Yay winter is nearly hone so when you get a chance to get out and walk in nature ...go for it. Spring flowers are so delicate and Ohio weather is so up and down ... the inevitable cold snaps kill them. So have to grab the moments before it hits. This day was a wind storm right before the bitter cold was back. I walked around and even walked the trails with a friend. So good to be outside. The flowers were lovely but the wind was fierce. This park does such a great job keeping everything lovely which I so appreciate and its a fav of mine for years. So many special memories here. Please be courteous and dont pick the flowers. This isn't your yard and if everyone picked just one there would be none for the next to enjoy. I saw parents promoting their children to pick flowers and filming it. . This is so selfish and rude. Am I wrong? read more

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Truly beautiful park! We barely scratched the surface with the trails and enjoyed every moment. It was calm, peaceful, serene and the wildlife were a nice addition to see. Truly a gem in Ohio. read more

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Cox Arboretum is great to visit any time of year! I've been visiting this park since I attended elementary school next door in the 1970's but today was the first time I've been there in the winter. I was driving by today as I was out running errands and decided to stop by for a brisk walk in the 27 degree weather. It was fun to see the park blanketed in snow, but it was definitely a much quicker stay than in warmer weather. read more

Cox Arboretum MetroPark - Parks Near Me - Dayton, Ohio

Such a beautiful place to visit! Easy to find and lots to see! A must see...you'll be returning soon!! Live their gift shop! Very unique, quality finds. read more

No matter the weather, visiting Cox for a leisurely stroll, or more of a vigorous hike on the back of parks trails fits the bill. Each season has its beauty. This time, early Nov, the turtles were not out but Mallards were. People taking pics on the bridges, families, exercise walkers all were enjoying the park. If you haven't been, you should explore here read more

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I am visiting from Las Vegas, NV and this place is gorgeous!! The staff is welcoming and informative! The gentleman at the desk reminded me of Jack Black. Very cool guy, did not get his name. Overall, this place has plenty of parking and several trails. I enjoyed my afternoon here. read more

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Went hiking with a group this past Sunday afternoon. I've hiked here more than a dozen times and it's beautiful year 'round. We hiked 3.5 miles at a leisurely pace, temp was 90° and trees provided some shade. We brought along water and wore hats, which was needed when it's this hot outside. The big beautiful hostas, staircase, ponds, and edible garden are amazing! Whomever takes care of this place does an amazing job - thank you! Families with children and elderly alike enjoyed the beautiful day at the arboretum. We even saw a wedding take place in the gazebo. At the end of the hike our clothing was soaked with sweat but the walk was lovely and companionship priceless. read more

Nice and quiet place to walk. Paved walkway. Beautifully landscaped. Treehouse for views. Pond. Indoor bathrooms. Parking. read more

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Update with end of 2023 improvements. This is one of the best Metroparks in the area. It's beautiful with all the flowers and trees. The trails are great. They have different types for all people; trail, paved, and grass. The best thing about 2023 is that the Nature playarea finally opened!! It's such a great additional place for kids to explore. We enjoy coming all year round so it's nice to see what this area will give us throughout the year. read more

Really beautiful park! I went here once when I was younger but we had some company in town so I wanted to show them around and I'm glad I did! It's a lovely park with lots of things to see and lots of paths to walk. It was cold and the visitor center was closed since it was thanksgiving but we enjoyed our time for sure! read more

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Lots of trails, koi, turtles, bluegills, frogs, a tower, butterfly garden, and a veggie garden for the community. There are three ponds with a small stream between and benches all along the pathway. There are many trees and plants you can learn about. It's beautiful all year round and the staff are very helpful. read more

Lovely park! Came here during the summer while visiting family. The park is meticulously maintained with plenty of parking, clean bathrooms, nice walking paths and a beautiful tree tower that allows to soak in the views. Excellent place to visit and enjoy the outdoors. read more

