Blog: Nature and Travel

Animals In Winter

Squirrel yourself away with these books about animals getting through the winter.

I Need a Vacation!

Involve your kids in the vacation planning or take a no-cost virtual vacation with these Library resources!

5 Books with Terrible Hotels

Have you ever listened to friends complaining about a disappointing hotel or a vacation spot? Well, the people in these books have entered the chat.

Children’s Library & Teen Recommends – Summer 2021

Youth Services Librarians love to read, too! Check out what your favorite Children’s and Teen Librarians at Main Library are reading, whether it be a picture book about penguins, a middle grade adventure in a treehouse, vampires in Louisiana, or a time-traveling phone booth!

Cat Tails!

Cats may have nine lives and keep us guessing, but these 18 "tails" will keep you entertained too!

Grow Your Own Food at Home

Creating a kitchen garden is not only a fun hobby, but can provide your home with fresh produce all year long.

Learn about Birds

In the spring, warblers, a tiny, colorful classification of songbirds, fly through our area on their journey of thousands of miles between Central and South America, and the Caribbean, on their way to Northern North America.

Helping You Meet Those Reading Goals

Have you started a reading challenge yet this year? Maybe you need a little inspiration to log a few more books for TLCPL’s Winter Read. Maybe you want to challenge yourself to “read harder” this year. No matter what, the team at Kent Branch has you covered! We have curated a list of challenges to diversify your reads this year, and our staff has provided suggestions of some of their faves to match!

A Happiness Reading List

Here are a few books that may help you keep a lookout for the small moments, practices, and words in life to lift spirits and find the wonder in the world around us.

Shoe Recycling

Where do all of our shoes go when we throw them out? Is it possible to repurpose or recycle them?

4 Episodes to Get You Hooked on Podcasts

If you aren’t already a podcast listener, it can be a little daunting to look at all the podcasts available. Here are 4 great episodes from some of my favorite podcasts to get you started.

Travel via Mystery Novels

Are you unable to afford the expense or time for a vacation? Try reading one of these mysteries set in exotic cultures and/or locales where the place is just as much a part of the story as the characters and plot.

Interesting Stories for Outdoor Enthusiasts

From living secluded in a tent for almost three decades, to climbing a 3,200 foot wall without ropes, this list highlights some of my favorite titles where people do some really incredible (and maybe a few ill-advised) things outside.

The Human-Nature Connection

The Library and Metroparks are great community resources that enrich the quality of life in the communities in which they serve.

Death in the National Parks

National Parks offer some of the most gorgeous and serene landscapes in all of America, but don’t be fooled, these areas are essentially death traps for the ill prepared. Read on to explore my fascination with demise in the National Parks.

Armchair Travel and Adventure

Summer’s almost over, but no need to fret! There’s plenty of time for armchair adventuring - and it always fits into what’s left of your vacation budget!

5 Day Summer Itinerary for Toledo, Ohio

Are you visiting Toledo, Ohio this summer and wonder what to do and where to go? Or, are you a native Toledoan looking for something different? Check out these unique ideas for this summer!

Small-Space Gardening

Small-Space Gardening is an activity everyone can enjoy with just a little creativity! With specialized small-space garden kits available commercially at local home stores for do-it-yourselfers, this can be done in even the smallest spaces with some ingenuity.

Aging Gracefully

“Nature gives you the face you have at twenty; it is up to you to merit the face you have at fifty” – Coco Chanel

Looking at Art: A Story in the Round

The Berlin Painter exhibit is a rare event, an assemblage of pottery from museums around the world. Continue reading to learn more about this fascinating exhibit and the story behind it.

Altruistic Travel

Continue reading to learn how you can build a better world through travel.

Ireland: A Wee Bit of Bliss

Celebrate Ireland with a pot of tea, a batch of scones and a taste of Celtic culture with a selection of Emerald Isle titles.​

Libraries and National Parks

Libraries and national parks are essential components of a robust and healthy community. Continue reading to learn more.

Exploring Detroit by Bike

Travelling Detroit by bike, without having to worry about traffic, directions, or parking was a unique and advantageous way to tour the city.

Seekers and Sages: Spirituality Selections

Many seek a mindful, simple path on the road to a deeper spirituality. The titles featured in this post explore the virtues of gratitude, grace, and compassion in that journey.

Ohio Travel

Ohio is a vacation destination for people all over the country. Learn ways you can stay close to home by planning a getaway in the Buckeye State.

Outdoor Odyssey

With so many locations across Northwestern Ohio, the Metroparks of Toledo are one of Toledo’s most fantastic and bountiful resources, offering some of the area’s greatest outdoor fun.