Family Fun | Destination Toledo (2024)

From beginners to experienced climbers, Adventus Climbing Center creates space for anyone to climb. This family-friendly, indoor rock-climbing facility believes in building healthy people, healthy families, and healthy communities through introducing Northwest Ohio to the sport ofclimbing.
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The 12,000 square foot climbing center features bouldering, top rope,auto-belays, and lead climbing, in addition to a fitness area, retail and private room available for groups. The outdoor space has bicycle parking and a fire pit.

Located at 2900 N. Reynolds Road just minutes from I-475/23 and adjacent to theToledo Metroparks and University/Parks Trail.

Come for a day of fun, education, and entertainment. Home to over 400 of the world's most beautiful and exotic animals. We are located 17 miles west of Cedar Point.

Make sure you bring your camera as you view and feed the animals from the comfort of your own vehicle. Our 100-acre preserve is something you don’t want to miss. Walk on the WILD side and visit more exotic animals in our Walk-Thru Safari! Your Admission includes our EdZOOcation Vacation programs, the HogWILD experience, and our Aviary Adventure! There’s so much more to see and do in the Walk-Thru — and don’t forget to take a spin on a Camel!

The pay-one-price admission includes our drive-thru safari and safari junction walk-thru. Your kids won’t want to leave because there is so much to do!

The museum offers over 10,000 square feet of exhibit, research, and presentation space to engage every visitor.
There are eight main exhibit areas within the museum. Many have unique learning centers for children and adults. There are over 40 hands-on activities, as we believehistory becomes more real when you get to touch!

A gift shop, research library, theater, and presentation room allow guests to experience the American Civil War in many new ways.

The Black Swamp Bird Observatory (BSBO) Office, Visitor Center and Gift Shopis located at theentrance of Magee Marsh Wildlife Area.

The mission of the BSBO is to inspire the appreciation, enjoyment,and conservation of birds and their habitats through research, education, and outreach.

BSBO also organizes and hosts the Biggest Week In American Birding: a 10-day birding festival timed tocoincidewith the peak of spring songbird migration in early May. The festival also markets the area to birders around the world.

Blue Creek is a quiet country retreat where visitors can walk a looped trail through a wetland and around a quarry pond, drop a fishing line or launch a kayak at a larger quarry.

The trail begins near an old hog barn on Schadel Road. On Providence Road (behind the Whitehouse village offices), the former Nona France quarry is also open for kayaking, stand up paddleboating or fishing from shore or small boats. Both areas are open for daily use, 7 a.m. until dark.

The property features glacial grooves, a pond, a wetland and an oak savanna. A focal point is a 20,873-square-foot barn with a gambrel roof and plank frame built in the late 1920s. The barn and other out buildings were part of the Toledo House of Corrections, also known as "The Workhouse," a jail where the inmates tended to the farm.

Spend the day at Cedar Point, the roller coaster capital of the world. Begin planning your trip to the best amusem*nt park in Ohio. If adrenaline activities are what you crave, then Cedar Point won’t disappoint. You won’t find a better thrill seeking experience anywhere else. Best of all – there are even more thrills than coasters just ready and waiting for thrill seekers who are brave enough to tackle them all! We've got family fun for everyone! Your little ones will be overwhelmed with joy as thay explore our three kids play areas, meet Snoopy and the PEANUTS and dream of growing above 48" to tackle the big coasters!

Cool down at Cedar Point Shores Waterpark featuring 18 acres of splish-splashin' family fun! Kids will love Lakeslide Landing where pint-sized slides, geysers and fountains are fun to play around. And our mythical Lake Erie monster, Lemmy, is ready to play at Lemmy’s Lagoon. Test your courage on our four capsule drop slide, Point Plummet.

Amenities and features at Farnsworth include indoor and picnic shelter rental, fishing, overnight camping (see Camping page) and historical WPA buildings and bridges.

The park is at one end of the Towpath Trail that connects it with Bend View and Providence Metroparks. The Interurban Bridge, which crosses the river at Farnsworth, is partially built atop Roche de Bout, a large, protruding rock in the river that served as an early landmark for native people, European explorers and armies. The abandoned span, once the world's largest earth-filled, concrete reinforced bridge, was part of a commuter railway system.