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It's outside, so expect the usual, like birds, insects, beavers, and even an occasional snake or two. Spray yourself down with OFF for mosquito protection. Don't bother bringing a tent, because they don't allow camping on the park grounds. A corpse was found there in September of 2023, but don't let that scare you off. The police report claims it was a suicide, so no foul play was determined. Nevertheless, be cautious and always go accompanied by another adult. Common sense can help you avoid a lot of problems. Don't get lost in the trails. Most of us are smart enough to figure out where the exit is, but some people might become bewildered and lose their way. No need to call 911, they have enough issues. Just keep a cool head and try to figure it out on your own. The ambiance is "outdoorsy", for lack of a better word. The service is pretty much non-existent, save for the parking. I'm not sure I would recommend getting married there, but to each his own. read more

I Love This Place Great Grade A.great place to relax and unwinded. I like visiting here to unwind from a stress filled day. Beautiful sorounding to take in nature. read more

Cox Arboretum MetroPark - I am in my room listening my Alexa Speaker. I am listening to some 70's rock music tonight... I. am very happy here!! - Parks Near Me - Dayton, Ohio

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Since we just moved to the area, we plan on checking out all the wonderful parks. First of all, this one has a visitor's center with a beautiful, clean bathroom. That is already a win! The grounds are scenic with lots of flowers and ponds with turtles. We walked the red trail. It wasn't very exciting but there is a bird blind. Unfortunately, the birds weren't cooperating. There is a very tall tree tower. I did climb those steps but I couldn't look down. You will have to do that yourself! We plan on returning to walk the other trails. read more

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A great park in Morain. Lot of trails to walk/run. They also have some water stations (which did not work). But the park was clean and maintained well. read more

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One of our favorite Dayton Metro Parks depending on the day and time of year. For example, if you're a family of a kid who's going to prom or getting senior pictures then you'll love this place for photo ops. If you're just wanting to see the great outdoors during these times, prepare yourself because it gets crowded. The paths are very well marked and paved for the most part. There are some loops that are grass and dirt but it's usually well maintained. The pond has turtle everywhere and coy fish. It's such a pretty walk. If you've never been, please pick a day during the week and go check it out. read more

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Under utilized highly groomed park with incredible paths and land water wild life features. Conveniently located just between north and south Dayton suburbs. Can't believe I didn't utilize and appreciate this great park more during my residency in this area. read more

Cox Arboretum MetroPark - Parks Near Me - Dayton, Ohio

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Cox Arboretum is the nicest thing in Dayton. It's a metropark with an educational mission. Kids are here on field trips all the time. It's also fun for adults. There's plenty of plant life and paths. It probably is the most popular of Dayton's metro parks based on attendance. It isn't the biggest arboretum I've been to, but it's big. The place always seems to have kids on a field trip. It can get pretty crowded. The weekends can actually be better since there isn't school. A favorite part is the Monet Bridge. This goes across the lake and is good for pictures. It's convenient to get to from the interstate. It has plenty of parking spots even when there are busses full of kids. The visitors center has restrooms. read more

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Love this place. It is beautiful place just to get away from a stressful day of life, meet some new people and even get listened to their story and most of all see nature at its best. read more

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Here is a place for you to come and connect with nature. Discover the peacefulness nature, its trees and shrubs thoughtfully placed to capture your imagination and take you to a place of serenity. The Park features Pollinator Gardens, Specialty Gardens, The Barbara Cox Center for Sustainable Horticulture, a Butterfly House, Tree Tower, Bell Children's Maze, Zorniger Education Center, Conservation Corner, Nature Trails, and Ruth Cummings Mead Woodland. There is certainly something for everyone. My family and I enjoyed a nice stroll admiring all that Cox Park has to offer. We spent a lot of time at the pond at the entrance. It had all the "fishys" and turtles. Go get out and explore Cox Park and enjoy a relaxing family adventure. read more

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Dog friendly park with beautiful landscapes and plenty of spots for pictures. You can easily spend 2-3h walking around and exploring the park. They have an observatory tower, gazebos, a butterfly reserve and a Japanese bridge. While on our stay we saw 2 parties taking their wedding pictures. So consider this spot for your next session. read more

