Wilderness Hiking

🍫 Choose Your Adventure: Radovljica Chocolate Festival! ⛰️ Get ready for the sweetest day of the year This Sunday, April 19th, the Ljubljana International Community is heading to the famous Radovljica Chocolate Festival 🍫 Because we love both the outdoors and sleeping in, we’ve organized two different ways to join the fun. Choose the path that fits your vibe! 👇 🟢 OPTION A: “Earn Your Chocolate” ⛰️🍫 Perfect for: Those who want some fresh mountain air before the sugar rush. The Hike: 🥾 Easy & beginner-friendly 📈 323m elevation ⏱️ \~1h 15min (one way) Plan: 🕘 09:30 – Meet at Parkirišče Tivoli II 🚗 Drive to Grahovše (\~40 min) ⛰️ Hike to Dom pod Storžičem 🍕 30 min break for food & drinks 🍫 Then → Chocolate Festival 👉 Join Hiking Chat (carpool + coordination): https://chat.whatsapp.com/HX9o375JIce9icXUCFiSrd 🟡 OPTION B: “Straight to the Sweets” 🍫😄 Perfect for: Those who want a relaxed Sunday morning and maximum time at the festival. Plan: 🕐 13:00 – Meet at Parkirišče Tivoli II 🚗 Drive directly to Radovljica 🍫 Meet the group and drive straight to Radovljica to enjoy the chocolate, music, and atmosphere. 👉 Join Daytrips Chat (rides + coordination): https://chat.whatsapp.com/EHrqqlrtKNg6thM8KUlTPE 🎫 FESTIVAL ESSENTIALS 🎟️ Entry: 6€ 🌐 https://www.festival-cokolade.si/ 🍫 Expect: • chocolate tastings 😍 • desserts & sweets 🍩🍪 • local vendors 🛍️ • music & social vibe 🎶 🚗 TRANSPORT 🚘 Car Pooling: We rely on community drivers! If you have a car, please offer a seat. If you need a ride, please contribute to gas costs. ⏰ RETURN 🕔 Approx. 17:00 – 18:00 (Stay flexible + coordinate with your driver 👍) We expect 20+ people from the community, so it's going to be a massive, fun group regardless of which option you choose. See you on Sunday! 🥳🍭

We’re launching a beginner Bachata & Salsa course together with one of the best dance schools in Ljubljana — @utripplesa. You’ll learn the basics, get comfortable with the movements and simply enjoy dancing in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Perfect for those who have been wanting to try partner dancing but didn’t know where to start. 📅 **Sundays at 17:00 (starting 05.04)** ⏱ **4 classes (1.5 hours each)** 💶 **Price:** €45 for the full course €40 per person if you join with a partner or a friend If you didn’t attend the trial class, you can join the **first session for €10** to see if you like it before committing to the full course. 👉 **Register here:** [https://forms.gle/Gp47pWi8Pk2QsKTu5](https://forms.gle/Gp47pWi8Pk2QsKTu5) Please make sure to **check your email and WhatsApp after registering** — we’ll send all confirmations and updates there. Let’s dance ✨