Fifth Third Field is an 8,943 seat minor league stadium and home to the world-class Triple-A minor league baseball team, The Toledo Mud Hens, affiliate of the Detroit Tigers.

The stadium was named one of the best minor league ballparks in America by Newsweek and ESPN.com has rated The Roost section of Fifth Third Field as one of the best seats in minor league baseball to watch a game. The Suite Level and concourse floor host special events open to the public, like our Winter Brewfest and more. So slip on your Mud Hens Jersey and join in with the crowd chanting "Let's go Hens!"

Fort Meigs is a War of 1812 battlefield located in Perrysburg, Ohio. A reconstructed fort and museum help bring history alive. Fort Meigs is one of fifty-eight sites within the Ohio Historical Society. Along with school tours and interactive displays, a number of reenactments and special events take place here throughout the summer. Dedicated staff and volunteers allow Fort Meigs to bring fun and education to hundreds of visitors each year.

Fort open: April - October - Closed Monday & Tuesday and holidays except Memorial Day & July 4
Hours: Wednesday - Saturday: 9:30 - 5:00 p.m. Sunday: 12:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Fort Meigs Museum open year-round.

You may have been to trampoline parks, skating rinks, bounce house parks and haunted houses, but you've never seen an indoor venue with the plethora of attractions that Ghostly Manor Thrill Center offers. It's no wonder why the amusem*nt center has been featured on The Travel Channel's "Best Places I've Ever Been" series and recognized by Forbes Magazine.

Our family friendly entertainment center is perfect for groups and has something for all ages including: Wizard's Journey indoor mini golf, Ghostly Manor Haunted House, XD 4D Motion Theater (with five different rides), roller skating, a booming arcade, bounce houses, jungle gym and a snack bar with a full menu.

Heritage Sylvania is a multi-site history experience located in historic Sylvania. We present national history through a local lens: The Village is a collection of historic buildings including an 1840s log home and Sylvania’s original 1850s train Depot, telling the story of the development of NW Ohio.

• The Lathrop House is the only Underground Railroad site in NW Ohio open to the public. Learn the about the Lathrops and the enslaved peoples that stopped on their way to freedom.
• The Cooke/Kuhlman Home is the home and office of Dr. Uriah Cooke an early 20th century physician.
• The Archives is a vast resource of documents, photos and personal telling the history of the families and businesses in our area.

We invite you to explore the past with us. From adult tours to student programs, classes to lectures, Community Days to Celebration of Freedom, exhibits to hands on experiences, we engage audiences of all ages.

Howard Marsh, on State Route 2 at Howard Road, is scheduled to open to the public in spring 2018 with six miles of water trail for canoeing and kayaking and five miles of dike-top trails for hiking.Howard Marsh will help restore the coastal wetlands that are critically important to a healthy Lake Erie.

The future Metropark is adjacent to the Metzger Marsh State Wildlife Area in a region that also includes Maumee Bay State Park, Magee Marsh State Wildlife Area and the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge. Together, these local, state and federal public lands are known for their concentration of songbirds, or warblers, especially during spring migration.

A unique place that offers up-close viewing of exotic animals such as Zebras, Camels, Emus, Wallabies, Kangaroos, Lemurs, Donkey, Goats, Alpacas, Black Buck Antelopes, Marmosets, Porcupine, Sheep, Coatimundi, Tayra, Cows, Bison, Bunnies, Alligators, Chickens, Peaco*cks, & much more making it one of the best zoos in Michigan! Fun for all ages! Great for preschool outings, field trips, birthday parties and more!

Famous for our Apple Butter Stir Festival held every year on the first weekend of October, MacQueen's Orchards farm market is open year round, providing you with farm fresh fruits and vegetables, cider, fresh pies and treats from the bakery and a terrific selection of unique gifts, home decor and keepsakes.

MacQueen's grows 16 varieties of apples and 10 varieties of peaches, plus we sell a large variety of all your favorite, seasonal locally grown vegetables year round. Also, be sure you plan several visits to Martha's Gift Shop and Boutique and the Christmas Shop for unique gifts not found in most other stores.