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I went to visit the park with my grand daughters. We had lots of fun. We like to see the butterfly house during the summer. Lots of activities and walking for the girls. I like to learn about the different plants you can grow and eat. We will be back when the weather is warmer. read more

Cox Arboretum MetroPark - Butterfly house - Parks Near Me - Dayton, Ohio

Clearly visiting here in the late winter is not ideal in that you can't appreciate how beautiful this place will be in the spring and summer. Nice ponds, beautiful flower beds, and nice trails will all come alive later. But it was a nice place for a walk in semi-solitude. There were very few people here but unfortunately you can hear the road noise when there are no leaves on the trees to absorb the sound. Hoping that it will be quieter when things start to grow in. Looking forward to bringing family and friends here later. read more

Beautiful park to walk around. The spring and summer time are great for all the flowers and butterflies! Nice visitor center too. Everything is well kept. read more

Stunningly beautiful, well-maintained oasis surprisingly situated in the midst of a metro "desert!!" Worth a visit any season!! You know you've hit local gold when you're barely half-way through your visit and already plotting (multiple) returns!! We had limited time, but can't wait to come back to walk the grounds more thoroughly and take in all the amazing beauty this great spot has to offer!! Don' miss it!! read more

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Beautiful park with several trails, though none are very long. If you are wanting to walk around with kids, see ducks and turtles in the pond, this is a wonderful park. Lots of space to spread out and relax. They do have an indoor bathroom and some other services, though we have never wandered inside to see what all they offer. They do have weddings from time to time, which would be very nice. My husband and I actually had our engagement photos taken here years ago and they turned out great. We did not have to notify anyone ahead of time and were able to get shots without other guests near us without any challenge. read more

This was a first time, and I'm not sure how things have changed before the "MetroPark" part was added. Remember that this is a park for people, not pets, and that you should keep your children on a leash. There are plenty of hazards for children, including a pond or two. Today, the parking lot was almost full in mid-afternoon. It was about 78 degrees F when I arrived, so it was a good time to be walking around the place. It looked as though some were getting a lot of exercise just walking to the educational building, which also houses a store of some sort. They had some quilts near the entrance. I didn't see any displays that would make me consider the building was used for education at all. They had a conference room toward the south end of the building. Outside, toward the back, I noticed a couple of people with loads of photographic gear taking photos of the potted flowers. I couldn't imagine that the tulips were so inspiring to cause someone to monopolize an area, but to each his own. While I had some photographic equipment of my own, I took a more reserved approach, not wanting to bother or inconvenience anyone. Walking the grounds, I found the walking trails, a red cedar tower, and a number of trees and other plants. I'm still not sure, was this the arboretum or was it out where the trails went? It seemed far too civilized for the natural growth of an arboretum but it was pleasant, and loads of people were enjoying it. read more

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It's a very fun place with many memories. I am not much of an exercise person anymore but when I was I enjoyed this serene park and the dog that used to roam there. read more

Great place to walk and enjoy. My family and I love to come here on Saturday afternoons after church and watch the turtles.

Gem of a place to take a walk! They have paved path or hiking trails. Always kept up nicely and beautiful scenery. Butterfly season is the best here. read more

Cox Arboretum is beautifully maintained and really a great place to visit in Dayton. The park is large, with little sections for specific types of plants, along with large spaces of green fields. They have a treehouse which is fun to climb and enjoy the view, and I also enjoyed the butterfly house. You will see plenty of people taking walks with kids or dogs but the park is spread out so it never feels crowded. Highly recommend. read more

Love the trails, of which there are two of different lengths. Beautiful nature spot here! Def worth a short drive to walk versus neighborhood sidewalks - no traffic. read more

So gorgeous and relaxing! Lots of ponds, placards of informational and facts on wildlife, benches, trails, and a tree tower. So much to look at so we didn't get to see the whole thing. Can't wait to explore more read more

