Active Living

Five Rivers MetroParks has launched a program, Let’s Explore, that provides a fun, guided nature experience for younger children.

Let’s Explore is also designed to make it easier for families to spend time with kids outdoors. All Let’s Explore adventures start at a nature play area, a playground comprised of natural materials. Kids use their imaginations during unstructured outdoor play, building forts, digging in the dirt, balancing on logs and more. Next, hike a nearby trail suitable for kids and participate in Let’s Explore activities, such as:

• Hike & Seek: How many types of trees, plants, rocks and insects can you find?
• Wildlife Warmup: Can you jump like a frog, balance on one leg and buzz like a bee?
• Wildflower Hunt: How many different colored flowers can you find?

Let’s Explore activities can be found at four MetroParks.

• Englewood MetroPark East Park, 4361 W. National Rd.
  • Start at the nature play area at Patty Shelter.
  • Hike the 1.5-mile red trail through a forested area. View a wildlife marsh area from the trail’s edge.
• Hills & Dales MetroPark, 2606 Hilton Dr.
  • Start at the newly opened nature play area located at this entrance.
  • Hike the easy orange Adirondack Trail, which is 1.4 miles round trip with an option to turn around at Dogwood Pond for a shorter hike. Beyond the pond, look for woodpeckers and other birds, along with wildflowers in the spring and Zebra Swallowtail butterflies in summer.
• Sugarcreek MetroPark, 4178 Conference Rd.
  • Start at the nature play area
  • Hike the flat 0.7-mile yellow trail through a tall grass prairie, which is a great place to see wildflowers throughout summer and early fall. The trail also passes a vernal pool where visitors might spot some frogs and salamanders.
• Possum Creek MetroPark, 4790 Frytown Rd. 
  • Start near the nature play area next to the education center.
  • Hike the easy 0.3-mile green trail, shaded by native trees, around the Possum Creek Farm. Various birds and wildlife might be spotted along the trail, and evening hikers may hear owls.

“Spending time outside is good for all of us — but is especially important for children,” said Beth Burke, MetroParks interpretive coordinator. “Spending time outdoors helps children develop problem-solving skills, foster cooperation and inspire curiosity. It improves children’s physical and mental health. And time outdoors creates a connection with nature and develops a long-term appreciation for the natural world.”

Visit metroparks.org/letsexplore for more activities, suggested hikes and tips for hiking with kids. Visit metroparks.org/mobile to download MetroParks’ free mobile app, which includes maps, nearby amenities, points of interest and much more.

Whether you are an art lover, outdoor lover, sports enthusiast, or foodie – Hamilton has it all.

Art lovers will be wowed by all the great art that Hamilton has to offer. The city is filled with beautiful murals and colorful sculptures. From the thirty acres of sculptures at Pyramid Hill to the 55 public art pieces around town, the arts are on display every day of the year. In fact, Ohio’s governor formally recognized Hamilton as “The City of Sculpture.” Hope on your bike and take the City of Sculpture Cycling Tour!

Be sure to visit the Fitton Center for Creative Arts. It isn’t just a building – it’s an experience. Their motto is, “Come Curious and Leave Inspired.” A non-profit community arts organization that has been a part of the Hamilton community for over 20 years, the Fitton Center offers art classes and workshops open to students of all ages. Stroll through their remarkable art galleries, take in a live performance, catch an old film at their art house style cinema, or reserve one of their diverse venues for your special event.

And for music lovers, during twelve weeks in the summer the RiversEdge Amphitheatre hosts touring bands from around the U.S. for free! Tucked between the Great Miami River and Marcum Park, RiversEdge hosts the award-winning annual free summer concert series, David Shaw’s Big River Get Down, the Hamilton Parks Conservancy event series, and more.

Outdoor lovers looking to work up a sweat or wind down from your day, will find that downtown Hamilton is a great place to get outside and play. You can go running or cycling on the bike trail, go for a row on the Great Miami River, or visit picnic areas and splash pads in 50 parks spread across 1,300 beautiful acres in the city. The Great Miami Rowing Center is devoted to supporting recreational use of the Great Miami River for people of all ages and abilities who want to safely use the river for competition, fitness, and recreation.

Located between North Second Street and the Great Miami River you’ll find Marcum Park, recently named one of the five Great Public Spaces in the United States by the American Planning Association. Kids love splashing around in the sprayground and watching the butterflies in the flower gardens. This is a great place to bring a picnic and spread out in the grass.

Foodies will love Hamilton’s downtown district. There are cool shops, art, eclectic places to grab a bite, and lots of places to enjoy the great nightlife! Tano Bistro is known for their contemporary menu and outdoor seating overlooking Marcum Park, Fretboard Brewing serves up delicious food and their own craft beer, Billy Yanks is a new restaurant and bourbon bar that already has an excellent reputation, and Basil 1791 is an Asian-American “gastro-pub-esque” restaurant. Just to name a few!

And for Halloween lovers – the annual Operation Pumpkin festival in Hamilton has everything pumpkin-related you can imagine! A Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off, pumpkin-flavored treats, a Pumpkin Wall, live music, vendors, a pet parade, and more!

And coming soon – Spooky Nook Sports Complex – stay tuned for opening announcements!

Find your way – to Hamilton!