• ashtabula county itinerary
    Explore Parks,  Weekend Trips

    Exploring Ashtabula County

    Our family recently took a trip to Ashtabula County to explore some new areas. Ashtabula County is just east of Cleveland and is comprised of Ashtabula, Conneaut, Jefferson, Geneva-on-the-Lake, and a few smaller towns. It’s a great place to visit for a weekend, or even a day trip if you’re in the greater Cleveland area – only about an hour’s drive. While Ashtabula County is best known as Ohio Wine Country (see my favorites here), there is also some hiking, beaches, and other fun areas to explore. Hiking at Indian Trails Park The first thing we checked out was the Smolen Gulf Covered Bridge – the longest-covered bridge in the…

  • Explore Cities,  Explore Parks,  Weekend Trips

    An Outdoorsy Adventure Weekend in Fort Wayne, IN

    I have become a huge fan of visiting cities where we can easily walk places, have tons to do, and also get our fill of nature all in one. As someone who lives in Cleveland, I have high standards thanks to our Metroparks being consistently rated one of the best in the nation. So, when the city of Fort Wayne reached out to work together I was intrigued. I’m not going to lie, I don’t know much about the state of Indiana and have spent very little time there, so I was going into this trip pretty blind. However, I am so glad we said yes and spent a weekend…

  • five rivers metropark dayton
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    The Ultimate Family Fun at Five Rivers Metropark Near Dayton

    My family and I recently spent time exploring the Five Rivers Metropark system near Dayton. This purpose of this post is to share with you all everything we packed in to one weekend exploring these parks. Five Rivers Metroparks consists of 18 parks throughout the Dayton region, making nature accessible to everyone in the area. And whether you enjoy live music, spending time on the water or hiking there will be a place and activity in this area perfect for you! Thank you to Ohio The Heart of It All and Five Rivers Metropark for putting together a great weekend for us. Camping at Possum Creek This was our family’s…

  • Explore Parks,  Weekend Trips

    Spend a Weekend Exploring Hueston Woods State Park

    It’s been a goal of mine to eventually visit all of Ohio’s 75 state parks, and I was recently able to check one more off the list. I love state parks as a weekend destination, as there is typically something for everyone in the family to enjoy, plus all of Ohio’s state parks are FREE to visit. Hueston Woods State Park is officially ranked in my top five as of now, this is a destination you do not want to miss out on. Tucked closely to the Ohio/Indiana border and about an hour away from Dayton and Cincinnati, this little slice of paradise offers hiking trails, mountain biking trails, fossil…

  • spring flowers near cleveland
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    The Best Places to See Spring Flowers near Cleveland

    With winter almost behind us, it’s time to start planning visits to see the spring flowers bloom, and I’m sharing the best spots in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio region. Check out where to see cherry blossoms, daffodils and bluebells this spring! Brookside Reservation Part of the Cleveland Metroparks, this is a popular destination for family photos, senior portraits, etc., and it’s easy to see why! The area is small, but the perfectly aligned trees is a sight to see in the spring. This part of the part is found at Cherry Grove Picnic Area. It is located along the south side of John Nagy Blvd. in the Old Brooklyn neighborhood…