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The First Metro Park in Columbus, Blacklick Woods Metro Park

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Buttonbush Swamp

It was a sunny mid-March morning and I decided to hike Blacklick Woods Metro Park in Reynoldsburg, Ohio.  With six trails, I wanted to hike back to the Nature Center that would eventually lead me to the Walter A. Tucker Nature Preserve.

I began by parking near the Ashton pond where I picked up the Beech trail, a half a mile loop.  I found a trail head for the 4.1 mile multipurpose trail a few minutes into the hike, leading me to a connector trail at the nature preserve.  Once I met up with the half mile Buttonbush Trail, I was heading in the right direction towards the nature center.

The forests here are primarily made up of beech-maple trees and are perfect for bird-watching.  There are a couple of swamps where boardwalks were created to bring an up-close, personal look at the plant and animal life in this type of environment.  In addition to birds, deer and fox, other wildlife make their home in this fascinating preserve.

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Blacklick Woods was the first of Columbus’ MetroParks, opening in 1948.  First set among 113 acres, the park has grown to include picnic areas, a lodge and an 18-hole regulations course, making it, today, a 643-acre park.  This is a perfect place to bring your family for an afternoon of animal watching.

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At the nature center, I spent a few moments inside, watching the animals and birds enjoying an afternoon lunch of seeds provided by the park personnel.  It felt warm and cozy inside as the temperature outdoors was still cool during the early spring months.  The sun shone into the lodge casting shadows on the floor.  Squirrels and chipmunks entertained us as they chased away the birds attempting to reach the feeders.  I was taken back to my childhood when my family would visit the parks, the trails and the campgrounds throughout Ohio.  I remembered the spring smells and the sounds of birds filling the air as I began my walk back to the pond and vowed to continue our family tradition.  Such fond memories….

Do you have a favorite metro, state or national park that you love to visit?  I would love to hear about it in the comments below!  Many Thanks for reading about my afternoon spent at Blacklick Woods Metro Park and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Blacklick Woods Metro Park
6975 Livingston Avenue
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068
Telephone:  614 208 4247

  • Hours:  The  park is open from 6AM to 10PM April through September and from 6AM to 8PM, October through March.
  • Amenities:   Trails, shelter and lodge rentals, biking, golfing, picnicking, nature centers and sledding
  • Scenic View:  Views of wildlife from the nature centers
  • Length of Visit:   Determined by the activities
  • Tips for Your Visit:  During the winter months, the park offers sledding as well as cross-country skiing.  Visit the Columbus Metro Parks website for information about the many parks in the area.

Where to Stay:

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Columbus Airport East
6305 East Broad Street
Columbus, OH  43213
Telephone:  614 322 8000

Where to Eat:

Barrel & Boar
8 N. State Street
Westerville, OH  43081
Telephone:  614 300 5014

I started my meal by ordering the Carolina Hush Puppies served with honey butter.  The pulled pork came with garlic toast and a choice of two sides, so I ordered the Mac & Cheese and the Creamy Cole Slaw which were phenomenal.  I look forward to returning for brunch to experience the Bloody Mary Bar and another future visit for the Brisket Cubano.

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

The Beautiful Firefly Chalet in Gatlinburg, Tennessee

As our car turned the corner to make the uphill climb to the Firefly Chalet, we witnessed our first bear sighting that included three baby bears and their mother.   Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains are known for its black bears and we couldn’t believe our luck seeing these little cuties so early in our vacation.

Located in the Village of Cobbly Nob, the Firefly Chalet was our Gatlinburg property for our week’s vacation and it was absolutely perfect.   The property includes a golf course, three swimming pools and a tennis court for recreation.  A chalet-style home with three rooms, the Firefly was loaded with fabulous amenities including a hot tub, free WiFi, a pool table and spectacular views of the Great Smoky Mountains.

We booked the property through the Vacation Rentals By Owner website.  There is also a toll-free number to discuss the reservation with an agent which is 888 829 7076.  The 1,675 square foot chalet sleeps six with three bedrooms and attached baths.

The living room has floor to ceiling windows with a phenomenal view of the Smokies.  There is access to the outdoor balcony which was a great place for us to enjoy our morning coffee and to relax under a passing thunderstorm.  The central feature of the main living space is the beautiful stone, wood burning fireplace.

The kitchen was the perfect size, fully equipped with lots of storage space.  There was a breakfast table and additional bar stools for seating.   We used the outdoor charcoal grill to make hamburgers one night and enjoyed an evening of relaxing on the deck.

The chalet sleeps six with a sleeper sofa for an additional guest or two.  The master bedroom features a king-sized bed, private bath and a 24” television  with a DVD and VCR player.  Located on the main level is another king sized bed, 24” television with a DVD and VCR player.  On the lower level where the washer and dryer are located is another guest bedroom with a queen sized bed, 27” television with a DVD and VCR player.

Firefly is conveniently located 2.6 miles to downtown Gatlinburg and 11 miles from Dollywood and Pigeon Forge.  The  property is located on Highway 321 North in Gatlinburg.   For more information, visit the VRBO website to book your holiday at this spectacular chalet.

Have you visited Gatlinburg?  Where did you stay?  I would love to hear about your stay in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below!  Many thanks for reading about my stay at Firefly and wishing you many Happy Travels!

The Cincinnati Skyline as Seen from Kentucky’s Devou Park

I was meeting some friends at Willie’s Sports Cafe and with some time to spare, drove up to the Devou Memorial Park.  I had read several articles that mentioned the view of Cincinnati’s skyline from here was breathtaking, so I wanted to see it for myself.

Devou is easy to access by driving across the Ohio River on I-75 / I-71.  Take exit 191 toward Pike Street into Covington.  Turn right on Pike Street then right onto Lewis Street.  A slight right onto Montague Road and a left turn onto Golfview Road will bring you to the Devou Golf & Event Center on your right.

A hidden gem of over 700 acres, Devou Park provides a panoramic view of downtown Cincinnati from its Memorial Overlook.  The largest park in Covington, Devou’s 18-hole golf course, biking trails, playgrounds and picnic shelter offers plenty of outdoor activities.

The park is named for William P. Devou, Senior and his wife Sarah who had once owned most of the acreage which was once their family farm.  The land was donated to the city of Covington and was designated a park in 1910.

Have you had the opportunity to visit Devou Memorial Park and take in the fascinating Cincinnati skyline?  I would love to hear about your visit if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.

What to See and What to Do:

Devou Memorial Park
790 Park Lane
Covington, KY  41011
Telephone:   859 292 2160

Where to Stay:

Hotel Covington
638 Madison Avenue
Covington, KY  41011
Telephone:  858 905 6600

Where to Eat:

Otto’s On Main
521 Main Street
Covington, KY  41011
Telephone:  859 491 6678

What to Eat:

  • Benedictine is a spread made of cucumber and cream cheese.  It is also used as a salad dressing
  • Derby Pie is a chocolatey walnut pie with a pastry dough crust.
  • The Hot Brown – First created in Louisville’s Brown Hotel, it is an open-faced sandwich with bread and turkey, drowned in a cheesy sauce, topped with bacon and tomato and broiled
  • Rolled Oyster were first invented by Italian immigrant, Phillip Mazzoni in the late 19th century.  They are made by taking large oysters, dipped in breading in fried.
  • Spoonbread – A Berea classic, this corn souffle dates back to 1847.

What to Read:

  • Lost, Northern Kentucky, by Robert Schrage and David Schroeder
  • The Beverly Hills Supper Club: The Untold Story of Kentucky’s Worst Tragedy, by Robert Webster, David Brock and Tom McConaughy