While fall foliage is always a treat to see, certain plants have a particular appeal once they're boldly lit up in bright colors. One of my favorite color-changing autumn plants is the fern, an ancient plant that has been around for some 400-million years but truly took over in the Cretaceous period. Lake and Ferns Loop at Oak Openings Preserve Metropark in Swanton is one of the best places to embrace this unique fall foliage in Ohio, and it's a true indulgence of a hike on warm, sunny days.

If you've never been to Oak Openings Preserve Metropark, you're in for a treat. Located in the Toledo area, this park is home to an oak savanna. In this type of ecosystem, oaks are the dominant tree, and wide, grassy areas are common. Oak Openings also has quite a few wetlands, but its biggest claim to fame is the 50 miles of hiking trails in the park.

As you may have guessed, this park is massive. With 5,000 acres to explore, there's no shortage of things to see. The park is part of the greater Oak Openings Region of Ohio, and this 1,300-square-mile corridor is considered to have comparable ecological importance to the Florida Everglades, and over 180 rare species flourish there. Out of all the rare species in Ohio, some 33 percent of them exist right in this region.

That's not the only rarity in the park, though: it's also home to the nation's only public treehouse village, and two of the treehouses are ADA accessible. Of course, we're here to talk about hiking rather than camping, so you'll have to dig into the treehouse village on your own.

Before you head to the park, you'll want to make sure you have good hiking boots ready to go. The loop trail gets a bit muddy after it rains, so it's best to come prepared.

Visitors love this trail in the fall months, and it's plain to see why. With ferns blazing in brilliant shades of orange and gold under a rusty canopy, it's a landscape worthy of a Claude Monet painting. The woods are home to species like barred owls and kinglets, and you might even spot the occasional mink scurrying by. They love the area's abundant ponds and streams, which add some movement and song to the landscape.

And, believe it or not, ponds can be the perfect accessory for a fall photoshoot. Take a look at this:

Tell me Morticia Addams wouldn't think this spot is beautiful! Interestingly, though there's no shortage of swampy landscapes in the area; early visitors called the region "Oak Openings" because it was easy to travel across compared to the swamps they'd previously endured. It's amazing to consider that pioneers and early settlers might have stopped to admire the very landscape we're in awe over today.

All in all, you can expect to spend about an hour hiking on this loop trail. You might want to budget more, though, as each visit is a bit like a scavenger hunt. You never know what critters and fascinating plants you'll see, so bring some binoculars and be prepared to leave nothing but footprints.

While you're near Toledo, take some time to visit the biggest mural in the country. There's just so much to discover in The Buckeye State!