GOhio! Adventures Around Columbus

Trails & Ales! Prairie Oaks Metro Park / Crooked Can Brewing

Sat, Apr 25 · 2:30 PM EDT

Prairie Oaks Metro Park, 3225 NE Plain City-Georgesville Rd, West Jefferson, OH, US

History

Prairie Oaks Metro Park sits along the Franklin and Madison County border, west of Columbus near areas like Hilliard and West Jefferson. The land was part of the broader push in the late 1990s and early 2000s to expand the Metro Parks system into the northwest and western quadrants of the county. Metro Parks began acquiring parcels for what would become Prairie Oaks during the millennium era, as part of a wave of new parks aimed at protecting natural features around Big Darby Creek. Much of the property had been altered by past uses, including farming and quarrying, which left behind pits that later became the Darby Bend Lakes. The park's creation reflected growing interest in preserving remnants of the Darby Plains ecosystem, one of Ohio's original prairie regions that had largely disappeared after European settlement.

The park officially opened to the public in 2000, making it one of the newer additions to the Metro Parks lineup at the time. As the 12th park in the system, it joined others acquired around the turn of the century, like Glacier Ridge. Initial access focused on basic trails and the scenic Big Darby Creek, a State and National Scenic River that winds through the property. Restoration efforts kicked off soon after opening, with crews using seeds native to the Darby Plains to replant nearly 500 acres of tallgrass prairie and grasslands. These plantings aimed to revive the open oak savannas that once characterized the area before widespread agriculture in the 1800s.

Over the first decade, Prairie Oaks grew in popularity for its mix of restored habitats and recreational features. The former quarry in the eastern section transformed into the Darby Bend Lakes area, where four connected lakes now offer boating, fishing, and a dedicated dog swim spot. Trails expanded to showcase the prairie blooms, especially in summer and fall when asters and goldenrods light up the fields. Partnerships with groups like The Nature Conservancy highlighted the park's role in protecting the Darby Creek watershed, often called one of the "Last Great Places" for its water quality and biodiversity. Visitors from around central Ohio started discovering it as a quieter alternative to busier spots closer in.

Restoration work continued into the 2010s, including wet prairie projects on about 190 acres to enhance hydrology and native plant diversity. The park's size reached over 2,200 acres, incorporating more floodplain along Big Darby Creek for flood storage and wildlife habitat. Amenities like parking at Sycamore Plains and Darby Bend Lakes improved access, drawing hikers, kayakers, and birders. Events and programs began emphasizing the prairie theme, from guided walks on blooming seasons to educational talks about pre-settlement landscapes. These efforts helped solidify Prairie Oaks as a showcase for ecological recovery in the Metro Parks system.

Today, Prairie Oaks stands out for blending restored prairie with creek-side adventure, just a short drive from the west side. Its history mirrors the Metro Parks' shift toward large-scale habitat restoration in the 21st century. The park continues to evolve with ongoing stewardship, protecting what remains of the Darby Plains while offering locals a place to experience tallgrass vistas and oak openings. Whether paddling the lakes or walking the trails, it's a reminder of how much the region has changed since settlement — and how intentional work can bring some of it back.

Map of the Park

Here is a map of Prairie Oaks.

Summary

For this event, we will hike the Coneflower, Alder, and Sycamore Plains Trails, and, depending on conditions, the Osage Opening and Tall Grass Trails, or Lake View, Mound, Darby Creek Greenway, and River Rock Trails around the lakes. Either way, we'll go around 4.5 to 5 miles.

For the most part, this won't be a terribly strenuous hike; Prairie Oaks tends to be flat. However, some of the hike won't be shaded, so be prepared for the possibility of some sun. Parts of the trails may also be muddy or wet, so I recommend hiking shoes and a change of socks.

Where We'll Meet

• Enter the Park at the main entrance at 3225 NE Plain City-Georgesville Rd. If you put "Prairie Oaks Metro Parks" into your Google Maps, it should default to this main address (but double-check to be sure).
• After you enter the Park, the first parking lot on your right is the Park Office. Keep driving past this lot.
• Enter the second parking lot you come to (which is also on your right). There's a picnic area, playground, and latrine here. There's no water fountain, though, so I recommend you bring water of your own, at least for after the hike.
• I've included a screen shot in the Photos, below, where I've circled in blue the main Park entrance as well as the picnic area we're meeting at.

After the Hike

After we're done surveying the prairie grasses, we'll head over to Crooked Can Brewing for drinks and food. The brewery has an entire food court, and they have a large free parking lot next to the Early Television Museum.

