You too can amaze your kids with a few fish food pellets…

Nestled into the Eastgate area of Cincinnati is the Cincinnati Nature Center. The private nature center is open free to the public on Mondays but for a small annual due you can become a member and visit the other six days of the week plus get the inside scoop on art showings and lectures.

Meander down to the nature center and stop at the store to buy a small bag of fish food. Be sure to allow enough time for the kids to explore the nooks and crannies of the nature center as well as watch the birds.

Wander out the backdoor and onto the wood decking which leads into the woods. Follow the Edge Trail (turtle icon – very appropriate) to the lake. Keep walking past the curve and if your little ones are with you—have them sit down on their butt before they start tossing the fish food into the lake. Or you might wind up fishing them out of the lake and muck. Yuck!

Toss out a few small handfuls of food and wait. Bluegills, an enormous bass, and several painted turtles will soon start devouring the food. If you see the turtle with a lot of white on its shell her name is Sally. (My girls love to name the turtles.)

Peer over the edge and toss in a few more pieces of fish food. If you are lucky and it is a really warm day, a massive snapping turtle will slowly sidle up to the pellets floating on top of the water, open his massive beak and begin snacking. Keep all fingers clear of his mouth.

Keep about a tablespoon of fish food and head out along the Edge Trail. The trail winds through a deciduous forest and after it edges a small prairie opening to the right, a small foot path leads to a boardwalk over a small pond/wetland area. Walk slowly along the boardwalk and look down into the water.

It might take a few moments for your eyes to adjust and start seeing the numerous tadpoles. Toss a few pieces of fish food out into the water and sit and wait. The tadpoles in the water will pop out of the water when they grab the piece of fish food. That is until the commotion attracts a few turtles seeking a tadpole snack.

Head back to the trail (turn left) and continue following the Edge Trail to the bird blind on the right—keep an eye out for squirrels—we’ve scared our selves plenty by stepping into the bird blind only to have a very nervous squirrel zip past us to get out!

After watching the birds come and go, it’s time for you to follow the Edge Trail (turn right) a little more as it leads you to the far side of the Nature Center.  If you want to hike some more and your little ones are up for it I recommend the Upland, Geology, or Wildflower trails.

Have a great hike!

All the best,

Tammy

If you are looking for a stay-cation in the Cincinnati, Dayton, Louisville, and Indianapolis areas, there are some dandy spots to check out—just keep visiting to see what pops up.

If you can’t wait and want to get the scoop on great places to hike around Cincinnati, Dayton, Louisville, and Indianapolis areas, then purchase a copy of 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Cincinnati from your local bookstore or at Menasha Ridge.

All the best,

Tamara