This was such a fun stop! There are live farm animals here, and the pastures looked well…read moremaintained with plenty of space for them to roam, which was great to see. The welcome center was pretty nice and had a small kids museum inside that was interactive. There's also a gift shop with cute merch, local items, maple syrup, and other extras. They offer tours of some of the buildings for purchase, which is a cool option if you want a deeper experience, but even just walking around the property on your own is enjoyable. Overall, a really nice place to explore for a bit.

Unique park in Ohio with a visitor center, working farm, historical house and so much more…read more We came on an off-season day in March so the visitor center was open but not staffed. We also didn't see anyone to give tours or ask information. The park is easy to find with lots of signs pointing the way. When you pull in there is a visitor center that has a gift shop and restrooms. Everyone's favorite part was the parrot. If you say hi or dance he will talk to you. The park has trails you can hike. There are maps in the lobby to help find a course. They mentioned a cave trail but the map did not have trail names so we were not sure what path to follow. You can walk down to the barn and see the animals. We also walked around the exterior of the house. Behind the visitor center there is a great playground that the kids really enjoyed. If coming for a visit I highly recommend waiting to come during the peak season so you can view the house and have staff to explain the history and trails you can hike. Lots of picnic areas too so pack a lunch!

Love this place! Long trails with lots to see. The bike path is spacious and has amazing views.read more

Great place to bring family or just hang out with friends. Bring your kayaks for some fun and see…read morethe guys singing in the rocks. Pack you lunch and or snacks.

Birding hotspot!…read more It's a little more than an hours drive East of Columbus. It's kind of out in the middle of nowhere but it's worth the drive to see some beautiful wildlife, especially birds. The wildlife area consists of seasonally flooded moist soil meadows and bottomland hardwoods. You can expect to see migrants, shorebirds, waterfowl, Bald eagles andantes other birds that aren't usually seen in the city. Be sure to bring your spotting scope if you have one and a good pair of binoculars. Enjoy the fresh air and everything that nature has to offer.

Peaceful, Beautiful, and Always Worth the Walk…read more Sheldon Marsh is one of those places that just hits every time, no matter the season. The paved trail makes it super easy for anyone to enjoy--perfect for a peaceful walk, birdwatching, or just soaking in some fresh air. It's quiet, full of wildlife, and there's always something new to catch your eye. One of my favorite parts is when the path opens up to the beach. You get this wide view of Lake Erie, and if you look out far enough, you'll spot the Cedar Point coasters in the distance. It's a cool little reminder of home--nature in front of you, thrill rides in the background. If you're up for a bit of a longer walk, you can follow the beach all the way down to the Point Retreat condos and back. It's a beautiful stretch along the water and gives you even more time to enjoy the lake breeze. And if you're a golf fan, the newly updated Sawmill Creek Golf Course runs right alongside the preserve. You might catch a few swings and even spot a bird or two between shots. Whether I'm home with family or just need a place to reset, Sheldon Marsh is always worth the visit. One of the best spots in Ohio, hands down.

Beautiful trails and scenery, and the beach at the end was a pleasant surprise! Highly recommend…read morefor a quality dose of nature!

One of our favorite outdoor spots. A shaded waterfall area, shallow pool and creek and smooth…read moretrails. There is also a path to the top of the waterfall. The kids have fun for hours here. Some nice benches and plenty of large rocks to hang out on. Parking is just across the road and there are a few porta potties by the parking. The waterfall isn't far once you get on the trail. The river is a farther walk but does have a very strong current so no swimming over there.

Neat little stop. Wasn't much water when we stopped tho. Hiking areas in the woods and some neat…read morerock formations.

Our tour guide was Trinity - she was fantastic! The multiple levels of the cave were well…read morepresented. However, the tour lets small children go on the tour and it isn't easy for them to get up and down. They slowed us down. The caves need to have an age limit in my opinion.

Best cave tour I've ever been on. Great exercise. Interesting information. The discoveries about…read morethe river and it's connection with a Blue Hole was extraordinary. I was very excited to hear that. Adept, informative and attentive tour guide. Wide variety of gifts and souvenirs. Quality materials at reasonable prices.

What a Mansfield gem! We were visiting from out of town and needed a place to stretch our legs and…read moreexplore nature, and came across Gorman Nature Center. It's a beautiful park and a great place to go for an easy hike. We visited on a day that the nature center was closed, so we only explored the outdoor areas during our visit. But even without visiting the nature center, we had a great time. The hiking trails are easy and wide, and perfect for strollers. The trails are also mostly lined with grass, so it was easy on my kids' little legs and feet. There are lots of native flowers and plants all over the park, plus bridges, forests, prairies, streams, ponds and other things that make the hike interesting. Gorman Nature Center encompasses 150 acres, and there are five miles of trails to walk. We only walked a total of a little less than a mile (my kids were pooping out), but the mile we walked was beautiful and peaceful. I would have loved to explore more of the park, so I'm hoping we get a chance to come back!

Went here later at night as part of Mohican Wildlife Weekend. The presentation talked about native…read moreOhio animals with the chance to see a grey tree frog and a snake (I think garter). We were also allowed to hold the snake if we wanted. They did a little game where they played an animal sound then we guessed what kind of animal it was. I didn't know deer can bark. Afterwards, we went on a guided night hike to the ponds on the property. We were able to see a lot of local frogs and toads. My main complaint is that everyone, from the guides to little kids, repeatedly picked up the frogs and toads. It's dangerous to do that since frogs and toads have very sensitive, absorbent skin so common chemicals like soap or hand sanitizer is very dangerous to the animals. A frog trying to escape can often dislocate their leg from kicking. One toad started secreting a white toxin from stress. The inside of the center had a lot of taxidermy animals. The main interesting thing about the center itself is that much about it was built to be ecofriendly. They use geothermal heating, have wood from local trees that is the tiny or "imperfect" pieces that often go to waste otherwise, composting toilets, and more. I was there at night so I can't comment much on the property.

This small preserve is near me. Lovely trails, several water crossings, lots of up and down. Many…read morelocals come here and often dogs are off-leash. Small picnic area near the parking area

A pretty short, but beautiful hike just outside of Granville. With all the offshoots you will be…read moreabout 4.5-5 miles or so. Great hike for kids!