Toledo offers a variety of discoveries: hands-on and interactive exhibits, museum ships, art, and activities on the Maumee River. Those weighing up when to travel will find a clear seasonal difference at The Ribbon; year-round attractions and cultural themes are also part of the city’s appeal.
Interactive Exhibits and Museum Ships
Imagination Station is located on the riverfront in downtown Toledo and offers hands-on exhibits and interactive experiences. A visit here combines exhibits with active participation.
Museum ships are another option in Toledo. Visitors can board the 617-foot-long museum ship Col. James M. Schoonmaker. They can also board the historic Museum Tug Ohio, which offers a unique experience on the water. The two onboard visits have different highlights: the specific length of the Col. James M. Schoonmaker, and the historic character and on-the-water experience of the Museum Tug Ohio.
Art, Glass, and Public Murals
The Toledo Museum of Art displays more than 30,000 works of art across four and a half acres of exhibition space. The adjoining Glass Pavilion houses one of the world’s largest glass collections. The focus is therefore on different aspects of art: the museum’s extensive collection and the Glass Pavilion’s special emphasis on glass.
The Glass City River Wall is another form of art: a public mural. Spanning 28 silos and 170,000 square feet, it is the largest mural in North America. It honors Indigenous women and children who once cultivated large cornfields along the Maumee River. The mural thus combines large-scale public art with a specific historical connection.
Parks, Paddling, and Seasonal Activities
Glass City Metropark is a year-round destination set against the backdrop of the Maumee River and Toledo skyline. Kayak Cove at Glass City Metropark offers safe, accessible access to paddling on the Maumee River. Here, the river can be experienced not only as part of the park’s scenery but also as a place for a specific activity.
The Ribbon is a 1,000-foot-long loop connected to a 5,000-square-foot ice and roller-skating rink. In summer, visitors can ice-skate, inline skate, or ride scooters on The Ribbon; in winter, they glide across the ice. The season changes the activities available on the loop: summer use differs significantly from wintertime gliding on ice.
Nature Play and Adventure Course
At the Toledo Zoo, Nature’s Neighborhood is a nature-inspired play area for children of all ages. The Aerial Adventure Course offers a different focus: it includes a 760-foot zip line and the 30-foot-high Quick Jump. The two attractions can therefore be distinguished by the activities described: nature play on the one hand, and a zip line and jump on the other.
Discover more destinations: Oregon, Maumee, Sylvania.
For the main travel overview: Lucas.
