One of Lake County’s best places to see the fall foliage is at Holden Arboretum
By Mimi Vanderhaven
How many places on earth can you take an immersive tour of the tree canopy from 65 feet above the forest floor?
Visiting the Canopy Walk and Emergent Tower at Holden Arboretum in Kirtland has been on Mimi’s bucket list for some time. She recently checked it off the list, and the experience blew her away.
Cut through the dense, verdant forest, the 500-foot walkway includes safety handrails and see-through sides and floor to enhance the feeling that you are part of the breathtaking scenery. There’s a slight swaying movement to the walkway since it’s suspended, so you feel a bit like Indiana Jones winding through the trees. Too much fun!
When she reached the wooden Tower, Mimi scaled up all 202 steps—not that she was counting, darling—and soared to 120 feet, the equivalent of a 12-story building. Once at the top, far above the forest, she was entranced by views that stretched for miles and miles all over Lake County, even to Lake Erie.
Helpful signs along the way explained fascinating aspects of science, nature, forestry and animal life. You truly won’t look at a tree the same way after this immersion. Mimi plans to return in a few weeks when the fall leaves hit their peak color, which, according to this year’s projections, will be around October 10-20.
“The Canopy and Tower offer a birds-eye view of a true outdoor living museum,” says Scott Dockus, executive director of the Lake County Visitors Bureau. “The facility, with its unique perspective and educational opportunities, provides a world-class adventure. And it’s just one of the many experiences that make Lake County so remarkable.”
“Our tagline is ‘Where happiness begins with the Experience,’ and our attractions and programs live up to that,” says Scott, who came up with the Remarkable Lake County, OH, marketing campaign.
The Lake County Visitors Bureau is located in the heart of downtown Painesville at One Victoria Place. Call 440-975-1234 or check out MyLakeOH.com. For more information on the Canopy Walk and Emergent Tower, visit HoldenArb.org.