After making its way in history out of the “Great Black Swamp,” you probably wouldn’t guess that there are many amazing things to do in Toledo Ohio. Located along banks of the Maumee River and the beautiful shores of Lake Erie, Ohio’s #4 city has come a long way from its swamp days and now offers a large variety of family attractions and activities.

Here are just a few of the top attractions Toledo has to offer you and your family.

Toledo Zoo & Aquarium

The Toledo Zoo is a family favorite with planned activities all year round including rides, behind the scenes tours, playgrounds and interactive activities for kids of all ages. In addition to the zoo’s 4,700 species of animals, the large air-conditioned aquarium with interactive experiences, an ocean lab, and touch tank is a highlight that you won’t want to miss.

For those looking for more, the zoo offers a few extra experiences that require an additional fee.  Ride the full-size African themed Carousel, the fun Safari Railway train, or hand-feed a giraffe.

For the even more adventurous, the zoo offers an Aerial Adventure Course with a zip line, sky bridge, and challenge course.

If you want to see everything, plan for at a 5-6 hour visit. You can bring your own snacks and lunch or visit their air-conditioned food court for several lunch options. There are also plenty of concessions throughout the zoo.

Toledo Zoo & Aquarium
2 Hippo Way, Toledo, OH 43609
Website

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Imagination Station

The Imagination Station is Toledo’s local science center with educational and fun activities for the whole family including a “Little Kidspace” designed for kindergarten age and younger children. Other activities include an interactive IDEA Lab with an animation station, design-your-own marble run, and air car race. You can also defy gravity by riding the high-wire bicycle or become a human yo-yo and be propelled up to 13 feet into the air on the BOYO attraction.

With hundreds of hands-on exhibits, special attractions and workshops, plan for at least a 4-hour visit. You can bring your own or purchase a hot lunch from their Atomic Cafe on site.

Be sure to check their online calendar of daily events when planning your visit and don’t miss popular roller coaster simulator before you leave!

Imagination Station
1 Discovery Way, Toledo, OH 43604
Website

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Toledo Museum of Art

According to the museum, “Since its founding in 1901, the Toledo Museum of Art’s purpose is art education” and it does not let us down. With a long list of daily activities and demonstrations, there is always something to see, do, and learn and it all comes with the perfect price, FREE.

At no cost to visitors (other than parking for non-members), this internationally known museum offers more than 30,000 gallery pieces in all mediums from glass, paint and paper, to electronic media. It also hosts a fun, educational Family Center where families with young children can take a hands-on class and make art together.

A full schedule of their demonstrations and family activities can be found on their website.

Toledo Museum of Art
2445 Monroe Street, Toledo, OH 43620
Website

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Maumee Bay State Park

This beautiful family park is 1,336 acres of natural fun on a picture perfect edge of Lake Erie. With 5 miles of paved walking and bike paths, 2 miles of boardwalk paths, an inland lake, Lake Erie beach access, and a golf course, you’ll never be bored!

Come by boat, car or truck and stay for the day or camp for the week in your own tent or camper. If you prefer to have it ready when you get there, you can reserve a room at the 120 room lodge or rent one of their 24 deluxe cabins or even a yurt!

With modern restrooms available across the park you can walk, hike, kayak, sail or bike all day long. Plus, the lodge offers even more activities including racquetball, a game room, a fitness center, hot tubs, whirlpools, indoor and outdoor pools and a soft play area for the kids.

When the activities leave your little ones hungry, the park offers a snack bar and a full-service dining room. Much of the park is accessible for free, but be sure to call ahead for lodge reservations.

Maumee Bay State Park
1400 State Park Road, Oregon, OH 43616
Website

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Toledo Botanical Garden

Celebrating more than 50 years of “growing,” the Toledo Botanical Garden is a free, year-round public garden full of nature’s beauty and activity. The garden offer over 60 acres of display garden and a two-acre urban farm where you can explore and learn about nature. You can walk and appreciate the large variety of plants and landscape sculptures, take a hands-on class, or enjoy a jazz performance during their summer concert series.

The Botanical Garden also celebrate “Nurturing the Joy of Growing” with a variety of children’s programs. They offer nature investigations, healthy eating, urban farming, protecting water and soil, and learning about plants and animals through real-world education and environmental stewardship.

During the last full weekend of June, be sure to visit the Crosby Festival of Arts hosted at the Botanical Garden. As the oldest outdoor arts festival in Northwest Ohio, the festival is a two-day art show, where you can enjoy a wide range of fine art including photography, ceramics, jewelry, sculpture, glass and more.

