I have collated a list of fun kiddo and family friendly destinations in Toledo and the surrounding area, each has a brief description. Each destination has been linked to the website where you can retrieve more thorough information regarding hours of operation, rates, etc. Know of a fun Toledo destination that isn’t listed? Please feel free to share in the comment thread. Thank you!!
FREE Events and Activities:
Toledo Metroparks (Offers fun programs for kids and events for families)
Olander Park (Swimming, fishing, playgrounds, etc. Sylvania, OH)
Fort Imagination Playground (Enclosed playground for little kids & large playground for older kids-Woodlands Park, Perrysburg, OH)
Carr Park (Fun playground for all ages-Bedford, MI)
WGTE (Check events and be sure to attend family fun days)
Fossil Park (Bring small/medium paint brush to brush off fossils and baggy to take home fossils- Sylvania, OH)
Toledo Lucas County Public Library (Check times and locations for Story Time and other amazing events for kids and families)
Maumee Bay State Park (Swimming, biking, boardwalk, trails, nature center, cross-country skiing, sledding, etc. Oregon, OH)
Toledo Museum of Art’s (Children can paint,make theme inspired craft, listen to a story in the gallery, and play at the Family Center)
Frog Museum (Museum filled with everything Frogs…books, stuffed animals, lunchboxes, etc.- Downtown Toledo)
Barnes & Noble (Fun themed story times with awesome crafts! Fallen Timbers, Maumee, OH)
Bass Pro Shops (Fun events for kids’ checkout their calendar- Rossford, OH)
Toledo Firefighters’ Museum (Checkout the fire trucks, old equipment, kids learn about fire safety in Jed’s room where a fire is simulated, & more)
Home Depot Kid Workshops (Kids get to use tools and make something to take home)
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge (Checkout the “Let’s Go Outside” Backpack at the visitors center. Each is filled with fun tools for exploring like binoculars, bug jars, magnifying lens, cloud guide, and more! Oak Harbor, OH)
Fallen Timbers (Lil’ Timbers Kids Klub has fun activities throughout the year and there are great seasonal events like ice skating and carriage rides- Maumee, OH)
Toledo Police Museum (Fingerprint Comparitor from the 80s designed to be accessible and appealing to kids. Downtown Toledo)
Sylvania Heritage Museum & Railroad Depot (Genuine railroad depot building that served Sylvania residents for 98 years, from 1858 to 1956. It is the oldest train depot in existence in the State of Ohio. Downtown Sylvania, OH)
Mazza Museum (Largest museum of original artwork by children’s book illustrators in the world. The museum’s goal is to promote literacy and enrich the lives of all people through the art of children’s literature. Findlay, OH)
Levis Commons (Fun seasonal activities for the kids and families like Sandtastic fun & breakfast with Santa!!- Perrysburg, OH)
Imagination Kingdom Playground (Adorable playground for kiddos, pack a picnic and let their imaginations run wild while they burn off all that extra energy- Wauseon, OH)
Events and Activities that require a Fee: Butterfly House (Watch a beautiful array of butterflies flutter around while listening to classical music play, try to locate and identify the various butterflies with the brochures provided. Also offers fun Autumn events like the corn maze! Whitehouse, OH)
Gust Brothers Pumpkin Farm (It isn’t officially fall until you stop by the farm and see all the farm animals, cows, pigs, chickens, rabbits, and more! Enjoy a hayride and finally pick out the perfect pumpkin!! And other goodies in the store…fresh produce and squash!!-Ottawa Lake, MI)
The Canal Experience at Providence (Go back in time and ride the Volunteer, a reproduction of a mule drawn canal boat, visit the Mill, enjoy characters dressed in period attire-Grand Rapids, OH)
Erie Orchard (You pick…blueberries, apples, pumpkins, and more! But the real fun starts in the fall…enjoy corn maze, hayrides, bounce house, music, and more…check their calendar for events! Erie, MI)
Fort Meigs State Memorial (Fort Meigs State Memorial honors the site of the largest wooden-walled fortress in North America, built during the War of 1812. Take self-guided tours, view weapons demonstrations, and learn the history of the fort. Perrysburg, OH)
