Spring has arrived! I hope that you all had a chance to get outside this weekend and enjoy some of this beautiful weather! There are so many beautiful places in this state to go explore on a lovely weekend in spring, but this weekend in particular I found myself at Sharon Woods. I originally had intended on going on a hike, but I had to work Saturday morning. So instead I found the closest park and set out as soon as I was off! 

Sharon Woods did not disappoint! I had never been there before and as soon as I walked up, I found the place full of people enjoying the gorgeous day. Even though there were a lot of people there, it was still a very calming place. The lake is bigger than I expected, and you can enjoy such a variety of activities out on the lake. They have paddle-boats for rent; you can bring your own canoe or kayak; and they allow fishing in most areas around the lake. There is a 2.6 mile paved trail that loops around the lake and is perfect for just a nice walk or even a quick bike ride.

However, my favorite part of the park is a short, but awesome, .7 mile trail through the woods called the Gorge Nature Trail. It was nice to escape down an unpaved trail and feel a little further away from civilization, even though it's just off the main path. It's a relatively quick and easy walk, but I took my time and ventured down into the creek for some photos. 

Overall, I enjoyed spending a couple hours here just to unwind and spend some time outdoors. Sharon Woods was an awesome retreat without having to drive too far outside of Cincinnati. And it definitely has a lot to offer. The park also has a pretty cool history, so if you are interested at all in checking it out there is a ton of information here: http://greatparks.org/parks/sharon-woods.html Hope you all are enjoying this spring weather and making the most of it by getting outdoors!