Not gonna lie, y’all, finding activities for toddlers amidst all this COVID stuff can be hard! Sure, we have plenty of toys, books, and the like at home. But out and about??

AND with an almost-three-year-old who has the shortest attention span ever??

Nevertheless, I’m determined to find some things my toddler niece and I can do to get outside and enjoy the fall weather.

Some friends had recommended the Slate Run Historical Farm, located in Canal Winchester less than 15 miles south of downtown Columbus, Ohio. I had been to Slate Run Metro Park before, but never made it to the farm. Now I had a solid reason to check it out.

The Slate Run Historical Farm

The Historical Farm is just that – a working farm that is operated as though still in the 1880s. The staff and volunteers dress in time-appropriate clothing, use machinery from that time period, and perform the chores of daily farm life.

The farmhouse was originally built in 1856 as a residence by Isaac Fridley, and later restored by the Metro Parks for authenticity. The barn was built by the farm’s fourth owner, Samuel Oman, and restored by Amish carpenters.

The farm is largely an educational experience so visitors can see how farms back in the day had operated. Considering much of Ohio was, and still is, farmland, this is an important piece of our state’s history.

Checking out the map of the farm in front of the farmhouse.

What Can You Do at the Farm?

Actually, quite a bit. There are pamphlets out front so you can do a self-guided tour. (They offer guided tours, though it sounds like these are only for school groups.) There were also sheets and small pencils out for doing scavenger hunts around the grounds.

Volunteers in historic garb are scattered around the property doing their chores, while also educating guests on what they’re doing and the details of farm work during that time period. In some cases, kids are welcome to learn by doing – assisting with the chores or learning how to use the equipment.

Note: While the volunteers are still around, working the farm, and chatting with visitors during COVID, I’m not sure how much kids can participate in the chores at this time. There are some areas, like the outdoor kitchen, roped off to ensure distance. So I’m guessing that learning can occur through conversation, but not activities at this time. Additionally, the farmhouse is closed to guests due to COVID.

In my case, I was visiting with a toddler who has a two-second attention span – education and scavenger hunts weren’t really an option. Not to worry! We could still walk around the grounds, enjoying the sites like the house, barn, and garden, and look at all the animals.

There were those there with toddlers who largely just walked around. And there were parents with pre-teens and teens, using the farm as a homeschooling history project and encouraging conversation between the kids and the farm volunteers. Point is, it doesn’t matter how old you are, even if you don’t have any youngins with you, you can still enjoy a trip to the farm.

The Animals

There are actually quite a few farm animals! I saw chickens, a few species of geese, cows, horses, sheep, turkeys, guineafowl, and hogs. Although often the cows and such can be petted, this is currently not allowed due to COVID.

All of the animals are in designated pens, with the exception of the geese that roam free. The farm understandably asks that kids not chase the geese, cuz, rude. In return, the geese seem to be pretty used to the presence of humans and didn’t act perturbed as long as you respected their space.

As I said, this is a working farm, so cows are milked, sheep are shorn, horses pull the machinery, and the hogs and chickens… Well… They’re edible.

I chatted with a volunteer who told me that most of the animals are given to the farm for some reason or another. Because the farm is now part of the Metro Parks, the farm itself can’t sell the animals when their stay is over. Instead, the animals are sold via auction through a facility in eastern Ohio.

Viewing one of the cows in the barn. No petting of the animals is allowed, at least not during COVID.

Also of Note

When my niece and I visited, the pumpkin harvest was out! This was cool because sugar pumpkins (good for pies and such) were set out and available for visitors to take home. Yes, there was also a donation jar in return for the pumpkins, but donations go towards further education programs, so it’s a good cause.

What Else Is In the Area?

Well, for one thing, there’s the rest of the park. There are picnic tables around the entrance to the farm, as well as near some of the other parking areas. And there are hiking trails of varying intensity with views such as the woods, meadow, and wetlands. You could make a lovely outdoor day trip with a morning hike, lunch, and an afternoon visit to the farm!

But if you want something for evening, or a picnic isn’t your thing, there are plenty of restaurants nearby!

In nearby Lithopolis, I highly recommend Das Kaffeehaus, a German-themed local coffee shop. Another favorite is El Pedregal, a local Mexican restaurant that has fantastic beef tongue tacos! Slate Run Winery is practically across the street from the entrance to the metropark, but I haven’t made it over there yet.

Only a few minutes further is Canal Winchester, which has a huge assortment of food options. Be sure to check out the historic part of town, which is super cute and has local shops. In the historic part, I recommend Shades on the Canal or Harvest Moon for lunch. Then maybe a dessert from Trophy Cupcakes. Loose Rail Brewing is also right on that corner.

If you’re in the newer part of town, I’m a big fan of BrewDog – both their beers and their food. They also have a lot of outdoor seating if that’s a priority for you. And if you’re coming in from out of town, they have a hotel!

Checking out the turkeys and guineafowl.

Final Thoughts on Slate Run Historical Farm

I’m a big fan of the Metro Parks! They’re wonderful for education, like the farm, and from a more ecological standpoint. We can get outside for some vitamin D and exercise, enjoy a picnic lunch, and learn about the local plants and animals or trees in the area.

And truly, I feel pretty fortunate to live in central Ohio where there are a number of Metro Parks. Each one has its own vibe, so there’s something for everyone. Prime example, the Slate Run historical farm is a pretty unique fixture in the area.

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