The good is that the hike through the beautiful woods was great, and the pool area well kept. The…read morepool table area needs improvement. I really enjoyed my hike.

Cedar Trails is a nice secluded park! Family friendly. We were there just as it's annual kids week…read morehad wrapped up and there were a couple families still hanging around. Plenty of hiking / walking trails. The pool is not heated and we were there early in the season so it was still too cold for us. The hot tub was great, but could use a little TLC. It is plenty big (made by the residents themselves!). I had to rewrite the brakes in our trailer while there and not one person complained, in fact one of the residents lent me some tools! It's a little rustic and could use an infusion of money to improve the maintenance; however all-in-all a great place. Check out the nearby Serpent Mound park! We will definitely stay there again!

I've been to a number of similar national monuments including the President Taft home not terribly…read morefar away in Cincinnati. The National Park Service has done a fabulous job of keeping to the structure of the home and still managing to tell the story of a great man. At a time when the nation and the military was still divided along racial lines, Charles Young graduated from the US Military Academy (the third African-American to do so). He was the first black US National Park superintendent and the first black man to achieve the rank of colonel in the US Army. And in fact was the highest-ranking black officer in the Army until his death in 1922. In 1894, he was assigned to Wilberforce College here, one of the Historically Black Colleges, to lead the new military sciences department. When the Spanish-American War broke out, he was promoted to major and commanded the 9th Ohio Infantry Regiment. He went on to serve as the superintendent of Sequoia and General Grant national parks. The museum goes into much depth for Young's 1912 assignment as military attaché to Liberia, the first African-American to hold that post. However when the United States was to enter World War I, he was removed from service due to a "medical issue." In 1919, Young was reassigned as military attaché to Liberia. There is a lot going on here including a short film, a number of exhibits and memorabilia. And it's free. Stop by if you're near Xenia. [Review 1321 of 2024 - 242 in Ohio - 22344 overall]

The Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument recently went through a multi-year renovation…read morebefore reopening the house, Youngsholm, to the public. This building was the home of Brigadier General Charles Young, whose story is fascinating. He was one of the first African American graduates of West Point and had a storied military career, which intersected very closely with the history of the National Park Service itself, as it turns out the army used to be responsible for maintenance of the national parks in their early years. This is how Young became the first African American national park superintendent - out at Sequoia. All of this information and more were introduced to visitors here. There is a good introduction film, "A Triumph of Tragedy: The Life of Charles Young," shown in an upstairs room. The lower floor has a couple of rooms full of displays on both Charles Young's life and the Buffalo Soldiers, of whom Young served as their commander. There is a small gift shop in a back room, as well. The rangers are very friendly and helpful. They were offering a program during our visit, and the hosting ranger was really great with the kids who were participating. Parking is available in a lot to the side of the house. Hopefully, they'll continue to grow this site!

My favorite scenic park to fish and run in the summer! Really great scenic yet secluded park. Love…read moreit and come often this time of year.

1st time here, when you drove uphill, at the lake, the view is spectacular! There is plenty…read moreparking. We walked half or maybe 1/3of the trail beside the lake, very nice trail, and excellent view. There is creek running through several area through the trail, but the time we were here in Autumn, it's mostly dry. We didn't finished the whole trail, will definitely come again to try the trail from the other side.