Arts and Culture

A Forest like no other

WCMU | By Amy Robinson

Published October 1, 2018 at 4:55 PM EDT

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The Visitor Center is renovated from what was once Whiting Jr's childhood home. It features a rainbow rug that used to be in that home.

Amy Robinson | WCMU

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An expansive cargo net suspends guests 25 feet abote ground. Each braided cord can indivually support 35,000 pounds.

Tom Ball | WCMU

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This is one of two "pods" in the canopy walk. Designed after Queen Ann's Lace Flower, the east pod is ADA accessible.

Tom Ball | WCMU

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A visitor walks across one of the cargo nets towards the pods.

Tom Ball | WCMU

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Macauley Whiting Jr. and his wife Sara poses at the Canopy Walk as the path ends to overlook the pond.

Tom Ball | WCMU

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One of the first paths in the Canopy Walk. The Canopy Walk is 1,400 linear feet long, just over a quarter mile long.

Tom Ball | WCMU

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A view of the Cafe and the children's play area from the Canopy Walk.

Tom Ball | WCMU

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An overview of a planting site for future apple trees in the Whiting Forest.

Tom Ball | WCMU

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This is the outside view of the cafe that leads towards the Canopy Walk, a few steps away that overlooks the playground.

Tom Ball | WCMU

Macauley (Mike) Whiting Jr. (left) president of the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation with Whiting Forest Project designer and architect Alan Metcalf

The Whiting Forest of Dow Gardens presents the country's longest canopy walk. From his childhood playground to a Michigan destination, Mike Whiting Jr. with the help of Alan Metcalfe, project designer and architect , reated an accissible nature walk with a 1,400 foot long canopy walk, 25 feet above the ground.