By: Ashley Allen
Did you know that National Get Outdoors Day in 2022 is June 11th? Spending only 120 minutes outside a week is said to have many health benefits and can create many memories to last a lifetime!
This program was originally launched by Michelle Obama to help encourage children to become active during the summer months when they are no longer in school, but there are a lot of benefits for EVERYONE spending time outdoors. For instance, being in nature can improve not only social interaction, but also immunity towards cancer and other viruses.
There is a lot to do in Coshocton county overall, but the beautiful town offers many activities when it comes to outdoors adventures! Below is a list of different opportunities to spend time outdoors so you can do different ones each day, or pick out a couple of activities to celebrate properly on June 11th!
1. Clary Gardens is located at 588 W. Chestnut Street Coshocton, Ohio 43812 and is a botanical garden that has over 20 acres of land to explore. On the property you can also find the Quilt Barn which shows family histories throughout Coshocton County. Admission is free and if you enjoy Harry Potter there is a fun, interactive element to the gardens that will be interesting for anyone of all ages to check out! Also, while you’re enjoying your walk around the gardens, be sure to check out some of the walking trails Roscoe Village has as well!
2. Some fun for the whole family (especially for the dads) is golf! Did you know the odds of getting a hole-in-one in golf is 12,500:1? Why not test the odds and get some practice in at Coshocton’s two golf courses! Both Hickory Flats Golf Course and River Greens Golf Course are par 72 courses and have been named “One of Best Places to Play” (Hickory Flats) and “… one of North America’s top 201 best public-access courses” (River Greens). Hickory Flats is located at 53188 Township Rd 155, West Lafayette, OH 43845 and is open 7AM-8-PM daily, while River Greens is located at 22749 OH-751, West Lafayette, OH 43845 and is open 7AM-7:30PM daily.
3. What came before cars and trains? Canal Boats! If you’ve ever wanted to experience what it was like to travel by canal, look no further. The Canal Boat Landing Monticello III runs Friday-Sunday (weather permitting) at 1, 2, 3, and 4 PM and offers a truly unique experience. The ride itself lasts roughly 45 minutes as you learn about the history and stories of canal life. Also, you can meet the horses after they’re done working!
4. You know what they say, The early bird gets the worm! And nothing is more rewarding than supporting local producers at Coshocton’s Farmers Market! The Market is open 8:30AM-12:00PM every Saturday from now until October 22nd. The Farmer’s market has many things to offer, like eggs, jam, honey, flowers, plants, hand-made crafts, and so much more! It’s located between 3rd & 4th Street on the Coshocton Court Square. If you’re looking for something else to do outdoors when you’re finished with the Farmers Market, you could always visit the Gardens of Roscoe Village and take part in Coshocton’s “Designated Outdoor Recreational Area” where, with a special cup, you can carry alcoholic beverages while you explore certain areas of Coshocton! There’s a large amount of gardens all throughout the town and all provide variety and you can find more information on them here: https://roscoevillage.com/attractions-activities/the-gardens-of-roscoe/
5. The mothers and wives in your life will appreciate the Three Rivers Wine Trail! Drinking wine and spending time outdoors have some similar benefits such as: reducing depression, improving eyesight, and even helping with heart health! Why not do both? The trail offers you a scenic route to enjoy as you visit eight different wineries and a brewery that all have unique offerings that everyone will enjoy! Also, if you complete the Wine Trail and fill out the passport, you can get a t-shirt! Keep an eye out for the Wine Trail Weekend flier to see if there’s anything particular that stands out to you, whether it’s live music, food trucks, or other special offers!
6. Have you ever visited a lighthouse before? Have you ever visited the largest inland lighthouse in the country? If the answer to either of those were no, maybe consider coming out to visit the Gospel Hill Lighthouse at 27610 Township Rd 45, Warsaw, OH 43844! It is 74 feet tall and offers perfect scenic views to take pictures of. The kids will love it, and the adults will too! They are open for tours Monday – Friday from 9am – 3pm. Evening and weekends by appointment only!
7. Decrease any stress you have by doing a bike trail today! Whether it is a Motorbike or a Bicycle is completely up to you, but Coshocton offers two trails to fulfill both needs. The Three Rivers Bikeway is 1.2 miles of asphalt that will lead you from Lake Park and connect to downtown Coshocton. The Three Rivers Ride Motorcycle Trail is 105 miles of flood-free, gravel-free roads that explores a lot of beautiful Coshocton, it also runs by many restaurants that you’re able to stop at and amazing attractions as well. Get on your two wheels today and do a bike trail (or two)!
8. The River View Community Pool and the Lake Park Aquatic Center are great opportunities for one to get some time in the water on a hot day. The River View Community Pool is open Monday- Saturday 11AM- 7PM and on Sundays 1PM-7PM. The Lake Park Aquatic Center is open Monday- Saturday 11 AM- 6 PM and on Sundays 12 PM- 7 PM. The Aquatic Center at Coshocton Lake Park and the River View Community Pool offers plenty of fun activities and time outdoors for people of all ages!
9. When’s the last time you’ve had a nice picnic? The Triple Locks React Park could be a great place to have one! It has beautiful walking trails, a serene lake, and plenty of tables and fields for lunch with friends or family! This park used to be where the canal boats would be raised or lowered so they could easily navigate up hills and down hills with their cargo. So enjoy lunch, scenery, and a little piece of history outdoors at the Triple Locks React Park today!
10. The Woodbury Wildlife Area has hunting, fishing, hiking, a shooting range, an archery range, and is a designated “Watchable Wildlife.” If you’re truly trying to explore the outdoors, Woodbury might just be your place! Exploring is free, but you must have licenses for hunting and fishing, and permits for the shooting range! And while you are in the exploring mood, maybe check out the Coshocton County Ring Trail that is full of geocaches and inspired by Lord of the Rings! This trail will take you all over Coshocton County as you solve clues and find caches in a scavenger hunt style adventure. If you fill out the passport, you could even receive a special coin!
Hopefully this list has convinced you first to spend more time outside, and second to spend more time outside in Coshocton! So with June 11 fast approaching, how are you getting outside in Coshocton?
