Outdoor Columbus

Perhaps the most different of the MetroParks, Inniswood Gardens offers up the beauty of cultivated nature, rather than that of the semi-wild.  Carved from grounds given to the MetroParks by two sisters, Grace and Mary Innis (pictured above, as children, in bronze), Inniswood is home to nine different gardens (several including their own sub-gardens), nicely landscaped paths between them, and several short (0.3-0.5 mile) paths through the woods.  It’s definitely not a place to go for hiking, but for a nice relaxing stroll, it can’t be beat.

The gardens are well designed, and full of beautiful flowers, which in turn attract some beautiful insects (see below), and they vary to suit many tastes.  The Rose Garden, of course, has many varieties of roses, and it can also be reserved to host weddings.  The Conifer Garden, has many varieties of evergreens and shrubs.  The Herb Garden can be most aromatic (but don’t tell the homebrewers that they have hops growing on a trellis!).  But we at Outdoor Columbus had two favorites: The Rock Garden and the Sisters’ Garden.

The Rock Garden is the sort of quiet (except for the constantly rushing waters), meditative place I would love to have in a future backyard.  The multi-stage cascade would make the perfect place to sit and write, gathering inspiration from the waters and the buzz of small life around you.  It is at once both relaxing and entrancing.

The Sisters’ Garden has nine sub-gardens itself, making it the perfect place to spend some time while at Inniswood.  From a plains garden, complete with sunflowers stretching well beyond 6 feet in height, to a wetlands garden, teaming with amphibian life, there is something for everyone.  And even if you’re tired of admiring the flowers, there is a treehouse to explore and a flagstone “maze” that offers up an Indian creation story along its path.  Be sure, though, not to miss the “secret garden” and it’s well-hidden beauty.

Inniswood, like all the MetroParks, offers up its share of wildlife.  Joining the butterflies and bees pictured above who love the variety of flowers offered, dragonflies team above the many pools.  Below them, you can spot an uncountable number of frogs (and in late July, many of the young, just coming out of the waters).  Numerous birds, including blue jays and cardinals in addition to the goldfinch pictured below, fill the Gardens with song, and if you’re lucky, you may even spot wise, old Mr. Owl — even in the daytime!  Finally, don’t be surprised if your walk in the woods is filled with the sounds of squirrels and chipmunks frolicking about, or even one or two popping up throughout Inniswood, looking for a snack.

As mentioned, this isn’t the park to come to if you want to do some hiking.  It is, however, well worth your time.  And, located just south of 270 (in Westerville, take rt. 3 S, and follow the signs), it is easily accessible to anyone in the Columbus area.   We would suggest a nice picnic lunch (there is a beautiful picnic area across from the main entrance), and plenty of time to walk around and enjoy all the various gardens.  Just don’t forget the camera!

Whether you just have time for a day-trip or can spend a weekend or more away, Hocking Hills offers some fantastic hiking and more.  Within the Hocking Hills area, there are at least nine state parks, each with their own character and beauty.  Also available in the area are great craft and antique shops, bits of Americana, and reminders of the history of the state and the nation.

The state parks are, of course, the main attraction of the region.  And as you drive in closer and closer, the reason why becomes very clear.  The mostly flat lands of central Ohio gently give way to rolling hills even as farmland gives way to forest.  It is, it seems, a different land entirely from Columbus, which lays only an hour or so to the north — and this is certainly a welcome change for the outdoor enthusiast.  By the time you reach Logan or its surroundings, you will know that you are in for a treat.  And while we at Outdoor Columbus have visited only two of the many parks in the Hocking Hills, Rock House and Old Man’s Cave, we are yearning to go back and spend time in all the others.

Old Man’s Cave is, undoubtedly, the most famous of the parks in the region.  The myriad of features within the park, including small waterfalls, tunnels, high cliffs, and deep ravines, would make this a winning destination even without the eponymous feature.  The cave itself is somewhat of a let down compared to others in the region.  Don’t let that keep you from enjoying this park, however, as the hiking itself, the other features mentioned, and those pictured below make the trek well worth it.  And of course, everyone who knows you are going to Hocking Hills is going to ask about it.

Two great features of the Old Man’s Cave park, a calm and picturesque pool and the Indian’s Head.

Rock House is less well known than the Old Man’s Cave, but it is at least as worthy of your time.  The trail length is somewhat shorter than those at OMC, but the climbing is more intense (though easily manageable, even for families with small children) to make up for it.  The main feature of the park, the Rock House, is actually the only “true cave” in the Hocking hills region (That is, all the others are lateral crevices in the cliff rather than actual caves.), and it lies midway up a 150 foot cliff.

The views, from both the cave itself and from the cliff top (for which these pictures do absolutely no justice) are spectacular.

Don’t be fooled into thinking the state parks and other hiking opportunities are the only draws to the region. History and culture also thrive in the Hocking Hills.