Middlegrounds, located in downtown Toledo, features a half-mile of reclaimed riverfront property that begins at the Anthony Wayne Bridge and extends southwest of Martin Luther King Plaza. The urban, 28-acre greenspace offers a 1.5-mile meandering walk/bike path and tranquil views of the Maumee River from a beautiful wood deck.

Kayaks can be rented by the hour from River Lures to paddle the Maumee River in downtown Toledo and along the scenic Swan Creek. Power-assist bicycles are also available to rent.

Rentals are open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends and holidays from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend.

The organization is dedicated to helping Fulton County, Ohio utilize its heritage to promote tourism while collecting, preserving, and interpreting its local cultural, historical, and natural resources.
The Museum of Fulton County is housed in a recreation of the original county courthouse. The Museum houses special rotating exhibits and a permanent timeline. Experience thirteen exhibits that include: Native American artifacts, the Tiffany & Co. sword of Civil War Brigadier General Edwin Hayes, a rare Amish-Mennonite blanket chest, and the cradle of famed race car driver Barney Oldfield.
The Museum area of the building also houses the Speiss Research Center available by appointment for archival research.
Plan to visit – you will not be disappointed.

Open April through November -10am to 4pm Monday through Saturday, Sunday Noon to 4pm. Closed holidays.
Check our website for special seasonal hours and events. Group tours available.

Oak Openings features more than 50 miles of multi-purpose trails (including horse trails), camping and a Window on Wildlife.

Pioneers trudging through a dense swamp called this area “Oak Openings.” Most of the park is an oak savanna ecosystem, characterized by alternating wetlands and vegetated dunes. The Nature Conservancy once named the sandy region one of the 200 “Last Great Places on Earth.”

Prickly-pear cactus, wild lupine and sand cherry bloom atop dry, hot sand dunes just yards away from orchids growing in low, wet swales. Stands of isolated pine and spruce planted by the WPA during the Great Depression are still visible.

Oak Openings is a birder's paradise. It is the nesting place of bluebirds, indigo buntings, whippoorwills, lark sparrows and many other species, as well as an excellent location to see migrating warblers in the spring.

Activities and attractions include baseball diamonds, soccer fields, tennis courts, fishing, pedal boat concession, a playground, ice skating, sledding hill and the Black Swamp Cabin.

This Metropark is one of the last remaining stands of the Great Black Swamp, a notorious forest that once blanketed much of northwest Ohio. Purple cress, spring beauties, trillium, wild ginger and wild geranium bloom in spring. Buildings, shelters, bridges, ponds and a garden with a waterfall were built by workers enrolled in the Works Progress Administration and Civilian Conservation Corps.

The thick woods and location close to Lake Erie make Pearson a favorite stopover for a wide variety of migrating birds.About three miles of trails crisscross this 624-acre park—trails that often provide remarkable access to the best birding anywhere.

Canal boats once carried goods and people 249 miles between Toledo and Cincinnati, linking Lake Erie and the Ohio River. At Providence, you can get a sense of what canal travel was like during a trip aboard an authentic, mule-drawn canal boat on an original section of the Miami and Erie Canal.

The Providence Dam, just upriver from another attraction, the Isaac Ludwig Mill, was originally constructed to keep the canal filled with water. The canal boat and mill are open May through October.

Attractions and features include the canal experience complete with the authentic canal boat and historic mill, fishing, an aerial view of Providence Dam, indoor and picnic shelter rentals, a playground and historic WPA buildings and bridges.

Take a step back in time at Ohio’s largest living-history village that captures Ohio life from 1803 to 1928. Explore more than 40 historic homes and shops, visit with costumed guides and working craftsmen, try unique hands-on activities and so much more! Have fun learning something new while making special memories together! Other amenities include a restaurant, inn, conference facilities, a campground, bakery and on-site shopping.

Located less than an hour west of Toledo off the Ohio Turnpike I-80/90.

At the Schedel Arboretum and Gardens, it's spring year-round. See gardens of nearly 20,000 annuals, roses, perennials, irises and lilies, including a Japanese garden complete with Torii, waterfall, pools, lanterns, bridges and a pagoda.

