Apple Valley Lake

The first place I ever went swimming...my little toes touched this lake when I was just an infant. It is a private community and you must have property owner passes to go to the beaches and other "common" areas. As a kid my grandparents had a cabin there and we all would go to the beach that was a short walk from the cabin. It is a very pretty place to live in Ohio, with big yards and lots of woodsy areas, no fences allowed. Deer still walk through all the yards daily and when I visit we can see them going through the yards about two times a day if we are looking.
A place that will forever be in my memory and my heart. The days of summer hanging out at the beach pretending to be mermaids and playing in the sand when it was rest break.
My family used to have a big reunion every year during the fourth of July holiday... the beach would even have a big party for Independence day. They would have a DJ and music and food...they even had contests for stuff like the electric slide and of course I can't forget the 'best buns" mens/boys contest and "best legs" women/girls contest! We even did the chicken dance and there was an award for that. People who had boats would have a boat parade and decorate their boats red, white and blue!

I really miss being a kid and going to the beach there...I still visit today but there is just nothing like being a kid and just being able to play all day and not even think about when we have to leave.