I’m in love with REI’s #optoutside movement, and have huge respect for their decision to close their doors on Black Friday. That said, I work retail, and appreciate the business Black Friday shoppers will bring retailers and thus keep me employed. However you plan to spend Friday, I encourage you to at least spend part of your day outside, enjoying the fresh air. The mall can wait. Below I’ve listed a park within a few minutes of some of the state’s major malls. This list is by no means comprehensive, but meant to be a guide and inspiration for getting in some steps outside.
Your mall or shopping spot not on the list? Do what I did: search where you plan to shop on Google maps, zoom out, find a green spot, zoom in and read what park it is – that simple! Doesn’t have to be a big, popular spot. Lots of neighborhoods around the malls have small but beautiful spots where you can take a walk amongst the trees, along a creek, or around a lake or pond. Whatever you do this holiday weekend, have fun and be safe! Adventure on. Cincinnati:
Cleveland:
Dayton:
Lancaster:
Toledo:
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Some of us Ohioans saw our first snow this past weekend, but don’t let that dull your sense of adventure, especially if you’ve got kids. Even when the temperatures turn cold there is still plenty to do around Ohio. I teamed up with Stacie from Little Adventures Await to create a list of 10 fun day trips designed with kids in mind. While we focused on areas within about 90 minutes or so of Columbus, these are easy trips from just about anywhere in Ohio - and fun even if you don’t have kids. So pack some snacks and bundle everyone up for a drive. Most of these include indoor experiences, but some will require some snowsuits and boots and a sense of adventure! 1. Hocking Hills (Logan):
2. Loudonville: Both Mohican and Malabar have a lot to offer, and could easily be day trips on their own. That said, you can also shorten your stay at both and easily see each of these State Parks in one day trip.
3. Yellow Springs:
4. Dayton Air Force Museum Dayton holds enough activities for an entire post of its own, so we decided to stick with just one of its most famous and well-known indoor attractions. Dads and little airplane and space enthusiasts will have lots to explore, and best of all...it is FREE!
5. Mansfield: At about an hour north of Columbus off 71, Mansfield is reasonably close and convenient, and with lots to do there, a great place to check out this winter!
6. Canal Winchester/Lithopolis: Close enough to not be a hassle, but feels a million miles from the city (in a good way!) when you’re there.
7. Delaware: Delaware sits just far enough to our North that it could be considered a day trip, and an opportunity to discover a place you never knew was so close.
8. Springfield:
Springfield is located near Dayton, so you can easily add these stops to a Dayton trip, if you’re up for it! That said, Springfield has a lot to offer, so worth spending a day. Here are a few options of places to check out.
9. West Liberty:
10. Zanesville/Newark: Straight out 70, you’ll find some indoor fun at these two places and make it back home in time for dinner.
And a very special bonus this holiday season... 11. Sugar Creek:
I started the Adventurer Profiles back in July as a way to get to know the people exploring Ohio - the people behind the pictures. I started with myself. Because it's been a few months and 7000 more of you all have followed along since, I thought I'd reintroduce myself, the person behind @myohioadventure.
I started the account because I wanted a place that I could not only share my adventures around Ohio, in hopes that it would inspire others to get out and explore, but also share what others are up to as well. I can't do and see it all, bills won't pay themselves, so I love sharing your experiences as well - helps me share more than I could otherwise. And so, @myohioadventure and the #myohioadventure hashtag was born. I didn't, and still don't, want it to simply be a feed of perfectly posed shots (check out @socality if that's what you're into), but rather a mixture of everything from professionally captured moments to the beautiful quick shots we capture on our phones. And now, meet me, @luftballoons.... Where from: Born and raised in Worthington (a Columbus suburb). Did a brief stint in Athens to attend OU, finished my degree back in Columbus at Ohio State, spent 3 years in Brooklyn, a year in Memphis, and am now back and settled in Cbus. Currently live in Victorian Village and absolutely love it. Favorite Ohio Adventure: The Columbus Metro Parks. There are 16, each unique in size and what you can do there, and all are fun and beautiful. Battelle Darby Creek has bison, my favorite animal, so obviously it's my favorite of their parks. Back in March I made a goal for myself to visit all 16 this year. They've since added 2 parks, and have a 3rd in the works. With a few weeks to go, I've got 5 left. It's been such a fun challenge that's allowed me to see new spots around my city. I'll probably do it again next year! What do you love most about Ohio? The Ohio pride. Not everyone, but I feel like so many people from Ohio have such love and respect for their home state. Even people I know that have moved away (and will probably never move back) have deep love for Ohio and pride about being from here. It's contagious, and a big reason why I moved home. Favorite Ohio Companies: 7thirty8 Apparel. Owner Matt shares my love of exploring Ohio (and Pearl Jam), but also his stuff is awesome. Ohio themed, Ohio made. Homage. They started with Ohio tshirts, but even as they’ve grown much larger, they stay loyal to Ohio and Columbus. Every year they still set up a booth at Columbus’ Comfest and I love that this event, even if small compared to their size, isn’t beneath them. Glitteracy. Chelsea's work is super cute and fun. Great for the home, great for gifts, great for whatever. Favorite Ohio Food: Ice cream from any rural Ohio ice cream establishment. No one does ice cream quite like rural Ohio, amiright? Favorite Ohio Drink: Four String Brass Knuckle, CBC IPA, North High anything, and Land Grant Stiff Arm. I like beer, can you tell? Favorite Ohio City: Quaker City. It’s where my grandparent’s farm is located. Population hovers around 500, neighbors houses can’t be seen because they’re too far away, and only recently did they finally pave (some of) the roads. I grew up playing in the woods there, and while I went through a decade-long phase where I didn’t care for the outdoors, I now can’t imagine my life without the farm. It's where I learned to adventure, and will be forever grateful for it. My Ohio Adventure to-do list: The Canopy Walk and Emergent Tower at Holden Arboretum, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park, Mansfield Reformatory Favorite place to adventure outside of Ohio: Arizona. My dad lives in San Tan Valley, AZ, outside of Phoenix. When I visit we hike, take his ATV out for rides, day trip to the Grand Canyon or California, eat our way around the area, and just sit and enjoy the views of the mountains from his backyard. It’s hot as hell, but perfect. New York City. It's the most amazing city to just wander around and get lost in. Never a dull moment. Never not exciting. And if you need an escape from the craziness, parks like Prospect Park and Central Park make you feel like you're a million miles away. Thanks for following along and helping me learn more about Ohio! |
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