Time for another Grateful Heart Monday entry, where gratitude remains the sole focus of my writing at the start of each week, which for today is for the Maumee Bay State Park in Oregon, Ohio, a park that’s become a favorite over all the years I’ve lived in the Toledo community.
One of the best things about living in Ohio is that all their state parks are free, something many other places I lived didn’t have as an amenity. Currently Ohio touts 75 of them and Maumee Bay State Park is on that list. It was the first place in nature I visited when I began getting to know my partner Chris and was still living in Massachusetts.
I’ve always been drawn to nature and living in Massachusetts had no shortage of parks nearby with countless beaches, forests, mountains, lakes, and oceanside places to visit within an hour or less. I spent much of my free time there during all my years of residence driving around to so many of them, which made moving to Toledo a big adjustment. One of the hardest parts of that move was being away from the abundance of so many different ways to experience nature. Having spent countless hours at unique parks all across the New England area made it challenging for me to find similar escapes here. But, when my partner brought us to Maumee Bay State Park, it immediately became my favorite escape from city living.
Situated approximately 10 miles or so from downtown Toledo, you wouldn’t know how close the city actually was once you enter the grounds of Maumee Bay State Park, as it truly feels like it’s in the middle of nowhere. The park itself sits on the edge of Lake Erie and has a beach to sit on if you want. But I’ve been more drawn there to the grounds themselves, as there’s been no shortage of spotting wildlife on them whenever I’ve visited the park.
Deer, raccoons, rabbits, muskrats, over 300 species of birds, otters, beavers, and much more have been on the regular list of things to look for with each visit. Quite often my partner and I will drive over to the park at dusk, as many of them come out during that time of the day. I’ve snapped a number of great pictures there of a lot of its wildlife, especially its deer that never really seemed bothered by park guests.
One of the nicest parts of this park is the Boardwalk Trail that covers several miles through the marsh that borders the lake. At sunset, it’s nice to walk this planked trail situated only a few feet up above the marsh, as I normally never come across anyone else during that time. It’s a wonderful place to take a meditative walk for that very reason. On my last visit there, I silently observed a muskrat eating marsh grass and with it being so quiet that night, I could hear it’s every chew, which brought a smile to my face on a day that I had been really struggling to find any joy at all.
Sometimes I also visit the lodge that’s part of Maumee Bay State Park. While Chris and I have never stayed there, we’ve spent time in its lobby many times, especially during the winter, as they always have huge hearths rocking big crackling fires. They welcome visitors, even those not staying there, to sit down on the rocking chairs and take in the serenity of it all. A few times I’ve eaten in the restaurant there as well as the view of Lake Erie from your table is amazing.
Nevertheless, there is no shortage of places to visit at Maumee Bay State Park given it’s 1,336-acre size. I’ve walked most of its trails and continue to find serenity within the parks boundaries every time I have a visit there whether alone, with Chris, or with visitors from out-of-town who I usually tend to bring there. By far this park has become my favorite go-to-place in nature in the Toledo vicinity and has given me plenty to be grateful for whenever I’m there.
So, I’m very thankful for the peace and joy I’ve cultivated whenever I’ve visited Maumee Bay State Park and because of it, I’ve dedicated today’s Grateful Heart Monday entry to a park that has become a wonderful place to get away and feel just a little bit closer to God, something I tend to feel every time I’m there.
Peace, love, light, and joy,
Andrew Arthur Dawson
