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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Check out ghost tours events happening today here. These are in-person gatherings where you can meet fellow enthusiasts and participate in activities right now.
Discover all the ghost tours events taking place this week here. Plan ahead and join exciting meetups throughout the week.
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Ghost Tours Events Today
Join in-person Ghost Tours events happening right now
Brewery Tour
Card Enthusiasts - Who is ready to kick-off summer with a social activity? Do you like drinking beer while you socialize or play cards? Let’s check-out some fun breweries, make new friends, and play euchre! Join us on **Saturday, May 16,** as we visit two breweries in Virginia (**[Adventure Brewing Co.](https://adventurebrewing.com/beers-at-adventure-north/)** and **[Barley Naked Brewing Co.](https://barleynaked.com/))**
**Cost = $65, payable via venmo @amanda-uherek.** Please pay to reserve your spot within three days of RSVPing. Failure to pay could result in your spot being given to someone else. Cost **INCLUDES** round-trip transportation from Washington, DC to Breweries and reservation fees. The cost **DOESN’T INCLUDE** your individual tastings or food purchases.
**Brewery Tour Schedule:**
**11:00 am - Meet at Irish Channel** (please be at the bar no later than 11:15 am to check-in)
**11:30 am** - **Bus Departs** promptly for Fredericksburg, VA
**12:45 pm** – **Arrive at** **[Adventure Brewing Co.](https://adventurebrewing.com/beers-at-adventure-north/)**
· Tastings & Cards
· Food Trucks
**2:30 pm** - **Depart for Brewery #2**
**2:50 pm** – **Arrive at [Barley Naked Brewing Co.](https://barleynaked.com/)**
· Tastings & Cards
· Brewery Tour
· Food Trucks
**4:15 pm** - **Depart for the Irish Channel** (Washington, D.C.)
**5:30 pm** - **Arrive at the Irish Channel**
We’ll have decks of cards/games, water, and hand sanitizer. Please bring money, snacks, your awesome selves, a fun attitude and smack talk! Any questions, please direct message me.
Cheers,
Amanda
FYI: DC Euchre Meetup - Brewery Tour
**FYI: DC Euchre Meetup - Brewery Tour**
**RSVP HERE:**
https://www.meetup.com/euchre-dc/events/314528492/
**+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++**
**INFORMATION**
**+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++**
Card Enthusiasts - Who is ready to kick-off summer with a social activity? Do you like drinking beer while you socialize or play cards? Let’s check-out some fun breweries, make new friends, and play euchre!
Join us on Saturday, May 16, as we visit two breweries in Virginia (Adventure Brewing Co. and Barley Naked Brewing Co.)
Cost = $65, payable via venmo @amanda-uherek. Please pay to reserve your spot within three days of RSVPing. Failure to pay could result in your spot being given to someone else.
Cost INCLUDES round-trip transportation from Washington, DC to Breweries and reservation fees. The cost DOESN’T INCLUDE your individual tastings or food purchases.
Brewery Tour Schedule:
* 11:00 am - Meet at Irish Channel (please be at the bar no later than 11:15 am to check-in)
* 11:30 am - Bus Departs promptly for Fredericksburg, VA
* 12:45 pm – Arrive at Adventure Brewing Co.: Tastings & Cards / Food Trucks
* 2:30 pm - Depart for Brewery #2
* 2:50 pm – Arrive at Barley Naked Brewing Co: Tastings & Cards / Brewery Tour / Food Trucks
* 4:15 pm - Depart for the Irish Channel (Washington, D.C.)
* 5:30 pm - Arrive at the Irish Channel
We’ll have decks of cards/games, water, and hand sanitizer. Please bring money, snacks, your awesome selves, a fun attitude and smack talk!
Any questions, please direct message Amanda.
DC Euchre is going on a brewery tour - and you’re invited!
Please RSVP for this event on the DC Euchre Meetup site. Do not RSVP here.
Card Enthusiasts - Who is ready to kick-off summer with a social activity? Do you like drinking beer while you socialize or play cards? Let’s check-out some fun breweries, make new friends, and play euchre! Join us on Saturday, May 16, as we visit two breweries in Virginia (Adventure Brewing Co. and Barley Naked Brewing Co.)
