the end!

As this blog comes to an end, I can't help but have some regrets. I wish I could have visited more places, taken more pictures, explored more the places that I went - basically, I wish I would have done more. But feeling bad about it won't do any good, so let's just make the best of it. Because I didn't get to all the places that I wanted to go (not to mention the scores of places that I'm not even aware of), here's a list of some of those places, in case you're interested.

Wayne National Forest: I did go camping here, but the forest has so many other recreation opportunities to offer. There's hiking, ATV trails, biking trails, horseback riding, fishing, even hunting (if you're into that, which I totally am not). Tinker's Cave, a large rockshelter near New Straitsville, has a delicious legend surrounding it. Read more about the great things that the forest has to offer.

Stroud's Run: the go-to outdoor spot for many OU students. The beautiful Dow Lake surrounded by tree-covered hills provides the perfect backdrop for picnics, swimming, camping, boating, or just laying out in the sunshine. The best part: it's just a few minutes from campus.

Southeastern Ohio boasts a number of great outdoor recreation spots that aren't in Athens County - Lake Hope, the Moonville Tunnel area, Hocking Hills State Park (including Old Man's Cave), Clear Creek Metro Park, Forked Run State Park, and so on - so don't think that what I have covered is all there is to see. Get out there and explore what this part of the state has to offer!

Hidden gem

One place I wanted to visit before leaving Athens was Sells Park, and now that I have I really wish I would have gone there sooner. It's a really beautiful, peaceful spot just a few blocks from the ever-expanding East State Street area. I'll let the sign provide most of the background details:

This little pond is just a short walk up the parking lot at the end of Avon Place, off East State across from the Athens Community Center.

The paths have a definite vertical component to them, and you can also mountain bike on them.

The park extends along the hills on the north side of East State. Like the sign says, you can take this path all the way to Stroud's Run.

The park's location - tucked behind a residential section of Athens right off the main road - make it convenient for students or anyone else looking to get into nature without traveling too far. The few moments that I got to spend there were not enough; I wish I could have made a few more trips there - if I had only known...