By Stephanie Wilks
April 10, 2012

Monarch Butterfly, photo by Tim Jeffries

Considering we had one of the milder winters I can recall, I wasn’t itching for spring to come in the same way this year as years past, but let’s be honest who doesn’t enjoy the longer days, the return of that freshly mowed lawn smell, and getting a little sun on your skin. One thing I could live without, however, are the allergies, which seem worse than ever. But like it or not folks, spring has sprung and it’s time to enjoy the outdoors!

As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Earth laughs in flowers.”

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

One of the benefits of living in our great city is the ability to enjoy over 5,000 acres of nature’s most precious gifts in the numerous parks and green spaces Cincinnati has to offer. Chances are you have taken a stroll, tossed a football, or maybe even set up a picnic amongst the flowers in one of our dozens of green spaces. Sure lots of people talk about the Cherry Blossoms in Washington DC, but we had dozens of beautiful cherry trees blossom in Sawyer Point a couple of weeks ago.

Beyond soaking up the sunshine and the sites, many of the parks make for a great fitness destination as well. Miami Whitewater Forest offers an 8-mile biking trail, hiking trails, Frisbee golf, a soccer complex, canoeing, kayaking, boating, a golf course, and camp grounds! The trails at Winton and Sharon Woods are also quite popular for sports lovers, and Winton Woods even features a horseback riding facility.

Not interested in getting sweaty? Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum, located just outside of Hamilton, has dozens of modern sculptures placed on it’s 265 acres of land which can be viewed by car, on foot, or from “art carts” available for rent. It also has a 10,000 square foot museum displaying ancient Egyptian, Roman, and Grecian antiquities and artifacts.

Abracadabra at Pyramid Hill

Eden Park Overlook, Cincy Parks Board

Of course let’s not forget Mt. Echo Park and Devou Park in Covington, which offer some of the best views of Cincinnati. They are the perfect place for an after dinner smooch with your significant other or to simply take in the majestic sight of the Cincinnati skyline.

Balluminaria Festival, photo by Gary Kessler

A look at some great upcoming events include the butterfly show at Krohn Conservatory (April 21 – June 24); unveiling of Riverfront Park at The Banks on May 18; and starting in June the Ault Park Summer Dance Series. Finally, in the fall, we can watch dozens of hot air balloons take flight at Eden Park’s Balluminaria Festival.

All in all, there are many wonderful reasons and excuses to visit our cities natural spaces this Spring and Summer. So I guess that means I’ll be seeing you on the green side!

*For more information on Hamilton County’s parks, visit www.greatparks.org, or for Cincinnati’s Parks, visit www.cincinnatiparks.com. 

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