Yesterday found me on a section of the Moonville Rail Trail that I hadn’t explored before. Technically, we intended to visit the haunted Moonville Tunnel and walk a few miles from there on the rail trail. Unfortunately, that area was extremely busy and we were looking for a more peaceful experience in nature. So we opted for a plan b.
Turns out that was a terrific idea!
I live in Vinton County, Ohio where a growing tourism industry has resulted in some truly good things that deserve exploring. A winery, lots of new cabins and airbnbs, a new park district and other developments have been drawing a lot of new visitors into the community.
But I think, as residents, we sometimes forget to go check out the new or different because we keep returning to the old.
This was a fun walk and it was a gorgeous day to get out and enjoy something a little different than we would normally do. It was a fantastic reminder that there’s adventure to be found near and far from home and that every day is a good one to get out and see something!
Want to visit my community? Learn more here. If you’re a resident, there’s plenty for you to explore as well!
If you’re a train enthusiast and near Gambier, Ohio, there’s a neat site at a trail head for the Kokosing Gap Trail. This paved 14 mile trail follows the former Pennsylvania Railroad line from Mount Vernon to Danville.
If you’re not a train enthusiast, they’re still cool to see. One thing that’s unusual about this place is that they encourage visitors to climb up in the locomotive and step up on the back of the caboose for photo ops. A lot of places frown on touching and climbing so this is a fun change of pace.
This site also includes a railroad switch and a crossing sign.