Wild story time
OHIO WILDLIFE CENTER, 9000 DUBLIN ROAD, POWELL 614-734-9453, www.ohiowildlifecenter.org This monthly series features the reading of a book and an animal visitor. 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday $5, or free for ages 5 and younger
Who wants to spend New Year's Day with a splitting headache?
Consider skimping on the sauce and starting 2018 with these invigorating activities.
Hiking, Part 1
GALLANT WOODS PARK, 2150 BUTTERMILK HILL ROAD, DELAWARE
The wetlands and prairies of Gallant Woods Park might be the perfect setting for hikers to get in touch with nature.
At the suggestion of longtime volunteer Len Fisher, Preservation Parks of Delaware County has offered an annual New Year's Day hike since 2008. The hike changes location every year.
Fisher, as always, will lead the roughly 2-mile trek, which is expected to attract 100 participants, said Sue Hagan, marketing and communications manager for Preservation Parks.
Guests can meet at the picnic shelter before setting out along the new, partially completed Primitive Trail. The hike will end at Gallant Farm, a 1930s-era building where soup and hot beverages will be served.
“Just being out in the natural world, it’s just a way to feel like you’re part of the community. You're doing something good for your body,” Hagan said. “It’s just a nice way to start the new year.” Preservation Parks also offers myriad winter programs and activities through January and February. 740-524-8600, www.preservationparks.com 10 a.m. Monday free
Hiking, Part 2
Metro Parks will offer a variety of New Year's Day and winter programs to keep visitors active throughout the cold months.
Start on Monday with a 2-mile bird hike at 8 a.m. at Blendon Woods, 4265 E. Dublin-Granville Road, Westerville, or a 1.5-mile bird hike at 10 a.m. at Blacklick Woods, 6975 E. Livingston Ave., Reynoldsburg. At 5 p.m., hikers and their pooches can enjoy a 3.5-mile "Howl at the Moon" trek through Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike, Lewis Center.
Then, the following week, the 45th year of the Winter Hikes begins.
The popular series, which includes soup and snacks after each hike, kicks off at 10 a.m. Jan 6 at Blacklick Woods with a hiker's choice of a 2- or a 4-mile walk. Hikes will continue at a different park every week through Feb. 24.
"There’s a quietness in the woods, and you know that you’re heading into winter time and it's just a chance to see nature,” Metro Parks spokeswoman Peg Hanley said. “It’s become a tradition for a lot of people.” 614-508-8111, www.metroparks.net free
Running
WESTERVILLE COMMUNITY CENTER, 350 N. CLEVELAND AVE., WESTERVILLE
If your New Year's resolution includes plans to exercise more, you might as well start on day one.
The OhioHealth First on the First 5K also serves as a precursor to a more-challenging competition in April: The Capital City Half Marathon.
Those two races are the first of 10 that M3S Sports produces throughout the year, said race director David Babner.
At the New Year’s Day race — which supports cerebralpalsy treatment for children through the Luke Billings Foundation — organizers will hand out training schedules for the half marathon.
During a postrace party, participants can also enjoy pork tacos from Yabo’s Tacos.
“It’s just a huge celebration of the active, healthy lifestyle,” Babner said. “We just want you to come out and celebrate the new year with us.”
www.m3ssports. com
11 a.m. Monday, with registration beginning at 9:30 $45