Waterfalls, steep wooded slopes, and sandstone outcrops define the northern part of Mill Creek Park, which includes Lanterman’s Falls and Mill Creek Gorge. Grassy meadows lie between them. Those who want to explore the landscape on foot can take the two-mile loop of the Gorge Trail along Mill Creek. A boardwalk runs alongside a sandstone wall, offering a different view of the rock formations than the trail through the wooded gorge.
Trails, Gardens, and Wetlands
The Mill Creek MetroParks trail network includes more than 52 miles of paved, gravel, and natural-surface trails. Several of these are paved, ADA-accessible trails. Activities in Mill Creek Park include hiking, biking, boating, and fishing, as well as golf, tennis, volleyball, picnicking, cross-country skiing, and sledding. The range extends from quiet trail sections to sporting activities, and not every route has the same surface.
The individual landscapes also offer different highlights. Lake Newport, the largest of the three lakes in Mill Creek Park, has 60 acres of open water and 40 acres of wetlands. Fellows Riverside Gardens is a free public display garden spanning 12 acres: its plantings include roses of all classes, seasonal plantings, and flowering bulbs, complemented by viewpoints. Sebring Woods, in turn, consists mainly of floodplain forest, wooded wetlands, open marsh areas, and upland habitats. A survey conducted in May 2010 identified three plant species there that had not previously been documented in Mahoning County. Rare plants and insects, as well as more common wildflowers and songbirds, were also observed.
More trail experiences can be found at Springfield Forest, with its gravel and natural-surface hiking trails, fishing pier, boardwalk, viewpoints, and picnic area, as well as on the Albert E. Davies Wetland Trail. Its boardwalk leads through wetlands, with interpretive signs along the way. Those who prefer a longer paved route can consider the MetroParks Bikeway: it is 11 miles long and intended for hikers, skaters, and cyclists. The route runs from Western Reserve Road in Canfield Township to the Mahoning County–Trumbull County line in Austintown Township. Parking is available at MetroParks Farm, the Kirk Road Trailhead, and the Mahoning Avenue Trailhead. The bikeway is also a section of the planned, developing 100-mile Great Ohio Lake to River Greenway, intended to connect Lake Erie to the Ohio River through several counties.
Industrial History and Historic Buildings
The history of ironmaking can be traced at Hopewell Furnace. The blast furnace was built in 1802 and was the first in Ohio and the first west of the Allegheny Mountains. Archaeological and metallurgical findings also suggest that it was the earliest blast furnace in North America to use both bituminous coal and charcoal to make iron. The qualification is important: this interpretation is based on findings and is not certain.
Another chapter in the region’s architectural and labor history is told by buildings with very different former uses. Lanterman’s Mill, a historic landmark in Mahoning County, was built in 1845–1846 by German Lanterman and Samuel Kimberly. Pioneer Pavilion in Mill Creek Park is a sandstone building dating to 1821, originally used as a mill for carding and fulling wool. Taken together, these places invite visitors to look not only at dates but also at the craftsmanship and uses behind the buildings.
At the Arms Family Museum, Greystone, a 1905 Arts and Crafts-style mansion, preserves the architectural side of this history. Rotating galleries feature decorative arts, clothing, textiles, and fine art. In the Hands-On History Room, visitors can experience the history of the Mahoning Valley in a personal, interactive way. Those interested in industrial working life can find life-size industrial scenes depicting steel production and the lives of steelworkers at the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry & Labor.
Art, Science, and Events
The cultural offerings include different ways to explore. The John J. McDonough Museum of Art presents exhibitions, installations, performances, and lectures on contemporary art. The Clarence R. Smith Mineral Museum displays high-quality mineral specimens from around the world. The Melnick Medical Museum explores the history of medicine, including dentistry, nursing, and pharmacy, with a particular connection to Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley. OH WOW! offers immersive, hands-on STEM activities for young people of all ages.
The performing arts venues and program locations also offer different experiences: Edward W. Powers Auditorium opened as the Warner Theatre in 1931; the DeYor Performing Arts Center is home to the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra. Ward Beecher Planetarium offers field trip programs for local schools and public programs on weekends. At the Tyler History Center, the Community History Gallery hosts rotating exhibitions by local artists, community partners, and local nonprofit organizations. The center also hosts a monthly lecture series with lunch and summer programs for families. Wean Park includes more than 20 acres of recreational green space and walking paths; concerts are held there in summer. Check current dates if you plan to attend a specific event.
Discover more destinations: North Lima, Youngstown, Canfield, Poland, Boardman, Austintown, Berlin Center, Jefferson.
For the main travel overview: Ohio.