Toledo Botanical Garden
5403 Elmer Drive, Toledo, OH 43615
Website

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The Valentine Theatre

Since its renovation in 1999, this historic 120-year-old theatre offers diverse productions and performing arts experiences for all ages. The 901 seat theatre produces a huge list of events throughout the year. For special shows be sure to order tickets in advance, but you can always catch a musical, theatrical performance, or concert that will be sure to entertain the whole family.

The theatre also offers special “School Days” outreach programs sharing educational theatre experiences for school field trips. Most of the productions are about one hour in length and can be scheduled by contacting their outreach coordinator from their website.

The Valentine Theatre
410 Adams Street, Toledo, OH 43604
Website

Oak Openings Preserve Metropark

This beautiful nature preserve covers over 5,000 acres just outside of Toledo and is called home by a large range of plants and wildlife. It is considered a “bird watchers paradise” with a many birds nesting and migrating through the area, but is also home to the federally endangered Karner blue butterfly, southern flying squirrel, and a variety of mammals, amphibians, and reptiles.

You can visit Oak Openings Preserve for the day starting as early as 7 am. The main park closes at dark, but you can extend your visit and camp overnight. The park offers two primitive tent campsites, a tent platform campsite, and two rentable cabins.

With over 50 miles of trails, you’ll be able to explore the preserve by foot, bike, cross-country skis, or horseback. Visit their website for rental information and trail maps.

Oak Openings Preserve Metropark
4139 Girdham Road, Swanton, OH 43558
Website

Fort Meigs

The reconstructed Fort Meigs is located in Perrysburg on Ohio’s War of 1812 battlefield. Although the original fort was destroyed by fire after the war, it has been rebuilt with a museum and education center now including 3,000 square feet of exhibits to tell the story of the soldiers who fought and lived there during Ohio’s role in the war of 1812.

The Museum, Education Center, and Battlefield are family friendly and include many original artifacts from the war to help share the history of the time through interactive blockhouse exhibits, guided tours and multimedia presentations.

With a beautiful view of the Maumee River, you and your family can enjoy a day trip through history together. Plan for a minimum of three-hour visit.

Fort Meigs
29100 W. River Rd, Perrysburg, OH 43551
Website

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The Toledo Symphony Orchestra

If you enjoy music a visit to the Toledo Symphony Orchestra is a must. With 65 professional musicians and numerous additional players throughout the year, the symphony offers several concert series including their Masterworks, Pops, Mozart in the Afternoon, and Family Series. They also provide a free “Music Under the Stars” series each summer at the Toledo Zoo.

In addition to their concert events, the symphony offers the Toledo Symphony School of Music where families can learn and experience music with private lessons, group classes, and special educational performances.

Visit their website for a full list of events or call for more information about their educational programs.

The Toledo Symphony Orchestra
1838 Parkwood Ave., Toledo, OH 43604
Website

Fossil Park

As one of only two geological parks in the world with Devonian Era sites, Fossil Park is fun for the whole family. Bring your buckets and plan on getting dirty as you dig for fossilized brachiopods, coral and other prehistoric life that lived in Ohio 375 million years ago.

The soft shale is easy enough to break open with bare hands, so tools are unnecessary and prohibited, but it is recommended that you bring a brush to clean your fossils and a container to carry them home. If the weather is sunny, be sure to bring sunscreen since the digging areas are uncovered without trees or shade.

The park also offers a variety of other activities including a playground, walking and bike trails, fishing, picnic areas with grills, snow sledding and volleyball courts. Pets are allowed in most areas except the fossil pit. Admission and fossil hunting are free of charge to all visitors.

Fossil Park
5675 Centennial Road, Sylvania, OH
Website

Swan Creek Park

Located in South Toledo, Swan Creek Preserve Metopark offers a nature break when enjoying the many things to do in Toledo.

The park offers five trails with scenic overlooks, a swinging bridge, indoor and outdoor picnic shelters, and two playgrounds. There are also many wildlife viewing areas and feeding stations featured through the park, including a “Windows on Wildlife” mini-nature center.

Open 7am until dark each day, Swan Creek is a great place for a nature break for you and your family when visiting the city.

Swan Creek Preserve Metropark
4301 Airport Hwy, Toledo, OH 43615
Website

National Museum of the Great Lakes

With more than 300 artifacts, audiovisual displays and 40 hands-on interactive exhibits, the rich story of the Great Lakes comes to life at the National Museum of the Great Lakes.

