There is an amazing solace that comes from hiking in the winter and I had planned my day around visiting Inniswood Metro Gardens in Columbus. The perfect location for spending time during the cold frigid months, the path is mostly paved with a lovely boardwalk which winds through the woods. As I arrived at Inniswood, there was a chill in the air and I realized that I had the gardens all to myself.
The main path is a 1.4 mile loop which begins after making a left at the entrance. To the right are the memorial gardens followed by the Brookwood Trail Garden to the left. About .2 miles into the trail, I crossed the stately stone bridge leading to the Conifer Garden and stopped to check out the stream running beneath it.
As the path bears right, I came upon the Sister’s Garden, one of my favorite features of the park. A statue of Grace and Mary Innis, who grew up on the property, stands at the entrance. These sisters were avid gardeners and protectors of the local wildlife, leaving the thirty-seven acres to the Columbus MetroPark system in the 1970s. The Woodland Rock Garden is one of the main attractions at the park with a secret garden waiting to be explored.
Making a sharp left after visiting the Woodland Rock Garden, I climbed a few stone stairs that brought me to the overlook for lovely views. There are two additional bridges to cross before reaching the next landmark located at .6 of a mile on the winding trail.
The gazebo, well camouflaged in the woods, came into view towards my right. As I approached, it began to rain. I was happy to come out from the weather and rested awhile in the charming blue shelter. I could hear the rain as it softly landed on the rooftop and the therapeutic sound as it lightly began to dissipate. It was perfect timing as the rain began to turn to mist, wanting to finish around dusk.
After a short distance, the pathway exited the woods but returned at .7 miles at the Boardwalk Preserve Trail. The remainder of the trail is wooded and ends with the washroom facilities on the left. From here I could see the entrance as I followed along the parking lot with only .2 miles to go.
Inniswood is a lovely park and open year around. The best time to visit is in the springtime when the flowers are blooming and the croaking of the frogs can be heard near the herb garden. The area is known as home to pileated woodpeckers and warblers. Don’t forget to check out the additional features of the park which includes the Frog Talk Walk, the Cutting Garden and the Rose Garden as well. It is a perfect location to enjoy nature no matter the season.
Have you visited Inniswood and did you explore the park in the winter? I would love to hear what you enjoy about this park, so kindly leave a message in the comments section below! Happy Trails!!
What to See and What to Do:
Inniswood Metro Gardens
940 S. Hempstead Road
Westerville, OH 43081
Telephone: 614 895 6216
Where to Eat:
Delaney’s Diner
Glengary Shopping Center
5916 Westerville Road
Westerville, OH 43081
Telephone: 614 776 5788
Open for breakfast, brunch and lunch, Delaney’s extensive menu is keeping the Salvi’s Pastasalvi tradition alive! This dish, starts with egg noodles with a cream sauce and scallions, dips it into panko crumbs and deep fries it until golden brown with a creamy middle on the inside. It’s a Columbus favorite!
Here are more of my favorite Columbus Classics:
- Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream: Known for her unique flavor combinations, Jeni Britton Bauer has made ice cream famous in C-Bus!
- North Market: A one-stop shop for universal cuisine, Columbus’ North Market is worth a stop in the Short North District of the city.
- The Thurman Cafe: The Thurmanator is the burger of all burgers at this longtime local cafe in German Village. There may be a wait all burgers are made to order.
- Schmidt’s Sausage Haus and Restaurant: While the sausage at Schmidt’s is the official food of Columbus, it’s the amazing Cream Puffs that have the locals lining up at the door.
What to Read:
- Columbus: The Story of a City, by Ed Lentz
- Columbus, Ohio: A Photographic Portrait, by Randall L Schieber and Robin Smith
- Ohio in Photographs: A Portrait of the Buckeye State, by Ian Adams
- Secret Columbus, by Anietra Hamper
Photo Guide for Columbus:
- Coffman Park: small ponds, bridges, white barn, pavilion, landscaping, public art
- Columbus Museum of Art: the grounds, inside artwork and special exhibits
- Everal Barn and Homestead: landscaping, white barn, beautiful lake
- Frank Fetch Park: gardens, brick paths, beautiful trees and landscaping
- Franklin Park Conservatory: beautiful gardens, artwork, flowers and special exhibits
- Gantz Park: barn, beautiful trees,
- German Village: brick streets, landscaping, parks, charming architecture, Old World charm, historical buildings
- Grove City: brick roads, small town, shopping area
- Hayden Falls – wooden walking path, waterfall
- Historical Village of Hilliard: a small village to include a schoolhouse, train car, chapel, log cabin, covered bridge, gazebo and granary
- Homestead Park in Hilliard: walking path, covered bridge, barns, trains, tractor, pond and pet park
- Inniswood Metro Gardens: gardens, lily pond, herb garden, play area for children, secret garden
- Ohio State House: rotunda and landscaping (photo permit required)
- Ohio State University: campus, landscaping, Mirror Lake, Ohio Stadium (you can pay a small fee to take photos inside)
- Park of Roses in Clintonville: various types of rose gardens
- Riverfront Park: city view, Scioto River, landscapes, fountains, walking paths
- Schiller Park: gardens, walking paths, stone columns, wooden bridge, small lake
- Scioto Mile: city views, Scioto River, landscapes, fountains, walking paths
- Scioto Park in Dublin: statue of Chief Leatherlips, river views, landscaping, and paths
- Short North: restaurants, italian village, shops, city views, murals
- Topiary Park: depiction of George Seurat’s 1884 painting, landscape, fountains, small pond, gazebo
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