Skip to content

Aquariums

Meet with others in your local area who enjoy Aquariums. Share stories and make new friends.
pin icon
82
members
people1 icon
2
groups

Largest Aquariums groups

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! Check out aquariums events happening today here. These are in-person gatherings where you can meet fellow enthusiasts and participate in activities right now.

Discover all the aquariums events taking place this week here. Plan ahead and join exciting meetups throughout the week.

Absolutely! Find aquariums events near your location here. Connect with your local community and discover events within your area.

Aquariums Events Today

Join in-person Aquariums events happening right now

In September...
In September...
Good afternoon, We have had a number of new members join which is hopeful. Unfortunately, I am likely not going to be available until the last couple of weeks of September. I will send an invite out mid-August. Until then, happy playing. Elizabeth
TOPHATs - Indigenous Fashion,  Scotiabank Photography, and Three Brewers
TOPHATs - Indigenous Fashion, Scotiabank Photography, and Three Brewers
Join Lawrence, your top hatted host, for an evening of Free Culture in our city, and beer and GIANT pretzels afterwards. I will be warming-up at the Duke of Cornwall, before our event, if you want to join me for a light meal and a bevvie. 400 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5G 1S5 https://dukepubs.ca/duke-of-cornwall/ At 6pm, we will meet in the lobby of the Textile Museum of Canada. 55 Centre Ave, Toronto, ON M5G 2H5 http://www.textilemuseum.ca/ We will head upstairs (or by lift) to the 2nd floor where we will check-in at the Museum entrance. Then we will head to the third floor to see... Always In Fashion May 1, 2026 - January 3, 2027 Curated by Amber-Dawn Bear Robe, Always in Fashion is an immersive exploration of Indigenous design languages and their transformative impact on the fashion landscape of the lands we call Canada. https://textilemuseum.ca/event/always-in-fashion/ Followed by the second floor exhibition Made By Many: 50 Years of the Textile Museum of Canada Celebrating five decades of exhibitions and communities that shaped us, featuring works by Bev Koski, Marimekko, Melinda Patterson, Thor Hansen, You Wenfeng, and more. https://textilemuseum.ca/event/made-by-many-50-years-of-the-textile-museum-of-canada/ At 6:45pm SHARP, we will leave for our next venue. We will walk along the North side of Dundas Street until we get to The Image Centre at TMU around 7 pmish. https://theimagecentre.ca/ 33 Gould St, Toronto, ON M5B 1W1 At Canada's leading institution dedicated to the exhibition, research and collecting of photography. Scotiabank Photography Award: Dawit L. Petros https://theimagecentre.ca/exhibition/dawit-petros/ Larry Fink: Social Graces & Runway https://theimagecentre.ca/exhibition/larry-fink-social-graces-runway/ Jessica Slipp: Becoming Rock https://theimagecentre.ca/exhibition/jessica-slipp-becoming-rock/ At 8pm, the gallery closes, though our fun doesn't end yet! We will head over to 3 Brasseurs MicroBrewery for our social and beer. 275 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M5B 1N8 https://www.les3brasseurs.ca/en/find-a-3-brasseurs/toronto/
Mid-Week Eucharist
Mid-Week Eucharist
We are a church community that supports the neighbourhood spiritually and pastorally. Besides the Sunday morning service at 10 am, we also gather in the middle of the week for a simplified Eucharist as we notice some people might be rarely in town on weekends. We worship, pray, read, listen to reflection and receive the Holy Communion together. Whether or not you are a church-goer, you are welcome to join!
Swansea, the other side of High Park (5.5 km)
Swansea, the other side of High Park (5.5 km)