The Toledo Symphony (Music under the Stars-FREE concert in the summer)
Valentine Theatre (Check calendar of events…offers great classic film series!! Downtown Toledo)
Ohio Skate (Roller skating!! 2 locations, Maumee, OH and Toledo, OH)
Copper Moon Studios (Fun art classes for kids! Walk-ins welcomed! Holland, OH)
Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center ( Memorial to the 19th President of the United States it contains a treasure trove of information for history buffs. The Center includes the Hayes Mansion, Presidential Library, Museum, and the tomb of the former president- Fremont, OH)
577 Foundation (Offers an array of classes for all ages and encourages ecologically responsible living- Perrysburg, OH)
Art Supply Depot (Offers art classes, paint pottery, and more! Downtown Toledo)
SS. Col. James M. Schoonmaker/National Museum of the Great Lakes (Kids will have a blast when they step foot on a real Ship-Downtown Toledo)
Bowlero (Bowling Alley..$1 deals! West Toledo)
MacQueens Apple Orchard (Fall destination!! Their apple butter fest is amazing!! Fall events are fun, fun, fun! Check calendar for avtivites and events-Holland, OH)
Interstate Bowling (They participate in the kids bowl for FREE program-Rossford, OH)
Sundance Kid Drive-in (Oregon, OH)
Q-Zar (Laser tag & Arcade- Sylvania, OH)
Ritter Planetarium (Located on the campus of University of Toledo)
Super Suppers (family day…kids help make meals)
Toledo Speedway (there are free kids nights)
Toledo Mud Hens (baseball)
Toledo Rockets (football/basketball)
Toledo Walleye (hockey)
Bowling Green Falcons (football/hockey)
Sylvania Playland (Bounce Houses, indoor play sets, and miniature golf-Sylvania, OH)
Par 2 Golf (Go-karts, bumper cars, putt putt, arcade games, & ice cream Toledo, OH)
Toledo Gymnastics Academy (call for open gym time)
Sunrise Gymnastics (call for open gym time)
Sky Zone Toledo (Indoor Trampoline Park- Holland, OH)
Hero’s (Bounce Houses, carnival games, and snacks…open play times available -Perrysburg, OH)
Imagination Station (Hands-on science Museum- Downtown Toledo)
Toledo Zoo (Be sure to checkout the new penguin exhibit and Aquarium!!)
Indian Creek Petting Zoo (walk thru this unique petting zoo…see camels, Zebra, peacocks, bunnies, alligator, and more!! Lambertville, MI)
Fun Factory (Bounce Houses, arcade games, magician shows, and more! Toledo, OH)
Build it! (Legos galore!! Duplex, kits, trains, Legos on walls, you name it! Kids love playing here!! Perrysburg, OH)
Peace Love & Pottery (Paint Pottery Sylvania, OH)
In 2 Art & Edible Art (Paint Pottery and make fun edible art-Perrysburg, OH)
Sandpiper (100 passenger cruise vessel located on the Maumee River -Downtown Toledo)
Surrounding area/Day trips: Calder’s Dairy & Farm (Watch them milk the cows, visit the animals on the farm, check out the goat scape, enjoy some yummy ice cream treats, and more! Carleton, MI)
The Petting Farm at Domino’s Farm (Visit all the animals down on the farm, enjoy a hayride, pony rides, and more! Ann Arbor, MI)
Planet Rock (All things climbing…rock wall- Ann Arbor, MI)
Funtastic Play Center (Indoor playground with 2 main areas of play for children under 8 and 2 storey padded play structure with 14 different obstacles including a zip line, rock wall, and 3 slides! Woodhaven, MI)
Jungle Java (Fun indoor climbing and play area for kids…food available too! Ann Arbor, MI and Canton, MI)
Hands on Museum (Hands on science museum for kids! Ann Arbor, MI)
The Creature Conservancy (See a wide variety of domestic and exotic animals. You may buy food cones to feed to the barnyard animals. Ann Arbor, MI)
Gallop Canoe Livery (Canoeing as a family is so much fun! This park offers canoe, two-person kayak, one-person kayak, paddleboat, and rowboat rentals, river-themed programs and a coffee shop, score!! Ann Arbor, MI)
Chelsea Teddy Bear Company Tours ( See the teddy bear design area, warehouse facility, and dressing/assembly stations. Chelsea, MI)
My Urban Toddler (Indoor, enclosed play area for toddlers…and their is coffee and snacks Saline, MI)
Monsoon Lagoon Water Park (Splash adventures and games! The park features water playgrounds, slides, Go-Karts, bumper boats and mini-golf. -Port Clinton, OH)
The Scrap Box (kiddos will get a kick out of all the recycled scrapes! Great for arts & craft projects! Ann Arbor, MI)
