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Tag Archives: insects

Springtime in Sharon Woods, Metro Park, Columbus

11 August 201616 September 2024

It was a beautiful weekend and my mother had come to meet me in Columbus for a visit.  I told her about the great wildlife that I had been seeing lately at Sharon Woods and she wanted to come along to see it for herself.  We are both nature lovers, so it only made sense that we should wake up before sunrise and head out for an early morning walk along one of the paved trails at the park.

Close up of Deer - Sharon Woods

It was a foggy morning and just as we were pulling into the Sharon Woods, we noticed a deer and her fawn to our right.  They were so close to our car and did not seem to mind, so I thought I would exit my car and take a couple of photos.  Slowly inching closer for the perfect shot, it was then that the mother gave me a hearty snort and a signal from her hoof warning me to keep my distance.  Realizing that she was not too pleased, I returned to my car hoping that I had taken some great pics.

Butterfly in a Tree

Within minutes, the fog was lifting and we managed to stay on point with our hike which was not going to take much time.  We stopped to listen to the sounds in the trees and to identify some of the plants, insects and animals along the way.  The vibrant colors of butterflies landing against the greenery and blooms were a sign that spring had finally arrived.

Cardinal

With each step, the musical sounds of the birds  were coming towards us at every direction and we were surrounded by blue jays, orioles and cardinals.  The male cardinals  were easy to find with their bold red colors and we could see the females resting on the tree limbs nearby.

Duck waiting for Food

Schrock Lake was full of activity with ducks and geese paddling and chasing each other along the shoreline.  We found a front row seat on a nearby bench along the dock and watched the signs of spring before heading back to the trail.

Wild Turkey and Chicks

We had just returned to the walking path when we encountered a wild turkey and her chicks.  This was the first time I had ever seen them at Sharon Woods, so I was happy that I had brought along my camera.  I’ve hiked many of the Columbus Metro Parks and Sharon Woods is one of my favorites, just for the simple reason to experience its wildlife.

Do you have a favorite Metro Park in Columbus?  I would love to hear where you like to spend time outdoors, so if you would leave your story in the comments, section, that would be great!  Many thanks for reading about my day at Sharon Woods and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Sharon Woods Metro Park
6911 Cleveland Avenue
Westerville, OH  43081
Telephone:  614 315 5520

  • Admission Fee:  Free
  • Hours:  Daily from 6:30AM to 10PM from April through September and from 6:30AM to 8PM from October through
  • Amenities:  Park programs, trails, shelters, biking, fishing, picknicking, and sledding
  • Scenic View:  Early morning and dusk, there are several types of animals that roam the park.
  • Length of Visit:  1 – 2 hours or more depending on the activity

Where to Stay:

DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Columbus Downtown
50 South Front Street
Columbus, OH  43215
Telephone:  614 228 4600

Where to Eat: 

Yanni’s Greek Restaurant
6196 Cleveland Avenue
Columbus, OH  43231
Telephone:  614 890 4775

I had a light lunch here ordering the tzatziki sauce with pita bread.

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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Conkle’s Hollow Gorge Trail

19 March 201531 August 2024

There was a dead quiet as I approached the trail head for the Conkle’s Hollow Gorge Trail.  I had just completed the two and a half mile Conkle’s Hollow Rim Trail and was ready to tackle the three mile hike through the gorge.  Conkle’s Hollow State Nature Preserve is a part of the Hocking Hills State Park near Athens, Ohio with some of the best hiking in Ohio.

The temperatures had been below freezing for several days.  While the gorge sheltered me from the cold winds from the rim, the wintry conditions within the crevices and caves protected the spectacular frozen waterfall formations.

Looking up from the gorge trail, I noticed the path I had just taken along the rim. As I took a moment in search of a hiker or two along the edge, I became more aware of the tall, still trees and the outcropping of rocks.

Through the trees there were several small crevices that were not reachable from the path.  Escaping the cold, I wondered what animals could be hibernaring inside of them.

I passed a cave-like structure of sandstone to my right and then climbed the stairs to explore the beautiful colors and pitted markings unique to each of the rocks.

Looking up into the rock formations, the porous sandstone seemed to make a great home for insects.

Ice Formations

Several frozen water features seemed to be growing up from the rocks below.

One of the largest frozen waterfalls along the trail.

I enjoyed finding images in the rock formations.

The scenic views of hiking

Exposed root systems

What a spectacular sight

I looked up towards the sky one last time making my way back to the trailhead.  I was reminded of the beauty of winter hikes and the unique features of the gorge.  Considered a favorite of many, I have always made a stop along the gorge and the rim during my visits to Hocking Hills State Park.

The trail took nearly an hour to complete and I was ready to move on to Old Man’s Cave.  What a great start to a beautiful day of hiking.

Have you hiked Conkle’s Hollow State Nature Preserve Gorge Trail?  I would love to hear if you enjoyed it as much as I did if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below!  Many thanks and Happy Trails!

What to See and What to Do:

Conkle’s Hollow State Nature Preserve
24858 Big Pine Rd.
Rockbridge, OH 43149
Telephone:    614 265 6561

  • Admission Fee:  Free. All state parks in Ohio are free.
  • Hours:  Open daily and closes at dark.
  • Tips for Your Visit:  While there are no campsites nor lodges, cottages and cabins.  There are several local business that offer these services.  Stay on the trails to ensure you do not become lost.  Wear appropriate hiking shoes/comfortable shoes for hiking. While dog are permitted at the park they are not allowed in the state nature preserves such as Conkle’s Hollow and Rockbridge.

Where to Stay:

Pine Creek Horseman’s Camp
23937 Big Pine Road
South Bloomingville, OH  43152
Telephone:  740 478 2520

While I usually stay with my sister and her family in nearby Athens, I learned about Pine Creek Horseman’s Camp for a local friend.  This property offers gorgeous luxury cabins as well as campsites and is perfect for visitors bringing their horses for trailriding.

Where to Eat:

Cutler’s Restaurant at the Ohio University Inn
331 Richland Avenue
Athens, OH  45701
Telephone:  740 589 3714

If you visit the park on a Saturday, take time to enjoy brunch at the OU Inn.

Disclosure:   Please refer to our blog disclaimer tab for more information.

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I have had a passion to travel for as long as I can remember and landed my dream job at the age of 19 on a cruise ship. The Suite Life of Travel is about those experiences as well as my future endeavor to explore this amazing world!

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