Confusing to navigate. We tried to use gps and the spots marked on it do not take you to the fire…read moretower. We eventually found a paper map and found our way to the lake. It is a pretty area. The roads can be gravel in some places.

best part about blue rock state park? we went during the week and there was nobody there, the fire…read moretower was deserted so easy to get up to (beware your car if it doesn't have done oomph, there IS loose gravel on the steep roads!!!) you can tell it's foothills and get the general feel of a small mountain area without having the severe altitude you do just a few miles to the east! already working on planning another trip back next year!!!

Brady is the man !He is very good telling the wildlife story. Great trip! Everyone, young and old…read moreshould go to the WILDS for a day .

The property is massive, with wide open landscapes and views that stretch far across the hills…read more Waking up in the morning and looking out over the terrain was one of the highlights of the trip. It almost feels like stepping into another environment entirely, especially knowing the area is dedicated to wildlife conservation. Our campsite was quiet and well spaced out, which made it easy to enjoy the surroundings without constant noise from nearby groups. At night, the sky was incredibly clear, and the lack of city lights made stargazing surprisingly good. Facilities were simple but adequate, which fits the outdoor-focused setting. Everything we needed was available, and the grounds were kept in good condition. The staff we encountered were welcoming and clearly proud of the property, offering helpful guidance about the area. Camping at The Wilds is more than just pitching a tent--it's an opportunity to spend time in a unique natural environment that feels both peaceful and expansive. It's a great destination if you're looking for something a little different from the usual campground experience.

This is a very lovely park. There is a Victorian Water Fountain near the entrance. Not sure if it…read moreis the original one, since it was hit by a major storm and damaged. Hoping it is and was just repaired. The art work is amazing and very detailed on the fountain. There is a nice duck pond, several shelters for picnics, tennis courts and swimming pool. Very nice and Very well maintained park

There is a new fountain at the entrance of the park, there is a children's playground, many…read moreshelters to have get togethers, a pool and a Waterpark, basketball, tennis, and a pickleball court. Also a pond with birds. Plenty to do, beautiful views.

What a great experience!…read more Ferry tickets have to be purchased at the Museum, which is a short walk from where you board the ferry. You can also purchase a package for the ferry, mansion tour, wagon ride, and museum ($39 as of May 2024). The mansion tour is really excellent. The docents are very knowledgeable. The wagon ride is a must - fun and informative. This is a great day trip!

Located on a small island in the Ohio River, Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park features a…read morerecreated Palladian mansion to explore, horse drawn buggy tour, and back on the mainland an extensive museum to visit. We started our visit at the museum on the mainland which features many artifacts chronicling the history of the local area as well as several belongings of the original owners of the mansion (the Blennerhassetts) who fled to the US from Ireland after the Uncle and Niece duo decided to get married to much scandal. There is a free parking lot available to park in for visitors. The museum covers three floors and We started in the basement of the museum and made our way up. In the basement you'll find an extensive collection of Native American artefacts, as well as a short film about the island and their entangelment with Aaron Burr. The Blennerhassetts and their island home owe their notoriety to when they allowed their estate to become headquarters for Aaron Burr's military expedition to the Southwest back in 1805 which resulted in them all being arrested and tried for treason and sedition. One of the most interesting finds in the museum includes replicas of Aaron Burr's death mask as well as the pistols used by Burr and Hamilton in their infamous duel. After spending over an hour in the museum, we made the short 2 minute drive from the museum to the pier to wait for the riverboat to ferry us to the island. It was a bit of a drizzly overcast day and their was no signage out anywhere indicating where the ferry would be. Your ticket that you purchase to board the ferry will include the pick up times at the dock and on the island. The island itself and the structure on it are a trove of historical gems and natural beauty. Our guide for the house, Scott, was a wealth of knowledge and was very thorough in his stories about the people who made the island famous and the ultimate downfall of the entire Blennerhassett family. This was a highlight of our trip to West Virginia!

Strouds Run State Park is a gem, just a few miles from the City of Athens in southeastern Ohio…read more Lots of great trails around the lake and above on the many ridges throughout the park. Fairly large campground with spots that aren't too close together. Beach is typically dragged each morning in the summer and canoes, kayaks, and even motorized pontoon boats for rent. The motorized pontoon is blasphemy for those of us who have been going to the park since the 1970s, but they aren't so many that it is too loud or disruptive. There is one short trail that is accessible for all and there is a mix of pit and flush toilet facilities. There is no life guard at the beach but there is a safe and sizable enclosed playground for young ones.

