From history and art to animals, entertainment for all ages and delectable dining destinations, discover 10 ways to spend time in Toledo.

National Museum of the Great Lakes
If you’re looking for a one-stop shop detailing the history of Lake Erie, the National Museum of the Great Lakes is the place. From photography and audiovisual displays to more than 300 artifacts and 40 hands-on interactive exhibits, the Great Lakes are spotlighted here. Docked next to the museum, along the Maumee River, are the Lake Tug Ohio, a tugboat that was used as a tow boat or a fire boat for more than a century, and the James M. Schoonmaker, a 617-foot iron ore freighter.
nmgl.org

Toledo Museum of Art
Get inspired by one of the country’s finest collections at the Toledo Museum of Art. Accessible to the public free of charge, the collection features more than 35 galleries and 30,000 works, from paintings and sculptures to historic photographs and art from around the world. Don’t miss the live glass blowing demonstrations at the museum’s Glass Pavilion.
toledomuseum.org

Toledo Zoo & Aquarium
From ostriches, elephants, orangutans and cheetahs to hippos, gorillas, snakes and crocodiles, discover the more than 10,000 animals (and more than 720 species) that call the Toledo Zoo & Aquarium home. During your visit, be sure to welcome Nuka, a 17-year-old polar bear new to the zoo this year, as well as visit Tower Ridge for one-on-one feeding time with a giraffe.
toledozoo.org

Toledo Botanical Garden
Stroll through more than 60 acres of gardens and plant collections at Toledo Botanical Garden. Explore the Secret Forest or relax at the Doneghy Inclusive Garden and enjoy the area’s beautiful May blooms, including rhododendrons, crabapples, lilacs, flowering dogwood, shooting stars, pansies and more.
metroparkstoledo.com/explore-your-parks/toledo-botanical-garden-metropark

Reset Arcade
Looking for an adventure for the entire family? You’ve found a strike at Reset Arcade, which features duckpin bowling, arcade-style games, more than 35 draft beers and a menu filled delicious bites, from cheeseburger eggrolls and pierogies to salads, sandwiches, burgers and more.
resetarcade.com/toledo

The Heights
Grab a seat at Toledo’s only rooftop bar, where an expansive patio and sleek, industrial decor meets an inviting and comfortable atmosphere. Marvel at panoramic views of the Maumee River while sipping on refreshing handcrafted cocktails, award-winning wine or craft beers and diving into palate pleasing small plates and wood-fired flatbread pizzas.
theheightstoledo.com

Tony Packo’s Cafe
Immortalized by Jamie Farr (himself a Toledo native) as Cpl. Linger in MASH, the restaurant opened in 1932 in Birmingham, the city’s Hungarian neighborhood, specializing in native cuisine such as chicken paprikash and Packo’s famous Hungarian hot dogs. The walls are festooned with foam hot dog buns with signatures of famous patrons, a tradition started by actor Burt Reynolds in 1972.
tonypackos.com

Boyd’s Retro Candy
Sweet treat lovers of all ages will appreciate the plethora of goodies available at Boyd’s Retro Candy. From old-time favorites from the late 1800s to Satellite Wafers, Chuckles and Jelly Belly Jelly Beans, not to mention chocolate, bubble gum and white sugar candy sticks, the store is filled with more than 2,000 candies and glass bottled soda. Don’t miss the recently added M&M Colorworks Candy Fixture, Pucker Powder Tubes and freeze-dried candy.
boydsretrocandy.com

Imagination Station
Let your imagination run wild with hundreds of interactive, hands-on exhibits that provide fun for the entire family at Imagination Station, Toledo’s Science Center. Defy gravity, make your own light show, experience the power of a hurricane, test your aviation skills, create your own animated cartoon, become an electrician and so much more.
imaginationstationtoledo.org

Downtown Outdoor Refreshment Area
Select your favorite alcoholic beverage from more than 30 participating restaurants, pubs and entertainment venues and spend the afternoon or evening strolling along the scenic Maumee River in Toledo’s Downtown Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA). Launched in 2017, DORA zones, which include the Central Business District, Warehouse District, east and west riverfronts and The Docks, allow patrons to carry up to 16 ounces of an open alcoholic beverage in a designated cup from noon to 1 a.m.
downtowntoledo.org/dora

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