Adventure Bound Pleasant View

The Great Outdoors

A highlight of camping at Adventure Bound Pleasant View is its access to Van Buren State Park, which encompasses 296 acres on the edge of a town of the same name. This small tract of woodland is surrounded by fields of corn, wheat, and soybeans on land that was once inhabited by members of the Shawnee Nation. There are six miles of hiking trails that meander beneath the park’s beech and sugar maple trees, with red squirrels, skunks, and white-tailed deer occupying the forest. Mountain biking and horseback riding are also permitted in Van Buren State Park, while fishing for largemouth bass, bluegill, bullhead, and crappie is allowed in the waters of Van Buren Lake.Campsites at Adventure Bound Pleasant View can also be used as a base for visiting the Oak Openings Preserve Metropark, which is the largest of the Toledo Area Metroparks. It encompasses an ecosystem dominated by oak savanna, vegetated dunes, and wetlands, with the Buehner Center an ideal first stop to learn about the region’s ecology. There are more than 50 miles of trails crisscrossing the Oak Openings Preserve, which has been designed by The Nature Conservancy as one of the “Last Great Places on Earth” due to its abundance of rare species.Around an hour’s drive from the Adventure Bound Pleasant View is the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, which hugs the shores of Lake Erie near Toledo. It was established in 1961 under the Migratory Bird Conservation Act. It’s been identified as an Important Bird Area by the American Bird Conservancy, encompassing what’s left of Lake Erie’s Great Black Swamp. You can explore the protected area while hiking along the dikes or navigating the Wildlife Drive, with a tram tour also operated by the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge’s visitor center.

Exploring the City

Van Buren campers are just two minutes’ drive from the town center, where you’ll find a small supermarket for stocking up on grocery supplies. There’s also a gas station here if you need to fill up your motorhome rental and a pizzeria for those nights when you don’t feel like cooking. Alternatively, you can make the 15-minute drive south to Findlay, where there’s a more extensive choice of services, supermarkets, and dining choices.While you’re in Findlay, don’t miss a visit to the Hancock Historical Museum, which details the people and events that have shaped the region. It centers around a cluster of buildings on Sandusky Street, including the Victorian-era Hull-Flater House that’s been furnished as it would have appeared in the late 19th century. Browse the exhibits that detail the gas and oil boom of the 1880s, the Civil War years, and the impact of World War II on the region, then explore the Little Red Schoolhouse that dates to 1882. Also operated by the Hancock Historical Museum is the Riverside Train, a streamliner locomotive that offers scenic rides in its 1930's passenger cars.Traveling with kids? Don’t miss a visit to the Children’s Museum of Findlay, which offers a range of interactive and hands-on exhibits to inspire young minds. It’s located inside the Findlay Village Mall, with kids encouraged to dress up as firefighters, treat (pretend) animals in the veterinarian’s office, and work behind the desk at the bank. The Findlay Village Mall is also home to a good choice of department stores and fashion retailers, as well as a selection of eateries for a quick bite on the go.Whether you want to explore the nature trails of Van Buren State Park or delve into the history of Findlay, book an RV rental in Hancock County and start planning your trip.