Say cheese! 5 snap-worthy outdoor destinations to visit this season

Whether you’re a budding nature photographer or want to score the perfect outdoor selfie, look no further than your Five Rivers MetroParks for “like”-worthy photo destinations. Featuring 30 locations — which includes 18 parks, 11 conservation areas and the 2nd Street Market — there are plenty of options for photo ops in the great outdoors. Visit some of the following MetroParks destinations with your phone or camera this season:

Sunflower fields at Possum Creek MetroPark: Four acres of sunflowers were planted at Possum Creek MetroPark this year. These sunny flowers are blooming now and should stick around through the middle of September. The fields can be accessed from the parking lot at the farm. Be sure to visit the adorable goats, sheep, chickens and rabbits while you're there. For some photos with an historical-twist, take the orange or purple trail to see the remnants of the bygone Argonne Forest Amusement Park.

Credit: HANDOUT

Credit: HANDOUT

Osage Orange Tree Tunnel at Sugarcreek MetroPark: Hike the 1.3-mile orange trail to experience this living tunnel of Osage orange tree branches that makes the perfect backdrop for a selfie or family photo. Originally farmland, Sugarcreek MetroPark is home to this impressive, natural point of interest because Osage orange trees were often used as fencing by farmers in the 1800s before barbed wire was widely accessible.

»»Here’s something you probably don’t know about Living Tree Tunnel

Waterfalls at Englewood MetroPark: Home to three waterfalls, Englewood MetroPark is the perfect destination to snap some social media-worthy pictures. Take the green trail to discover Martinade Falls for a breathtaking view of a limestone and shale ridge top that plunges into a ravine. Continue hiking to view Patty Falls, a wide, rocky wet-weather falls with a side cascade that trickles all year long. Cross Patty Road for a view of the smaller Oaks Falls.

While these falls are beautiful in the warmer months, they are also beautiful in the winter when the temperatures drop and the falls freeze.

>> Four breathtaking waterfalls near Dayton you must visit

Credit: DeANGELO BYRD / STAFF

Credit: DeANGELO BYRD / STAFF

Tree Tower at Cox Arboretum MetroPark: Standing 65 feet in the air, the Tree Tower at Cox Arboretum MetroPark provides beautiful panoramic views of the Miami Valley. The 81-step climb is worth the stunning photo ops at the top.

Beautiful year round, the photos are especially breathtaking during the summer and fall months, when trees are sporting the lush greenery of summer and the warm colors of fall.

Credit: Lisa Powell

Credit: Lisa Powell

Wright brothers statue at Deeds Point MetroPark: Snap a selfie with Dayton's most famous duo of inventors at Deeds Point MetroPark. The Legacy Plaza, an aviation heritage site, features two life-sized statues of Dayton's own Wright brothers that commemorate the very beginnings of aircraft control.

After your visit with Orville and Wilbur, head to RiverScape MetroPark to explore more of Dayton’s history at the Dayton Inventors River Walk, which includes seven invention stations along Monument Avenue and Patterson Boulevard.

If you post your pictures on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, be sure to use the hashtag #ExploreMetroParks and Five Rivers MetroParks will share their favorites.

MetroParks also offers photography programs year-round for those who want to spend more time behind the camera, capturing nature and honing their photography skills. Learn more by visiting metroparks.org.

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