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    Highlands Nature Sanctuary

    5.0 (5 reviews)
    Open Open 24 hours

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    Tyler M.

    Social distancing never looked so good. A 1.5 hour drive from Cincy, Highlands Nature Sanctuary/The Arc of Appalachia, was a delightful place to escape reality for a weekend. I stayed at the Zen River Suite at the Hermitage, which overlooks the Rocky Fork Gorge. At night, you could hear the crashing of the water from the gorge... very peaceful! There was nothing better than having a glass of wine on the balcony and listening to the water. The lodge was well-kept and clean. There is no wifi, no TV, and it became all-too-easy to forget that there was a world that existed outside of the sanctuary. While visiting we also hiked three of the nearby trails. The trails were great and let you explore the base of the gorge as well as the expansive forest. The trails seemed meticulously well-kept. The photos don't do the sanctuary justice. During the entire time we were in the Sanctuary, we only saw one other group of people. I would definitely recommend getting a dose of nature here without having to fight the heavy crowds of Red River Gorge/Hocking Hills. Without the burden of a doubt... I will be back.

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    8 months ago

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    7 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    Brecksville Nature Center - Feeding chickadees

    Brecksville Nature Center

    4.4(8 reviews)
    171.2 mi

    Although we did not go inside the nature center we did walk the trails. I feel it's a great walk…read more So much to see and the terrain was ever changing and can be a great workout. Walking in snow was fun and the views were amazing. Really nice picture opportunities. My favorite images being the trees that have roots exposed. The different patterns and shading make the pictures interesting.

    This past weekend my boyfriend and I made the trip to the Brecksville Nature Center to feed…read morechickadees. It was honestly one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I grew up on a large piece of land and always loved watching the small creatures who lived near my house. I feed the animals who live in my backyard now, and I love watching various forms of wildlife frolic in my trees. I've always jokingly said that it would be cool to be able to feed birds from my hand (Cinderella style) but I never knew that would be actually possible. It's a pretty simple process. You go into the nature center, they give you sunflower seeds, and then you patiently and quietly wait with your hand outstretched and full of seeds. I was skeptical at first, but...the chickadees and other birds were quick to scope me out. They'd fly close enough to look at me, briefly make eye contact, and then swoop in for some food. They are so light! And beautiful! And amazingly brave, I think. I know I had a hand full of food, but...I'm a heck of a lot bigger than a chickadee. I had about a dozen birds land on me while I was outside. (and I wasn't out there very long - it was coooollllldd) The highlight was having a bird land on my head! This is a super fun (and free) wintertime thing to do. Chickadee feeding is held from late December through February (weather permitting). It's such a cool experience and totally worth the drive, no matter where you live. (and it's especially fun for the little ones! they can warm up inside by the fire afterwards)

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    Brecksville Nature Center
    Brecksville Nature Center - Hiking day

    Hiking day

    Brecksville Nature Center - Last weekend for hand feed a chickadee this yr

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    Last weekend for hand feed a chickadee this yr

    Nature Center At Shaker Lakes - Children's play area

    Nature Center At Shaker Lakes

    4.8(12 reviews)
    182.3 mi

    I am a BIG fan of the entire Northeast Ohio Metro Parks system... BIG, BIG FAN…read more The only thing I have seen that is comparable is the "Nature Center at Shaker Lakes". This location is beautiful. The folks that manage it are committed to returning it to it's original wild beauty. They are in the midst of a large project to remove all the invasive species and replant with everything native to the area. So far they have done a marvelous job. I can't even imagine the cost involved. They are taking donations if you want to help. There is a large marsh area you can walk through on raised walkways and see all the work going on. There is another very large wooded area with nicely marked and maintained trails you can stroll through and just enjoy the beauty of the natural habitat. The main lodge is a very nice facility with plenty of room for children to play and classrooms for education. I highly recommend you take a sunny day and visit the "Nature Center at Shaker Lakes". See for yourself. It's a worthwhile project.

    I enjoyed walking the trail, I also walked around the lake located across the street from the…read moretrail. Check the website for community events. I've seen some activities posted on Eventbrite; such as live music plus a family scavenger hunt. I love the small waterfall and how the sky reflects in the water. There is an area to sit if you need to rest. The gazebo can be rented out for private events. I will be returning to walk through the center but the outside trails are worth a visit. Seeing wildlife is a lovely experience.

    Photos
    Nature Center At Shaker Lakes - Jimmy's Treehouse

    Jimmy's Treehouse

    Nature Center At Shaker Lakes - Map view of lake and nature center

    Map view of lake and nature center

    Nature Center At Shaker Lakes

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    Highlands Nature Sanctuary - hiking - Updated May 2026

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