Toledo (Ohio)
Toledo is a city of almost 273,000 people (2019) in northwestern Ohio's Lucas County, on the Maumee River at the edge of Lake Erie. Although not as important as it once was, Toledo's past as an industrial powerhouse gave it cultural institutions that rival larger cities like Chicago.
Understand
History
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. 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. But because of a series of blunders, nobody was killed. By an act of Congress, Ohio was awarded Toledo, while Michigan received the Upper Peninsula. 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 today
Today, 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. Toledo is also home to the local favorite Toledo Mud Hens minor league baseball team. They play in the Fifth Third Field in downtown Toledo. Near downtown, the Old West End is a beautiful neighborhood of Victorian mansions, and is where the world-class Toledo Museum of Art and its glass museum can be found. A world-class Toledo Zoo is a few miles to the south. In the north end, there is the Polish Village where it is common to see storefronts written in Polish. The food in Toledo is worth stopping for. As well as the many diners in the area, many ethnic eateries should not be missed, including Tony Packo's famous Hungarian hot dogs, Hungarian baked goods, classy Middle Eastern places such as the Beirut, and delicious Indian cuisine from the Tandoor. True or not, Toledo likes to think that it has the most restaurants per capita in the entire country. Toledo is also one of the most productive ports on the Great Lakes, and its factories boast one of the highest robot per capita rates in the nation.
Climate
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Toledo has four distinct seasons. The spring in Toledo tends to be quite pleasant, and presents a good opportunity for exploring Toledo's parks and gardens. Summers can range from pleasantly warm to sweltering heat, and it is during this time when Lake Erie becomes hospitable for things like swimming and other water sport. The fall is much like spring, and the trees around the city gain vibrant colors as the leaves begin to fall off, giving the parks a different character entirely. Winters tend to be strong in Toledo due to the Lake Effect, and while there are no mountains for skiing, there are plenty of other opportunities for winter sports such as cross country skiing and ice skating.
Visitor information
- 🌍 Destination Toledo, 401 Jefferson Ave, ☏ +1-419-321-6404, toll-free: +1-800-243-4667. Visitor bureau.
Get in
By plane
- 🌍 Toledo Express Airport (TOL IATA), 11013 Airport Highway, ☏ +1 419-865-2351. The primary airport serving Toledo. Although it is small, it receives some direct flights from larger cities like Chicago, and Charlotte by major airlines such as American Airlines and Allegiant. It also offers some General aviation facilities.
- 🌍 Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW IATA). The nearest major regional/international airport.
- 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.
- 🌍 Toledo Suburban Airport. A General aviation airport on the outskirts of the northern Toledo metro.
By bus
- 🌍 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)
- 🌍 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.
By train
- See also: Rail travel in the United States
- 🌍 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. Train operator:
- Amtrak, ☏ +1 215-856-7924, toll-free: +1-800-872-7245. Operates trains throughout the United States of America. All services pass through in the middle of the night, often making rail travel quite inconvenient. Routes stopping at Toledo:
- Capitol Limited operates daily between Chicago and Washington, D.C. including stops in South Bend, Elkhart, Waterloo, Toledo, Sandusky, Elyria, Cleveland, Alliance, Pittsburgh, Connellsville, Cumberland, Martinsburg, Harpers Ferry, and Rockville.
- Lake Shore Limited operating daily between Chicago and Boston or New York City. It makes stops at most stations along the route, though it does not stop at some of the smallest stations. Trains consist of train cars from both branches between Chicago and Albany (Rensselaer). The trains split into separate branches between Albany (Rensselaer) and both Boston and New York City. . Stops between Chicago and Albany (Rensselaer) include South Bend, Elkhart, Waterloo, Bryan, Toledo, Sandusky, Elyria, Cleveland, Erie, Buffalo (Depew), Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, and Schenectady. Stops between Albany (Rensselaer) and Boston include Pittsfield, Springfield, Worcester, Framingham.
- Amtrak, ☏ +1 215-856-7924, toll-free: +1-800-872-7245. Operates trains throughout the United States of America. All services pass through in the middle of the night, often making rail travel quite inconvenient. Routes stopping at Toledo:
By car
Toledo sits at the intersection of I-75 and I-80/I-90, allowing easy access from Detroit, Dayton, Cincinnati, Chicago and Cleveland. Those travelling through the Midwest frequently pass through it.
By boat
As a port city, Toledo has many marinas, offering access to the cities and islands of Lake Erie. There are however no scheduled passenger ferries to Toledo.
Get around
- See also: Driving, United States without a car
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.