The actual address of the brewery is 5354 Center St, Hilliard, OH 43026. We should be there by 5 if you can't make the hike and just want to join us for drinks.

Trails & Ales Redux! Great Seal State Park / Fifty West Brewing Company

Sat, May 9 · 2:00 PM EDT

Great Seal State Park, 4908 Marietta Rd, Chillicothe, OH, US

History

The rugged hills just north of Chillicothe that now form Great Seal State Park were once home to the Shawnee people in the mid-to-late 1700s. Several Shawnee villages, each called Chillicothe ("principal town") sat in the Scioto River Valley directly below these hills. This area lay along the Appalachian escarpment, separating glaciated flatlands to the west from unglaciated ridges to the east. The Shawnee maintained a strong presence here until European-American settlement pushed them out in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Nearby, the renowned Shawnee leader Tecumseh was born in a village along the Scioto.

European-American settlers began arriving in the 1790s, with Nathaniel Massie founding Chillicothe in 1796. Early leaders like Thomas Worthington, Edward Tiffin, and William Creighton gathered at Worthington's Adena estate overlooking Mount Logan and these hills. After an all-night meeting, they witnessed a sunrise over the landscape, inspiring the design for the Great Seal. This vista captured the rising sun, cultivated fields, sheaf of wheat, and bundle of 17 arrows symbolizing agriculture and Ohio's place in the Union. Much of the land depicted in the seal became the park itself.

The Great Seal's design evolved over the years, with engravers adding elements like the Scioto River in the foreground. It was officially standardized in 1967 and slightly updated in 1996 to match the historic view more closely. The prominent hills shown rising behind the river and fields are the very ones preserved in the park. Trails lead to overlooks replicating that iconic sunrise scene. The park's name directly honors this connection to our state's emblem.

Great Seal State Park spans around 1,862 acres of challenging terrain with multi-use trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. It features campgrounds, picnic areas, a disc golf course, and scenic vistas across the Scioto Valley. The park preserves both the natural wilderness and ties to Shawnee heritage. Steep ridges like Sugarloaf Mountain and Mount Logan offer rewarding climbs. Historical markers highlight the seal's origins and early statehood story.

Today, the park invites locals to explore the exact landscape that shaped our state's identity. From trail overlooks, you can see views nearly identical to those on the Great Seal. It connects modern recreation with Shawnee history and the vision of early leaders. Year-round activities draw visitors for hikes, rides, or simply enjoying the hills. Preserving this area ensures the enduring link between our natural beauty and historic symbolism remains accessible.

Map of the Park

Here is a map of Great Seal.

Summary

For this event, we will hike the Shawnee Ridge, Bald Hill, Rick's Revenge, Sand Hill, and Old Schrake Trails. This will be around four and a half miles.

Afterward, we'll head over to Fifty West Brewing in nearby downtown Chillicothe.

Where We'll Meet

We'll meet by the restrooms at the Ireland Shelter picnic area. This is in the back of the Park from the main entrance on Marietta Rd. The map pin I've posted here should be accurate. There are also water fountains here.

You shouldn't have any trouble with cell service here.

Strenuousness of This Hike

Great Seal is a seemingly-unknown gem of a park right here in central Ohio. It has fantastic, gorgeous hiking and one of my two favorite trails of all-time in Rick's Revenge.

That said, this is a difficult park for a new hiker. While we'll be avoiding the most difficult areas of the park, what's left can still be challenging.

I don't use hiking poles, but if you do, then you'll probably want to bring them here.

Drawbacks of This Hike

Well, you really won't experience this on this hike since I (should) know where I'm going, but as much as Great Seal is a fantastic park, it has possibly the worst signage and trail markings of any state park in Ohio -- and that's saying something.

Great Seal has entire trails with no blazes; multiple junctures with no maps, even when other maps indicate there should be waypoints there; the same blaze color (blue) used on essentially every trail; local maps marked with inaccurate trail names; and "trails" not indicated on any map.

If you think you might have any interest in ever hiking this park by yourself, you really should try to make this hike. I've hiked all over this park so you don't have to. Let me help you keep your blood pressure down by helping you negotiate some of the most unnecessarily confusing parts of this otherwise incredible park.

After the Hike

Afterward, we'll head over to Fifty West Brewing Company for drinks and food. The actual address of the brewery is 1 N Paint St, Chillicothe, OH 45601. We should be there by 5 if you can't make the hike and just want to join us for drinks.

