Our family loves the outdoors. My husband even grew up with woods in his backyard. Our kids, however, are growing up with close neighbors and in walking distance to shops and restaurants. Not the same.
Thankfully, though, there is still plenty of nature to enjoy in our area. For those nature-loving families like us, here are five Columbus outdoor adventures:
Adventure #1: Paddle Boating at Creekside Park in Gahanna
Our family recently tried paddle boating at Creekside Park and Plaza in Gahanna. My boys loved taking turns at “steering” (We may have ended up in shrubbery a couple of times). For the bargain price of $5 per half hour, we had a mini adventure during my husband’s lunch hour. After paddle boating, try one of the restaurants or the ice cream shop located along the main street. Parking tip: We parked in a lot behind the Wendy’s and walked along the pretty creek trail until we reached the paddle boat stand. Note: Paddle boating is open from May until the end of September, so add this to your list for next year. Check out Creekside Paddle Boats for hours and rates.
Adventure #2: Explore a Cave at Duranceau Park
Instead of driving an hour to Hocking Hills, why not check out a cave right in the city of Columbus? Duranceau park is a hidden gem. It is so hidden, in fact, it is very difficult to find. Though the park could use some updates and proper signage, it offers nice views of the Griggs reservoir and has a small playground as well as an outdoor education center. Check out the center’s fall events and classes including archery, canoeing, and preschool nature classes. Directions and parking: Enter the park from the Thoburn Rd entrance. Park at the new center or the older facility if the gate is open. Walking directions to the cave: From the older facility, cross over the stone bridge, and head straight up the hill past the archery station. At the top of the hill, follow the trail downhill, and turn right at the bottom. Follow the narrow path to the right of the rocks until you reach the cave. Note: The path is a little overgrown and can be rocky at times.
Adventure #3: Natural Playground at Blendon Woods Metro Park
Have your kids tried the natural playground at Blendon Woods Metro Park? This newer natural play area is amazing. Designed with forest materials, there are several different stations set up in the woods to explore. You can play a game of tic tac toe, build a fort, climb on a huge ropes course, and sit on a log train. My kids loved going high in the air on the huge log seesaw. The highlight of the play area, though, is a zip line swing that sends the kids flying over a small ravine area. Note: This playground is not for anxious moms.
Adventure #4: View a Bald Eagle’s Nest in Downtown Columbus
By word of mouth, our family heard about the bald eagle’s nest on the Scioto River near downtown. We decided to make a little adventure out of finding the nest. My oldest was in the middle of studying birds at school so the timing was perfect. While we were there on a weekend evening, there were a few groups as well as a photographer also looking at the nest. It was so neat to see these beautiful creatures flying into and out of the nest. Directions to view the eagle’s nest: There is a small parking lot across the street from Camp Bow Wow, 1006 Dublin Rd, Columbus, Ohio 43215. From the parking lot, you can view the nest on the other side of the river.
Adventure #5: Take a Tram Ride at a Columbus Metro Park.
A great and relaxing way to enjoy the great outdoors is to take a tram ride through one of the Columbus Metro Parks. While on a group outing at Glacier Ridge Metro Park, we took an unplanned but pleasant tram ride. The guide spoke about the history of the park as well as the different types of trees and animals in the area. My kids enjoyed spotting all the wildlife along the way. The tram is available for free at various metro parks throughout the year. Here is their tram schedule for 2018.