By bus
- 🌍 TARTA (Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority). Toledo's public bus system connecting major locations in Toledo and select locations in surrounding communities. Offers a limited route network, mainly aimed at commuters in the downtown area, though some areas such as the Franklin Park Mall, the Hollywood Casino, and the Amtrak/Greyhound station are also served.
- TARTA Flex, ☏ +1-419-382-9901, info@tarta.com. An on-demand minibus service operated by TARTA in most of Lucas County and select bordering communities.
By bike
- ToleGO, tolego@thegotchagroup.com. 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.
By foot
- 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.
See
Museums
- 🌍 Toledo Museum of Art, 2445 Monroe St (at Scottwood Avenue), ☏ +1 419-255-8000, information@toledomuseum.org. 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, as well as 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.
- 🌍 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.
- 🌍 Toledo Botanical Garden, 5403 Elmer Dr, ☏ +1 419-536-5566, info@toledogarden.org. 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).
- 🌍 National Museum of the Great Lakes, 1701 Front Street, ☏ +1 419-214-5000. The museum hosts exhibits on shipwrecks, sailing technology, and exploration, especially in relation to the Great Lakes. The retired lake freighter and current museum ship, the Col. James M. Schoonmaker, is docked directly next to the museum. Tours are offered outside winter months. Unusually for a modern era freighter, the lounges and cabin are fancy.
- 🌍 Imagination Station (COSI), 1 Discovery Way, ☏ +1 419-244-2674. A science museum and activity center on the banks of the Maumee river. Provides a variety of exhibits and activities, including a tightrope counterweight bike, rideable yoyo, an optical illusion exhibit, an agricultural exhibit, a water exhibit, a nutrition exhibit, an energy exhibit, and simulated rollercoaster. Kids 12 and under $11, adults $13. Special temporary exhibits may have separate fees.
- 🌍 Toledo Firefighters Museum, 918 W Sylvania Ave, ☏ +1-419-478-3473. Sa noon-4PM. Free.
Architecture
- See also: Architecture, Urbex
Much of the notable architecture in Toledo dates from about 1860 to 1960, typically in Victorian, Neoclassical, Art Deco, or modern styles.
- 🌍 Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral, 2535 Collingwood Ave, ☏ +1 419-244-9575. The mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Toledo. Its Spanish Plateresque architecture is inspired by Toledo's namesake, Toledo, Spain. The church contains many statues of biblical figures and an Ernest M. Skinner pipe organ.
- 🌍 St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 130 Avondale Ave. Built in 1901.
- 🌍 The Old West End. The blocks north of the Art Museum. Historic neighborhood full of huge old mansions and 100-year-old trees. You can tour these homes at Christmas and at a festival during the first weekend in June.
- 🌍 Pythian Castle. Built for the Knights of Pythias in 1890, this building features a large turret.
- 🌍 James M. Ashley and Thomas W.L. Ashley United States Courthouse. A prime example of Neoclassical architecture.
- 🌍 University of Toledo (UT), 2801 W Bancroft St (Dorr St and Secor Rd), ☏ +1 419-530-4636, toll-free: +1-800-586-5336. A public university in the heart of Toledo Ohio. Founded in the 1870s, the campus is host to historic architecture, and the Ritter Planetarium.
Other
- 🌍 Sculpture in the Park. Sculpture garden.
Do
Festivals
- 🌍 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. 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.
- 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.
- 🌍 Crosby Festival of the Arts. Late June. An arts festival held in the Toledo Botanical Gardens.
- 🌍 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.
- 🌍 Toledo Sister Cities International Festival, 401 Jefferson St (Seagate Centre). As a city that helped popularize the sister city concept, Toledo celebrates the culture of its sister cities of Toledo in Spain, Bekaa in Lebanon, Coimbatore in India, Csongrád-Csanád County and Szeged in Hungary, Delmenhorst, in Germany, Hyderabad in Pakistan, Londrina in Brazil, Poznań in Poland, Qinhuangdao in China, Tanga in Tanzania, and Toyohashi in Japan. The festival also celebrates the culture of Toledo residents and their heritage.
- 🌍 The Lights Before Christmas, 2 Hippo Way (Toledo Zoo), ☏ +1 419-385-5721. Late November to December. A holiday event where the zoo is strung up with Christmas lights arranged to look like animals. $18 for adults, $15 for kids and seniors, free for zoo members.
Performing arts
- 🌍 Toledo Opera, 425 Jefferson Avenue, Suite 601, ☏ +1 419-255-7464, fax: +1 419-255-6344, info@toledoopera.org.