Cost = $65, payable via venmo @amanda-uherek. Please pay to reserve your spot within three days of RSVPing. Failure to pay could result in your spot being given to someone else. Cost INCLUDES round-trip transportation from Washington, DC to Breweries and reservation fees. The cost DOESN’T INCLUDE your individual tastings or food purchases.
Brewery Tour Schedule:
11:00 am - Meet at Irish Channel (please be at the bar no later than 11:15 am to check-in)
11:30 am - Bus Departs promptly for Fredericksburg, VA
12:45 pm – Arrive at Adventure Brewing Co.
· Tastings & Cards
· Food Trucks
2:30 pm - Depart for Brewery #2
2:50 pm – Arrive at Barley Naked Brewing Co.
· Tastings & Cards
· Brewery Tour
· Food Trucks
4:15 pm - Depart for the Irish Channel (Washington, D.C.)
5:30 pm - Arrive at the Irish Channel
We’ll have decks of cards/games, water, and hand sanitizer. Please bring money, snacks, your awesome selves, a fun attitude and smack talk! Any questions, please direct message me.a
Ghost Tours Events This Week
Discover what is happening in the next few days
Capitol Hill - Not the Usual Tour
We'll walk about 3 miles around Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, visiting preparations for the nation's 250th anniversary, memorials to U.S. leaders, the grotto-like Summer House, the National Botanical Gardens, the Disabled Veterans Memorial, and of course the government buildings where things happen -- or not.
The meeting place/start is in front the office building that houses the Sierra Club's DC Chapter, where Potomac Region Outings (PRO) leaders will meet after the hike. **Those planning to attend the potluck lunch and meeting (See separate entry for that meeting) may leave their food, papers and other things in the office.** Sunday parking is available in the area, and the Union Station Metro stop (Red Line) is nearby.
Dress for the weather; boots, trekking poles, and survival gear not needed. This guided walk is free, but participants may enjoy the opportunity to donate a modest amount ($2 or so) to defray the costs of training, communications and other elements of the outings program. All hikers, including the leaders, are required to sign the Sierra Club's participation agreement.
Exclusive Bowie, MD Property Tour
Join us for an exclusive Bowie, MD Property Tour on Sunday, June 17th from 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM!
We’ll visit 3–5 homes, including a mix of townhouses and single-family properties, to give you a real look at what’s currently available on the market. This event is designed to help buyers better understand pricing, features, neighborhoods, and what to realistically expect when searching for a home in today’s market.
Whether you’re planning to buy soon or just starting the process, this tour is a great opportunity to get informed and feel more prepared before making a move.
📍 Exact property locations will be provided the day before the event.
⚠️ Space is limited.
To reserve your spot and receive location details, please send your contact information to:
📧 [cassey.coul@gmail.com](mailto:cassey.coul@gmail.com)
DC Tourist Loop -- with E-Bike Lovers
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/55123697
22 miles. Lunch/snack stop TBD.
Join us for a short and pleasant e-bike ride in and around the center of Washington, DC.
The total tour distance is some 22 miles but you can cut it short if needed. The ride is on paved bike paths, some city streets, and flat terrain.
Various monuments can be seen during this route (the Capitol, the municipal Fish Market, the White House, the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Nationals ballpark, the Titanic Memorial, and the Frederick Douglas bridge).
Lunch: Brown bag TBD.
The group stops a few times for slower riders to catch up. The distance will be some 22 miles or shorter any time you are fully satisfied with biking for the day.
**Please remember to charge your bike, check your tires and brakes, and consider packing an extra tube.**
**We recommend downloading the Ride with GPS route map to enhance your independence.**
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/55123697
**Free Ride With GPS for E-Bike Lovers**
The Ride With GPS E-bike Lovers club membership is now free as [www.ebikelovers.com](http://www.ebikelovers.com/) generates sufficient income from ads to cover the costs.
