Family fun time in Metro Parks

Karli Nardecchia
Metro Parks Camps and Special Events Specialist

Get out to your Metro Parks and enjoy some fun time with your family. Check out some of our favorite things.

Look for concretions in the ravines off the Dripping Rock Trail at Highbanks Metro Park. Photo/Eric Robinson

Highbanks is a great place to explore. Climb on the playground, head out on the Dripping Rock Trail and go into the ravine to look for concretions and follow it up with a picnic in the Big Meadows area.

Blendon Woods is the perfect spot to discover birds and waterfowl. You can go creeking in a ravine and fly on the zipline in the natural play area.

Discover what life was like on an Ohio 1880s farm as you walk the grounds at Slate Run Historical Farm. As you meander through the farm yard, you’ll see merino sheep, slate turkeys and minorca chickens chickens and much more. The farm is currently open Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 9am – 5pm.

You can see a variety of chickens and roosters at Slate Run Historical Farm, like this minorca rooster. Photo/Cheryl Hyde

As you walk the Darby Creek Greenway Trail at Battelle Darby Creek, look for the herd of bison grazing in their pasture. Big Darby Creek is a great aquatic adventure, whether you want to fish, kayak or canoe.

You can see bison grazing in the pasture from the Darby Creek Greenway Trail at Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park. Photo/Mike Fetherolf

Chestnut Ridge, the first ridge in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, is a ‘hotspot for fall color. The ridge spans about 4,500 feet and rises to 1,116 feet. You and your family are sure to get a workout here.

Glacier Ridge has three wooden climbing structures and one has a mini zipline. Across the path is a challenging obstacle course for children and adults.

Ziplines are located at the natural play area in Blendon Woods, the play structures at Glacier Ridge and in the Big Meadows picnic area at Highbanks. Photo/Bryan Knowles