A Weekend at Maumee Bay State Park

Fri, May 29 · 4:30 PM EDT

Maumee Bay Lodge & Conference Center, 1750 State Park Road #2, Oregon, OH, US

Summary

For this event, we will rent a cabin at Maumee Bay State Park, which sits on Lake Erie just outside Toledo.

This will be for three days and two nights, from Friday, May 29, 2026, through Sunday, May 31, 2026.

Maps

Here is a map of the Park. Here is a map of the cabins (we will be in either cabin 18 or cabin 20, but this won't be assigned until check-in).

Here's an Ohio road map as a PDF, and here's the same Ohio road map as a JPG.

Cost

Your cost for this event will be $125. This covers lodging for both Friday and Saturday nights ($62.50 for each night).

The Actual Exchange of Money

After you sign up for this event, I'm going to send you a DM (direct message) here on Meetup. That DM will contain my PayPal and Venmo information. You will pick one of those two options and electronically send me the money. I will not accept any other payment method.

I can see on Meetup when someone has seen the DMs that I send. If I see that you've seen my message but I don't hear from you, that won't go well. If you're in doubt about whether you want to go once I ask you for money, just change your RSVP. Otherwise, I may just remove you from the group.

If you're going to sign up for this event, don't ignore my emails. I'm going to expect money from you within 72 hours after I message you. Or, if you need more time before you can pay me, I'm willing to work with you, but you have to at least respond to my email and let me know what's going on.

Cancellations / Refunds

I can't guarantee the ability to get anyone's money back to them without notice at least a week out from the actual event. This means that, if you want to be certain of getting your money back, you need to let me know you're dropping out by Friday, May 22.

Cabin Amenities, or, "Did someone say a hot tub?"

Here is the cabin we'll be staying at: a Four-Bedroom Deluxe Cabin. I've uploaded several pictures, below.

From the Lodge website:

"Deluxe amenities include a dishwasher, washer and dryer, and a private hot tub which seats up to 5 Guests comfortably."

• Private 5 person Hot Tub
• Heat / Central AC
• Fully furnished kitchen, equipped with a stove, refrigerator, microwave, pots, pans, eating utensils, dish towels, and dish soap
• Coffee Pot (coffee and filters not included, but I'll bring some; note also that the Lodge does have free coffee next to the service desk every morning and throughout most of the day)
• Living room with a couch, chair and coffee table
• Gas fireplace
• Outdoor Fire Pit, firewood can be purchased at the Lodge.
• Satellite TV
• Porch, with a table and 4 chairs
• Charcoal grill
• Picnic table
• Telephone
• Iron & Ironing Board
• AM/FM clock radio
• Hair dryer
• WiFi
• Linens, bath & pool towels
• Broom, dust pan and trash bag
• Access to Lodge amenities (indoor pool and fitness center)
• Non-smoking

"So where is everyone going to be sleeping?"

We'll start with the Cabin Layout from the Lodge website:

On the first level, you'll find a living area, kitchen, dining table and a bathroom with either a shower or a roll-in shower, and two bedrooms. One bedroom has (1) one king bed, and the second bedroom has (1) one bunk bed and (1) one twin bed.

The second level has two additional bedrooms and a bathroom with shower (no bathtub). One bedroom comes with (1) one queen bed, and the other has (1) one bunk bed and (1) one double bed ... These Cabins also include a rollaway bed inside ... if needed.

So, because I'm the organizer and I have an inflated opinion of myself, I'm paying for both sides and taking the king bed. Dibs on remaining beds will go to whoever gives me money first, but no single can have the queen or double over a couple, and a couple must take the queen or double if they're available. The arithmetic here should be obvious (I can't cover my costs if a single is sleeping in the queen or double, unless you're willing to pay for both sides of it), but I'll explain it to you offline if it's not.

However, if there's sufficient interest in this event, I might give up the king to a couple and take the rollaway bed for myself. But let's cross that bridge if and when we get to it.

Itinerary, or, "What are we doing while we're at the Lake?"

The only structured activity I'm doing is a 5-6 mile hike around the Park on Saturday morning (exact start time to be announced, but don't sleep in) for those who are interested. (The Park is fairly flat, so this shouldn't be strenuous.) The rest of your weekend is up to you.