Swansea was a village with its own town hall, fire station, and even historical society. This hike runs through whatever is left standing from that era, and also a quick jaunt into the least-visited part of High Park. The park's northeastern edge doesn't have much attractions and is relatively inaccessible, so that's where we'll go to avoid the crowds. The crowds will probably be gawking at cherry blossoms on the east bank of Grenadier Pond. If you're into that, visit before or after the hike. For food, there's a handful of notable places near the start and end. There's no distinct theme around High Park. In contrast, Bloor West Village has Ukrainian businesses—bakeries but no restaurants, so we'll settle down at a new Tibetan momo restaurant at the end of the hike. **Highlights** 1. Bennett Park (depart 6:30pm) 2. Usagi Sushi / Ohana 3. High Park Playground 4. David H Williams Clubhouse (depart 7:10pm) 5. Upscale houses along Ellis Avenue 6. Former Swansea Town Hall / Toronto Fire Station 425 7. Runnymede United Church 8. Momo Ghar (arrive 8pm) **Neighbourhoods** High Park > Swansea > Bloor West Village **Map** [https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1in_E4djL0onwm9iDioPSS2mN3m1LHA8&usp=sharing](https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1in_E4djL0onwm9iDioPSS2mN3m1LHA8&usp=sharing) **How it works** Hike starts punctually. Late or can't do the whole route? Meet us at scheduled checkpoints. We'll browse some food places but won't linger long. See the route in advance, organize takeout, then pickup along the way. See our [About section](https://www.meetup.com/hike-to-eat/) for more info.
SCARBOROUGH - Practical Philosophy 🇨🇦
SCARBOROUGH - Practical Philosophy 🇨🇦
**🏛️ WHAT'S PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY ABOUT?** Practical Philosophy is a weekly meet-up that brings critical thinkers together for an opportunity to dive deep on a topic, practice communicating, and building a community. All with no ‘official’ philosophy knowledge required! 😎 Practical Philosophy is based on the idea that philosophy should be accessible to all, and not something reserved only for academics. Each week we choose a topic, and the goal is to use the conversation to develop our critical thinking and communication as we explore that topic. The goal is to help develop our Critical Thinking, Communication, and Community 🙌 **📓 HOW DOES IT WORK?** Each week, we pick one topic and discuss it. The topic for the week is shared, generally in the [Whatsapp group](https://tally.so/r/ZjaPO0), along with jump-off points to get the conversation going. When groups get bigger than 7-8 people, it’s important that we break into smaller groups. This way we are able to maintain a conversational flow as opposed to having our meetups feel like a discourse or lecture. **General Meeting Agenda** Each Practical Philosophy meet-up follows this general timeline: * 19:00-19:15 - People arrive and chat, get to know each other before the ‘official' start. * 19:15-19:25 - Meeting introduction, explanation of Practical Philosophy and the topic for the week, read the guidelines and the overview so attendees know what to expect in terms of timelines. * 19:25-20:45 - Break into small groups - introduce yourselves and general thoughts on the topic, open discussion afterwards. At this point the group can review the ‘jump-off’ questions as needed, but they are just there to help guide the conversation. It’s not obligatory to answer them. * 20:45-21:00 - Bring everyone back together to discuss conclusions of the topic - each group gives a short 1-minute summary. Organizer concludes the meeting and everyone takes a group photo. * 21:00 - The official meeting is over but it’s a great opportunity to get to know people in a non-structured environment, so we often stick around, chat, and get to know each other. **🧧PRICING?** Practical Philosophy is operated entirely on voluntary donations! If we are meeting in a café, buy a beverage! Donations are 100% voluntary, but they help us to bring the gift of deep conversation to people around the world. If you'd like to support, you can [donate here](https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/donation-form/donate-to-practical-philosophy)! (Practical Philosophy is a registered Canadian charity) 💛 **WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY** 🗣 “I feel like Philosophy Club helps someone build their own belief system through a series of perspectives while not promoting what’s right and wrong” - Ekam 🗣 “I got hooked from day 1 (the topic was authority) and felt it was the right place for me. I feel it is a place where people can go to learn and discuss new perspectives and increase critical thinking and community by interacting with people who might challenge your point of views but at the same time encourage you to have openness and mind flexibility.” - Daniel **🤓 FAQ** * ​What will we talk about? What's the topic? ​The topic for the week is shared every Sunday in the Whatsapp group. We try to add the topic to the comment section on this event page as well but if you don’t see it, the