Known as the “Glass City” for its history of glass manufacturing, Toledo offers visitors much more than Museum glass. This northwest Ohio city provides a vibrant mix of arts, culture, sports, and outdoor adventures.
| Attraction | Description |
|---|---|
| Toledo Museum of Art | Nationally renowned, features over 30,000 works. |
| Toledo Zoo | Over 5,000 animals, immersive habitats. |
| National Museum of the Great Lakes | Maritime history exhibits, shipwreck stories. |
| Imagination Station | Interactive STEM activities and exhibits. |
| Fifth Third Field | Minor League baseball, home of the Toledo Mud Hens. |
| Toledo Botanical Garden | 60 acres of gardens and natural areas. |
| Toledo Metroparks | Nearly 300 miles of trails and recreational spaces. |
| Glass Pavilion | Showcases 20th and 21st-century glass artworks. |
| Sawmill Creek Resort | Resort with accommodations, golf, spa, and dining. |
| Hollywood Casino Toledo | Vegas-style casino with slots and table games. |
| Main Street | Shops, galleries, eateries in a walkable area. |
| Walleye Run | Annual event celebrating walleye migration. |
From world-renowned art museums to Mud Hens baseball games, Toledo keeps visitors engaged with an array of attractions. Below are the top 12 things to experience when visiting Toledo.
Toledo Museum of Art
Name and Location: Toledo Museum of Art in Toledo, Ohio.
History and Significance: Founded in 1901, this renowned art museum has an extensive collection spanning 5,000 years. Admission is free.
What to Expect: European paintings, ancient sculptures, decorative arts, and special exhibitions. The Glass Pavilion showcases glass art.
Visitor Information: Open Tuesday-Sunday. Free admission, $8 parking fee.
With an exceptional collection of over 30,000 works spanning 5,000 years, the Toledo Museum of Art is one of the nation’s finest art museums. Galleries showcase an incredible array of exhibits from ancient Greek ceramics to contemporary African-American art.
Don’t miss masterpieces by El Greco, Renoir, Monet, and Picasso plus the Glass Pavilion showcasing Toledo’s famous glass art. Admission is free for this world-class museum.
Toledo Zoo
Name and Location: Toledo Zoo in Toledo, Ohio.
History and Significance: One of the nation’s top zoos, featuring over 5,000 animals. Opened in 1900, it contributes to conservation and education.
What to Expect: See tigers, elephants, gorillas, polar bears, giraffes, and more in naturalistic exhibits. Rides and shows offered seasonally.
Visitor Information: Open daily year-round. Admission fee required. Parking onsite for a fee.
Families flock to the Toledo Zoo to see over 5,000 animals from polar bears to red pandas. This modern zoo excels in immersive habitats like the Arctic Encounter with playful polar bears tumbling across tundra or the realistic African Savanna.
Little ones go wild in the indoor Jungle play spaces while the Aquarium immerses visitors in an underwater world. With reasonable prices, engaging exhibits and hands-on activities, Toledo Zoo makes for an exciting day out.
National Museum of the Great Lakes
Name and Location: National Museum of the Great Lakes in Toledo, Ohio.
History and Significance: Highlights the history of transportation, commerce, and industry on the Great Lakes through interactive exhibits.
What to Expect: Ship models, artifacts, immersive galleries, and hands-on activities teach about lighthouses, shipwrecks, sailing, and more.
Visitor Information: Open daily. Admission fee required, free parking onsite.
Located at Toledo’s waterfront, this museum brings the region’s maritime history to life through fascinating exhibits and artifacts. Learn about dramatic lake shipwrecks, the role of navigation, and the daring exploits of the U.S. Lifesaving Service.
Step aboard the Col. James M. Schoonmaker, a 1911 freighter docked outside the museum. From Native American canoes to modern freighters, the Great Lakes’ rich maritime heritage unfolds at this innovative museum.
Imagination Station
Name and Location: Imagination Station in Toledo, Ohio.
History and Significance: Hands-on science museum with interactive exhibits focused on STEM learning for all ages.
