With everything going on, we just needed to get away & unplug! The Nan Weston Preserve was perfect…read more It was a nice & easy drive to get to this beautiful preserve. For my fellow SoCal folks -- this is NOT a Los Angeles hike. You can tell where the trail is, but wear some hiking shoes (was a little muddy) and.BRING SO MUCH BUG SPRAY. I REPEAT, bring/wear/lather. alllllll. the. bug. spray. Some of the trail has a raised wooden planks, but other parts are just dirt (but still easy to see the path) & through some grassy terrain. So...wear pants! It was so lush and beautiful, but it got warm rather quickly! I didn't see any wildlife though - just lots of bugs! But I'd imagine that this place is teeming with wildlife when there isn't a human making lots of noise /flailing around to avoid the flying bugs! Ha.

I like coming here because its has relatively convenient parking. The paths aren't usually too…read morebusy. I have had many enjoyable experiences traversing the preserve.

featuring wooded trails, wetlands, a lake, boardwalk areas, and unique rock formations that make it…read morefeel like you're much farther away from the city. It's a perfect spot for a peaceful walk, nature photos, and a little outdoor adventure without leaving Metro Detroit.

Nice walking trails - I think it's about 1.3 miles around the trail one time. Little benches to sit…read moreon and reflect on the world's problems or to just be in nature. Lake is pretty and calming. I saw a couple deer and some little furry friends while on my walk. Not sure if you should stay on the trails but some others who were walking were not......

What an absolutely wonderful nature center! There are so many nooks & crannies to this space and…read morejust so much educational learning to be had here. I came here in the winter and really loved walking the trails throughout the center. It helped that one of my friends, Dan, manages the programs here and would point out all the cool trees, plants, and general history as we walked along. He truly made my first time at Woldumar so memorable and his passion for this nature center truly shines through in everything he does - even when he's off the clock just showing boring ol' me around! I've heard so much of all the work Dan has put into this place over the years and he truly makes Woldumar shine bright for all those who come and visit, whether for an afternoon or for a summer-long program! I imagine this place overrun with kids and adults alike when the weather is great and can only imagine how much fun it would be to experience this place in the summertime. There is truly something for everyone here and definitely recommend this if you're looking for a low-key place where not a ton of people will be with some majorly high-key fun and exploration!

Well aside from the time I was stalked by the headless child-bride of Woldumar, I must say that…read moreI've had wonderful experiences here at every season of the year. Nah, I'm just pulling your chain. No headless spirits in these woods, but it got your attention, didn't it? Now for some facts: miles of enjoyable, non-challenging trails through a surprising variety of landscapes. Decent visitors center with restrooms. Free; donations accepted. Fair chance for sighting small wildlife, especially waterfowl. Occasional music or craft events may require a fee.

This County Park is a hidden gem! Well maintained, great trails and play structures, lovely beach…read more A great outdoor experience including easy access to the Blue Heron water park and Independence Lake boat/canoe launch. A true GEM!

Check the county website or facebook page before you go!! Recently, the beach at Independence Lake…read morehas had to be shut down several times for high e coli levels. One of the posts said that this is because of the amount of geese that have been frequenting the lake this year or because of runoff from rain. We went once before we knew about the e coli issues and actually had a great time. The beach (we thought) appeared clean and the water was the perfect cool temperature on a hot summer day. The swimming area went deep enough that we could float away from the littles on the shoreline. There were two life guards on duty. They have really amazing facilities where a get together was being held under the pavilion. They have a snack station, but we brought our own chips and sodas. They also have a splash pad with water slides. This area was closed when we went, and you have to pay a little more to access this area. They also have some cool trails and a frisbee golf course. You can bring dogs, but not to the designated swimming area. I hope they figure out the e coli issues because we would love to go back.

My brother and I rode this trail earlier this year. It's such a beautiful trail. We did about 10…read moremiles out and 10 back in. We didn't ride the whole trail. It's great to enter into different cities and ride by rivers, trees, through cities with having the ability to fix your bike if needed, stop by stores and use the restroom if needed. The day we rode, it was really hot out, so we stopped at a store along the way to get drinks after we ran out of water. Really clean and safe ride. We would do it again.

Went for a quick walk on the Clinton River Trail before work and it ended up being a really nice…read morestart to the day. It was quiet, open, and had that calm morning feel. I walked to the bridge and back -- just enough to stretch my legs and get moving without turning it into a full workout. Simple, peaceful, and a good spot if you just want to clear your head for a bit.

The Discovery Center and surrounding activities are great for all ages. We go on weekdays in the…read moresummer and there is always plenty of parking and it's relatively quiet. The natural play trail has some great spots to stop and play and for kids to use their imagination. The other trails are varied enough that you can spend a little time here or a lot. All shady and cool in the summer, but of course there are lots of mosquitos, and there can be poison ivy near the trails (didn't see any in the dedicated childrens areas though). The center itself is small but full of info, with bird feeders close to the windows for watching birds and chipmunks, a bee colony you can see inside, lots of displays with buttons that make animal sounds that my toddler loves.

This park/nature area is made for hiking. I wouldn't start here if you're a beginner hiker because…read morealthough the area is relatively small, the trails are steep and narrow! Great for a workout, especially if you live nearby. Speaking of living nearby, I wish there was a better-drawn map of the trails. There is a map on the A2 Parks and Rec website, but sometimes, the trails led you to the nearby culdesac. One trail also leads you to the basketball court.

Awesome hiking area. Saw the best views and the terrain was definitely a wonderful challenge. Went…read moreas a group but was able to break off on an individual hike and was definitely worth it to burn more calories and increase my pace. Love all of the hidden gyms in Michigan and this one is definitely one of them. I took mostly videos so the pic I have isn't that great

Large beach in a large park…read more Great place to meet up with a large group of friends or family! In the summer months (pre-Labor Day) they have an inflatable obstacle course courtesy of Warrior Island great for teens and adults I have seen dogs on this beach (and in the water) multiple times so clearly the NO ANIMALS sign is often ignored The changing rooms are interesting... no doors necessary since they're around a corner The singular outdoor shower is not private There's goose poop everywhere Biggest perk is how far you can go while it's still shallow

What a great Metropark tucked into the hilly terrain of White Lake Charter Township…read more Indian Springs Metropark has a great looking 18 hole Golf Course, an Environmental Discovery Center and both Nature and Equestrian Trails. I'm here today, however, to enjoy the park's smoothly paved Hike-Bike trails. It's the first week of October which means the vibrant Fall colors in Michigan are very close to their peak. My ride through the rolling hills of White Lake Charter Township on a sunny Fall afternoon was absolutely full of color...yellows, oranges and reds everywhere against a beautiful blue sky. Navigating the 8-mile paved Hike-Bike trail loop was a real pleasure today with temps ranging between 65 and 70 degrees...perfect! Indian Springs Metropark earns a solid 5 stars based on having one of the most scenic and best maintained bike trails in the entire Metropark system.

Indian Springs is one of my favorite Metro Parks. The Discovery Center has plenty of exploration…read moreopportunities, including a fun indoor scavenger hunt. The lower level takes you underground to get a fish eye view of the pond where we were greeted by a bluegill. You can rent event space inside the Discovery Center or one of the pavilions throughout the park. Visit during the summer to enjoy the splash park. Visit year-round to slow down and enjoy nature!