I love the smell of Krylon in the morning. Tagging is my favorite kind of public art: raw, off the…read morecuff, available to anyone with an idea and a can of spray paint. I don't condone writing on private property, but dang it if I don't love to see it. I am probably in the minority with this one. It might be because of where I spent several of my formative years (in gang territory, surrounded by graffiti). So when I visited Wheeling, I made sure to stop and see Mt. Wood Overlook, because it's a little spot in this small West Virginia city that's covered with tags and writing. This place is a hidden gem, especially if you like quirky public art. The space itself looks like it's the cement foundation of a former building, and taggers have just taken over and written all over it. There are drawings and messages (happy birthday wishes, dates of first kisses, angry statements to exes) scrawled over every inch of this place. From the parking lot, you enter on the top floor, then you can take two flights of stairs down into what looks like a castle full of graffiti. It's seedy and creepy, but it's so cool to see what's going on in the minds and hearts of people who stopped by and left a message. There are some trails near the overlook, and just from the look of them, I would not recommend going down them. The trails are littered with spray paint cans and liquor bottles, and I read that this is also a popular spot for drug use, so who the heck knows what you might come across. Mt. Wood Overlook would make an excellent spot for a photo shoot. It's also located across the street from a cemetery! It's an awesome place to feel life breathing off the walls from fresh art, with the background of death looming in the periphery. Whatta place! You gotta visit if you're in the area.

It was a cool artistic place yet at the same time it was very sketchy. Any time you see graffiti…read morethat's what usually gives people first impressions. But this had graffiti all over, that you can step in it and not worry about paint being on your shoes. They have a small parking lot with maybe a few spaces - but there was one scary-looking dude just sitting and chilling in his car looking at everyone -like he was getting ready to snap. But I let it go. I did not go to the lower levels, as I just stayed at the top. The top is where you get a great view of the city of Wheeling. It's very interesting that the city is separated by a mountain. Bring your cameras, folks!

We visited on a fall day. The visitor center was closed but they had bathrooms at the main…read moreentrance. They had a lot of great maps of Dillon and other state parks in the area. We drove back to the lake and walked some of the trails and then down by the water. The water level was really low so we were able to explore areas that are normally covered in water. This looks like a great family park with a swim beach, basketball courts, story book stroll, play areas and campgrounds.

Beautiful hiking, biking and horse trails. We combined a few trails but needed some help from the…read moreAll Trails app to stay on our route. Pretty steep inclines and would definitely hike here again! The horse trails get a little muddy...

This little park is pleasant enough, stretched out along the highway with shade trees, picnic…read moretables, a few benches. But it is actually a historic site: here is the first oil well in North America. Discovered accidentally, and not very useful to settlers in 1814, it produced a little salt and a lot of oil that was sold as a miracle cure. The well is still here; the old hollow sycamore tree they drove into the ground is partly visible at the surface, and it looks like they give demonstrations of gathering oil. There is also an old caboose and a small shack that speak to the railroad that used to pass through here. Inside the shack is a map of Noble County. Nearby is a board with facts about the area. Well worth a stop if you are anywhere nearby. Just a couple of miles off 77, so makes for a nice break, along with a snack from one of the few restaurants in town.

This is a very cool park! My children tend to gravitate toward parks and playgrounds where there…read moreare open-ended and tactile features available, and this park has that. There are boulders to climb, outdoor musical instruments to play, a treehouse to play pretend in (and is wheelchair accessible!), a merry-go-round, swings, a traditional playground structure with slides, and lots more. The playground area is lined with wood chips. There is also lots of space to run around, and lots of trees. Like the name of the park suggests, this is a very sensory-friendly park, and there are nature stations set up all around where you can use your senses to explore. There is also a short, paved trail that goes around the park, which is wide and smooth enough for strollers and wheelchairs. The trail goes by a creek, which is nice. As of right now, this is the only sensory-friendly park in the state of Ohio! It's definitely worth a visit.

This is a really neat and wonderfully inclusive park. This features a short, paved path that is…read morewheelchair and walker accessible. Along the path are a variety of interactive stations that are also designed to be accessible. If you start near the entry sign, you'll find a Little Free Library, which, on our recent visit, was loaded with a lot of great kids options. Just ahead is a variety of benches and a little music garden, featuring musical instruments that can be played, and you can also interact with the Rough Bark Tactile Display to learn more about different tree barks. A little further down are the cutest animal looking instruments that can also be used. As you continue down the path, you find a swingset with a variety of swings that include both traditional and accessible options. There's a nice little shaded bench area with information about the creek, Fetter's Run, that can be seen from the location. As you proceed along, a very exciting find is the Treehouse, which is built within the forest trees as opposed to up in one, which allows a wheelchair ramp to make it accessible. This overlooks the creek and has things to explore, like neat nature art and a second floor (not accessible) with a fire pole. At the end of the path is a shelter house with picnic tables and nearby grills. Most, if not all, of the signage included Braille translations, as well. There is a large parking lot here, but I do note that this is located behind a school, so I'm not sure how that would affect parking for a visit during a school day.

