Picture this: You are walking out of class on a Tuesday afternoon in April and the sun is shining. As you walk back to your room you pass by people playing soccer in the quad and doing homework in the grass. You are surrounded by so much commotion and you just want to leave. You are stressed out (as all college students) and you want to get away. But, here’s the catch, you aren’t from Cleveland and you don’t know where to go. The Cleveland Metropark system has over 21,000 acres of land. Beyond the Metroparks there are so many places to go. You hop in the car and head on your way.
First, you want to stay close, as you don’t want to get lost, so you find the duck pond. This is part of the Cleveland Metroparks and is at the North Chagrin Reservation off of SOM center road. There are trails and paths to wander down. The Nature Center has so much information and activities to participate in. You can feed the fish and it is a great place for pictures!
To find out more check this out:
You find yourself wanting to switch it up, you head to Squire’s castle. Squire’s castle is off of River rd. and is in Willoughby Hills. There are a variety of trails and things to do. Some of the trails are up hills and through valleys. This is more of a hiking place. The castle there is like no other, it isn’t even finished. A man started building the castle for his wife and she passed away. Later, the Cleveland Metroparks bought the land and preserved the area. It is completely free and open to the public.
To read about the story check out:
http://www.cleveland.com/our-town/index.ssf/2012/01/do_you_know_the_legend_of_squires_castle.html
You want more of an adventure, so on the weekend, you drive over to Nelson’s Ledges. Nelson’s Ledges is in Garretsville, Ohio. It is so worth the trip. There is cliff diving, hiking trails, and campsites. The water is beautiful (in my unbiased opinion of course). There is a little bit of everything. You can let your inner-child let loose.
To find out more:
http://www.nlqp.com/index.html
As Sunday rolls around, you want more of a relaxing place to sit to do your homework. You may think this is weird, but Lakeview Cemetery is the place to go. It is on Euclid Avenue in Cleveland. There are over 285 acres of land with so much nature around. James A. Garfield, Henry- Sherwin, and James A. Rockefeller are buried there. There is a great deal of shade under the numerous trees across the land. It is always peaceful there.
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School has calmed down and you find yourself with more time. You head over to The Cuyahoga Valley National Park. This park is in Brecksville and the trails span across 125 miles. You can bike it and hike it. There are close to 25 picnic areas with optional grills, tables, and water. The options are endless.
To find out more:
https://www.nps.gov/cuva/index.htm
On your drive home you wanted to stop by the falls. Chagrin falls is not far from campus and has a great scenery. The water fall is beautiful, especially in the summer. The Popcorn Shop is a must with so many other places to eat and enjoy yourself.
Ultimately, you have so many options and places to go. There is no reason not to explore around Cleveland and beyond. Grab some water and a friend (optional) and get going!