topic and the jump-off points will be in our [Whatsapp](https://tally.so/r/ZjaPO0). * Do I need to study or read anything to attend? No preparation is necessary. This isn’t a study of other thinkers. We want to know what YOU think about the topic, not what an old philosopher thought. If you have a perspective from a religion or a school of thought to share, throw it on the table and we’ll discuss it, but it's not required. * Is there a specific philosophy that Practical Philosophy is focused on? The goal of our meet-ups is to not have dogmatic discussions, and flex our critical thinking muscles. Because of this, we want to hear from every realm of thought, and don't study a particular school. * Is it mostly men that attend? Surprisingly, no! Although philosophy is seen as a Candelabra affair in a dark room with a bunch of guys, our Practical Philosophy meetups are generally 50/50 between genders, and we don’t meet in any dark rooms. * Can I come alone? Of course you can, we encourage it :) * Can I be late? Please don't be! We do have a 15 minute grace period where we allow people to funnel in while we hang out, but after that if you arrive too late, it disrupts the flow of the conversation. * Where do you meet? The location is posted in Meetup and our [Whatsapp](https://tally.so/r/ZjaPO0) group for this location. It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you join the Whatsapp group! If you want to know what other cities have a Practical Philosophy Club, you can see our chapters on our [website](https://www.practicalphilosophy.club/practical-philosophy-locations/). 🤝**POLICY** To respect our members privacy, we ask that no one privately message a member without first getting explicit consent. (This looks like speaking in person and being asked to message privately.) Contacting or texting other participants without prior consent is not permitted and may result in removal from the group. Practical Philosophy reserves the right to enforce this policy at its discretion to maintain a safe and respectful environment. **PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY - Making Philosophy Available To All.** ✨ Practical Philosophy hosts weekly, in-person meetups in over 25 countries and 50+ chapters, including Canada, Spain, Japan, Mexico and many more! 🗺️ \*\*\* Join our [Whatsapp group](https://tally.so/r/ZjaPO0) 👈 Follow us on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/practicalphilosophyclub) 👈 Our [website](https://www.practicalphilosophy.club/) 👈
FREE Vegan Conversational French, English, and Spanish Class!!
FREE Vegan Conversational French, English, and Spanish Class!!
\*These classes are not a language exchange, but instead are meant to be a step in between so that students feel confident maintaining in depth and grammatically correct oral conversations outside of class\* \***Meetup event numbers only tend to show new students registering and do not include returning students attending class.** **Per class, there is an average of 7 students.** The first 2 classes are free and then only cost between $15 and $45 depending on which type of class you want to continue with.\* These French, Spanish, and English, classes are primarily meant for adults who are travellers, or who are planning to live in a francophone, hispanophone, or anglophone country. *English in this class can only taught in French and Spanish unless you are an advanced learner* The classes are primarily oral-based through guided conversations. They will teach you how to handle conversations in situations such as **"Going to the Convenience Store"**, **"Making Plans"**, **"Negotiating Prices"**, and **"Going out for a Drink"**. To ensure that students get used to using the language automatically, students will learn to maintain contextual conversations with timing before moving on to the next lesson. **Program is also offered in private and online classes**. Call (647)787-9953, e-mail us info@monkeylingo.ca, or visit monkeylingo.ca for more information! **Online and private classes are also available!** No other French nor Spanish classes are as oral as these ones. We guarantee it! Group classes are hosted at **600 Bay Street** (Wishbone Animal Rights Lab) every Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Call (647)787-9953 upon arrival if no one is there to let you in, and someone will come down to let you in. Parking is available across from the Greyhound bus station on Elm Street and Bay Street.