What to Expect: Fun educational displays to touch, build, and experiment with. Planetarium and outdoor science park onsite.
Visitor Information: Open Tuesday-Saturday. Admission fee required. Free parking onsite.
Toledo’s science museum bursts with interactive STEM fun for kids of all ages. Create your own animation or step into the role of a weather forecaster. Experience zero gravity in the Gravity Room or get hands-on with science experiments in the lab. Take in spectacular films in the 360° Dome Theater. With new rotating exhibits, there’s always fresh STEM discoveries to be made at Imagination Station.
Fifth Third Field
Name and Location: Fifth Third Field in Toledo, Ohio.
History and Significance: Home of the Toledo Mud Hens minor league baseball team since 2002, located downtown.
What to Expect: Cheer on the Mud Hens during baseball season. Enjoy ballpark food and entertainment at games.
Visitor Information: Season runs April-September. Ticket prices vary per game.
Experience Minor League excitement watching the Toledo Mud Hens play ball at Fifth Third Field. Downtown’s sleek ballpark hosts the popular Detroit Tigers farm team from April through September.
Enjoy concessions like Klinger’s hot dogs and thirst-quenching local brews while watching future Major Leaguers competing on the diamond. Don’t miss fun traditions like kids running the bases post-game fireworks on summer weekends.
Toledo Botanical Garden
Name and Location: Toledo Botanical Garden in Toledo, Ohio.
History and Significance: These urban gardens feature thousands of plant species and educate visitors on gardening since opening in 2000.
What to Expect: Stroll through themed gardens, greenhouses, and wooded areas. Gift shop and programs onsite.
Visitor Information: Open daily April-October. Entry fee required. Free parking onsite.
Explore 60 beautiful acres blooming with seasonal floral displays at the Toledo Botanical Garden. The graceful Historic Gardens feature formal rose gardens accented by sparkling fountains plus cottage garden designs. The Natural Areas recreate woodland, prairie, and wetland habitats with winding trails to follow. Attend weekend classes, join a garden club, or simply wander this scenic oasis in the center of the city.
Toledo Metroparks
Name and Location: Toledo Metroparks throughout Northwest Ohio.
History and Significance: The Metroparks system protects natural areas in and around Toledo while offering recreation opportunities.
What to Expect: Trails, gardens, nature centers, golf courses, fishing areas, scenic parks, and outdoor programming.
Visitor Information: Parks open daily dawn to dusk. Free entry, parking fees at some lots.
Toledo Metroparks maintains nearly 300 miles of trails through peaceful wooded areas and along riverbanks encircling the city. Bike, jog, or stroll routes winding past wildflowers and wetlands.
Rent a kayak and paddle down the Ottawa River Water Trail or cast for walleye in the Maumee River. Winter brings sledding hills, ice-skating ponds, and groomed cross-country ski paths. With so many easily accessible recreational opportunities, Metroparks are Toledo’s natural gem.
Toledo Museum of Art Glass Pavilion
Name and Location: Toledo Museum of Art Glass Pavilion in Toledo, Ohio.
History and Significance: This stunning glass pavilion opened in 2006 to showcase the museum’s renowned glass collection.
What to Expect: See one of the world’s best glass collections with pieces dating back thousands of years. Watch live demos.
Visitor Information: Open Tuesday-Sunday. Free admission, $8 for parking.
This striking architectural marvel next to the Toledo Museum of Art celebrates Toledo’s history as the Glass City. The Glass Pavilion’s airy galleries showcase stunning 20th and 21st century glass artworks by masters like Chihuly and Tiffany. Watch live glassblowing demonstrations by resident artisans and try glassworking yourself in the hot shop. Weekend glass art workshops allow visitors to blow or fuse their own glass piece to take home.
National Museum of the Great Lakes
Name and Location: National Museum of the Great Lakes in Toledo, Ohio.
History and Significance: Showcases the history of transportation, commerce, and industry on the Great Lakes through interactive exhibits.
What to Expect: Ship models, artifacts, immersive galleries, and hands-on activities teach about sailing, shipwrecks, and more.