Explore the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship with a self-guided tour that can be enhanced by downloading the guide app from their website and listen to all the points of interest during your visit.

You can easily enjoy all of the exhibits and tours in about two hours, leaving you plenty of time to head over to Tony Packo’s for lunch or dinner.

National Museum of the Great Lakes
1701 Front Street, Toledo, OH 43605
Website

Indian Creek Zoo

Although Indian Creek Zoo is not officially in Toledo or even in Ohio, it’s worth the short 20 minute trip from downtown and across the Michigan border, if you’re looking for fun things to do in Toledo.

This small private zoo offers families the opportunity to meet and encounter a variety of animals up close and personal. In fact, you’re invited to feed many of the animals including rabbits, goats, llamas, donkeys, and camels.

Would you like to pet a sloth or feed a giraffe? With a little advance planning and an additional fee, you can schedule a Sloth Encounter and visit with Hokey and Pokey the zoo’s resident sloths or spend time with Puzzles the giraffe and his friend Jigsaw the alpaca.

Many consider this little zoo a local “gem” that can’t be missed, especially for families with young children. You can experience the zoo comfortably in about 2 hours. The zoo is closed during the coldest part of the winter, so be sure to check their website for their current hours when planning your visit.

Indian Creek Zoo
2740 Consear Road, Lambertville, MI 48144
Website

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Toledo Mud Hens

If you’re a baseball fan, taking in a game at Fifth Third Field is a must do when visiting the city of Toledo. Baseball fun, stadium food, and all the game day entertainment extras can all be found in the Warehouse District. 

The 9,000+ seat stadium is the home of the Toledo Mud Hens (the Triple-A team of the Detroit Tigers) and offers fans a great view from every seat. With 71 regular season games per year, it’s easy to plan a day or evening out and the special promotions schedule and fan experience opportunities won’t disappoint.

If you’re looking for game day food, the stadium offers a wide variety of fan favorites and dining options including the Stouffer’s Mac & Cheese Dog, their popular Muddy Dog, Toft’s Ice Cream, Marco’s Pizza, specialty drinks, and more. Visit their website for all the details and to purchase tickets online.

Toledo Mud Hens
406 Washington Street, Toledo, OH 43604
Website

Tony Packo’s Cafe

You don’t need to head up to Detroit for a great hot dog because Tony Packo’s in Toledo has you covered. Stop in to “The Original” location on Front Street to enjoy their original Hungarian Dog or their Front Street Frank (American Dog), both smothered in mustard, onions, and their special hot dog sauce.

In addition to their famous dogs, Tony Packo’s Menu also includes a variety of other delicious options including Packo’s World-Famous Chili, several tasty pierogies options, specialty dishes, sandwiches, and more. 

Enjoy and savor the food at Tony Packo’s, but the history of the depression area restaurant is just as great. When visiting be sure to look for the famous replica foam “buns” signed by famous visitors and celebrities through the years. They can be found in all locations.

Tony Packo’s Cafe
“The Original” 1902 Front Street, Toledo, OH 43605
Website

Wildwood Preserve Metropark

Full of natural beauty and interesting things to see and do, it’s not hard to understand why the 493-acre estate turned Metropark is visited by 1.5 million visitors per year.

Now preserved and renamed Wildwood Preserve Metropark, the property was once the estate of the Stranahan family, the founders of the Champion Spark Plug Company. The Metropark includes the 30,000 square foot manor house, the Ellen Biddle Shipman Garden, Oak Grove School House, large children’s playground, fit park, as well as many walking/hiking, and bike trails.

Free public tours of the manor house are scheduled on planned days April through October and tours can be arranged for the school house year round.

Wildwood Preserve Metropark
5100 W. Central Ave., Toledo, OH 43615
Website 

Sauder Village

Only one hour west in Archbold, Ohio, Sauder Village is a perfect add on destination trip from Toledo. The Historic Village offers families an opportunity to camp, explore, shop, dine, play and more.

Take a ride on the Erie Express Train, play pioneer at the Little Pioneer’s Homestead, visit the animals in the barnyard, take a pottery class, learn to make your own butter, explore the 1920s Main Street, learn from specialty craftsmen, and so much more than we can list. Enjoy a day, but plan at least two to see and enjoy everything Sauder Village has to offer.

If you’re looking to stay overnight during your visit, you’ll find affordable accommodations on site at The Sauder Heritage Inn and Campgrounds with a variety of amenities and discount packages. See their website for all this location offers.

Sauder Village
22611 State Route 2, Archbold, OH 43502
Website

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