Headed to Dayton to check out some MetroParks. This place is beautiful and relaxing. Lots of turtles and fish in the ponds. And a you can get in a few miles of hiking. read more

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Nice park.. I like to take my kids there for a walk. They are to do the maze etc..We enjoy it

I absolutely love this place! So close to home and well known however I feel that people have no idea what they can actually do here! It's such a great place to get out in nature right near the hustle and bustle of it all! I love taking my dog on walks here, taking my son here, or just taking a stroll alone! One of the best things about living here! read more

Cox Arboretum MetroPark - We love our walks at Cox! - Parks Near Me - Dayton, Ohio

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This is an amazing park for wild range children to roam. This park will allow nap time to go very well lots of free space to let them roam

Cox Arboretum is a nice, quiet, enjoyable place to spend a day walking around, looking at the local flora and fauna, and some carefully curated non-indigenous specimens. Looking for a nice place to photograph? Cox has it, whether for nature shots, prom, graduation, engagement, wedding or any other occasion. It's easy to find, easy to navigate, and we like just going, to get away from the 'normal.' read more

Ok, seriously... is it ok to be in love with a place?? I mean love at first site? Do they have a name for such an ailment?? A very sweet guy drove me up here for a nice surprise because I'm a nature nerd. He had planned on taking me when the weather was nice, but I beat him to the punch by suggesting that we go somewhere "pretty." He turned to look at me, and then looked outside at the big fat clouds of gray, that were just waiting to dump the rain on us. Still, I insisted.. we can walk around until it starts raining. He knew just the pretty place to take me. We drove for a bit as it started to sprinkle, and he checked to make sure I still wanted to go despite the angry looking clouds that loomed above us. I nodded like a kid being asked to go to a candy store. As we pulled into the driveway, it closed out the road behind us with trees and lush fields of grass. As we got closer I saw a pond, and some beautiful greenery and some other interesting things. I wasn't sure, what mysteries they held just yet.. We parked the car, and walked up to the welcome center. He strolled around and took my hand in his as we walked up there, and I tell you what, my heart about melted right there. What a backdrop to start to fall for someone in... There wasn't much to the welcome building so we walked out the back door and hanging there were two porch swings next to an outdoor fireplace!!! If the fire had been lit, I don't know much more that could have made this place perfect. We walked over to the pond, and I'll be the first to tell you, I am a self proclaimed nerd... I about jumped out of my shoes with excitement as I saw a large flicker of orange lazily swimming by. I ran to the waters edge to see a coy that was the length of my leg!!! Followed by him were more flecks of orange and white. I ran back and forth as it started to down pour on us and I didn't have a care in the world. I snuck over to a pair of sleeping ducks and snapped a picture before moving on to the next pond with a bridge. When we got to the second bridge I almost got a close encounter with it because my flip flops were slippery from the rain... YES, I still have on my flip flops on a rainy day in fall... and I stumbled over the bridge to see some TURTLES!!! There were so many walking trails at this place, and I'm sure we would have explored them all had it not been raining so hard, but we did find a children's maze made of bushes, a third pond with benches lining it, a waterfall, a butterfly house, and what appeared to be a vineyard or some orchards... I'll have to find out about that one.. But in my opinion, the coolest part of all, was this amazing tower that they had just built. It was made of a beautiful wood, and it twists up to the top. So you run or walk up this amazing spiral staircase and have a complete view of everything in the park! Or, in our case it provided a momentary shelter for two giggling and soaked dorks. I felt like I was in a fairy tale, even with the rain. I reverted back to a child for a bit as I ran through the puddles and just stopped thinking about real life for awhile. Nothing else mattered while I was at this place because I was totally captivated by how beautiful my surroundings were, and I was lucky to have some nice company as well. :) It's a great place for anyone of any age, and if you can let go for even a bit, this place will sweep you away. I will definitely go back!! Hint to any guys out there wanting to sweep some lucky lady off her feet... this is your place to do so!! :P read more

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