Discover Toledo: Art, River and Active Excursions

Toledo offers families a wide range of discoveries: hands-on exhibits, museum ships you can explore, art and a year-round destination on the Maumee River. Imagination Station encourages visitors to get involved, while activities such as paddling, ice skating and a nature-themed play area appeal to other interests. This means your trip can combine cultural and active experiences without being limited to just one type of outing.

Exhibits and Museum Ships

Imagination Station is located on the riverfront in downtown Toledo. Hands-on exhibits and interactive experiences give a visit a distinctly participatory feel. For families who enjoy trying things out and discovering together, this offers a different way to spend time from viewing works of art or historic ships.

Visitors can board the 617-foot museum ship Col. James M. Schoonmaker. The historic museum tug Ohio can also be boarded and offers a unique experience on the water. That gives you two different ships to choose from as separate visitor experiences; the 617-foot measurement refers to the Col. James M. Schoonmaker.

Outdoor Activities and Nature Experiences

Glass City Metropark is a year-round destination set against the backdrop of the Maumee River and the Toledo skyline. Kayak Cove in the park offers safe, accessible access for paddling on the Maumee River. If you want to include water activities in your trip, this is a dedicated spot for paddling.

Nature’s Neighborhood is a nature-inspired play area for children of all ages. It caters to a broad age range and makes nature part of the play environment. It complements the interactive exhibits with a different way to spend time outdoors.

The Ribbon is a 1,000-foot-long loop connected to a 5,000-square-foot ice and roller-skating trail. In summer, you can ice skate, rollerblade or ride scooters there; in winter, you can glide on ice. The different activities give your family the option to tailor your visit to the season and the way you want to get around.

The Aerial Adventure Course includes a 760-foot-long zip line and the 30-foot-high Quick Jump. You can take into account whether activities like these suit the interests of your travel group when planning your day.

Art and Toledo History

The Toledo Museum of Art displays more than 30,000 works of art across four and a half acres of exhibition space. The scale of the collection makes an art visit a distinct focus for anyone who wants to set aside time for exhibitions during their trip. The Glass Pavilion also houses one of the world’s largest glass collections, offering a special focus on glass.

Another striking work is the Glass City River Wall. It spans 28 silos and covers an area of 170,000 square feet, making it the largest mural in North America. The work honors Indigenous women and children who once cultivated extensive cornfields along the Maumee River. The mural thus combines its extraordinary scale with a specific historical connection to the region.

When choosing a holiday apartment or house, you can consider the mix of experiences you want: would you like art and culture to be the main focus, or are you more interested in planning outdoor and waterside activities? Toledo offers something for both.

Other destinations at the same level of navigation: Oregon, Maumee, Sylvania.

Back to the parent travel overview: Lucas.