🍫 Choose Your Adventure: Radovljica Chocolate Festival! ⛰️ Get ready for the sweetest day of the year This Sunday, April 19th, the Ljubljana International Community is heading to the famous Radovljica Chocolate Festival 🍫 Because we love both the outdoors and sleeping in, we’ve organized two different ways to join the fun. Choose the path that fits your vibe! 👇 🟢 OPTION A: “Earn Your Chocolate” ⛰️🍫 Perfect for: Those who want some fresh mountain air before the sugar rush. The Hike: 🥾 Easy & beginner-friendly 📈 323m elevation ⏱️ \~1h 15min (one way) Plan: 🕘 09:30 – Meet at Parkirišče Tivoli II 🚗 Drive to Grahovše (\~40 min) ⛰️ Hike to Dom pod Storžičem 🍕 30 min break for food & drinks 🍫 Then → Chocolate Festival 👉 Join Hiking Chat (carpool + coordination): https://chat.whatsapp.com/HX9o375JIce9icXUCFiSrd 🟡 OPTION B: “Straight to the Sweets” 🍫😄 Perfect for: Those who want a relaxed Sunday morning and maximum time at the festival. Plan: 🕐 13:00 – Meet at Parkirišče Tivoli II 🚗 Drive directly to Radovljica 🍫 Meet the group and drive straight to Radovljica to enjoy the chocolate, music, and atmosphere. 👉 Join Daytrips Chat (rides + coordination): https://chat.whatsapp.com/EHrqqlrtKNg6thM8KUlTPE 🎫 FESTIVAL ESSENTIALS 🎟️ Entry: 6€ 🌐 https://www.festival-cokolade.si/ 🍫 Expect: • chocolate tastings 😍 • desserts & sweets 🍩🍪 • local vendors 🛍️ • music & social vibe 🎶 🚗 TRANSPORT 🚘 Car Pooling: We rely on community drivers! If you have a car, please offer a seat. If you need a ride, please contribute to gas costs. ⏰ RETURN 🕔 Approx. 17:00 – 18:00 (Stay flexible + coordinate with your driver 👍) We expect 20+ people from the community, so it's going to be a massive, fun group regardless of which option you choose. See you on Sunday! 🥳🍭

We’re launching a beginner Bachata & Salsa course together with one of the best dance schools in Ljubljana — @utripplesa. You’ll learn the basics, get comfortable with the movements and simply enjoy dancing in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Perfect for those who have been wanting to try partner dancing but didn’t know where to start. 📅 **Sundays at 17:00 (starting 05.04)** ⏱ **4 classes (1.5 hours each)** 💶 **Price:** €45 for the full course €40 per person if you join with a partner or a friend If you didn’t attend the trial class, you can join the **first session for €10** to see if you like it before committing to the full course. 👉 **Register here:** [https://forms.gle/Gp47pWi8Pk2QsKTu5](https://forms.gle/Gp47pWi8Pk2QsKTu5) Please make sure to **check your email and WhatsApp after registering** — we’ll send all confirmations and updates there. Let’s dance ✨

