COLUMBUS, OH -- Visiting an Ohio State Park is one way for families with teens to spend time and learn together. Teenagers tend to like the bustle of busy parks that provide a variety of recreational activities and opportunities to socialize.
According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Hueston Woods State Park in Preble County fills the bill, along with Shawnee State Park in Scioto County, Grand Lake St. Marys State Park in Auglaize and Mercer counties, Paint Creek State Park in Ross and Highland counties and East Fork State Park in Clermont County.
Hueston Woods State Park is home to a famous raptor rehabilitation center and a nature center with a menagerie of orphaned animals. The nearby pioneer farm offers a glimpse of early Ohio history. Special summertime events run the gamut from an arts and crafts exhibit to a mule and donkey show. Twelve miles of bridle trails and a horseback riding concession in the park provide another opportunity for outdoor adventure. There are mountain bike trails and orienteering trails for budding explorers.
Boats with limited horsepower can be rented for use on Acton Lake. A resort lodge with full-service dining room, gift shop, indoor and outdoor pools, guest rooms, cottages and an 18-hole golf course round out the amenities. Camper cabins are available for rent in the campground which features Class A amenities such as heated shower houses, laundry facilities and electrical hookups.
Perched in forested hills atop the Ohio River, Shawnee State Park resort offers stunning scenery plus a variety of activities for kids and families. A miniature golf course is located at the camp store, which also offers bikes for rent, as well as boat rentals on the park's quiet lakes. The Class A campground offers tent and tepee rental.
The adjacent state forest boasts a 60-mile backpacking trail and 75 miles of bridle trails through one of the state's last vestiges of wilderness. Resort features include an 18-hole public golf course, family cottages and a full-service lodge with guest rooms, dining room, gift shop, indoor and outdoor pools.
Grand Lake St. Marys is Ohio's largest inland lake and one of its premier playgrounds. Fifty-two miles of shoreline provide countless opportunities for fishing, swimming, boating and nature watching on the 13,500-acre unlimited horsepower lake. All types of boats are available for rent.
The area is rich in history, having once been a feeder for the Miami-Erie Canal and the center of an 1800s oil boom.
The Class A campground features a bustling camp commissary offering bike rentals and a miniature golf course. A designated "campers only" swimming beach, boat launch and boat docks are especially convenient. Rental options include tepees, rent-a-camps and cedar cabins.
Paint Creek State Park features a 1,000-foot sand beach and convenient bathhouse. Hikers will find a wide array of wildflowers on four trails of varying lengths. There are also 25 miles of bridle trails and 14 miles of mountain bike trails in the park. A Pioneer Farm includes a log house, collection of log buildings, livestock, gardens and fields that recreate a typical farm of the early 1800s. All park guests can enjoy the miniature golf course for a small fee. Boat and bike rentals provide additional ways to enjoy the scenic Paint Creek valley. The park's nature center is located near the Class A campground. Tents and deluxe camper cabins are available for rent.
Hikers and backpackers are drawn to East Fork State Park for its system of trails and extensive camping facilities. The 14-mile Backpack Trail traverses many scenic areas. In addition, a 32-mile Perimeter Trail allows horsemen and hikers to circle the park and enjoy its variety of terrain. Shorter trails are available for the less venturesome.
The 416-site Class A campground is one of the largest in the state. It offers tent rental and fully equipped cedar cabins. Amenities include miniature golf and bike rental, along with campers' beach and boat launch. Boats with unlimited horsepower are welcome on Harsha Lake, which features watercraft rentals and a 1,200-foot swimming beach.
For additional information, including camping fees, the Camping Options rental program and campground availability, call 1-800-BUCKEYE or visit the ODNR web site at Ohiodnr.com .