Toledo, OH Road Trips

People had big dreams for Toledo. The location of the city at the end of Lake Erie was an ideal Midwest port, but was in the inhospitable Great Black Swamp (Which is now drained). Early settlers spent years digging drainage ditches through the swamp, and lining them with clay tiles, battling disease along the way. Due to a border dispute, Michigan and Ohio briefly went to war over the land containing Toledo in the 1830s. The 'Toledo War' was a nearly bloodless boundary dispute with Michigan in the 1830s. By an act of Congress, Ohio was awarded the city, while Michigan was granted the Upper Peninsula as a consolation prize. Later settlers came over from Eastern Europe, or up from down south, to work on the Miami and Erie Canal, and still later to work in local factories that made early automobiles and auto parts. Because of its industrial heritage Toledo became the birthplace of Libbey Glass, modern chewing gum, the modern scale, and Jeep vehicles. Toledo is a city with a metro population of 608,000, the fourth largest city in Ohio. Toledo has a big local university, an independent daily newspaper, and historic buildings downtown, some of which have been turned into artists' lofts. The cityscape today provides some good opportunities for photographs of derelict buildings. The city is experiencing a "riverfront renaissance" centered around the Glass City Metropark, which features a popular ice-skating ribbon in winter and scenic walking trails. Toledo is also home to the local favorite Toledo Mud Hens minor league baseball team.

1 Toledo Museum of Art, 2445 Monroe St (at Scottwood Avenue), ☏ +1 419-255-8000, [email protected]. Tu-Th 10AM-4PM, F 10AM-10PM, Sa 10AM-4PM, Su 11AM-5PM, closed Mondays. A historic art museum with works by Vincent Van Gogh, Picasso, Monet, Rembrandt, and other noted artists. Has sections dedicated to works from Japan, Africa, and other locales, and works from antiquity. Houses the Peristyle, a large concert hall inspired by Greek theater. Across the street from the main building is a glass pavilion with large collections of decorative glass pieces and a teaching workshop where glassblowing demonstrations are held. Outside the museum there is a sculpture garden. Free. Fee for parking. Special exhibitions or events may have fees. (updated Jun 2020) 2 Toledo Zoo, 2 Hippo Way, ☏ +1 419-385-4040. Hours: May 1 - Labor Day: 10AM-5PM, Labor Day - April 30: 10AM-4PM. The largest zoo in the region. Has several sections dedicated to specific animals, such as an African section, an Arctic section, a penguin exhibit, an aquarium, a hippoquarium, an ape exhibit, a pheasantry, a primate exhibit, an aviary, and a reptile house. In the winter, the Zoo strings up the campus with lights for their annual Lights Before Christmas celebration. Adults: $19, children: $7. (updated Oct 2018) 3 Toledo Botanical Garden, 5403 Elmer Dr, ☏ +1 419-536-5566, [email protected]. Daylight. Offers an herb garden, perennial garden, and displays tailored to specific ecosystems such a small woods and pondside plants. The garden also features an art village. Free (some events charge).

1 German-American Festival, 3624 Seaman Rd Oregon (½ mile east of Coy Rd). Late August. Large German American ethnic festival. Festivities include Steinstossen (Swiss rock throwing), Masskrugstemmen (a contest to hold a 1-liter stein of beer for as long as possible), a Fußball (Soccer) Tournament, Pretzel eating contests, M.I. Hummel Lookalike contest, music, and dancing. The Polish Festival, Langrange St. Mid July. A celebration of Polish ancestry in Toledo. Pizza Palooza (Centennial Terrace). A competition where local pizza restaurants compete to win best pizza award. There is also a pizza eating challenge. $6 entry + $1.50 per cheese slice, $2 per specialty slice. (updated Jul 2017) Old West End Festival. An annual festival held in early June. Features the King Wamba Carnival Parade, 5k stampede, art fair, beer garden, Victorian house tours, and artwork. Discounts for house tours are available if canned food is donated to charity. (updated Jul 2019) 2 Crosby Festival of the Arts. Late June. An arts festival held in the Toledo Botanical Gardens. (updated Oct 2018) 3 Glass City Con (GCC) (Seagate Convention Center). Mid July. Annual anime convention. Features special guests, tabletop gaming, video games, and other activities. Weekend Pass $40, Saturday $30, Sunday $20. (updated Jan 2019) 4 Toledo Sister Cities International Festival, 401 Jefferson St (Seagate Centre).

Toledo has a vibrant scene with many restaurants serving cheap but good food. Toledo has a few local chains that don't extend far beyond the city, notably Rudy's Hot Dogs, Balance, and Gino's. Rudy's Hot Dogs. A well-known restaurant chain found throughout the Metro Toledo Area. $2.50 for a hot dog with toppings. $5 for the main course. (updated Jul 2019) 1 Pizza Cat, 4034 Monroe St, ☏ +1 419-214-1640, [email protected]. Su-Th 10AM-midnight, F Sa 10AM-4AM. A small pizzeria that focuses on topping variety. Offers vegan options. $5 for a small cheese pizza. $7-$10 for a medium specialty pizza. (updated Oct 2018) 2 Mr.Freeze (at the intersection of McCord and Bancroft.). Soft serve ice cream in huge portions for cheap prices. Try the Buckeye Blast Sundae. Cash only. (updated Nov 2018) 3 Gino's Pizza, 3981 Monroe St, ☏ +1 419-472-3567. Local pizza chain. Sells pizza pasta, and subs. (updated Dec 2018) 4 Tony Packo's, 1902 Front St, ☏ +1 419-691-6054, fax: +1 419-691-8358, [email protected]. M-Th 11AM-10PM, F Sa 11AM-11PM, Su noon-9PM. The original Tony Packo's, which has been serving its hometown favorites for over 70 years. Packo's Hungarian food was made world famous by several mentions on the TV series M*A*S*H by Max Klinger (played by Toledo native Jamie Farr). They have hot dog buns signed by celebrities. If you're lucky enough to spare any amount of time here be sure to order at least one cup of chili, which is rumored to put some Cincinnati brands to shame.