Dotted throughout the area, whether at the sites of old farmsteads or alongside longstanding churches, are a large number of old graveyards.  While these can often be interesting and informative to walk through (respectfully, of course), these graveyards are especially enlightening.  Time and again we saw one symbol on a large percentage of male graves in these small plots, a star emblazoned G.A.R.  The GAR is the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization whose membership was limited to those who served in the Union Army during the Civil War.  These stars were not only a testament to the sacrifices of these men and their families, but a reminder of Ohio’s high rate of service at that time.

Logan, the largest town in the area, and other small towns are also testaments to the culture of the region.  The many shops in the region cater to tourists by offering not only antiques, but craft items made by local artisans.  A trip to the Hocking Hills can be paradise for shoppers as much as it is for hikers.  And, those going in late summer and early fall will also be able to sample from the many roadside stands selling local produce — sweet corn roasted in a campfire and peaches so ripe the juices rolled down and off the chin were the backbone of at least one meal for us.

Finally, for those looking for a romantic getaway (or those who just like a little comfort in the great outdoors), the region is filled with small cabins available for rent.  We stayed in the Hickory Grove Cabins during our visit, and would highly recommend them to anyone.  Like most cabins for rent in the area, the cabin we stayed in was equipped with a fireplace, a full kitchen (including cookware, plates, and utensils), and a hot tub.  It was also decorated with many of the same crafts for sale in local shops and offered local foodstuffs for sale.

If you haven’t been to the Hocking Hills, go!  If you haven’t been in a while, go back!  The area is simply beautiful, and it should be enjoyed as much as possible.

Scattered around the edges of the city, like an oasis in the desert to this country boy, are the fifteen preserved natural areas that are the Columbus Metroparks.  The parks cover over 23,000 acres, with over 140 miles of trails running through forest, field, and prairie.   And, best of all for Columbus residents, they are extremely accessible, with most being just a few minutes from I-270.

With such a large amount of land spread out among these parks (though not evenly, the largest comes in over 6000 acres, while the smallest is only 71), there is an incredible amount of diversity among the parks.  Old growth forests, open prairies, river banks, and wetlands are among the types of terrain a visitor may encounter, if not all in one park, then in visits to several.  Of course, the diversity of terrain is mirrored by the diversity in wildlife in the parks as well.  Countless species of birds and insects, along with the ever present squirrels, rabbits, and chipmunks, will top the list for any visitor, but the observant hiker may also spot animals ranging in size from baby frogs, no bigger than a thumbnail, to deer.

It’s not just greenery and wildlife that the metroparks hold.  Some parks also contain clues about the way man has interacted with his environment.  Giant mounds and other earthworks give testement to the lives of those in Ohio before European colonization.  Stark reminders of the lives of early European settlers and residents of Ohio can also be found.

It is not surprising then, that some of the great programs run at the metroparks focus on educating visitors to the various ways that man has used these lands and the resources they provide.  Other programs teach participants about the wildlife and flora of the parks, and still others are focused on extending the use of these lands in safe and conservation-friendly ways.  All these programs can be found at the metroparks website, and if necessary, reservations can be made instantly on-line.

Speaking of reservations, none are required here at Outdoor Columbus, so come back anytime and read about the individual parks among the other topics we’ll be writing on in the coming weeks.

One of our favorite destinations for outdoor fun is the Columbus Zoo. The zoo will likely be the subject of more posts to come (as they are always expanding, adding new animals and exhibits, and running special programs), but I could think of no better way to kick-off this blog than with an overview of one of this country’s great zoos.

Location and Layout

The zoo is located just outside of Columbus (to the northwest) in Powell, Oh. The main entrance is located just off Powell Road (St. Route 750), just east of Riverside Drive (and hence, the Scioto River). The zoo is adjacent to a golf course and a newly renovated (and largely entirely newly built) water park.

The zoo is well laid-out and designed both for the animals’ health and well-being and the visitors’ enjoyment and education. The majority of the exhibits are located within four main areas, based on the native habitat of the animals housed there (North America, Asia, Africa, and Australia and Pacific Islands). Each area is comprised of a main loop connected to one another along a main thoroughfare. Also along this main path, but not contained within any of the main areas are a small aquarium, a manatee tank, a penguin pool, and a reptile house.

Not only does this layout make very efficient use of the space available (itself leading to the ability to have spacious habitats for the animals), it minimizes “dead time” in which visitors are walking through areas without animals or where they have to backtrack through areas they’ve already seen in order to get to other areas. Another advantage is that it gives the opportunity for viewing along a higher percentage of the enclosure’s perimeter and at multiple angles — both increasing the likelihood of spotting the animals without sacrificing their comfort.