Guided tours of the grounds are available by appointment (an additional fee applies). Tours take approximately 60-90 minutes. Please contact us for details and to make arrangements. Visit our hidden treasure in Elmore, just 30 minutes southeast from Toledo.

Attractions and amenities include large picnic areas, ski trail, playground, playing fields, indoor meeting rooms and picnic shelters, and wildlife feedings stations with indoor viewing areas, called Windows on Wildlife.

In 2003, The National Center for Nature Photography opened on the site, rotating exhibits from prominent nature photographers.

Many distinguishing characteristics of this charming park include its location in the Oak Openings Region, northwest Ohio's largest concentration of native dogwood and a restored tallgrass prairie.The park opened in 1953, made possible from the revenue from a parking lot bequeathed by Arthur J Secor. The land had once belonged to the Jacob Wolfinger Farm, and a family cemetery is still maintained onsite. It is the only cemetery in existence in Richfield township.

Side Cut is a refuge for fishermen from around the country as walleye swim upriver to spawn. The "spring run" is the largest of its kind on the Great Lakes.

Activities and attractions within Side Cut include river and canal access for fishing and paddling sports, a sledding hill, playground, indoor and picnic shelters, and wildlife feeding stations with indoor viewing areas, called Windows on Wildlife.

A former extension of the Miami and Erie Canals, Side Cut is one of a series of riverfront parks. The flat rocks that extend into the river between Maumee and Waterville are known as the Maumee River Ledges, a rare form of a little-known habitat called an alvar, found in only a handful of places on the Great Lakes. Three of the six original locks from the canal system were preserved by WPA workers during the Depression.

Automobile history comes alive in this 1940s-style Texaco service station. The car collection features models from the 1930s to the 1960s, includes coupes, convertibles, sedans, roadsters and race cars, made by Cadillac, Ford, Chevrolet, Pontiac, Packard, Kaiser, Willys, Jaguar, Triumph, MG, and Alfa Romeo displayed in period scenes. Memorabilia collection includes model cars, toy cars, die- cast banks, signs, advertising items, oil cans, period auto accessories, coin-operated machines and games, pedal cars, a kiddie ride, and much more.

HOURS: Mon-Fri:8 am to Noon, 1 pm to 5 pm; Sat. & Sun: By appointment, or by chance

Swan Creek spans 441 acres and an additional 154 acres along the Swan Creek Corridor. Activities and attractions include scenic overlooks along the walking trails, a swinging bridge, indoor and picnic shelters, a playground and wildlife feedings stations with indoor viewing areas, called Windows on Wildlife.

The South Toledo park named for the creek is an oasis in an urban area, providing crucial feeding and resting ground for migratory birds and a nesting area for resident species. The forested banks of Swan Creek offer a sheltered corridor of wild vegetation in the midst of the city. Animals such as deer, fox and raccoon use the corridor to move between feeding, resting and mating areas.

Fallen Timbers Battlefield is a pleasant 1.5 mile Northwest Territory Trail which loops through a wooded area and over a ravine where the 1794 Battle of Fallen Timbers took place. Along the way, visitors will encounter interpretive areas providing information about various aspects of the battle. The battlefield may be accessed in Maumee at the intersection of US 23/I-475 and US 24 (Anthony Wayne Trail). A parking lot and visitors center are located on Jerome Road.

Fallen Timbers Monument is across the Anthony Wayne Trail from the actual battlefield. A bike/pedestrian bridge connects the two sites. The monument is situated on a bluff overlooking Side Cut Metropark and the beautiful Maumee River.

For avid history buffs, Fort Miamis (the British fort), is located several miles away on River Road. It played a role in the Battle of Fallen Timbers and, later, the War of 1812. The park is open to the public and much of the earthworks used to create the fort are still visible.

A museum for plants, Toledo Botanical Garden offers visitors the opportunity to share, discover and enjoy nature’s beauty. With over sixty acres of display gardens and relevant plant collections, TBG is full of beauty, tranquility and opportunities for exploration and reflection.