**History** The history of [Blendon Woods Metro Park](https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/blendon-woods/) began long before its 1951 opening, rooted in a landscape of rugged ridges and deep ravines that made the land unsuitable for traditional farming. In 1945, a report proposing a metropolitan park system for Franklin County specifically highlighted these cliffs of Bedford Shale as some of the "wildest land in the vicinity". Following this recommendation, the recently formed park district purchased the first 229 acres in early 1949. Because the terrain was so uneven, developers had to cut a mile-and-a-half-long roadway through dense woods just to bring in heavy equipment. This initial preservation effort ensured that the mature second-growth hardwood forests remained largely untouched by the urban expansion spreading toward Westerville. Opening day arrived on Labor Day, September 3, 1951, marking Blendon Woods as the second park in the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks system. The final push to open was a frantic race; the State Highway Department only finished the primary gravel access road four days before the gates opened. Early staff members, consisting of just four full-time employees, had to hand-dig pit toilets and learn construction skills on the fly to build the first picnic shelters. Despite the dusty conditions and limited facilities, the park was an immediate success, drawing massive crowds from across Central Ohio. By the end of the 1950s, annual visitation had already climbed to over 190,000 people. As the surrounding suburbs grew in the 1960s, the park faced severe overcrowding that threatened its natural habitats. In response, Franklin County voters passed the first Metro Parks levy in 1960, providing the funds necessary for a decade of steady expansion. During this era, the park nearly doubled in size, growing from 264 acres to over 570 acres by 1968. Planners also addressed a critical water shortage by collaborating with the U.S. Soil and Conservation Service to build a lake in 1964. This body of water originally served as a temporary reservoir before its role shifted toward conservation and wildlife support. The 1970s marked a transition toward the specialized wildlife and educational focus for which the park is known today. In 1971, the Walden Waterfowl Refuge was established around the 11-acre Thoreau Lake, creating a sanctuary that remains restricted to provide a quiet habitat for migratory birds. A formal nature center was also developed during this period, expanding on the guided Sunday walks that had been a park staple since the early 1950s. The park’s famous "Monarch Mansion" also became a prominent fixture, starting a long tradition of raising and releasing thousands of monarch butterflies each September. These initiatives cemented the park’s reputation as a premier destination for birders and nature enthusiasts. In more recent decades, Blendon Woods has continued to modernize while maintaining its wilderness character. The 10-acre Natural Play Area was added in 2017, encouraging kids to explore the ravines and woods off-trail. This was followed by the opening of a $1.5 million inclusive playground in April 2025, designed to accommodate children of all physical abilities. The nature center also underwent major renovations to include immersive, three-dimensional exhibits and a new butterfly house. Today, the park encompasses 653 acres, preserving a unique geologic and biological corridor amidst the bustling Westerville and Northeast Columbus area. **Map of the Park** Here is a map of [Blendon Woods](https://www.metroparks.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/BLN_map_Inclusive-Playground-and-Butterfly-Trail_May-2025_1980px.png). **Summary** For this event, we will hike the Lake View, Hickory Ridge, Ripple Rock, Overlook, Brookside, and Sugarbush Trails. This sounds like a lot, but it will really be only a little over five miles. Blendon Woods has a few hills here and there, but it's not one of the more strenuous metro parks. **Where We'll Meet** We'll meet just in front of the Nature Center. This is about a mile into the park from the main entrance. You have to go past the Ranger Station and the Shadblow Reservable Area to get to it, so don't stop too early at the Ranger Station and get it confused with the Nature Center. **After the Hike** Afterward, we will head over to [Forbidden Root Restaurant & Brewery](https://forbiddenroot.com/restaurants/columbus-ohio/) at Easton for [drinks](https://forbiddenroot.com/restaurants/columbus-ohio/#dinner-menu) and [food](https://forbiddenroot.com/wp-content/uploads/Cbus-Food.pdf). We should be there by 5 if you can't make the hike and just want to join us for drinks. The brewery's actual address is [4080 Worth Ave, Columbus, OH 43219](https://www.google.com/maps/place/4080+Worth+Ave,+Columbus,+OH+43219/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x88388a86d10b6619:0x4d42b470a5cf11d3?sa=X&ved=1t:242&ictx=111); however, I recommend pointing your GPS to the [Worth Garage](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Worth+Garage/@40.0542293,-82.9137962,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x88388b4df6082825:0x17582f0eccd9dda1!8m2!3d40.0542293!4d-82.9137962!16s%2Fg%2F11rzfvvv8b?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDQxNS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) across the street. Parking in this garage is free as long as you're not on the first floor, and it is literally right next to the brewery.

Hi ladies. Let's hike the Edward Thomas, Spring Creek, and a little multi-purpose trail - approximately 4 miles. Please bring a water bottle as needed and appropriate shoes. Meet in the Maple Grove Picnic area.

Hi ladies. We will meet in front of the Nature Center and head to the two Observation decks. We will then hike Hickory Ridge, Ripple Rock, Overlook and Sugarbush trails to get approximately four miles total distance. We will walk approximately a 18 minute mile pace. Please wear appropriate hiking shoes.

We will hike the Ridge Trail and Meadows Trail twice, for a total of 3.8 miles. There are some pretty good inclines so plan on getting a cardio workout :). This is a loop which is pretty easy to follow; thus faster walkers can take the lead and the rest (like me) will bring up the rear at a slightly slower pace. You could also just do the loop once for 1.9 miles. No one left behind. Optional lunch to follow in Canal Winchester. I'm working through the metro parks - this is the third one!

Hi ladies. Let's hike the Edward Thomas, Spring Creek, and a little multi-purpose trail - approximately 4 miles so please wear your shoe of choice. Please bring a water bottle as needed and appropriate shoes. Meet in the Maple Grove Picnic area.