From kayaking to hands-on farms & nature preserves, Delaware County is definitely a must-visit in Ohio for animal & nature lovers...
This post was created in partnership with Destination Delaware County Ohio. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.
Located less than an hour north of Columbus is the quaint town of Delaware, Ohio. Having been a Columbus resident for almost 8 years, I must admit that Delaware County was not an area I explored much when I lived in the area. And boy, had I been missing out, you all!
From a growing local foods & brewery scene to a historic downtown filled with small town charm & plenty of shopping, the city of Delaware has grown quite a bit in the past decade. But perhaps what I was most impressed by was just how much there is to do in the county for outdoors & nature lovers like myself & my kiddos. From kayaking to hands-on farms & nature preserves, Delaware County is definitely a must-visit in Ohio for animal & nature lovers.
While we didn't get to explore everything that Delaware County had to offer in our 3 day stay, we did get to experience 4 of the best things to do in the area if you happen to be the outdoorsy type. Whether you & your family love animals, or are into gardening, or love to hike, this county in Ohio needs to be on your family travel list this summer...
1. Stratford Ecological Center (3083 Liberty Road, Delaware)
Located on 236 acres in Delaware County, the Stratford Ecological Center is an organic farm & nature preserve that provides hands-on education about sustainable agriculture to its visitors. From gardening to hiking to visiting with & learning about the farm's livestock, the center is a wonderful experience for the entire family.
We started our visit to the center with a tour of the children's garden & greenhouse where visitors are encouraged to pick & even taste the edible offerings straight from the garden. Children who participate in the center's various summer camps get the opportunity to grow & pick their own produce and learn their role within the local ecosystem.
At Stratford Ecological Center, children are encouraged to interact with the livestock. During our visit to the farm, we were able to pet chickens, goats, & sheep. We even got to meet a llama & visit the farm's recently added beehives!
If you are looking for a hands-on, educational outdoors farm experience while visiting Delaware County, then a visit to the center is a must-add to your family's itinerary.
For up to date information on admission & hours of the Stratford Ecological Center, CLICK HERE.
2. Alum Creek State Park (3305 South Old State Road, Delaware)
While it would definitely take more than a day to explore the over 4600 acres of Alum Creek State Park, a visit to this area is definitely a must-do for outdoors enthusiasts while in Delaware County. Offering a swimming beach, kayaking, hiking trails, mountain bike trails, & much more, Alum Creek is an outdoor adventurer's playground.
We started out our visit to the state park by exploring one of the three hiking trails located within the park. After a peaceful hike through the woods, we headed to the marina to pick up our kayak rentals.
The 3387 acre Alum Creek Reservoir is the perfect setting for kayakers & nature explorers. We paddled in & out of a few different coves & even spotted a grey heron. If you are not into kayaking, the Alum Creek Marina also offers boat, pontoon, pedal boat, canoe, & wave runner rentals.
CLICK HERE to learn more about what all the marina offers its visitors, their hours of operation, & to check out the hourly rental rates.
3. Gallant Farm Park (2150 Buttermilk Hill Road, Delaware)
Being a self-proclaimed history buff, our visit to the 19-acre Gallant Farm Preserve may have been one of my favorite highlights from our trip to Delaware County, Ohio. A visit to this farm is like stepping back in time. Visitors get to experience what it would have been like to live on a Depression-era farm in Ohio during the 1930's & 1940's.
The farm offers self-guided tours with interpreters dressed in period costume on hand to answer any questions that you & your family may have.
After checking out the inside of the farmhouse, you can take the farm path around to explore the different areas of the farm. Make a stop at the house garden directly behind the farmhouse to see which kinds of produce would have been grown & harvested for use by the family living & working on the farm. Then circle back to the meadow that leads to the pond to get a glimpse of the purple martins darting in & out of their gourd nests. Afterwards, go back through the parking lot to visit the barn that was constructed using timber from a 1890's Delaware County barn.
Visit the family of Tunis sheep that call the barn home. You might even get to say hello to Dodge, the ram. ;)
For more hiking opportunities, be sure to pop across the road to Gallant Woods Park where you will find 3.3 miles of mostly shaded hiking trails.
For up to date information on upcoming events & hours of operation at the Gallant Farm Preserve, CLICK HERE.
4. Olentangy Indian Caverns (1779 Home Road, Delaware)
From exploring a millions year old cavern 100 feet below the surface to petting fawns to panning for "gems", Olentangy Indian Caverns was a definite favorite with my family during our visit to Delaware County. We started our visit with a self-guided tour of the caverns believed to have been used by the area's Wyandotte Indians hundreds of years ago. Once we had made the initial 55 foot descent via the staircase, we winded throughout the various passages & rooms of the caverns looking for formations.
After we made the ascent back up to the surface, we headed to the gift shop to pick up our bag of dirt for panning. You can choose from a variety of bags, each containing either stones, semi-precious uncut gems, arrowheads, & even fossils. My daughter had a blast gem mining in the sluice & identifying the rocks & gems she found as she went along. Plus, her bag of panned "treasure" made the perfect souvenir for taking home. :)
We then headed over to the petting zoo which may have been the highlight of the entire trip for both of my kids. My daughter was able to cuddle with goat on the porch swing! But her favorite thing may have been getting to feed the zoo's fawns. It was amazing to get to see so many deer up close & personal and to pet them.
Olentangy Indian Caverns also offers its guests an 18-hole miniature golf course & a treasure hunt maze. You & your family can definitely make a day of your visit to the caverns.
For up to date information on admission costs for the various activities offered & hours of operation at the Olentangy Indian Caverns, CLICK HERE.
Have you visited Delaware County, Ohio before?
What are some of your favorite things to do there?
For more information & to start planning your family outdoor adventure in Delaware County, Ohio soon, be sure to visit the Destination Delaware County Ohio site!
CLICK HERE to check out my full video tour of our room on Facebook. :)
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