Rolling Hills Water Park (Ypsilanti, MI)
Bowling Green Water Park (Bolwing Green, OH)
The Old Road Dinner Train (Fun events like Grandparents day, Dad & Daughter Day, Kids Halloween Express, and more! Blissfield, MI)
Snook’s Dream Cars (travel in the past lane…see old cars, parts, etc. Bowling Green, OH)
Ohio Maple Syrup Events (Maple syrup tours, watch it being made, enjoy pancake breakfast, and more…click on link under central ohio for all the maple syrup listings-Central, OH)
Henry Ford Museum (9 acres to explore Americas past and future- Dearborn, MI)
Greenfield Village (Step back in an 80 acre time machine, see Noah Webster’s house, ride and original model ‘T’, train ride, and more! Dearborn, MI)
Liberty Aviation Museum (Determined to showcase the aircraft of Worl War II, the Liberty Aviation Museum was established in 1991. Museum houses dozens of vintage aircrafts, vehicles, and multimedia exhibits Port Clinton, OH)
I-MAX Theater (The ultimate film experience!!! Special projectors, giant screens, 2D & 3D! Dearborn, MI)
Marblehead Lighthouse (Built in 1821, Marblehead Lighthouse is the oldest operating lighthouse on the Great Lakes! Marblehead, OH)
Jiffy Mix Plant Tours (Educational and informative walk through of the plant and refreshments provided Chelsea, MI)
Sauder Village (Offers experiences rich in history and fun…kids will enjoy the train, store, helping make butter, candles, ice cream,etc. Be sure to stop in the bakery for homemade treats! Archbold, OH)
The Chelsea Tree House (Indoor playground/climbing equipment for kids…and offers snacking options)
Erie Spirit Sailing Adventures (Enjoy a family friendly day out on the waters of Lake Erie. Choose from standard tour packages or work out a custom plan with the Captain and let your adventure begin. Marblehead, OH)
COSI (Columbus Ohio Science Institute…amazing exhibits, phenomenal kids area, I-MAX theater, great scientific demonstrations and more!! Get in for FREE with an Imagination Station membership- Columbus, OH)
Boonshoft Museum (This is another awesome hands-on science museum with some added fun, a playground/indoor 3 story slide, fun critters, planetarium, and more!! Get in for FRE with zoo membership-Dayton, OH)
National Museum of the U. S. Air Force (Educational experience to say the least…children will be amazed by the huge air crafts, NASA room, enjoy fun demonstrations, learn about history, tour a real air plane, and more!! Dayton, OH)
Spangler Factory/Dum Dum tours (Enjoy a trolley ride through the factory where you will learn the history behind the Spangler Factory and see how the various candies are made…and enjoy samples!!-Bryan, OH)
Splash Universe (Fun indoor water park!! Dundee, MI)
Great Wolf Lodge (Zero depth outdoor pool and more…indoor lazy river, slides, etc. Sandusky, OH)
African Safari Wildlife Park (Must see experience!! Better than Animal Kingdom at Disney World!! Drive through and view & feed animals!! Walk around, pet animals, and watch animal demonstrations…and ice cream, yum! Port Clinton, OH)
Merry-go-Round Museum (Enjoy a fun and relaxed atmosphere while you tour the Merry-Go-Round Museum and learn about the history and art of the carousel. And enjoy a ride of course! Sandusky, OH)
Kalahari (Zero depth indoor pool/young children play area, wave pool, slides, and more! Sandusky, OH)
Train-o-rama (Featuring Ohio’s largest, multi-gauge model, public railroad display-Marblehead, OH)
Cedar Point (Roller Coaster Capital & Amusement Park…amazing kids Planet Snoopy area, Dinosaurs Live, and more ! Sandusky, OH)
Ghostly Manor Thrill Center (The Travel Channel has featured Ghostly Manor Thrill Center among the best place to visit in a lifetime. Virtual rollercoaster, bounce houses, and more! Sandusky, OH)
Kelley’s Island (Check out the Glacier grooves, neat fossils, bike as a family, see what Kid Stage is up to and more! Kelley’s Island, OH)
Wild Winds Buffalo Preserve (Daily tours into the herd…children can see buffalo up close, horseback riding trails, stay the night in a Tipi or Safari Tent!!Fremont, Indiana)
Pokagon State Park (Swimming, fishing, horseback riding, sledding, tobogganing, skiing, pack a picnic and enjoy the day or spend the night camp or lodge- Angola, Indiana)
