Beautiful park, with PLENTY to see and do, even on a cold-ish, cloudy day. I made a quick, last…read moreminute detour here on a recent visit over to Columbus, and was really glad I did. Lot of trails (though not QUITE as well-marked as this directionally "challenged" hiker might like!!) and there's also a nice nature center, full of great displays, and apparently, some interesting community events (and great restrooms!!). I parked near the nature center, got my bearings, and decided to hike the shorter orange and yellow trails, which looped me around back to where I started in the parking lot area. Beautiful, lots to see, "somewhat" well-marked, but I made it out, so very do-able!! I wanted to also take the "Lake Trail," but didn't realize at first that it was the paved trail that started at the Nature Center. Once I realized I was heading in the right direction, it was a quick, easy trek to the two observation "shacks" on the shores of the park's beautiful Thoreau Lake. DON'T skip this short, scenic hike... Well worth the trip!! Blendon Woods (and all the other Metro Parks in the region) is a GREAT place for a day (or more...) in nature. Picnic pavilions, playgrounds, educational programs at the nature center, lots of trails... Definitely a four season GEM!! Check it out!!

Amazing, playgrounds, amazing nature, Center and as a teacher, I had an amazing time with a…read morenaturalist taking my fifth graders on a field trip here. There is so much to see so much to learn and beautiful wildlife and forest. You will definitely see turkeys if you stick around either walking the road or on the trails. We have had beautiful winter walks and times in the summer herewith family.

Beautiful park. Outstanding hiking. We LOVE it here. The trails are wonderful. Loved that the…read moretrail follows the stream, and that you have to walk across them - FUN! We hiked once on a day right after it rained, so it was a bit slippery in parts, but we made it through without any trouble. Very peaceful.

Look out hikers, this tiny little park is not for those of us who are introverts & enjoy peace &…read morequiet. It is always packed whenever I go here! Yet if you actually enjoy being surrounded by strangers and walking narrow paths, tripping over roots & getting your feet wet as you cross streams without bridges then you have found your paradise. This is one of my least favorite parks to visit as it only offers one of two paths. And since the longer trail loops into the shorter route it's practically just one trail only. Although I must say that the other hikers & the track students that were enjoying their exercise were 10xs more considerate and polite than any other park I've visited. Yet I strongly suggest being prepared to carry smelly poop bags the entire time since there is only a trash can at the start of your adventure...this is also NOT handicap friendly nor a wide trail if you have a dog that doesn't like strangers or others canines. The majority of the trail is shaded but you'll quickly work up a sweat as there are a number of very narrow & steep stairways if you choose to take the long way. However, it is highly recommended not to visit if it's raining because the trails are all mud and there is nothing to stop you from slipping off the edge. This is also not a wise choice for small children because there is no play ground equipment & again, the roots & lack of bridges. Thankfully the stream was very low & my dogs & I could jump over what little water was around us- but when the stream is full you'd have to wade through the cold water. You also can't picnic here but you can reach "The top of the World"; their is literally a sign in the field you'll come across that states this, lol.

So cool- hidden gem for serious mountain bike fun. I took my active 10yr old here and then have…read moregone back several time to meet friends. There is a trail and also "trick" area. Make sure to bring helmets.

Any place that give you good outdoor nature activities gets five stars.The trail is very well…read moremaintained by the local MTB Association and is about 5 to 6 miles of good singletrack MTB.Make sure you go before any major rains and few days afterwards because they say the trail doesn't drain well.Besides that get out and ride

AWESOME park, had no idea this place existed until I happened to visit Newark and find it on the…read moremap. Was not prepared for such a steep drive up the hill. This place is a mountain biking haven; most trails are off-limits to hikers, but there is a trail for hiking. Wear good shoes if you're walking a lot- Converse won't cut it. Can't wait to return with better shoes. Great views. Shelter houses, a playground, and monuments. Surely this place is packed with history- a great place to explore. Another thing- when driving to the top, there's a sign saying No Motor Vehicles, so I tried to turn the car around. DON'T do this- it's too narrow and dangerous- plus the road is one way. I kept going and was relieved to see other cars on top. There's one road up the mountain and another down, and one-way signs once you get to the top. The No Motor Vehicle signs are for the mountain bike trails.