Downtown Toledo features a robust DORA (Downtown Outdoor Refreshment Area), allowing visitors to carry open alcoholic beverages in designated cups between bars. 1 Warehouse District. The Warehouse District in downtown Toledo is an area of revitalized historic warehouses centered around the baseball and hockey stadiums. Among the popular bars and restaurants in this area are the Blarney, Ye Old Cock and Bull, M'Osteria, Fleetwood's Tap Room, The Durty Bird, the Bronze Boar, Homeslice Pizza, and the Tin Can. The district is very walkable and most of these establishments feature live music on the weekends. (updated Feb 2018) 2 The Blarney, 601 Monroe St, ☏ +1 419-418-2339, [email protected]. M-W 11AM-11PM, Th 11AM-1AM, F Sa 11AM-2AM. An Irish pub. (updated Jul 2019) 3 Cock N Bull Tavern, 9 N Huron St. (updated Jul 2019) 4 Ye Olde Durty Bird (Dirty Bird), 2 S Saint Clair St, ☏ +1 419-243-2473. Gastropub that often hosts live bands and entertainment. (updated Dec 2018) 5 The Attic on Adams (formerly Pub St George). A bar in the Uptown Area popular with the younger and hipster crowds. Wide variety of draft and bottled craft beers and a varied menu. On the first floor is Mano's Greek restaurant. (updated Feb 2018) 6 Jo-Jo's, on Monroe St right by I-75. A bar in West Toledo known for their half-price pizzas and dollar beers. They also have free pool on Tuesdays. (updated Feb 2018) 7 The Orchard Inn, on Sylvania Avenue in between Douglas and Secor. A bar in West Toledo known for very intense pool games between locals. It has shuffleboard as well.

1 Maumee Bay Lodge & Conference Center, 1750 State Park Rd #2, ☏ +1 419-836-1466. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. The lodge is along the shore of Lake Erie with a two-story stone fireplace. The 120 guest rooms with private balconys gives a views of the surrounding park. $110-120. (updated Dec 2018) 2 Renaissance Toledo Downtown Hotel, 444 N Summit St, ☏ +1 419-244-2444. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Offers free WiFi in the lobby. $130-200. (updated Dec 2018) 3 Cannaley Treehouse Village (Metroparks Toledo Treehouses), Oak Openings Preserve, Swanton, OH, ☏ +1 419-407-9810. A world-class glamping experience featuring architecturally stunning treehouses. Located in the Rare Oak Openings region, these book up months in advance but offer a truly unique "nature-first" stay just 20 minutes from downtown. $30-270. (updated Feb 2026)

1 Toledo Express Airport (TOL IATA), 11013 Airport Highway, ☏ +1 419-865-2351. The primary airport serving Toledo. Although it is small, it is primarily served by Allegiant Air, offering seasonal flights from destinations in Florida and Arizona. Most travelers find more frequent and varied flight options via Detroit Metro (DTW). It also offers some General aviation facilities. (updated Jun 2020) 2 Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW IATA). The nearest major regional/international airport. (updated Dec 2018) Airport Shuttle Services, ☏ +1 313 759-7741. Available from Toledo to Detroit Metro Airport by reservation. Flat rate from Toledo to DTW Airport is $99. 3 Toledo Suburban Airport. A General aviation airport on the outskirts of the northern Toledo metro. (updated Jun 2020) 4 Greyhound, 415 Emerald Ave, ☏ +1 419-248-1477. Station hours: 5AM-11:30PM. Ticketing hours: 5AM-10:30PM. Greyhound makes regular stops in Toledo, and shares its station with Amtrak (see below) 5 Megabus, University of Toledo Scott Park Campus (parking lot 23 off of Scott Park Drive). Megabus offers low-cost bus service to Toledo from Chicago, Ann Arbor, Detroit, and Cleveland. (updated Jan 2017) 6 Martin Luther King Jr. Train Station, 415 Emerald Ave. Station and ticketing hours: 8:30PM-12:30PM (the station is closed midday to 8:30PM). Has a waiting room and ticket office. The station is about 2 mi (3.2 km) south of the city center. Greyhound buses connect at this station. (updated Sep 2019) Train operator: Amtrak, ☏ +1 215-856-7924, toll-free: +1-800-872-7245.

The downtown core of Toledo is fairly walkable. Beyond downtown walking becomes notably less efficient and taking a car, bike, or public transit is ideal. 7 TARTA (Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority). Toledo's public bus system connecting major locations in Toledo and locations in surrounding communities. It includes Sunday-service and a broader county-wide service, making it reliable for visitors reaching the suburbs and shopping districts. Areas such as the Franklin Park Mall, the Hollywood Casino, and the Amtrak/Greyhound station are served. (updated Dec 2023) TARTA Flex, ☏ +1-419-382-9901, [email protected]. An on-demand minibus service operated by TARTA in most of Lucas County and select bordering communities. (updated Dec 2023) ToleGO, [email protected]. The city sponsored bike-sharing program. Bike parking hubs are centered on the downtown core and range from I-75 to the east shore of the Maumee River. $3 for 30 minutes, $5 for parking outside a dock. (updated Jul 2019) Toledo Pedway. In the downtown core there is an underground footpath that connects various buildings. While many of the paths have been closed off, the remaining paths make for interesting urbex. (updated Dec 2018)

Drive with caution during the winter. Black ice can easily form on the roads due to the closeness of the lake.