Aquariums Events This Week

Discover what is happening in the next few days

CN Tower and Ripley's Aquarium
CN Tower and Ripley's Aquarium
CN Tower - $59 + Tax Ripley's Aquarium - $50 + Tax Food - Pay yourself.
Underwater Rugby Practice and Game (Beginner's welcome)
Underwater Rugby Practice and Game (Beginner's welcome)
**Welcome to our group! We hope to see you out at the pool soon. We play Fridays 8:30-10pm at Riverdale Collegiate Institute pool. We have lots of spare gear for you to try the game, so there is no need to buy anything before you try U/W Rugby. Just bring your suit and towel. And your first 2 practices are free!** \*Please note: This game requires swimming. While we do have lifeguards, you must be a competent swimmer and comfortable in the water in order to participate. **Enter the school through this door: [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1T1BP7DXur9QHK5aYo-s3vwmHu3MG9N55/view?usp=sharing](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1T1BP7DXur9QHK5aYo-s3vwmHu3MG9N55/view?usp=sharing)** **Directions to the pool:** **[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ggRqpd6UiCX1L-1Hbupg2GMclkbxNVx7/view?usp=sharing](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ggRqpd6UiCX1L-1Hbupg2GMclkbxNVx7/view?usp=sharing)** **Looking forward to seeing you at the pool,** **Gord**
Mandarin-English Exchange
Mandarin-English Exchange
Hello Everybody! 【College Park food court is closed again, so we change the location to the food court in Brookfield Place(181 Bay St., Toronto, ON), near the Union Station.】 I am helping organize a mandarin-english language exchange downtown. If you want to improve your Mandarin/English, feel free to come by downtown and meet others to practise your language. There will be native Mandarin and English speakers to help you! Or you can share your language skills with others! Every Saturday 3:00pm-5:00pm Brookfield Place Food Court(181 Bay St., Toronto, ON) [ Please find a table with "meetup" label (like the Featured photo).] [ Usually in front of the Longo's supermarket] —————————————— 大家好: 【College Park的food court又给封了,所以我们把活动地点换到了 Brookfield Place的food court (181 Bay St., Toronto, ON),靠近Union Station。】 我正在组织一场中英文交流活动。如果你想提高你的普通话或者英语,那就快来参加吧!你可以在这里认识很多母语为普通话或者英语的新朋友!他们都非常乐于帮你提高你的中英文表达能力!也欢迎你同我们一起分享你的语言技巧! 谢谢! 每周六 3:00pm-5:00pm Brookfield Place Food Court(181 Bay St., Toronto, ON) 【请找到一张桌子,桌上有张纸,写着“Meetup”。】 【位置通常会在longo's超市前面】 ———————————————— 大家好: 【College Park的food court又給封了,所以我們把活動地點換到了Brookfield Place的food court (181 Bay St., Toronto, ON),靠近Union Station。】 我正在組織一場中英文交流活動。如果你想提高你的國語或者英語,那就快來參加吧!你可以在這裡認識很多母語為國語或者英語的新朋友!他們都非常樂於幫你提高你的中英文表達能力!也歡迎你同我們一起分享你的語言技巧! 謝謝! 每週六 3:00pm-5:00pm Brookfield Place Food Court(181 Bay St., Toronto, ON) 【請找到一張桌子,桌上有張紙,寫著“Meetup”】 【位置通常會在longo's超市前面】
Kayak, Canoe, Stand-up Paddling Board on the scenic Humber River!
Kayak, Canoe, Stand-up Paddling Board on the scenic Humber River!
**Explore the scenic Humber River in Toronto with our Kayak, Canoe, and stand-up paddle board 2-hour rentals during the week!** Use the following link to book your spot:[ ](https://torontoadventures.ca/all-adventures/kayak-canoe-sup-rentals/)**[https://torontoadventures.ca/all-adventures/kayak-canoe-sup-rentals/](https://torontoadventures.ca/all-adventures/kayak-canoe-sup-rentals/)**[ ](https://torontoadventures.ca/all-adventures/kayak-canoe-sup-rentals/) The calm meandering Humber River is one of Toronto’s hidden gems! Home to a huge variety of wildlife, including Beaver, Blue Heron, Deer and much more, you’ll feel like you’ve left the city behind! *Events are subject to weather and other factors out of our control. If we must cancel or delay an event we will those booked on the [torontoadventures.ca](http://torontoadventures.ca/) website know as soon as possible.* **Pricing (per 2-hour rental), Payable online through:** [https://torontoadventures.ca/all-adventures/kayak-canoe-sup-rentals/](https://torontoadventures.ca/all-adventures/kayak-canoe-sup-rentals/) Single Kayak (seats 1 person) : $40 +taxes Tandem Kayak (seats 2 people) : $70 +taxes Regular Canoe (seats 2 people) : $60 +taxes Large Canoe (seats 3 people) : $70 +taxes Stand-up Paddle Board ( 1 person): $40 +taxes **Included:** * Boat(s), Paddle(s), PFD(s)/ “Life Jacket(s)”, & Coast Guard Safety Kit. * Brief orientation covering paddling safety, Toronto Adventures’ rules, and the Humber River paddling route * Our friendly staff to help you launch your boat(s) and/or boards. * SUP Leash (For Paddle Board Rentals Only) **What to bring?