- 🌍 Art Tatum Jazz Heritage Society (Toledo Jazz Society), 425 N St. Clair, ☏ +1 419-241-5299, fax: +1 419-241-4777, info@arttatumsociety.com.
- 🌍 Toledo Symphony Orchestra, 1838 Parkwood Avenue, #310, ☏ +1 419-246-8000, fax: +1 419-321-6890, music@toledosymphony.com.
- 🌍 Toledo Ballet, 5327 Monroe St (Westfield Franklin Park), ☏ +1 419-471-0049, fax: +1 419-471-9005.
- Toledo Jazz Orchestra.
- 🌍 Valentine Theatre, 410 Adams St, ☏ +1 419-242-3490.
- 🌍 Stranahan Theater, 4645 Heatherdowns Blvd, ☏ +1 419-381-8851. One of the largest theaters in Northwest Ohio, they often host musicals, plays, and music concerts.
- 🌍 Collingwood Arts Center, 2413 Collingwood Blvd, ☏ +1 419-244-2787, info@collingwoodartscenter.org. Hosts performing arts events, and ghost hunts in this former convent building. The grounds also house the children's theater workshop.
- 🌍 Ohio Theater, 3114 Lagrange St. A Proscenium theatre in the Polish neighborhood.
Sports
- 🌍 Toledo Mud Hens, 406 Washington St (downtown), ☏ +1 419-725-HENS (4367). Toledo's legendary AAA baseball team (Detroit Tigers affiliate) plays their home games at Fifth Third Field in downtown Toledo. It was named the best minor league ballpark in America by Newsweek magazine. It has plenty of parking, great food, and a great atmosphere.
- 🌍 Toledo Walleye, 500 Jefferson Ave (Huntington Center), ☏ +1 419-725-9255. Toledo's pro Ice hockey team. ECHL affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings.
- 🌍 Toledo Rockets, 2801 W Bancroft St. (Savage Arena), ☏ +1 419-530-GOLD (4653), VMAthleticTicketOffice@utnet.utoledo.edu. NCAA Division I teams of the University of Toledo, with 6 men's and 10 women's teams competing in the Mid-American Conference. As with most major colleges, the most-followed sports are football and men's basketball, and the most important venues are on campus. The football team plays at the 🌍 Glass Bowl, which was built during the Great Depression but renovated several times since, though it retains its original stonework. The basketball teams (men's and women's) play at Savage Arena, which also houses the central ticket office for all Rockets sports.
- 🌍 Toledo Speedway (Menards 200). Hosts the Menards 200 race and the Sioux Chief PowerPEX 200 race.
- Glass City Marathon. April.
- 🌍 Marathon Classic. A woman's golf event.
- Toledo Reign (Thee Toledo Reign). Toledo's pro woman's football team.
Gaming
- 🌍 Hollywood Casino, 1968 Miami St, ☏ +1 419-661-5200. Northwest Ohio's primary casino.
- 🌍 Level 419, 2538 Woodville Rd, Northwood, ☏ +1 567-277-0537. Video arcade on the outskirts of Toledo. $10 (Day pass).
- 🌍 BASHcon, 3154 N Towerview Blvd (Lancelot Thompson Student Union). Annually in the winter. The University of Toledo's student-run gaming convention. Includes tabletop and electronic gaming, as well as a games bazaar.
Outdoors
- 🌍 Oak Openings Preserve Metropark, 4139 Girdham Rd, Swanton, ☏ +1 419-360-9179. 7AM-dark. The largest of the Toledo Metroparks. Contains some of the only sand dunes remaining in Ohio, and hosts some rare plants. Has vast trails and a few campgrounds. Free.
- 🌍 Maumee Bay State Park, 1400 State Park Rd, Oregon. A 1,850 acres (750 hectares) state park with a unique natural environment. Features a resort including a lodge, cottages and golf course. There are 24 cottages, with fireplaces, adjacent to wetlands and the golf course. Park activities include fishing, hunting, swimming, and boating.
- 🌍 Wildwood Preserve Metropark, 5100 W Central Ave. Impressively large urban park with old mansion, trails, "Windows on Wildlife" one-way glass observation room.
- 🌍 R.A. Stranahan Arboretum, 4131 Tantara Dr. Hosts a variety of rare plants. Free.
Learn
- 🌍 Owens Community College (OCC), 30335 Oregon Rd, ☏ +1 567-661-7000. A former farm turned community college. The campus is mashup of farm remnants, post modern buildings, and the odd college facility such as a 727 aircraft in the middle of an simulated city. Hosts a number of small workshops on topics ranging from cooking to ghost hunting.