Green thumbs come to the Garden to learn more about the varieties of annuals and perennials nestled within the various beds and look for ways to incorporate new ideas into their home landscapes. Art lovers are inspired by original sculptures located throughout the Garden and our annual Crosby Festival of the Arts. Music enthusiasts groove to the smooth sounds of local jazz performers during our summer concert series. And children become engaged in our natural world through educational, hands-on plant exploration and pioneer living activities.

The Toledo Farmers' Market is a unique part of the history of the city. Fresh produce, meats, jams, coffee, baked goods, hand crafted soaps, jewelry andthe Riverwalk along Swan Creek provides a nice place to relax while at the Market.

Downtown Toledo Farmers' Market is Open Every Saturday Year-Round! Check our website calendar of events for May's Flower-Day Weekend, Kid's weekend and other special events.

Hours: Saturdays, May throughNovember from 8 am-2 pm. OurWinter Market runs Saturdays, December through Aprilfrom 9 am-1 pm.

Tales of firefighting 150 years ago come alive amidst vintage pumpers, uniforms and equipment used by the city's first bucket brigade. You will also find ornate speaking trumpets, sweat sticks used to sweep lather from horses, fire gongs, bells, badges and buckets and tons of Toledo area memorabilia.

Open most Saturdays from Noon to 4 p.m. Group tours weekdays, evenings and Sundays by appointment. Admission is FREE!

Located in the heart of downtown Toledo at a storefront in the historic Valentine Building. The Toledo History Museum offers a glimpse into our rich and diverse past. THM offers a wide variety of events throughout the year which include our popular Glass City Garters, Gambling, Gangsters and Gin tour, lectures, and educational programming for young and old. There is something for everyone at Toledo History Museum. Please check our website for a schedule of events.

Hours: Saturday 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Admission is Free, donations are appreciated. The Toledo History Museum (THM) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the history of the Toledo, Ohio area and will collaborate in this ongoing effort with other historical organizations.

More than 30,000 works of art represent American and European painting, the history of art in glass, ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian works, Asian and African art, medieval art, sculpture, decorative arts, graphic arts, and modern and contemporary art.

The main Museum building interior contains four and a half acres of floor space on two levels. It has 45 galleries, 15 classroom studios, the 1,750-seat Peristyle concert hall, the 176-seat Little Theater lecture hall, the Family Center, the Museum Café, and the Museum Store featuring Collector’s Corner.

The Toledo Museum of Art opens its collection to the public—free of charge—six days a week, 309 days a year. We are closed on Mondays and major holidays.

Museum galleries are fully accessible. Free wheelchairs and strollers are available at each entrance of the main Museum building and the Glass Pavilion.

The Glass Pavilion is home to the Toledo Museum of Art's world-renowned glass collection and features more than 5,000 works of art from ancient to contemporary times.

The Glass Pavilion itself is a work of art.All exterior and almost all interior walls consist of large curved glass panels creating a transparent structure that blurs the boundaries between interior and exterior spaces.

Also included are galleries for special glass exhibitions, artist studios, demonstration areas, and spaces for education and special events.

The Glass Pavilion is located directly across Monroe Street from the Main Museum with parking adjacent to the building. It is open during regular Museum hours, and admission is free.

The Toledo Police Museum is located in beautiful Historic Ottawa Park. Visitors to the museum are able follow a timeline of the history of the Toledo Police Department, view a collection of historical artifacts and participate in interactive exhibits, which include entering a mock jail cell and having a mug shot photo taken from a 1920’s era booking camera.

Get your single game tickets now! Tickets can be purchased at the Huntington Center, Fifth Third Field or online.See the season schedule for more information [Click here].

The Swamp Shop is the official store for Walleye Hockey merchandise. Merchandise is provided in an effort to offer the most extensive selection of officially licensed Walleye Hockey products. Toledo Mud Hens merchandise is also available. Shop the Swamp Shop online at www.toledowalleye.com/swampshop.

The Swamp Shop at Huntington Center - call for hours of operation.

The Swamp Shop at Hensville Hours - M-F 11am-5pm and Sat 10am-4pm.

Visit the Must Do Zoo! The Toledo Zoo & Aquarium is home to more than 10,000 individual animals representing over 720 species. Immerse yourself in the wonder of 3,000+ aquatic animal and get your hands wet with sharks, sting rays and crabs in the Aquarium. Explore animals throughout time in the new ProMedica Museum of Natural History. Visiting the Toledo Zoo is like three attractions in one!