** * Dress for the weather! * Wear closed-toe athletic footwear you don’t mind getting wet & muddy (shoes not required on SUPs). * Sunscreen, sunglasses & hats, are all recommended for sunny days. * A water bottle. * Government Issued Photo ID. **Important Information** Anyone under the age of 18 must have a Parent/Guardian/Adult accompany them all the times on the water. Online Adult Waivers are available through confirmation emails. For minors, waivers will need to be signed in person on location. There must be an Adult to Child ratio of 1:4 in the children are under 12 years of age. From ages 12-18 we require a 1:5 adult to youth ratio. We have lifejackets starting at 30 pounds and are fully adjustable. * Paddlers must be comfortable treading water while wearing a PFD and reaching a shoreline (minimum 20 metres to shore). * Late Fees Returning Boat(s)/Equipment – $20/15 minutes per boat. **[Google Link Directions](https://torontoadventures.ca/directions/#humberriverlocation)** **[Cancellation Policy](https://torontoadventures.ca/faq/#cancellation)** We hope to see you out on the water!
Mandarin-English Exchange (Sunday)
Mandarin-English Exchange (Sunday)
【College Park food court is closed again, so we change the location to the food court in Aura Concourse(384 Yonge St., Toronto, ON), near the College Station.】 I am helping organize a mandarin-english language exchange downtown. If you want to improve your Mandarin/English, feel free to come by downtown and meet others to practise your language. There will be native Mandarin and English speakers to help you! Or you can share your language skills with others! Every Sunday 3:00pm-5:00pm Aura Concourse(384 Yonge St., Toronto, ON) [ Please find a table with "meetup" label (like the Featured photo).] [ Usually in front of the pharmacy ] —————————————— 大家好: 【College Park的food court又给封了,所以我们把活动地点换到了 Aura Concourse的food court(384 Yonge St., Toronto, ON),靠近College Station。】 我正在组织一场中英文交流活动。如果你想提高你的普通话或者英语,那就快来参加吧!你可以在这里认识很多母语为普通话或者英语的新朋友!他们都非常乐于帮你提高你的中英文表达能力!也欢迎你同我们一起分享你的语言技巧! 谢谢! 每周日 3:00pm-5:00pm Aura Concourse food court(384 Yonge St., Toronto, ON) 【请找到一张桌子,桌上有张纸,写着“Meetup”。】 【位置通常在药房前面】 ———————————————— 大家好: 【College Park的food court又給封了,所以我們把活動地點換到了Aura Concourse的food court(384 Yonge St., Toronto, ON),靠近College 】 我正在組織一場中英文交流活動。如果你想提高你的國語或者英語,那就快來參加吧!你可以在這裡認識很多母語為國語或者英語的新朋友!他們都非常樂於幫你提高你的中英文表達能力!也歡迎你同我們一起分享你的語言技巧! 謝謝! 每週日 3:00pm-5:00pm Aura Concourse food court(384 Yonge St., Toronto, ON) 【請找到一張桌子,桌上有張紙,寫著“Meetup”】 【位置通常會在藥房前面】
The Police tribute at Rockpile
The Police tribute at Rockpile
join us the Rockpile for Police Tribute Band. Cost ix 23$ at the door or at the following link . https://www.ticketweb.ca/event/message-in-a-bottle-rockpile-rock-bar-tickets/14773133
French at the Royal Conservatory
French at the Royal Conservatory
Join us for an evening of French conversation at B Espresso Bar in the atrium of the Toronto Royal Conservatory of Music (near St. George station)!
We welcome all levels of French, and it's free\*.
Venez pratiquer votre français! \*While there is no fee to attend this event, guests are expected to purchase something from B Espresso Bar, in accordance with RCM's restrictions on usage of the cafe atrium space. **Building location:** The Royal Conservatory is at 273 Bloor St W, between Varsity Stadium and the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM). There are entrances off Bloor St. and Philosopher's Walk. If you enter from Bloor St through the large glass doors, follow the hallway on the left beside the staircase and turn left at the end. (Closest TTC: St. George) **Notes and restrictions:** The host may or may not attend this event. Attendees are encouraged to seat themselves at two or more adjacent tables, as needed. Please form groups of 6 people at each table; do not rearrange chairs and tables to accommodate more people, as this obstructs the narrow walking space. Guests are expected to order something from the cafe, and are asked to please refrain from bringing outside food or drink. Attendees must leave the building at 8pm when the cafe stops serving. **Contributions:** If you are a regular with us and would like to support the group, please send any contributions by e-transfer to [diskutomeetup@gmail.com.](http://diskutomeetup@gmail.com.) The yearly donation goal and amounts received year-to-date will be tracked anonymously on [this google sheet](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18GfqYsis8Cf2XGg4KsKQJsY_0Fv3bsSQHwJAxvC1Km8/edit?usp=sharing). Thank you so much for your support.

