The Dawes Arboretum is all about trees, and is home to over 1,800 acres of trees, bushes, gardens, and more. Drive the nearly 4.5-mile auto tour, then stop at a pull-off area when something strikes your fancy.
Tag Archives: free parking
Walnut Woods
Walnut Woods Metro Park has paved trails throughout, which makes it very accessible. Little to no trees overhang the trails, so the shade is minimal. It’s bike and pet friendly. There’s a mountain bike trail as well, but since I didn’t have a bike and my dogs were with me, I didn’t check it out. The park also offers a playground, pavilion, sledding hill, and bathrooms in the buckeye area.
Scioto Audubon
Blacklick Woods
If you’re looking to walk through a forest to take pictures of flora and fauna, you could certainly do worse than Blacklick Woods Metro Park. The park boasts a variety of habitats, including forests, swamps, ponds, and meadows. Covering over 600 acres, there’s plenty of room for critters to roam. Depending on the time of year, you might come across owls and other birds of prey, coyotes, deer, frogs, turtles, and more. This is definitely a good place to bring a long zoom lens. Continue reading Blacklick Woods
Blendon Woods Metro Park
What seems to be the biggest focus at Blendon Woods? Birds. They have a variety of protected habitats for our flying friends, as well as excellent spots from which to observe and photograph them. Continue reading Blendon Woods Metro Park
Metro Parks
Where to begin? The metro parks are a wonderful collection of 17 parks in and around the Columbus area, spanning seven counties. Each park is full of photographic opportunities, and is endlessly fun to wander, regardless of the season. Their facilities and programs are free, thanks to a 2009 levy.
Each park is unique in its own way, offering walking/riding/pet trails, nature centers, wildlife refuges, educational programs, and an array of options to get closer to nature—and photograph it, of course! Continue reading Metro Parks
Columbus Camera Group
Go
55 E. Blake Ave.
Columbus, OH 43202
Attached parking lot, free street parking
Hours
Mon-Fri: 9 am – 6 pm
Sat: 10 am – 3 pm
Sun: Closed
Continue reading Columbus Camera Group
Franklin Park Conservatory
Go
1777 E Broad Street
Columbus, Oh 43203
Hours
Daily: 10 am – 5 pm
Hours may vary for events and exhibits.