Sorry ya'll, I'm about to burst this bubble on one of Ohio's secret camping gems…read more Jesse Owens State Park started off originally as AEP land, which was used for it's natural resources (Coal, gas, etc), leaving larges gapes and dug out crevices in the Earth. Once AEP decided they had purge the natural resources enough, they stopped operations in the 90's and reclamation groups stepped in planting trees, scaping the land & turning pits into large beautiful lakes full of bountiful fish. For many years these were known as the AEP recreation lands, as they had campgrounds, fish access, etc. More recently though, the lands were purchased by Ohio and created as a 'state park'. Why don't you hear a lot of Jesse Owens? Well, most of that will be because it's all primitive camping. There are no shower houses, RV dump stations and the bathroom facilities are glorified out houses. Not exactly a 'glamping' paradise for those who need electricity & hook ups to thrive during camping. It however, ticked all the boxes we were looking for - some true authentic campsites. The sites vary & Jesse Owens has numerous campgrounds you can check out scattered around Morgan County. For my review purposes, I stayed in Sandy Hollow - Campground C. The sites in this campground varied - Some were great for pulling your car into, some were hike in (not far by any means) & some could accommodate the bigger 5th wheels or trailers on more leveled ground. Most spots have a gorgeous view of the man made lake, which makes for a peaceful time of relaxation. It's also important to note that most all campsites have access to the lake (more like walking paths). I DO believe there are a few with docks, but this isn't the place to bring the pontoon party boat. This IS however a place for kayaks, paddleboards & small fishing boats. Did I mention that the camping is FREE here? That's really unheard of in most of the eastern part of the United States. It's also FREE for up to 14 days, which is similar to most stay limits for Bureau of Land Management areas in the west. Every spot is first come- first serve & it fills up quickly on the weekends. Mid-summer might be a different story with the hot temps & humidity, but seriously, don't be that shmuck showing up at 9pm on a Friday even expecting to snag a spot. It's not going to happen. Each spot should have a circular fire pit with a cooking grate & there are dumpsters in different parts of each campground to dump garbage. Overall, this place is a gem, and is a short drive through the beautiful South Eastern part of Ohio. A true getaway from civilization.

The property is massive, with wide open landscapes and views that stretch far across the hills…read more Waking up in the morning and looking out over the terrain was one of the highlights of the trip. It almost feels like stepping into another environment entirely, especially knowing the area is dedicated to wildlife conservation. Our campsite was quiet and well spaced out, which made it easy to enjoy the surroundings without constant noise from nearby groups. At night, the sky was incredibly clear, and the lack of city lights made stargazing surprisingly good. Facilities were simple but adequate, which fits the outdoor-focused setting. Everything we needed was available, and the grounds were kept in good condition. The staff we encountered were welcoming and clearly proud of the property, offering helpful guidance about the area. Camping at The Wilds is more than just pitching a tent--it's an opportunity to spend time in a unique natural environment that feels both peaceful and expansive. It's a great destination if you're looking for something a little different from the usual campground experience.

Second time visiting. We will be back again. Staff is super knowledgeable and friendly . We saw so…read moremany animals up close. I would absolutely recommend the wild side tour Our tour leader Faith was absolutely amazing.

Confusing to navigate. We tried to use gps and the spots marked on it do not take you to the fire…read moretower. We eventually found a paper map and found our way to the lake. It is a pretty area. The roads can be gravel in some places.

best part about blue rock state park? we went during the week and there was nobody there, the fire…read moretower was deserted so easy to get up to (beware your car if it doesn't have done oomph, there IS loose gravel on the steep roads!!!) you can tell it's foothills and get the general feel of a small mountain area without having the severe altitude you do just a few miles to the east! already working on planning another trip back next year!!!

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.

Deer fun for kids of all ages…read more I had seen this place advertised so we decided to take our kids when we were in the area. The place has a campground and other activities. We went to see the nature center style welcome center. It was really clean and well organized. Beautiful murals and lots of facts and information about deer. From their sight and hearing to how their antlers grow. I learned so much in such time. They also have a hall of fame of some of Ohio's largest caught mounted deer heads. A viewing area to see deer. Plus a great playground. And all we did was free. They have lots of other activities geared towards kids to learn about nature and hunting.

Don't waste your money buying tickets to the Deerassic Classic that they have every year in August…read more I have been spending anywhere from $600 to $1,000 every year for ten years and have never won a single prize. No more. I am done.

I visited the park just for the scenic view on a Sunday evening in mid-June 2025. First, the vista…read moreis really pretty where you can see the deep bend in the Ohio River, the town of Moundsville below, and the surrounding hills. Second, the scenic trail is easy to access from the end of the parking lot (follow signs or your Google map). Third, it was not very crowded when I visited - just 3 people hanging out. If you are in the area of Moundsville to visit the Grave Creek Mound, why not take an extra 10 minutes to drive up to Grand Vue? That said, if you are in a hurry to get somewhere, this is not necessarily worth a stop as the highlight is simply the easily accessible view itself.

Soon after we got settled the owner/ manager Craig came by to see us. He was super nice and…read morehelpful However, No laundry facilities And No dog park A park this expensive should at least have a laundry .