Visitor Information: Open daily. Admission fee required, free parking onsite.
Located at Toledo’s waterfront, this museum brings the region’s maritime history to life through fascinating exhibits and artifacts. Learn about dramatic lake shipwrecks, the role of navigation, and the daring exploits of the U.S. Lifesaving Service. Step aboard the Col. James M. Schoonmaker, a 1911 freighter docked outside the museum. From Native American canoes to modern freighters, the Great Lakes’ rich maritime heritage unfolds at this innovative museum.
Sawmill Creek Resort
Name and Location: Sawmill Creek Resort in Huron, Ohio.
History and Significance: This lakeside resort has offered accommodations, dining, and recreation on Lake Erie since opening in the mid-1970s.
What to Expect: Hotel suites, restaurants, indoor waterpark, spa, golf course, marina and seasonal activities.
Visitor Information: Resort open year-round. Booking in advance is recommended. Fees for rooms, amenities.
Just a short drive from Toledo in Huron, Sawmill Creek Resort makes for a fun weekend getaway. This all-seasons resort set on 240 scenic acres offers varied accommodations from hotel rooms to luxury cottages. Play a round on the 18-hole course, relax in the full-service spa, or let the kids go wild at Camp Sawmill. Dine at one of 7 restaurants and then cozy up around an outdoor firepit under the stars.
Hollywood Casino Toledo
Name and Location: Hollywood Casino Toledo in Toledo, Ohio.
History and Significance: Northwest Ohio’s first full-service casino opened in 2012 with slots, table games, dining and entertainment.
What to Expect: Try your luck at slots and table games. Dine at one of several onsite restaurants. Catch live music performances.
Visitor Information: Open 24 hours daily. Must be 21+ to game. Valid ID required.
Try your luck at the Hollywood Casino Toledo located conveniently just off I-75. This Vegas-style casino thrills with 2,000 slot machines from penny to $100 slots and tables games from blackjack to craps. Dine in style at Final Cut Steakhouse before catching major music acts and comedians performing at the H Lounge. With so much gaming action under one roof, Hollywood Casino makes an exciting night out.
Main Street
Name and Location: Main Street in Toledo, Ohio.
History and Significance: Historic center of downtown Toledo’s business, dining and entertainment district.
What to Expect: Trendy restaurants, shops, cafes and nightlife. Events like art walks and festivals held throughout the year.
Visitor Information: Main Street open year-round. Metered street parking and parking garages nearby.
Historic Main Street offers a delightful collection of locally owned shops, galleries, and eateries in a walkable neighborhood setting. Find handmade jewelry and pottery in artisan boutiques, fresh produce and gourmet items at the Peacock Lane market, or antiques and vintage wares at unique shops. Grab an al fresco lunch on a patio before strolling through pretty Scott and Schade Parks in the heart of Main Street.
Walleye Run
Name and Location: Walleye Run in Toledo, Ohio.
History and Significance: Annual three-day walleye fishing festival on the Maumee River dating back to the 1980s.
What to Expect: Walleye fishing, live music, contests, food vendors and family activities celebrate the spring walleye run.
Visitor Information: Takes place in May. Free event but fees for fishing and food.
Each spring, Toledo celebrates the annual migration of walleye upstream from Lake Erie to spawn in the Maumee River. The Walleye Run Festival brings the community together to welcome the seasonal visitors running from late February into March.
Join in the festivities with a taste of fried Lake Erie walleye, live music, children’s activities, and more. Locals flock to the river to try their hand at snagging the popular game fish as they swim upstream.
Conclusion
From world-renowned museums to a lively downtown district, Toledo provides engaging attractions for any visitor. Families will love hands-on museums like Imagination Station and the Toledo Zoo. Outdoor enthusiasts find miles of trails and recreation with MetroParks and Sawmill Creek Resort nearby.
Sports fans cheer on the Mud Hens at the ballpark while nightlife seekers can try their luck at Hollywood Casino. Toledo marries rich history and culture with affordable experiences to delight visitors of all interests.