Ohio

Maggie Marsh  Oak Harbor, Ohio

Mallard Lake Oak Opening Preserve  Swanton Township, Ohio

Marblehead Lighthouse State Park Marblehead, Ohio

Marblehead Lighthouse State Park  Marblehead, Ohio

Maumee River Walk  Grand Rapids, Ohio

Mill Hollow Vermilion, Ohio

Myeerah Nature Preserve, Bellefontaine, Ohio

Myeerah Nature Preserve, Bellefontaine, Ohio

Natural Bridge - Red River Gorge  Slade, Kentucky

Oak Openings Preserve Swanton Township, Ohio

Oak Openings Ferns Trail along Evergreen Lake Video Swanton Township, Ohio

Oak Openings Preserve  Swanton Township, Ohio

Old Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve  Huron, Ohio

Ottawa National Wildlife Preserve Oak Harbor, Ohio

Ottawa National Wildlife Preserve  Oak Harbor, Ohio

Ouabache State Park  Bluffton, Indiana

Oxbow Lake Wildlife Area, Defiance, Ohio

Pew Island Scenic Trail Huntsville, Ohio ( near Indian Lake State Park)

Pew Island Video Huntsville, Ohio

Pokagon State Park Angola, Indiana

Pokagon  Angola, Indiana

Rieck Center Findlay, Ohio

Riverside Park  Findlay Ohio

Shoaff Lake in Winter Fort Wayne, Indiana

Stillwater Prairie Reserve Covington, Ohio

St. Mary's Nature Preserve Decatur, Indiana

Van Buren State Park Van Buren, Ohio

Water Works Park Port Clinton, Ohio

Weirs Rapids Maumee River Bowling Green, Ohio

Wildwood Preserve Toledo, Ohio

Windy Point State Park   Montezuma, Ohio

State Park Links

Ohio State Parks and Ohio State Forests and Ohio Camps 

Indiana State Parks and Indiana State Forests

Michigan State Parks and Michigan State Forests

Kentucky States Parks and Kentucky State Forests

Advice to fellow blog readers: Study History, recognize change, make improvements where you can, and enjoy yourself.  Pause, look out over the landscape, and view the lakes, picnic areas, ponds, rock walls, animals, and gardens. Appreciate and treasure the beauty around you!