Great, unique park with amazing scenery and wildlife habitat! It's a perfect mix of grasslands,…read morewoodlands, and wetlands! Chapel Lake is absolutely in my top 5 parks in the area, and I try to make a visit at least once a week. I hope the city of Jeffersonville will take some of the features of this park, and adds them to future parks too!

Located on New Chapel Road in Jeffersonville is a great new park in the east side of town. The…read morepark has one entrance so you can't miss it. There are hiking trails, walking trails, playground for the kids, restrooms are available as well as picnic tables located in a sheltered area. They have a very large pond if you want to kayak and the pond is stocked with fish. Fishing is catch and release and you do need a license to fish in the pond. A great family park and dog friendly! Please pick up after your pets. Leave the park clean and enjoy the day!

Located on the banks of The Ohio River,across from Louisville,this State Park lets you hike on 390…read moremillion year old fossils in the largest exposed Devonian fossil bed in the world. Parking is 2.00 . No park entrance fee. Great place for hiking,picnics or watch the sunrise/sunset over Louisville. There is a huge interpretive center overlooking the fossil bed which was closed when we arrived. August thru October is the best time to visit when the river levels are the lowest. Definitely a cool place to visit!

Located in Clarksville, Indiana it's the best place naturally to access portage to the state of…read moreKentucky and Indiana . This was where Lewis and Clark met before launching their historic expedition in 1803. During the Civil war this was a training exercise ground for if a Mexico invasion were to happen. The canal was built to bypass the rapids. This area was founded by George Roger's Clark establishing his foot print permanently on the shores of the Ohio River . This area is Clarksville now. This individual made an English speaking connection with the local tribes. All this history! What if the trees could talk? The rocks leave us pictures? It's incredible all the vibrant history around us.

This is a great park! Lots to do for all ages. A huge fenced in playground, several swings, a…read moresplash park and a nice walking path! An amazing addition to the community!

Sam Peden Community Park is a good-sized park that needs more trees…read more There's lots to love about Community Park. The walking path is long and well-kept. If you need an easy path, there's the loop around the large duck and goose pond. If you want something a little more challenging, the path leading back to the 4H Fair Grounds has a decent elevation and optional stairs. There are multiple playgrounds for kids and a few areas for sports and games. Nearby are also shelters that can be reserved for events. Parking is plentiful and in multiple spots. There is also a growing effort to install more public art, a reading path, and some free-range meadow grasses. I'm hopeful that the trees grow back after the building of the Academy apartments and that more are planted around the path to provide more shade during the hot summer months. But a great, local park!

After living in New Albany for several years, we discovered the magic that is Sam Peden Community…read morePark (or just Community Park if you grew up around here.) The park boasts loads of amenities in a well-kept landscape. For bird lovers: there's a gorgeous pond which is visited by a lot of ducks, geese, and local bird friends. There's a great 1.2 mile walking track that circles the park, offering views of the pond and a walk and read (single book pages at stops along the trail) for folks with kiddos. They have two playgrounds, four sheltered areas, restrooms (although I've only seen them open twice - pro tip: go to Aldi across the street from the park if they're closed - fast, easy, and clean!), a few short nature trails, green space, a sand volleyball court, soccer fields, a basketball court, and a heck of a lot of tennis courts. I'm new to roller skating and the tennis courts here are a dream come true! Yes, this may not be their intended purpose, and yes, one tennis player one time may have gotten a bit peeved BUT there are so many courts, you don't have to feel guilty about taking away anyone's ability to play tennis. During the week, I've never found the park too crowded. In the early mornings, virtually empty minus some walkers and tennis players. In the evening, loads more folks but still has never felt too crowded, plus LOTS of dog walkers which always makes me excited to see so many sweet puppy faces strolling around. Basketball games are generally happening. On the weekends, this place does get busy. Shelters are available for rent, so there's often parties taking place, we've seen tennis tournaments, soccer games, and more but with how large the park is, we've never felt overcrowded or like we've lost our personal space and have always been able to find easy parking. I would highly recommend this park any time of day and any day of the week.

Had a great time with the grand kiddos. Only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because of the mess in…read morethe latrines.

