LUCAS COUNTY, Ohio — Maumee Bay State Park has a new trail for nature lovers, big and small, to enjoy.
Tucked between the Maumee Bay State Park Lodge and the inland lake is a brand new trail aimed for a full, family experience.
It's just over half a mile long, and weaves through milkweed and wetlands for a diverse nature experience.
"I really liked it, we saw one deer," said Annalise Masell who was visiting the trail with her mom and sister.
It's called a Storybook Trail, and incorporates visual, child-height placards to tell the story of a caterpillar's journey in becoming a butterfly.
The State ODNR office supplied funding for the placard installation through the Ohio Governor's Imagination Library initiative.
For Maumee Bay, the trail itself was easy to cut out of the high grass on existing park land.
"I think it's great just the fact that they can use what they already have, it's a great idea," said Tammy Collins, who brought her children to the trail after seeing a Facebook post.
And yes, dogs are welcome to walk along the trail too.
Along with the trail and story, a Free Little Library was installed at the trail head to further promote the goal of instilling a love of nature and a love of reading for the kids who visit.
"I thought about the kids that I babysit and how it would be exciting to bring them out here get some nature and read at the same time." said Kylea Masell