Located between Whitehouse and Swanton, Oak Openings Preserve takes its name from the surrounding region, which is 23 times larger than the park itself. Still, at 5,000 acres, Oak Openings Preserve is the largest of the Metroparks — by far.

The natural habitats in the park range from oak savanna to wetlands to vegetated sand. The Nature Conservancy once named the sandy region one of the 200 “Last Great Places on Earth.”

Prickly-pear cactus, wild lupine and sand cherry bloom atop dry, hot dunes just yards away from orchids thriving in low, wet swales.

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

See monuments honoring Maj. Gen. Anthony Wayne and the soldiers and American Indians who died in 1794 during the Battle of Fallen Timbers, the final battle of the Northwest Indian Wars. A National Historic Landmark, this park is located near the Maumee River.

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free