Our parents used to take us to Lower Huron all the time. We’d go on family bike rides all throughout the trails during the summer. I had this bright pink mountain bike that I loved. Eventually though, I out grew it and we needed to update my wheels so I wasn’t working so hard compared to everyone else, so those trails were where I first learned to ride a bike with different gears. I still remember, we’d park at Turtle Cove and ride around the parking lot until our parents were ready. Sometimes it felt like we were on the trails for the whole day! My favorite was when we’d ride early in the morning and then we’d come back to the car, change into our swimsuits, and go to Turtle Cove for a nice cooldown before heading home. The Metroparks were our summer getaways and we loved every second of it. I can’t imagine what summers would’ve been like without the picnics and waterparks. It’s where I learned to love nature. Biking through the trails with our parents pointing out the different wildlife we’d see around us. It was a simpler time in our lives, and one I hope to share with any future kids I may have. -Jasmine