The Wild Side of Ohio: Finding Birds, Marshes & Lake Life Beyond the Roller Coasters

We went to Ohio for the roller coasters, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, a baseball game, a few breweries, a winery, and a golf cart. But because I am who I am, I also managed to sneak some nature into the itinerary. And I’m so glad I did.

Somewhere between the adrenaline of Cedar Point and the music history of Cleveland, I discovered a side of Ohio that was much quieter—and every bit as memorable.

Exploring the northern tip of South Bass Island, Ohio

There were marshes filled with lily pads. Great blue herons standing perfectly still at the water’s edge. Bald eagles overhead. The enormous blue expanse of Lake Erie. Forests, wetlands and trails.

And there were those little moments when everyone else was focused on getting somewhere, and I found myself stopping to look.

That, for me, is where the magic is.

Sheldon Marsh: A Quiet Corner of Lake Erie

Our first real dose of Ohio nature came at Sheldon Marsh State Nature Preserve in the town of Huron, just outside Sandusky.

Endless lily pads at Sheldon Marsh in Huron, Ohio.

Great Blue Heron at Sheldon Marsh.

View of Lake Erie from Sheldon Marsh.

We only had a short amount of time, but that turned out to be enough.

The landscape felt completely different from the Ohio we had been experiencing.

Instead of roller coasters and crowds, there was water, marsh, birds and sky.

This is one of the things I love about nature: you don't always need hours. Sometimes you just need 30 minutes and the willingness to pay attention.

A bird moving through the reeds. The way the light hits the water. A great blue heron lifting off unexpectedly. Lily pads stretching across a quiet section of water.

You don't have to identify every species. You don't have to be an expert birder. You don't even need binoculars. You just have to notice.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park: Rocks & Waterfalls

Our next nature stop was Cuyahoga Valley National Park, where we squeezed in two very different experiences: the Ledges Trail and Brandywine Falls.

The temperature along the Ledges Trail was dramatically cooler from the walls of sandstone. We also passed a few bat caves.

First up was the Ledges Trail, and this was probably the biggest surprise for me. The trail winds through enormous sandstone rock formations, with moss-covered walls, narrow passageways and pockets of forest that feel almost tucked away from the rest of the world. It's not the kind of landscape I typically associate with Ohio—and that's exactly what made it so interesting.

There was something about walking between those massive rock formations that made me slow down and look around. The textures. The trees growing from the rocks. The little details you might miss if you're simply trying to get from the beginning of the trail to the end.

Then we headed to Brandywine Falls, one of the park's most iconic sights. The waterfall tumbles through the gorge surrounded by lush green forest, and the boardwalk makes it easy to get several different views of the falls.

Brandywine Falls

At Cuyahoga, I was looking up at rock formations, down into the gorge and around at the forest. And that's one of my favorite things about exploring new places: you never really know what you're going to find.

Even when you're traveling with a family whose primary goal may be roller coasters, you can usually find a trail, a waterfall, a marsh or a patch of woods along the way.

You just have to look for it.

South Bass Island: Lake Life & Golf Carts

Then we headed out onto Lake Erie.

South Bass Island—home to Put-in-Bay—was probably the most unexpected nature stop of the trip. We rented a golf cart and spent the afternoon cruising around the island. Which, for a family with teenagers, is a pretty great way to explore.

There was lake life everywhere. Water stretching to the horizon. Boats coming and going.

Trees and gardens. Vineyards. Geode caves. Quiet corners tucked behind the busier parts of the island.

Walking down Crystal Cave at Heineman's Winery.

We saw the world's largest geode in the cave.

Exploring the shoreline at Put-In Bay

There's something about being surrounded by water that changes the pace of a trip. Even when you're cruising around on a golf cart, you notice things differently. You look out toward the lake. You watch birds along the shoreline. You notice the way the wind moves through the trees. You stop for a photo. And suddenly you're not just checking another attraction off the list. You're experiencing a place.

You Don't Have to Plan a "Nature Trip" to Find Nature

I expected Ohio to give me roller coasters. I expected Cleveland to give me music history. I expected Lake Erie to give me beautiful views.

Sunset over Lake Erie in Port Clinton, Ohio.

I didn't necessarily expect so many reminders of how much wildlife exists when you slow down enough to see it. Great blue herons. Bald eagles. Endless lily pads. Wetlands. Waterways. Forest. Lake. All of it was there. And that's really the lesson I keep coming back to.

Nature doesn't always announce itself. The wild is often happening right alongside whatever else we're doing. We just have to notice.

This trip reminded me why I started taking wildlife photographs in the first place. I simply started paying attention to what was happening around me.

That eventually became There’s This River, my collection of wildlife photography and a story about how an ordinary person can fall in love with birds and nature simply by slowing down and looking a little closer.

That's why I loved this Ohio trip so much.

I didn't have to choose between the things my family wanted to do and the things I love.

I could ride roller coasters and look for birds. Visit the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and walk through a marsh. Cruise around South Bass Island on a golf cart and stop to watch the lake.

Nature doesn't have to be the entire trip. Sometimes it just needs to be part of it.

The wild is closer than you think. You just have to start noticing.

Learn more about There’s This River and River & Wild Co.