Pretty spot for a day in nature. They have a nice playground, boat launch, and plenty of bench's…read moreoverlooking water. They do have bathrooms too!

The USDA Forest Service website is really confusing for this recreational area, which apparently…read moreconsists of several unlinked areas across southeastern Ohio. The address for this listing is for the Marietta Unit, which was the closest official address I could find. I'm still not totally sure where the trailhead was (obviously, I was not the one who drove up), but the trail we took was the "Scenic River Trail." There wasn't much of a view due to all of the trees still being leafy, but it was a good challenging hike. We actually did not make it to the end of the trail, and I'm not really sure how far we went since the trail did not seem to have mile markers. There were the yellow diamond trail markers and some posts in the ground, but neither were labeled. It would be lovely to take the trail again when the leaves start to change, and again when the leaves are down and you can actually see the "Scenic River."

This is a very cool park! My children tend to gravitate toward parks and playgrounds where there…read moreare open-ended and tactile features available, and this park has that. There are boulders to climb, outdoor musical instruments to play, a treehouse to play pretend in (and is wheelchair accessible!), a merry-go-round, swings, a traditional playground structure with slides, and lots more. The playground area is lined with wood chips. There is also lots of space to run around, and lots of trees. Like the name of the park suggests, this is a very sensory-friendly park, and there are nature stations set up all around where you can use your senses to explore. There is also a short, paved trail that goes around the park, which is wide and smooth enough for strollers and wheelchairs. The trail goes by a creek, which is nice. As of right now, this is the only sensory-friendly park in the state of Ohio! It's definitely worth a visit.

This is a really neat and wonderfully inclusive park. This features a short, paved path that is…read morewheelchair and walker accessible. Along the path are a variety of interactive stations that are also designed to be accessible. If you start near the entry sign, you'll find a Little Free Library, which, on our recent visit, was loaded with a lot of great kids options. Just ahead is a variety of benches and a little music garden, featuring musical instruments that can be played, and you can also interact with the Rough Bark Tactile Display to learn more about different tree barks. A little further down are the cutest animal looking instruments that can also be used. As you continue down the path, you find a swingset with a variety of swings that include both traditional and accessible options. There's a nice little shaded bench area with information about the creek, Fetter's Run, that can be seen from the location. As you proceed along, a very exciting find is the Treehouse, which is built within the forest trees as opposed to up in one, which allows a wheelchair ramp to make it accessible. This overlooks the creek and has things to explore, like neat nature art and a second floor (not accessible) with a fire pole. At the end of the path is a shelter house with picnic tables and nearby grills. Most, if not all, of the signage included Braille translations, as well. There is a large parking lot here, but I do note that this is located behind a school, so I'm not sure how that would affect parking for a visit during a school day.

It was so relaxing to walk along this river front as well as have a seat on the amphitheater style…read moresteps. Walking along the river was so lovely as we took in the water and other views. Different art and statues along the route as well.

Beautiful murals and statues aligned the wall as you enter not far from downtown. Scenic views…read morewould have been even better at sunset or at sunrise to improve photos. Parked a few minutes away in 2 hour spot so I could walk here and around town.

The park sits along the Ohio River at a bend known as the Great Bend, a landmark noted on maps as…read morefar back as the 1700s. - George Washington himself claimed two land tracts in this area, one at Ravenswood and another at Millwood, which inspired the park's original name. The park is home to a 1918 lock house, which now houses the Great Bend Museum. Unfortunately, that was closed when we were here late on a Saturday but we were able to explore the park and enjoy being near the Ohio River. The park includes a refreshed Civil War Trails marker commemorating Confederate Gen. Albert Jenkins' crossing of the Ohio River at Ravenswood to capture Racine, Ohio. There is plenty of parking, some picnic and playground facilities and a boat launch. All have a view of the beautiful William S. Ritchie Jr. Bridge. [Review 586 of 2025 - 170 in West Virginia - 24147 overall]

Tonight went to Ravenswood Riverfront Park to see the Christmas Lights with Kayla Beth Fields and…read moregrandbabies Saige & Deacon Hunt. We had a really nice time seeing all the lights. The day was long but full of so much love and fun!!!