Here is the link to activate your free membership:
[https://ridewithgps.com/auto_approve/Club/6746/Zwa5jhttF5mJrFbN](https://ridewithgps.com/auto_approve/Club/6746/Zwa5jhttF5mJrFbN)
**More information about using GPS files:**
[https://ebikelovers.com/2021/03/15/download-our-trails-and-never-get-lost/](https://ebikelovers.com/2021/03/15/download-our-trails-and-never-get-lost/)
**More information about e-bike ranges:**
[https://ebikelovers.com/2020/12/31/e-bike-longer-and-happier-15-smart-strategies-to-reduce-your-e-bike-range-anxiety/](https://ebikelovers.com/2020/12/31/e-bike-longer-and-happier-15-smart-strategies-to-reduce-your-e-bike-range-anxiety/)
As usual, non-assisted bikers are most welcome.
**Your registration for this ride signifies your agreement with the terms of the disclaimer below.**
**DISCLAIMER**
**LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMISSIBLE PURSUANT TO APPLICABLE LAW, NEITHER GREGORY MAASSEN, RICHARD CAMER, TRIP COORDINATORS, THEIR AFFILIATES, FAMILY AND FORMER AND CURRENT EMPLOYERS NOR ANY OTHER PARTY INVOLVED IN CREATING, PRODUCING, OR DELIVERING E-BIKE LOVERS GUIDES, OUR MEETUP EVENTS, AND THE GPS E-TRAILS IS LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF A USER’S ACCESS TO, OR USE OF THE E-BIKE LOVERS GUIDES, OUR MEETUP EVENTS, AND THE GPS E-TRAILS.**
**See for the full disclaimer: https://ebikelovers.com/disclaimer**
Take a Hike! @ Turkey Run
**NOTE: THIS IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR INEXPERIENCED HIKERS.**
**Details**
Get ready to hit the trails at Turkey Run - this is a 5.38 mile hike at Turkey Run. This hike is a bit challenging, with a couple of **stream crossings**, and a couple of **significant elevation gains** (a total of 456 feet of elevation gain). Ideal for **intermediate to advanced hikers**.
The trail includes shallow stream crossings, adding some fun technical elements along the way. We’ll take regular breaks to regroup, hydrate, and enjoy the scenery. **Hiking shoes are a must -** the trail is slippery, and the extra grip of hiking shoes is essential for safety. Also, don’t forget your **hiking poles**; they’ll be helpful at the stream crossings.
After the hike, join us for a social gathering at \*\**Chiang Mai Thai Cookhouse [(6828 Old Dominion Dr., McLean)](https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=4250880837db9923fe99316769050373b426a317e7bdf43931605d5b92eba921JmltdHM9MTc3NDkxNTIwMA&ptn=3&ver=2&hsh=4&fclid=108cd8d6-7e8f-6b13-174d-ce097fb86ad8&u=a1L21hcHM_Jm1lcGk9NTZ-fkVtYmVkZGVkfkFkZHJlc3NfTGluayZ0eT0xOCZxPUNoaWFuZyUyME1haSUyMFRoYWklMjBDb29raG91c2Umc3M9eXBpZC5ZTjg0NDI0Nzc2MDUyNTc5NzcmcHBvaXM9MzguOTM0NzY4Njc2NzU3ODFfLTc3LjE3OTQzNTcyOTk4MDQ3X0NoaWFuZyUyME1haSUyMFRoYWklMjBDb29raG91c2VfWU44NDQyNDc3NjA1MjU3OTc3fiZjcD0zOC45MzQ3Njl-LTc3LjE3OTQzNiZ2PTImc1Y9MSZGT1JNPU1QU1JQTA)* to unwind, grab a bite, and enjoy time with fellow hikers.
**Meeting Time & Location**
Meet at 9:30 AM at Turkey Run’s Parking Lot C-1.
**Distance:** 5.38 miles
**Elevation Gain:** 456 feet
**Difficulty Level:** Intermediate Hike (challenging stream crossings)
This hike features moderate inclines and **challenging stream crossings** over slippery rocks. Hiking poles are recommended for added balance and stability.