Highlights

North America is home to one of the Columbus Zoo’s most important projects. One of the first animals you’ll encounter in this area is the Mexican Wolf. This species was on the brink of extinction after being killed by farmers fearing for their livestock. The Columbus Zoo is part of a major effort to revive the population of these animals, and dozens of Mexican Wolves born to the zoo have been reintroduced into the wild. Other highlights in this area include orphaned brother Grizzly Bears, Grey Wolves, Mountain Lions, and (depsite their association with that school up north) a pair of wolverines. If you’re visiting with kids, or those who are kids at heart, don’t forget to stop by the petting zoo.

Asia Quest is proud to house Fluffy. Billed as the largest snake in captivity, Fluffy is 24 feet long and upwards of 300 pounds — and even if she isn’t the largest snake in the world, she’s certainly big enough! Asia Quest is also home to the zoo’s Elephants, the exotic and quite cute Red Pandas, and the big cats — four Amur (Siberian) Tigers and one male and two female Lions.

The African Forest holds one of the Columbus Zoo’s great success stories. The year 1956 saw the birth of Colo, the first gorilla ever to be born in captivity. Colo and her progeny still make up a significant portion of the gorilla population at the zoo. This area is also home to a thriving group of bonobos (apes, not monkeys!) who, along with chimps are our closest living relatives on the primate tree, and okapis which are strange creatures that seem an improbable mix of giraffe, zebra, and horse.

Probably the smallest of the four main areas, Australia and Pacific Islands is home to kangaroos, koalas, orangutans, and a nocturnal animals display. The latter display currently features a pair of Fishing Cat kittens born in mid-April.

There are several Rides and Attractions in the zoo as well. In North America, there is the aforementioned petting zoo as well as a train ride that takes visitors around the moose, gray wolf, and bear enclosures. While this is fun for smaller children, it doesn’t provide a lot of new views of the animals (more a function of the great layout than a complaint about the ride). Along the main path between Asia Quest and Australia, there is an old-style carouselle, fun for children and those who like nostalgic reminders of yesteryear. The Australian area holds two of its own attractions as well. First, Lorikeet feeding. These small colorful birds will land on your arms, hands, and shoulders for a chance to get some sweet nectar. The second attraction is a boat ride through the area. Unlike the train ride in North America, this does present some new and different views of the animals. The petting zoo and entrance to the lorikeet enclosure are free. The rides and the nectar for feeding the lorikeets each cost $1.

Tips and Suggestions

1) The zoo is well worth visiting if you are ever within driving distance. I truly believe it is among the best zoos in America both in terms of visitor experience and in terms of animal treatment.

2) Bring your camera! The zoo has great enclosures that offer numerous opportunities for photography. Here is a slideshow of some of my favorite pictures from this zoo.

3) If you live close to Columbus, I highly recommend getting a membership to the zoo. While the entire zoo can easily be viewed in a single day, a membership allows you to spend lengthier amounts of time at one or two areas, knowing you can come back again and again.

4) Come during the week and get there early. Not only do you beat the crowds, but in the summer months, many animals are more active in the first hour or so than they are later in the day.

5) Come in the winter. Or at least late fall and early spring. With the exception of Australia and Pacific Islands, almost all the animals are on display year-round, and most are in their outdoor enclosures during this time. As an added bonus, many of them (including the wolves, mountain lions, wolverines, and tigers) are much more active during more of the day.

6) Talk to the docents.  They volunteer for the position and undergo the training for a reason — they love animals and talking about them to other people.  We’ve spent periods ranging from 15 minutes to several hours talking with the docents at the tiger, pachyderm, and primate exhibits and have learned a great deal of fascinating information about the animals (e.g., the names of the different tigers and how to distinguish them by sight) and the zoo.  They may also have great recomendations for other animal-related activities (e.g. The Wilds and The Exotic Feline Rescue Center).

Greetings!

I came to Columbus (and Ohio, for that matter) about three years ago. Somewhat apprehensive then about what I would find here, I have come to love at least one aspect of this city — the great variety of outdoor activities that Columbus, and easily reached areas of central Ohio, has to offer.  In this blog, I hope to share with you some of these great events, locations, and opportunities for fun and enrichment.  (I also hope to share more and more photographs, another passion of mine that has been developed mainly in the enjoyment of the outdoors of Columbus.)

I will admit from the start a bias toward getting off the pavement and away from anything resembling city life.  The largest exception to this is a well-used membership to the Columbus Zoo (something I’d highly recommend to anyone within driving distance).  As such, early posts will most likely cater toward that bias.  I will, however, endeavor to include more events and locales within city limits and amidst the bustle of Columbus life.

Also, I am always on the look-out for new experiences.  If you know of an event or location that you would like to see covered here, or just one you think I would enjoy, please let me know about it.  You can either leave a comment on any post or send an email to OutdoorColumbus@gmail.com.