Just 30 miles south of Cleveland is the quaint town of Medina. We enjoyed spending the day in this cute little town, shopping the local shops on the square, enjoying great food and hiking in the local parks.
The square is filled with small local shops. These are my favorite places to shop because they are filled with locally made items and you never know what you are going to find. We love to buy jellies, spices or condiments to take home and incorporate in our homecooked meals to remind us of our trips. Finding local artwork to decorate our home from the places we visit is another favorite of ours. We love the character of handmade treasures, and it allows us to be surrounded by memories of all the fun things we've done!
We worked up an appetite shopping, so we enjoyed lunch at the The Farmer's Table. Our favorite places to eat are at farm fresh restaurants and this one did not disappoint. The food was delicious, and the staff was very friendly. Our only regret was that we didn't bring a cooler to take home some of the fresh meat available in the shop next to the restaurant.
Across the street from the restaurant, we found a cute park to explore and came upon a "Solar System Walk" called the Helios Project. The trail starts off with the sun and takes you on a walk through the universe. It starts with the solar system, then leads you through the Milky Way galaxy and ends up in ends of the Universe itself.
The mission of the Helios Project is to educate visitors on the vast size and diversity of our universe in an outdoor environment, while imparting a new appreciation for the life on our planet Earth.
As you walk the trail, they have signs that give all kinds of facts about the area you are visiting. It was so memorable to actually walk the distance between the planets. I'm a visual learner and this would have helped me so much to learn about the solar system while I was in school.
If you have kids learning about the solar system, I highly recommend taking a ride to this park! They will learn all about the solar system while getting fresh air and exercise! My favorite way to learn!
Champion Creek multi-purpose trail is a great place to get exercise and learn about the solar system!
After all that walking, you might want to enjoy a cold treat at Chill Ice Cream on the square. This is family-owned ice cream shop that makes artisan ice cream. I like that they use local ingredients from many of the local farms in Ohio.
They have lots of unique flavors from peanut butter and jelly to lavender lime rosemary!
Buckeye Woods Park/Schleman Nature Preserve/Chippewa Inlet Trail
Not far from the square is a Buckeye Woods Park (6335 Wedgewood Rd in Medina). The park has great hiking trails, a 3-acre pond and a 75-acre wetland.
We enjoyed walking around the pond spotting frogs and turtles and taking in the breathtaking views of the water! The wetlands were also filled with animals the day we went. We saw a muskrat, a heron, lots of ducks, dragon flies and lots of other birds.
This is a great place to spend the day enjoying the many different trails or paths that wind through the lush greenery and diverse landscapes. It's a great place to pack a picnic and enjoy a peaceful moment surrounded by the beauty of the natural world. Whether you're a solo explorer seeking solitude or a group of friends looking for a fun day out, this destination provides a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
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