**Estimated Duration:** 3 hours
This hike is expected to take approximately **3 hours**, which accounts for breaks, stream crossings, and group pace.
**Pace:** Moderate Pace
A steady, comfortable pace that’s manageable for most hikers with a reasonable fitness level. Breaks are regular but not overly frequent, allowing for a balanced experience of exercise and enjoyment.
**Parking**
Park in Turkey Run’s **Lot C-1,** where there's plenty of room for all. Grab a spot, lace up, and get ready to hit the trail!
**Trail Map (AllTrails):** [Take a Hike! @ Turkey Run](https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/custom-route-367d794?u=i&sh=mdqqtd)
**Bathrooms**
There are no bathrooms available on this hike. Please plan accordingly.
**Age Requirement:** Children under 18 are not permitted. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
**Dog Attendance**
For everyone’s comfort and enjoyment, we kindly ask that you leave your dogs at home for this hike. Thank you for understanding!
**Lunch After the Hike**
Join us for a casual lunch at **Chiang Mai Thai Cookhouse (6828 Old Dominion Dr., McLean)**. Free parking is available in the garage off Beverly Rd.
Glorious Blooms & Bishop's Garden -National Cathedral via Cleveland Park
Flowers are blooming gloriously in the Cleveland Park neighborhood. We will pass plenty of flowers on the way to the National Cathedral. We will spend extra time at the Bishop's Garden at the Cathedral, which should be in superb form.
Our hike will combine glorious architecture, one of the most expensive neighborhoods in DC, the least-known best trail in the city, and a shortcut through the woods past the International School to Macomb Street.
The featured photo is from a hike last Spring. John kindly updated the map to parallel the route we take.
The hike has some uphill stretches going to the Cathedral but tame stuff mostly.
Cleveland Park will be having a farmer/catch-all market on Saturday if you want to grab something there before the hike.
There is an [old-style Italian deli](https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=vace%27s%20italian%20deli&tbs=lrf:!1m4!1u3!2m2!3m1!1e1!1m4!1u2!2m2!2m1!1e1!1m4!1u1!2m2!1m1!1e1!1m4!1u1!2m2!1m1!1e2!1m4!1u22!2m2!21m1!1e1!2m1!1e2!2m1!1e1!2m1!1e3!3sIAE,lf:1,lf_ui:9&tbm=lcl&rflfq=1&num=10&rldimm=10778690468746188451&lqi=ChN2YWNlJ3MgaXRhbGlhbiBkZWxpSIrbzePngICACFonEAAQARACGAAYARgCIhN2YWNlJ3MgaXRhbGlhbiBkZWxpKgQIAxACkgEEZGVsaZoBJENoZERTVWhOTUc5blMwVkpRMEZuU1VRMk9EVjFNbXBCUlJBQqoBHwoJL20vMDl5MmsyEAEqECIMaXRhbGlhbiBkZWxpKADgAQA&phdesc=clTALiFHOKU&ved=2ahUKEwiK9_Te7bv8AhUoM1kFHZdeCKYQvS56BAgLEAE&sa=X&rlst=f#rlfi=hd:;si:10778690468746188451,l,ChN2YWNlJ3MgaXRhbGlhbiBkZWxpSIrbzePngICACFonEAAQARACGAAYARgCIhN2YWNlJ3MgaXRhbGlhbiBkZWxpKgQIAxACkgEEZGVsaZoBJENoZERTVWhOTUc5blMwVkpRMEZuU1VRMk9EVjFNbXBCUlJBQqoBHwoJL20vMDl5MmsyEAEqECIMaXRhbGlhbiBkZWxpKADgAQA,y,clTALiFHOKU;mv:%5B%5B39.1842519,-77.05127639999999%5D,%5B38.9198496,-77.1609544%5D%5D;tbs:lrf:!1m4!1u3!2m2!3m1!1e1!1m4!1u2!2m2!2m1!1e1!1m4!1u1!2m2!1m1!1e1!1m4!1u1!2m2!1m1!1e2!1m4!1u22!2m2!21m1!1e1!2m1!1e2!2m1!1e1!2m1!1e3!3sIAE,lf:1,lf_ui:9) named Vace's a block from the hike start/finish point that has great pizzas by the slice.