Our cabin will be close to the Maumee Bay Lodge & Conference Center, and you will have access to all the Lodge's amenities, as this is whom we are renting our cabin from. Many of these will already be included for free with your lodging fee:

Outdoor Activities

• 18-hole Scottish links golf course (seasonal)
• Tennis courts (fenced in)
• Pickle ball courts (fenced in)
• Basketball courts (fenced in)
• Amphitheater
• Outdoor Pool
• Shuffleboard court behind the lodge
• Horseshoe pits behind the lodge
• Campfire rentals
• Bike rentals (seasonal)
• Canoe & Paddleboat rentals (seasonal)
• Hiking trails (map available at the front desk)
• Storybook Trail

Indoor Activities

• Indoor racquetball and wallyball courts
• Kids’ splash pad (inside the indoor pool area)
• Indoor Pool
• Children’s soft play area by the game room
• Game room across from the indoor pool
• Board games (available at the front desk)
• DVD players & movie rental (available at the front desk)

The Park itself also has archery, an 18-hole disc golf course, fishing, a Nature Center, and two beaches (one on Lake Erie and one on the Park's inland lake), among other options.

You can also just sit and look at Lake Erie! Please note, however, that, while our cabin will be very close to Lake Erie, we will not actually have a view of the Lake from the cabin.

Finally, if you have specific questions about any of these activities and want more details, your best bet would be to call the Lodge's front desk directly at 419-836-1466.

Food

Our cabin will have a full kitchen and an outdoor grill. The Lodge also has a restaurant and a lounge from which you can get food between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. Here are their breakfast and lunch/dinner menus.

See also the next section, below.

Communication

Once I have your money, I'll add you to a group email chat here on Meetup. That is how and where we will discuss all matters related to this event. This includes the matter of food, which the cabin's kitchen will not come equipped with. We'll have to bring what we want. We'll discuss this, and everything else, in the group chat.

Do not post comments here to this event page to discuss arrangements related to the event. These conversations should occur in the private group email chat I will set up here on Meetup.

Where We'll Meet / Check-In and Check-Out

The cabin's check-in and check-out times are 4:30 p.m. and 10:00 a.m., respectively.

Obviously, however, the Park itself will be open on Friday before 4:30 p.m. and on Sunday after 10 a.m. I'll be at the Park early enough on Friday to get us checked in as soon as possible and get us into the cabin. I'll post here once I've done that.

Depending on when you arrive at the Park, you'll meet me either at the Lodge or the cabin. I'll give you updates as to my location, and you'll be able to contact me through either comments here or DMs through Meetup's message system.

The cabin's GPS coordinates will be in the vicinity of 41°40'43.1"N 83°21'24.1"W.

"What if I just want to stay for one night and not two?"

You may certainly do this, if you wish. You still have to pay for both nights, however. This event is not a timeshare.

Getting to Maumee Bay

The Lodge's actual address is 1750 State Park Road #2, Oregon, OH 43616, and your GPS will get you there just fine. However, it may want to take you up US 23 once you get to Carey, which is on the other side of Upper Sandusky.

I personally hate this. I much prefer to take SR 15 to I-75N at Findlay. The time is comparable either way. I also like to stop and fill up at Findlay, in which case I don't have to think about gas at all while I'm in Toledo.

Before blindly trusting your GPS before you head out, you might want to just take a couple minutes, look at a map, and have a general idea of what you're doing before you leave. This isn't strictly required, though.

Carpooling?

If there's interest in carpooling, I would recommend this be discussed in the email chat. However, if the only way you can make this event is by carpooling, then feel free to ask in the comments below to get a sense of what might be available before you sign up.

The difficulty about carpooling here is that you'll be away from your car for a weekend. If you park it at, say, a Wal-Mart, then it's going to be sitting there for two days. Your car will probably be fine, but how comfortable will you be leaving it there?

And if you're not parking at something like a Wal-Mart, then this means that you're probably driving over to someone else's home, or they're driving to yours to pick you up. But, again, we can discuss this in the email chat if people wish.

I, however, don't carpool. I won't ride with you, nor will I let you ride with me.

I'd like to buy a vowel!! 📺 🤩 💵 🥳 🇺🇸 😄

Sat, Jun 27 · 2:45 PM EDT

Game Show Battle Rooms, 3786 Fishinger Blvd, Hilliard, OH, US

Summary

We will play TV-style game shows at Game Show Battle Rooms ("GSBR"). These will include Family Feud, Wheel of Fortune, and The Price is Right, and we will play them over the course of an hour.