The Toledo Zoo & Aquarium is open year-round with a variety of seasonal celebrations like the Lights Before Christmas, rated Best Zoo Lights in America by USA Today readers. Each winter the zoo is illuminated for one of Toledo's favorite holiday traditions with over a million sparkling lights, animated displays, special winter activities and much more.

Northwest Ohio's premier rails-to-trails project is also one of the longest in the state, stretching 64 miles through four counties and Oak Openings, Ohio's most unique natural area.

The trail follows two former rail lines forming a North Fork and South Fork, which converge at Jerome Road in Maumee, near the Fallen Timbers Battlefield.

The North Fork runs east and west for 46 miles, from Maumee to Montpelier, Ohio, coming within 15 miles of the Indiana state line. It is paved to the Lucas County border. A paved connection links the Wabash Cannonball with the 5.3-miles Oak Opening Preserve all-purpose trail.

Monday - Friday
11:30-2:00pm

Toledo's only public archery range and 3D archery course.

Bring your own equipment during normal operating hours, or you can attend special training programs offered through Metroparks, generally by reservation. See the Outdoor Skills programs listed at www.MetroparksPrograms.com for upcoming events.

Westwinds is also home to the Flying Tigers Model RC Club, and its members can often be seen flying their remote-control aircraft from the airstrip that they maintain.

Additional features at the park include a shelter and a planned walking trail.

The Wildwood Manor House is a Toledo icon and the centerpiece of the beautiful estate grounds now known as Wildwood Preserve Metropark. The Georgian Colonial home is open for free tours and hosts a variety of cultural and historical events, including the popular Tea in the Solarium.

Join us for Holidays in the Manor House! For over 30 years, local volunteers have decorated the Manor House for the holiday season. Come enjoy the festivities beginningthe first Saturday in December.

The 493-acre park is the former estate of Toledo’s Stranahan family. Surrounded by natural habit, the stately home, now called the Manor House, played important roles in Toledo—and the park district's—history.

Built in 1938 by Champion Spark Plug magnate Robert Stranahan, the Manor House and the estate were purchased by Metroparks in 1975. The house, crafted in a Georgian colonial style, is open for free tours and decorated for the holidays.

The main attraction at Wildwood is the system of trails that traverse varied terrain (a treat in the flatlands of northwest Ohio).

The prairie community at Wildwood is home to many diverse and fascinating plants and animals. In the spring, it is a breeding site for ground-nesting birds such as rufous-sided towhees, field sparrows and American woodco*ck. Summer brings a spectacular display of prairie wildflowers and grasses, such as rough blazing star, big bluestem and Indian grasses, some reaching 10 feet high.

From lazing on the shore to fishing off the dock, Wiregrass Lake makes for a lovely day on the water.

The namesake lake is the first thing you will notice at Wiregrass. The scenic water is open for canoeing and kayaking, as well as fishing from the shore or the dock. An accessible launch with rollers is available to assist paddlers entering or returning from the lake.

But there is more to Wiregrass than the lake. The restored natural areas include rare wet prairie. Naturalists marvel at the variety of dragonflies found on the property—a collection of these beautiful insects that is unmatched anywhere else in Ohio.

Attractions and activities at Wiregrass Lake include the boat dock with canoe and kayak launch and three primitive camping sites near the lakeshore.

Open to the public Saturdays for afternoon tours and by appointment May through mid-December. Seven historic buildings are filled with art and artifacts representative of 19th century life and culture in the Maumee River Valley, beginning with the era of Tec*mseh and William Henry Harrison, and continuing through the heydays of the "canal sharks" and the "iron horsem*n". Check out our website for special events open to the public throughout the year.

The historic Monclova Church on the grounds of the Wolcott Heritage Center was built in 1901, and is a perfect venue for intimate wedding ceremonies and special events. The church's Gothic architecture is elegant in its simplicity and also offers a large dressing/meeting room, kitchenette, and two restrooms located in the lower level. Accommodating up to 100 guests, the church has state-of-the-art heating and cooling systems for year-round comfort.