❶ **What we'll do:**
* Let's meet at Cleveland Park Metro (on the formerly TARGET side of Connecticut Ave NW) and walk down Connecticut Ave NW, cross at the Kennedy-Warren, follow Devonshire and Courtland Pl NW to 29th St NW, and follow 29th St south to Cleveland Ave SW. We'll turn right onto Cleveland Ave NW and follow in northwest to Garfield Ave NW, turn left, and follow Garfield to the cathedral grounds.
* After walking through the cathedral grounds we will exit on the north side, go down Woodley to Klingle, and then head down the Klingle Valley Trail. There is a dirt turnoff that leads via twists and turns up past the Washington International School and over to Macomb St NW, coming out very close to Cleveland Park Library. From there we will follow Connecticut Ave NW back to our startng point.
* Total distance is roughly 4 miles and should take slightly over 2 hours. The surface is mostly paved. It's uphill 266 ft to the Cathedral, fairly level in the Cathedral area, and then a downhill jaunt to Rock Creek and uphill 46 feet back to the Metro, for a total of 312 feet elevation gain.
* Google map: https://tinyurl.com/3zpy9aeh
❷ **How to get there:**
* Metro: Cleveland Park Metro Station is on the Red Line.
* Driving: The street address is 3599 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC, and there is parallel parking available on surrounding streets:
○ From the north, along the I-495 Beltway, take the MD-185S / Connecticut Ave exit and drive south 5.1 miles on Connecticut Ave. The meetup location will be on your left.
○ From south of the Potomac, cross Arlington Memorial Bridge, turning right onto the ramp for Rock Creek Parkway/Kennedy Center. Merge onto Ohio St and turn left onto Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway NW, staying to your left onto Rock Creek Parkway/Shoreham Dr and continuing onto 24th St NW. Turn left onto Connecticut St NW and the meetup location at Cleveland Park Metro Station will be on your right, just past the zoo.
❸ **What to bring:** Water, comfy shoes, and your furry friend if desired. Dogs must be leashed at all times.
❹ **Weather:** The forecast is sunny and 82. Updates here: https://tinyurl.com/mrywcdte
❺ **Advisory:** As a reminder, this is an adult group, and you are ultimately responsible for your own safety and well-being during events. No one under 18 years of age is allowed at this event, either as members or as guests, to include babies in carriers and/or strollers.
❻ **Administrative stuff:** There are restrooms near Cleveland Park Metro and the Cleveland Park Public Library. The National Cathedral has accessible bathrooms as well.
❼ **Notes:**
* Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016
* Vace Italian Delicatessen, 3315 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008, (202) 363-1999, https://vaceitaliandeli.com/
SOLD OUT-Profs & Pints Northern Virginia: How AI Alters Thinking
**This talk has completely sold out in advance and no additional tickets will be sold at the door. A repeat of the talk at Penn Social in DC on Monday, May 18 still has tickets available.**
[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“How AI Alters Thinking,”** on dealing with artificial intelligence’s capacity to change and undermine our thought processes, with Eli Alshanetsky, assistant professor of philosophy at Temple University, principal investigator at its Cognitive Integrity Lab, and author of an upcoming book on AI and freedom of thought.
[Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-how-ai-alters](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-how-ai-alters) .]
Doctors who give bad advice can be sued for malpractice. Teachers belong to a profession with set standards. When artificial intelligence guides you, however, that guidance comes with a disclaimer: Use at your own risk.
Every day millions of people take that risk, and usually AI seems genuinely helpful. But even if AI gives us good answers, might its use over time do bad things to how we think?
Explore the relationship between AI and our own minds with Eli Alshanetsky, whose Cognitive Integrity Lab studies how artificial intelligence changes how we think, learn, and build trust. Author of *Articulating a Thought* and the upcoming book F*reedom of Thought in the Age of AI*, he’s on the cutting edge of efforts to answer AI-related questions such as: How can we tell when work is truly our own? How can technology support rather than replace authorship and reflection? What does trust mean when AI mediates our relationships with others and with our own thoughts?
