Garrettsville, OH is a small, characterful town in Portage County which emerged two centuries ago from a hamlet around a single grain mill owned by a man named Garrett. The town still retains a lot of the charm of its modest beginnings. Despite its size, you can find a great variety of fun outdoor activities in the area. Read on to learn the best of them.
Noah's Lost Ark Exotic Animal Rescue Center
Have a memorable experience getting close to rescued tigers, lions, wolves, and leopards at this nearby federally licensed sanctuary. When you visit, you can leave a contribution toward the welfare of these magnificent creatures, or simply buy a souvenir for the kids in their gift store, the proceeds of which serve as a donation.
Eagle Creek Nature Preserve
This very beautiful 477-acre nature preserve is named after the lengthy, glittering creek that runs through it. Here, you can walk along wooden boardwalk paths through an atmospheric marshland landscape, passing beaver dams and a fascinating variety of trees, between which you'll see stunning carpets of magnolia and other wildflowers.
Waterworks Family Aquatic Center
In the nearby city of Cuyahoga Falls, you'll find this gem of a water park, ideal for children of all ages. Here, you can go on a range of fun slides, float in quieter areas of the pools on inflatable tubes, or even bathe on the sandy beach of the river.
Cleveland Skydiving Center
Fancy something a little more adventurous? Garrettsville is lucky to have Ohio's top skydiving destination on its doorstep. You can learn to skydive from scratch, jump tandem with an instructor, or enjoy heart-thumping solo leaps. This center has it all. With over 120,000 successful skydives under their belt, you can be sure you're in safe hands.
Camping at Nelson Ledges Quarry Park
This beautiful nearby park offers stretches of scenic woodlands, grassy meadows, and an amazing quarry lake. It's a much-loved recreation location for the locals. There are also 400 campsites to choose from. Spend a day fishing, swimming, hiking, or just relaxing with a book beside the water, before a night kipping under the stars.
Sugar Bush Golf Course
This well-maintained, challenging 18-hole course was once described as 'Nature's Best' by the Warren Tribune Chronicle. The scenic rolling hills of the course offer an interesting topography, suitable for beginners and experienced golfers alike. If the weather's nice, pop along for an afternoon of top-notch golfing.
Lake Metro Farmpark
This pretty 235-acre working farm is also an education center and has been helping visitors to learn about food production and arable life for the past 30 years. You and your kids can enjoy a rich day of educational fun, exploring the science center and machinery exhibits, and meeting the various horses, cows, pigs, sheep, goats, and alpacas that roam the fields.
Whichever of the above outdoor trips you choose to take,
also pay a visit to Charles Auto Family, a local dealership that's been providing exceptional service to the region's drivers since 1957.