Hocking Hills has something to offer for everyone, it’s an absolutely incredible travel destination. There’s so much to do for the adventure traveler, couples, families, friends and solo travelers. Furthermore, if you are simply a lover of nature and want to relax, hocking hills is a great spot for you too.
Hocking Hills State Park
Hocking Hills State Park is this very special park with the most incredible rock formations, caves and waterfalls. It is truly breathtaking. These rock formations and caves have been very slowly forming naturally for over 2 million years. Imagine that! The Hocking Hills State Park stretches across approximately 24 miles of hiking trails. There are a number of stops you can make, the most popular parts of the park are Ash Cave, Old Man’s Cave and Cedar Falls each with a unique beauty and offering.
Once you step into the park, it has this incredibly calming effect. With all its magic and mystery, you feel like you have been transported to another realm. The stillness of the park or the sounds of the waterfalls cascading down, is a wonderful way to relieve stress and immerse yourself in the beauty of nature. There are easy trails for a leisurely stroll as well as more challenging trails to enjoy in the park.
There is an interesting legend about Old Man’s Cave and how the name came about. The legend suggests sightings of a ghostly older figure and his dog walking through the park. If you have every visited Hocking Hills State Park you will understand the pull it has on one. If you have never been to the park, perhaps now is the time.
Things To Do
There is so much to do in Hocking Hills whether you want to hike, go wine tasting, or are an adventure traveler seeking a rush in the outdoors. It is great for couples, friends, families and solo travelers. You can go rock climbing, kayaking or horseback riding. If you are looking for a quiet and relaxing day, perhaps a stop at the local wineries and a leisurely stroll through Hocking Hills State Park. There are plenty of lakes for fishing or to simply enjoy a tranquil setting.
Nature For Stress Relief
Nature has been known to help with stress relief. A study in Frontiers in Psychology performed for 8 weeks focused on the relationship with exposure to nature and stress relief. Participants were to have contact with nature three times a week for at least 10 minutes. Saliva samples were taken at various stages of the study including a baseline at the beginning. As a result, cortisol (the main stress hormone) levels went down by approximately 28% for those participants with 20 to 30 minutes of nature three times per week. Nature has wonderful benefits for wellness. We had so many guests tell us when they arrived, they were very stressed and upon leaving were feeling so calm and relaxed.
Hocking Hills is truly a magical place to visit with so much to offer. It is within driving distance from many parts of Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and much more.