There is a premier mountain bike trail system built into the hillside of this Newark city park. The…read moretrails here are not for the faint of heart, but are sure to guarantee plenty of opportunities to advance your skills. There are steep downhill trails at the front of the park, from the main parking lot at the top toward the road. Then from the playground in the back of the park are flow trails with some jump lines. There are multiple trail maps posted throughout the park. There is also a crew of riders here almost every day that could point you in the right direction if you happen to need help. 10/10 trail system.

This is a mountain bike park located near Alum Creek. The dozens of little gnomes are a delightful…read moretouch and clearly indicate where it gets its name. The skills loop has some great obstacles to practice and learn on. The parking lot is located across the street, but there is a conveniently located crosswalk for use. This is a family friendly space with obstacles suited for smaller wheels, so the kids can learn too.

Westerville is known for having great parks and playgrounds, but the Johnston-McVay Park is a gem…read moreamong Westerville's network of parks. It is a relatively new park (about 5 years old) and has a somewhat non-traditional playground. The playground at Johnston-McVay is actually divided into two sections: * the upper section (closest to the parking lot) features the HAWK, a large wooden climing structure and some "roller slides". This area offers a lot of opportuity for climbing and creative play. * the lower section (closer to the road) has both traditional swings as well as a very unique swing that aloows up to 5 or 6 kids to swing togehter at the same time. My granddaughter and four or five newly found friends were swinging and singing a pirate ditty - pretending that the swing was a pirate ship. One of the nicest features of the park is that there are plenty of benches (some traditional - some large blocks of stone) for parents and grandparents to sit. The park also offers a nice mix of sunny and shady areas.

What a fantastic local park! Way to outdo yourself Westerville!…read more Just opened down the street near McVay Elementary its a beautiful addition to the neighborhood. Modern Nature inspired playground equipment: swings, climbing structures, and most recognizable - Hawk/Nest. The trail around the park has placards that mark a "story path" sponsored by Westerville Library. From the looks of it, it will be a rotating story every few months. Natural play area includes creek access and some large stones for crossing the creek. Park does have a restroom. Great fun for a variety of ages of children. Be sure to stop by!

A beautiful 75 acre meadow…read more This place is breathtaking! I waked all the trails and recorded 2.5 miles. The front entrance to this place is not very inviting but don't be fooled. Once you walk past the first set of trees it opens up to a beautiful meadow filled with lots of wildflowers, trees, and wildlife. It was very peaceful and quite back in the meadow. I enjoyed listening to the sounds of the trees and the birds calling. It was nice to get away from the sights and sounds of the city and enjoy nature. My main reason for coming here today was to look for birds, and I found 22 different species. I enjoyed walking around this park and had lots of fun exploring all of the paths. I loved every minute of it and would definitely do it again.

What a nice and relaxing day at Schnormeier Gardens! We went Friday (6/9/23) and the weather was…read moreperfect, and around 78 degrees. We had the opportunity to visit in 2020 and so happy we took some time off to visit again this year for 2023! Booked tickets online a couple weeks ago, drove up from Columbus, checked in at the gate, and spent the afternoon enjoying the grounds and gardens. Price is $50 per car, there were only 2 of us but we would have been the same for a full car. The experience was simply breathtaking, tranquil, and fun to explore the 9 gardens and art. The gardens consist of: the Waterfalls Garden, Stream Garden, Serenity Garden, Hofstra Garden, Chinese Cup Garden, Japanese Garden, Meadow Garden, Woodland Garden, and the Quarry Garden. My personal favorites are the Quarry, Stream, Serenity, and Woodland Garden and I absolutely love all the art and the various shapes and sizes of the trees and shrubs throughout. The stroll took us about 2 1/2 hours this trip. Open to the public this season from Jun 1st - Jun 25th, 2023. Located in Gambier, Ohio (Knox County) It's about an hour outside of Columbus. Second visit in three years and hope to be able to return again as it is simply a treasure. For more info visit schnormeiergardens.org

The June tour of the Japenese/Chinese inspired gardens was so much better than I was even…read moreexpecting!! The self-guided tour of the gardens allowed for literal roaming of the property off path (as there are no official paths). I had thought this would be a drive-through tour to protect the garden space (pricing is by the car load). I thought I would have 1 hour. When I learned I could walk the grounds at my leisure and literally stay as long as I wanted, I was amazed and ended up staying for almost 3 hours tracing and retracing my steps! Thank you, Schnormeier family, for sharing your treasure with all of the public who want to come!