I like hiking. A lot. And I like hiking at new and different places…read more Charlestown State Park is....okay. They have some really nice trails, spread out and across a large area. There is plenty of parking. And I believe that camping is an option. You have to pay to get in, which is fine. But I am highly annoyed that out of state cars have to pay more. Once when I went though, it was in the off season and there was no one working at the entrance gate. We were hoping to pay with a card, and it appeared to be an honor system for paying the $9 on days when the park is open, but no one is working. I was enticed by the promise of Rose Island ruins (a former amusement park/resort. Not actually an island). But as interesting as it sounds, it was disappointing. It has been all cleaned up and sign-ified and it is more meh than I had hoped. I would probably come back more often if it was more like $5 to get in. But with Louisville's copious parks, state and otherwise, and Bernheim about the same distance drive, I'm inclined to stay on my side of the river.

Louisville is one of my favorite towns to visit with my wife. Every-time we go we find another…read morecool part of the city, the botanical gardens are tucked away and almost a hidden gem. Very nice paved walking paths throughout and great variety of species to experience. Even just for a peaceful afternoon stroll. Highly recommend.

The gardens really are stunning and beautifully cared for. You will see plants there you could…read morenever have dreamed up. Unfortunately, if you are sensitive to smell (or sound) DO NOT GO. Or perhaps check which way the wind is blowing (and bring earplugs). The gardens are on a hill where the wind carries the smell of rotting carcasses from the butcheries below. (The land is also a few yards from the highway, so the sound of cars is constant). I got used to the sound. I did not get used to the smell. The air is thick with the stench of rotting meat. You can feel it. You must swim your way through it. There is no respite. Every ounce of your breathing air is decaying, sliced animal flesh. I wretched more and more as I made my way, into the wind, to get back to the parking lot. I thought I was going to vomit. The smell has permeated my clothes and I doubt I'll be able to eat until I toss these in the wash and take a long shower. If you've read this far, I'll also add that the tour guide was a wealthy old white man volunteering to work there and he was pretty insensitive to the diversity our group represented - age, gender, race, different bodies and abilities, etc. Tactless jokes. A lot of standing still on hard ground. No escape from the smell even when folks were in physical distress. Too many tangents and asides to make whatever relevant info he might have had worth waiting for. So, yeah. Check the weather and wind direction, consider earplugs, and skip the tour. (I'll try again some day and maybe I'll get to immerse myself in those gorgeous flowers!)

After the 1937 flood this was still standing…read more A German immigrant, C. Heigold built a mansion and to prove his patriotism he carved all sorts of symbols into the walls of stone. During this time, Irish peoples were frowned upon. Allow a German immigrant, they were forced to live a lower class of individuals too! Following Bloody Monday where Irish were forced to stay away from voting with their lives. The Germans had actual live ammunition fired upon them by angry citizens. But still he loved his new country and home! We have the ornate stone symbols to remember how much someone loved their country. This door has been relocated all that was left from the mighty Ohio River. It shows the symbols of freedom, literally liberty carved into it! The love that comes from a man's soul and spirit can still be enjoyed over 150 years later. Now if you are looking to remember your loved one. You could have a brick placed here forever more . When close to the Big Four Bridge and Ohio Water Park Front this is a must. It's on the road directly across from the Botanical Gardens. The flora is maintained by the Botanical Gardens of Kentucky. When in doubt always smell the flowers! Walk through the facade to find the other sides of life.

TikTok really has opened my eyes to hidden treasures everywhere. I'm sure that I'm not the only one…read morethat feels this way. When you doom scroll, you come across many different places that are true hidden gems. Door To Nowhere, or Heigold House, is definitely an oddity and salute to the past. Some housekeeping, you know, things to know about this place. BE CAREFUL. This sits on a roundabout island with steady traffic. Be mindful to the traffic flow and businesses nearby (I parked at a nearby business off the road and walked over here). Be kind to the natural beauty that surrounds this. And most of all, be respectful. As I said, this sits on a roundabout with flowerbeds surrounding it. Whether you are facing front, as in looking at the front of the façade, or looking from the rear, please stay on the sidewalks provided. Take in the informational plaques as well. Built by Christian H Heigold, a successful stonecutter. Majority of the house was completed in 1853. Heigold was a master at stonecutting and completed the home with busts of Presidents George Washington and James Buchanan. Heigold was also a staunch opponent of the 'Know Nothing Party,' and anti-immigration political party and I would like to think that he built his house with all the busts was a big middle finger to those that were anti-immigration. This façade sat in what was known as the The Point neighborhood, which was favored by those that moved to the city from the New Orleans area. Once Louisville diverted the Beargrass Creek away from downtown, this place started to flood annually. Shifting people away from the neighborhood and then the Great Flood of 1937 happened. Slowly the city started buying houses and demolishing them. Ultimately using the land as a dump site. Then this façade was listed on the National Registry of Historical Places. Remained in that area which became Thruston Park. That is until a developer bought the land adjacent to this and build condos. They moved this massive beast, 70,000-pounds, across River Road to where it sits today.