Aquariums Events Near You

Connect with your local Aquariums community

Quarterly Community Gathering
Quarterly Community Gathering
Join the Columbus AI community for our quarterly gathering — a casual, community-focused evening where everyone has a chance to share, learn, and connect. These open mic–style events give anyone in the community up to **5 minutes** to present a project, share a tool, pose a question, or offer a perspective on the evolving AI space. No slides required — just a welcoming space to exchange ideas and keep the local AI conversation moving. If you’d like to take the stage, message \*\*Chris (the organizer)\*\*with a **title and short description** of what you’d like to share. Whether you’re deep in the field or just getting curious, come connect with others building and exploring AI in Columbus. Sponsored by [Transform Labs](https://www.linkedin.com/company/transformlabs/) Sign up also accessible via [Transform Labs Luma](https://luma.com/transformlabshq)
PO Box 21 Speakeasy
PO Box 21 Speakeasy
PO Box 21. Is a speakeasy in the basement of Highbanks Distillery in Westerville. Check out the menu: https://www.poboxtwentyone.com/home
Miller Park Library & Playground
Miller Park Library & Playground
Unknown Number: The High School Catfish
Unknown Number: The High School Catfish
IMPORTANT!!! THE DATE OF THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CHANGED TO SUNDAY MAY 17, 2026!!! A very unusual choice for his group... Unknown Number: High School Catfish is an American [true crime](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/True_crime "True crime") documentary film directed by [Skye Borgman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skye_Borgman "Skye Borgman") and released to [streaming](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streaming_media "Streaming media") on [Netflix](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netflix "Netflix") on August 29, 2025. The documentary explores the events and investigation into an unknown person [cyberbully](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyberbullying "Cyberbullying") and [harassing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harassment "Harassment") teenagers in [Beal City, Michigan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beal_City,_Michigan "Beal City, Michigan") using an unknown number via insults and sexual claims. It also explores the increasingly great impact of the harassment on the community, the eventual reveal of the culprit, and the trial that followed. IMPORTANT INFO: I strongly suggest not reading anything about it online before seeing it. It's best viewed with no previous knowledge. This documentary contains crude terminology and deals with cyberbullying, which may be a trigger for some folks. Please be ready to discuss the movie by 7PM. Thanks. Unfortunately, it is only available on Netflix. If you would like to attend but do not have Netflix, say so and maybe we can figure something out.
Story time @ UA library
Story time @ UA library
Trails & Ales! Blendon Woods Metro Park / Forbidden Root Restaurant & Brewery
Trails & Ales! Blendon Woods Metro Park / Forbidden Root Restaurant & Brewery
**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.