To set up his discussion of potential consequences of AI, he’ll describe how social media’s impact on society serves as a preview.
Social media didn’t just give people what they wanted to click on, it actually changed what they regarded as click-worthy. It broke attention spans and fueled radicalization across millions of very different people. It left us with people who doom-scroll for hours, who can’t focus, who don’t know what to trust anymore.
If you’d shown people this version of themselves ten years ago, would they have chosen it?
Artificial intelligence is making a similar deal with us, but the stakes are higher. It isn’t chasing clicks. It’s optimized for giving you the most satisfying response to whatever is on your mind right now.
The risk over time isn’t just that you’ll get lazy. More profoundly, even when you think hard, your sense of what counts as good thinking—as well as what sounds like you—will shift to match what AI has been feeding you.
We’ll consider what kind of person this produces and whether this is someone we want to be or want children to become. Professor Alshanetsky will lay out a practical framework, which he calls “the interaction layer,” for using AI without letting it replace the thinking it’s supposed to support. He’ll also talk about what AI-related concerns should be the focus of parents and educators. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. Talk starts 30 minutes later.)
Image: Illustration by David S. Soriano / Creative Commons.
Ghost Tours Events Near You
Connect with your local Ghost Tours community
How to Take Control of YOUR Mental Health
It’s time to take control of your mental health. How do you get rid of stress, anxiety and uncertainty? These emotions are buried deep in your reactive mind.
Find out what the reactive mind is, and in the process find yourself.
Here is the secret of being positive and free:
Thinking positively is not enough.
You also have to get rid of the negative thinking.
Your mind is like a garden.
You can plant many beautiful flowers in it, but if you don't get rid of the weeds when you plant your flowers, the weeds will soon take over the whole garden.
A positive thought is like a flower in your mental garden, and a negative thought is like a weed.
You cannot expect to have a positive mindset if you continue to have negative thoughts dwelling and growing there.
So, how do you get rid of the negative thoughts? That's what this Meetup is all about. Attend this local meeting and find out!
The Meetup event will be led by a consultant who had helped many people live happier in life.
Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to this local event. We look forward to seeing you there.
This group is created by the Dianetics & Scientology life improvement center.
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.
Free in-person event: Take Control of Your Mental Health
It’s time to take control of your mental health. How do you get rid of stress, anxiety and uncertainty? These emotions are buried deep in your reactive mind. Find out what the reactive mind is, and in the process find yourself.
Have you ever suffered from a traumatic experience, a deep loss or been through a painful breakup? Has your ability to communicate suffered as a result? And after that, even though you "moved on" did you find that things were never quite the same? Have you ever looked at childhood photos, or reminisced your early life and wondered where that happiness and spark went?
Are your emotions out of your own control? Have you ever felt, even if you aren’t aware of it, that possibly you are getting in your own way of your happiness and success? How does this affect your self-confidence?
Find out what is at the root of all stress, anxiety, depression and self-doubt. Find out how and why you hold yourself back from achieving your goals and having the life you have dreamed of. As soon as you learn what is at the root of these unwanted conditions, you’ll see it is something you can DO something about. You will not be labeled or categorized at this MeetUp.
Free Seminar: How to Improve Your Self Confidence & Social Life
Come attend a free in-person seminar where you will find out why you:
-Feel isolated
-Can't express yourself openly
-Get nervous or anxious in front of people
-Run out of things to say or feel tongue-tied
-Feel introverted
-Don't feel comfortable in any social setting
-Can't make more friends
-Are shy and miss opportunities to connect in a meaningful way
And we cover what you can do about any one, some or all of the above.
This seminar is the weapon against loneliness, isolation and boredom, come join us!
COME TO THIS SEMINAR AND LEARN THE SECRETS TODAY
This seminar is brought to you by the Dianetics & Scientology Life Improvement Center.
1266 Dublin Road, Columbus, Ohio 43215


