Big Rico park is a very cool and beautiful park located in the Cherokee park system that's created…read moreby Olmsted the same person who made New York's Central Park. Located in the highlands/Cherokee portion of the city of Louisville. I stopped by this park the other day with my wife and 4th horn daughter who is 18 months old. We had planned to play on there small playground but she fell asleep so we Chelsea out the scenery instead. They have lots of water that's ankle high and lots of rock that allows you to walk out in and get in the water. It also a few small trails that surround the park that lets you see yeh park from several angles. The park includes seven benches on the banks of the water for viewing pleasure. They also have a giant pavilion that can be rented out. Which looks like at one point was very impressive. Now it's not upkept and filled with graffiti. It's honestly the only eye sore here. Hopefully they clean it up. Overall cool place that looks like it has 3 different parking lots for different entry points. Although the water is low enough and there is a bough rocks to easily walk this small park and get to any entrance. We had a nice visit here and I look for art to coming back with my other kids and enjoying the exploring and playground.

While trying to find a playground for my kids on a recent beautiful day, I got lost in Cherokee…read morePark, as one is wont to do. But it's because of this that we ended up in the Big Rock Park section of Cherokee for the first time. What a great find! My kids had a blast playing on the small playground, which included a "big rock" to climb on. Parking is easily accessible, but what I appreciated the most was the fact that the creek is right there, with ample green space to run around and enjoy. The pavilion looks like it's seen better days, but signage showed it will be getting a renovation soon. I want to come back here for a picnic and to explore the creek some more!

A great little park and a good place to launch a kayak from without paying a launch fee…read more I haven't done any hiking or anything else here except for start an afternoon of kayaking. My friend made the suggestion when we were looking for spot to launch that wouldn't cost $15/boat. The convenience of this cost savings makes up for the downsides. The two downsides are the small, tight parking lot and the long trail from the parking lot to the place where you can put your kayak in to the water. That second problem could be mitigated by the use of a hand wagon...we just need to get one. Ha ha! I am eager to explore more of the park on foot, but I can certainly guarantee I will be back here for more kayaking adventures.

Really cool park that is hidden in a neighborhood of Prospect!…read more I came with a few friends and we hiked the trails. It's not a difficult hike, but there are some hills, rocks, creeks. There are benches to rest on and swings too. I got a bit out of breath sometimes because it was a bit more strenuous than I anticipated. We saw lots of people walking their dogs, kayaking/canoeing. There used to be a waterfall you could check out, but it's not closed off since it's private property. You can park down in here in the small lot.

Very nice place to visit and enjoy the view and relaxing atmosphere fishing hiking hanging out with…read morefriends and family and enjoying atmosphere.

My parents are staying at the camp ground. It's very nice and clean. We went and spent the…read moreafternoon hiking with them at Rose Island. It was really neat! It's a very steep walk down and then back up. My dad and I both have bum knees and the walk down was hard on our knees. It says in several places that trail 3 is longer but not as hard, so we decided to take trail 3 back. I don't know who decided to play a mean trick on people and say trail 3 is easier to take but man they have a sick sense of humor! The mail trail is about a mile down a wide paved road. You could easily drive down it. Trail 3 is a windy, steep up and down, rocky, rooty, dirt trail that is also very narrow. It is not in any way shape or Form easier than the main trail. Oh and did I mention it is about a mile and a half or more? So it's harder and longer than the main trail . See the pictures. We did see more cool stuff on trail 3 than the main trail though. Rose Island itself was really cool. It would have been an amazing place in its hay day!