Some places become important because of what happens there. Others become important because of what begins there. For me, Welsh Mountain Nature Preserve was the beginning of something I couldn’t yet name. When I first visited, I wasn’t exploring quiet places the way I do now. I wasn’t paying attention to intuition, nor was I…
I had been wanting to visit Lake Erie for quite some time, and something about Erie Bluffs State Park kept drawing me there. Rather than taking the larger highways, I chose a quieter route through the countryside. The drive itself became part of the experience, winding through beautiful summer landscapes that gradually slowed my thoughts…
I found this place almost by accident—or perhaps not by accident at all. Following the quiet inner nudges that often guide my explorations, I arrived at a small forest trailhead with no expectations beyond enjoying a peaceful afternoon. What I found instead was a place that gently reminded me that sometimes the most meaningful journeys…
Sometimes the best adventures are the ones you never planned. When I set out that morning, Conkles Hollow wasn’t even on my itinerary. My intention had been to explore the surrounding state forest, but as has happened more than once during my travels, I found myself following the quiet inner nudges that have become part…
Some places become part of your story long before you realize they have. Secrest Arboretum is that place for me. I discovered it not long after moving to Ohio, and at first it was simply somewhere beautiful to spend an afternoon. I had no idea that it would soon become something much more important. For…
Some places reveal themselves slowly. Fowler Woods was one of those places for me. I first heard about it from a coworker, and before visiting I did what I usually do—I read about the preserve and tried to learn a little of its history. Much of what I found focused on a section of the…
Some places welcome you immediately. Others ask you to earn your comfort. Cooke Family Wildlife Conservation Park was one of those places for me. Looking at the map beforehand, I wasn’t especially excited to visit. Much of the preserve appeared to be open fields, while I usually find myself drawn toward mature forests where I…
Some places don’t reveal themselves right away. In all the times I had looked at the map for places to explore, River Walk Natural Area somehow got missed for the longest time. When I finally noticed it on the map, curiosity got the better of me, so I set out one early morning to see…
Hrouda Woods Nature Preserve Some places seem unfinished, as though they are still becoming themselves. Hrouda Woods feels that way to me. Unlike many nature preserves, there are no developed trails winding through the woods yet. Instead, you’re invited to wander carefully, paying attention to where you’re stepping and allowing curiosity to guide your exploration….
Freer Field wasn’t the kind of place I expected to remember. Nestled in the middle of Ashland, it appears at first to be little more than an open field bordered by a small stretch of woods. I almost expected to hear traffic constantly or feel like I was walking through the edge of town. Instead,…