We ran this event for the second time back in October, and it was an even bigger hit than it was the first time we ran it the February prior. GSBR has nearly 10,000 reviews on Google and a 5-star rating. If there were any event where you were just about guaranteed to have a good time, it's this one.

GSBR changes their questions and answers every month, so if you attended in October (or even if you went with another group as recently as April), you will not see any of the same questions you saw before.

The Date and Time of This Event

Saturday, June 27, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. However, if someone books the 3:00 p.m. time before I do (meaning before I have enough paid attendees), well, that's the way the cookie crumbles and we'll have to move to Plan B.

That might involve trying for either one of GSBR's 1:30 p.m. or 4:30 p.m. slots, or just cancelling the Meetup altogether. We'll cross that bridge if we get to it, but be aware of these possibilities.

Please arrive 15 minutes prior to whatever our actual showtime ends up being. (Hence, this meetup's 2:45 p.m. start time.)

Cost

The cost to play, per person, is $36.95 plus 8% sales tax of $2.96, plus a refundable 8% gratuity of $2.96 (see the next section for more details), for a total cost of $42.86 per person.

Mandatory Gratuity (If 20+ Participants)

If we have 20 or more participants in this event, GSBR will assess a mandatory gratuity of 8%, or $2.96 per person. If we have 20 or more attendees, GSBR will give our group an extra 15 minutes of playing time.

I am collecting the gratuity up-front to prepare for the case in which we have at least 20 people. However, in the event that we do not, I will refund this $2.96 to you.

In the event we have fewer than 20 people and your gratuity is refunded, your cost for the event will end up being $39.91 (instead of $42.86).

I will say more below on the actual exchange of money for this event.

Drinks

GSBR does allow beverages into the game room, and they also sell some on-site. These include bottled water, soft drinks, and some alcoholic beverages. You can bring your own bottled water, too, if you want.

Cancellations and Refunds

Per GSBR's website: If you cancel your show 5 or more days in advance of your booking time, you will receive a full refund.

You may reduce the number of tickets and receive a refund if you provide at least 5-days’ notice.

More on this in a moment.

Number of Participants

GSBR does not run events for fewer than 6 people. I will not purchase tickets for this event with fewer than 10 paid, and I will not send out a solicitation for money without at least 12 signed up for this Meetup.

More on this below.

The Actual Exchange of Money

Tickets for GSBR events are not purchased piecemeal. I will need to book our GSBR event as a bloc. This means that everyone will need to send me his or her entrance fee via either Venmo or Paypal prior to me booking our time. Anyone failing to send me his or her money will be removed by me from this event.

Once 12+ people are signed up here for this Meetup, I will send out a DM through the Meetup messaging system to those 12+ participants with my Venmo/Paypal information. You will then have 72 hours to wire me your share of the money. After 72 hours, if I don't have money from you, I'll remove you from event.

If I don't have money from at least 10 people, I'll refund everyone's money, and we'll either re-start the process or I'll just cancel the event. I'm not going to book any event with GSBR unless I'm reasonably certain we're going to be able to run it.

Assuming I have money from 10+ people, then I will book the event through GSBR's website.

If you decide to cancel and you want a refund, you must give me time to contact GSBR with at least 5 days notice. Since the date of this event is Saturday, June 27, you have to let me know not later than Sunday, June 21, to allow me time to call GSBR not later than Monday, June 22, in order to get a refund for your share.

Once I have confirmation from GSBR for the refund, I will Venmo/Paypal the money back to you immediately from my account. (There will probably be a 3-5 day delay before GSBR actually processes the refund, but I will absorb the cost of the float and get your money back to you right away.)

"Hey, Eric! I just saw this event! Can I sign up late?"

Yes, but you still need to Venmo/Paypal your share of the booking fee to me, which will be $40.55. If I don't get it within 72 hours after you sign up (or time permitting for me to book you in with GSBR if you sign up last-minute), then I'll remove you from the event.

Mandatory GSBR Waiver Requirement

GSBR policies require that each attendee signs a liability waiver prior to the event. You can find the waiver here (on the right-hand side toward the bottom of the page under the section "Do I Need To Sign A Waiver Form?"), and you should also be able to skip directly to the form here.

You must fill out this waver in order to participate in the event. The form is short and this really shouldn't take you more than 2 minutes, but please send me a DM if you have any issues filling out the document.

Denouement

Afterward, for those who are interested, we'll drown our sorrows or celebrate our exultations at Crooked Can Brewing in Hilliard. They also have extensive food options. The actual address of the brewery is 5354 Center St, 43026.