Buy
- 🌍 Libbey Glass Factory Outlet, 205 S Erie St, ☏ +1 419-254-5000, toll-free: +1-888-794-8469, tolstore@libbey.com. Some Libbey Glass is manufactured in Toledo. Store has 16,000 ft² (1,500 m2) of dinnerware, glassware and giftware.
- 🌍 Franklin Park Mall, 5001 Monroe St, ☏ +1 419-473-3317. Contains department stores, a movie theater, and 130 other restaurants and specialty shops. Smaller outlet stores can be found nearby.
- 🌍 Art Supply Depo, 5739 Main St, Sylvania, ☏ +1 419-720-6462. Sells art supplies and hosts exhibitions in its gallery.
- 🌍 Culture Clash Records, 912 Monroe St. Sells and buys vinyl records. Hosts free live performances.
- 🌍 Wersell's Bike and Ski Shop, 2860 W Central Ave, ☏ +1 419-474-7412. Sells and repairs bicycles. Also sells skis.
Work
Professional development opportunities in Toledo can be quite promising, as there are many different employment possibilities across a variety of industries. The city offers job opportunities in sectors such as healthcare, education, manufacturing, tourism, as well as in fields like technology, marketing, and website design.
Eat
This page uses the following price ranges for a typical meal for one, including soft drink: | |
Budget | Under $10 |
Mid-range | $10 - $20 |
Splurge | Over $20 |
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.
Budget
- 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.
- 🌍 Pizza Cat, 4034 Monroe St, ☏ +1 419-214-1640, pizzacat@pizzacatinc.com. 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.
- 🌍 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.
- 🌍 Gino's Pizza, 3981 Monroe St, ☏ +1 419-472-3567. Local pizza chain. Sells pizza pasta, and subs.
Mid-range
- 🌍 Tony Packo's, 1902 Front St, ☏ +1 419-691-6054, fax: +1 419-691-8358, eat@tonypacko.com. 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.
- 🌍 Tony Packo's at the Park, S Superior St (off of Washington Street, only a few steps from Fifth Third Field), ☏ +1 419-691-6054, fax: +1 419-246-1111, eat@tonypacko.com. M-Th 11AM-10PM, F Sa 11AM-11PM, Su noon-9PM. The downtown branch of this hometown chain. The staff at this location are very hospitable and personable.
- 🌍 Balance Pan-Asian Grille (Balance Grille), 215 N Summit St, ☏ +1 419-243-2222. M-F 11AM-9PM. Asian fusion that combines Chinese, Indian, Thai, Japanese, and Korean influences under one roof. Sells Asian inspired bowls and tacos. Serves Bubble Tea that uses fresh tapioca bubbles and cold brewing. Has many vegetarian and vegan options. $5-8 (mains).
- 🌍 Pizza Papalis, 519 Monroe St, ☏ +1 419-244-7722. Tu-Th Su 11AM-9PM, F Sa 11AM-11PM. A Detroit-based Chicago-style deep-dish pizza chain downtown near the Mudhens stadium. Call ahead and delivery ordering available.
- 🌍 Inky's, 3945 N Detroit Ave, ☏ +1 419-476-0500. Italian family restaurant. ~$10.
- 🌍 Sidon Lebanese Grille, 4625 W Bancroft St, ☏ +1 419-558-3900, info@sidongrille.com. 9AM-9PM, Su 9AM-8PM. $8-12.
Splurge
- 🌍 Shorty's True American Roadhouse (Mancy's), 5111 Monroe St, ☏ +1 419-841-9505. Su-Th 11AM-10PM, F Sa 11AM-11PM. Part of the Mancy family's string of local restaurants. Shorty's specializes in barbeque although they serve standard fare like burgers as well.
- 🌍 Fowl and Fodder, 614 Adams St, ☏ +1 419-214-1588, info@fowlandfodder.com. M-Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 8AM-4PM. Local restaurant that focuses on using local ingredients.
- 🌍 Registry Bistro, 144 N Superior, ☏ +1 419-725-0444. Tu-Sa bar opens 4PM, diner opens at 5PM. $20-30 for mains.
- 🌍 Kengo Sushi & Yakitori, 38 S Saint Clair St. $7-12 for sushi, $85 for omakase.
Drink
- 🌍 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.
- 🌍 The Blarney, 601 Monroe St, ☏ +1 419-418-2339, admin@theblarneyirishpub.com. M-W 11AM-11PM, Th 11AM-1AM, F Sa 11AM-2AM. An Irish pub.
- 🌍 Cock N Bull Tavern, 9 N Huron St.
