Walter C. Best Preserve, Geauga Park District

Walter C. Best Wildlife Preserve is a 101-acre park in Munson Township, roughly 1.5 miles south of Chardon, Ohio, donated in memory of Walter C. Best, founder of the nearby Best Sand Corporation. Best had a strong interest in waterfowl, and the preserve's 30-acre lake, once a settling pond for the quarry, was built with that in mind. Today the lake and surrounding grounds are home to more than 100 species of birds alongside deer, fox, muskrat, and beaver. Three paved trails, the Goldenrod, Cattail, and Waterfowl trails, wind through the preserve for a combined 1.6 miles and are suited to birdwatching, hiking, and cross-country skiing. For gatherings, the preserve's Sunset Shelter can be reserved for events of up to 75 guests. The shelter offers nine picnic tables, electrical outlets, a grill, and nearby vault-style restrooms, making it a straightforward setting for picnics and outdoor celebrations against the preserve's lake and woodland views.