- 🌍 Ye Olde Durty Bird (Dirty Bird), 2 S Saint Clair St, ☏ +1 419-243-2473. Gastropub that often hosts live bands and entertainment.
- 🌍 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.
- 🌍 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.
- 🌍 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.
- 🌍 Maumee Bay Brew Pub (The Oliver House), 27 Broadway St, ☏ +1 419-243-1302. M-Th 8AM-11PM, F Sa 8AM-11PM, closed Su. Craft brewery inside a historic former hotel, known for their variety of microbrews and wood-fired pizzas. A sports bar and cafe are on the first floor, and a brewpub and steakhouse on the second floor.
Sleep
This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room: | |
Budget | Under $100 |
Mid-range | $100 - $125 |
Splurge | Over $125 |
Mid-range
- 🌍 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.
Splurge
- 🌍 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.
Stay safe
- See also: Winter driving
Drive with caution during the winter. Black ice can easily form on the roads due to the closeness of the lake.
Connect
Toledo has two primary area codes: 419 is the original area code, and 567 is the newer area code. You must dial the area code for all numbers.
Zip codes follow the 436xx format.
- 🌍 Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, 325 Michigan St, ☏ +1 419-259 5200. Beyond books, the Toledo Public Library offers Wi-Fi, computers, printing, a mini makerspace, and a video game room. With a library card you can check out DSLRs, action cameras, and camcorders - useful if you lost or forgot your camera. Hosts a variety of events ranging from visiting authors, to cooking and nature shows. Some services are limited to specific branches. Free.
- 🌍 Toledo Main Post Office, 435 S Saint Clair St, ☏ +1-419-245-6802.
Cope
Newspapers
- 🌍 The Blade (The Toledo Blade), 541 N Superior St, ☏ +1 419-724-6000, toll-free: +1-800-245-3317. Toledo's daily newspaper. First published in 1835, The Blade is the oldest business operating in Toledo, and has won a Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting. The Blade covers ongoing events in the local area, as well as some national stories.
- 🌍 The Independent Collegian, 2801 W Bancroft St, ☏ +1 419-530-7788, editor@independentcollegian.com. A weekly student newspaper run independently by University of Toledo students.
Radio
- 🌍 WGTE-FM, 1270 S Detroit Ave (91.3MHz), ☏ +1 419-380-4600. Toledo's public radio station. Airs NPR and PRI content.
- 🌍 WXUT-FM (88.3MHz), ☏ +1 419-530-4172, wxut@utoledo.edu. Alternative rock from the University of Toledo. Also broadcasts Toledo Rockets sports.
- 🌍 WXTS-FM (88.3MHz). A Jazz station operated by Toledo City Schools.
Television
Religion
- 🌍 Buddhist Temple of Toledo, 6537 Angola Rd, ☏ +1-567-297-0108, info@buddhisttempleoftoledo.org. Zen Buddhist Temple
- 🌍 Hindu Temple of Toledo, 4336 King Rd.
- 🌍 Congregation B'nai Israel, 6525 Sylvania Ave, ☏ +1-419-517-8400. Conservative Judaism
- 🌍 Temple Shomer Emunim, 6453 Sylvania Ave, ☏ +1-419-885-3341. Reform Judaism
Go next
- Michigan is just north of town and Detroit is one hour north on I-75.
- Maumee is a historic suburb on the southern edge of Lucas County.
- Perrysburg is a well to do suburb south of Toledo.
- Bowling Green is a small college town just south of Toledo on I-75.
- Cedar Point amusement park is about one hour east in Sandusky.
- Cleveland is a couple hours east on I-90 and the Ohio Turnpike.
- Along the southern shore of Lake Erie are a large number of public North Coast Beaches. The beach at Maumee Bay State Park in Oregon, just east of Toledo is one of the nicest.
- Located east of Toledo and west of Cleveland, a group of picturesque and festive Lake Erie Islands are accessible via ferry. Ohio Route 2 East Exit 163 North Port Clinton for the Jet Express or Ohio Route 53 North for the car ferry out to Put-in-Bay. In addition to several Ohio State Parks on the islands, there is plenty to do including wineries, restaurants, bars, marinas and beaches.
Routes through Toledo |
Chicago ← Bryan ← | W E | → Sandusky → Cleveland |
Novi ← | N S | → Findlay |
Joliet ← | W E | → Youngstown |
Swanton ← | W E | → Norwalk |
Sylvania ← | N S | → Pemberville |
Defiance ← | W E | → Euclid |
Elgin ← | W E | → Sandusky |
Pioneer ← | W E | → Harbor View → ' |