Not headed off to Florida to see that popular mouse? Or off to ski at some resort? No worries, Toledo, Ohio has more than enough to keep your kiddos and family occupied this spring break! Whether you’re looking for a fun way to spend an afternoon, make a day of it, or even an overnight, Toledo and the surrounding area have you covered. In fact, the only problem you’re going to have is deciding where you want to go first, so plan accordingly, share this post with friends, and make reservations now (some do require reservations or timed tickets).
Plan: make reservations NOW!
Spontaneity seems to be a thing of the past, gone are the days when you could just wake up and decide where you wanted to be in an hour. Now there is a bit of planning required. This can be a good thing. This means destinations aren’t as crowded as they used to be, and it means you’re guaranteed your time slot, that is, as long as you plan ahead of time. Thus do make certain you get your planner out, look over your schedule, and plan your winter break outings, day trips, and/or overnights asap.
Make it feel like a vacation
There are so many amazing places to take kids in Toledo and the surrounding area, but how do you know where to go? Remember the idea is to make it feel like a vacation, thus, you want to go places and do things you wouldn’t normally do and that varies for each family, and while some are okay driving a distance others may want to stay real close to home, here’s a list to get you started.
Toledo…
Coppermoon Studios– have fun with glass & teach kids why Toledo is called the Glass City
Toledo Museum of Art (Glassblowing demonstrations & Family Art Club)
Toledo Zoo and Aquarium
National Museum of the Great Lakes
Imagination Station & IMAX movies in the NEW Theater
Sportsway, Go-Karts, Putt-Putt, & Batting Cages
Funigans
Port Clinton…
Kalahari (link under “Stay”)
Great Wolf Lodge (link under “Stay”)
Cleveland…
Campbell’s Sweets Factory Tour
Tour the Christmas Story House
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Holden Arboretum Forest & Gardens
Bellevue…
Wapakoneta…
Loveland…
Dayton…
National Museum of the US Air Force (free)
Cincinnati…
Michigan…
Museum of Natural History (not open to public yet)
SCRAP Creative Reuse-Recycling place
Kentucky
Tennessee
Eat
Go on a culinary adventure!! So maybe you currently can’t travel to Greece, Japan, or Peru, but you can experience the culture through food! Again, remember you are on vacation, don’t frequent your usual restaurants, expand your palette and the kids’. Never tried Indian food, sushi, Lebanese, etc. now is your chance! There is no shortage of amazing restaurants in Toledo and the surrounding area. And when you go let the waiter know you’d like to taste dishes “family style”, so you will each be able to taste a variety of popular dishes from that county. If you wish to take the experience a step further, contact your local library and grab a few books on whichever cultural adventure you landed and learn more about that country.
LIST OF LOCAL CULINARY ADVENTURE RESTAURANTS IN TOLEDO
Snacks/Ice Cream for Dinner
Again, I can’t emphasize this enough, the idea is to get out of your usual routine, make the experience memorable, switch things up, have ice cream for dinner! And while there are an endless option of ice cream shops in Toledo and the surrounding area here are two that are sure to give the kids the “WOW” factor!
Milkster Liquid Nitrogen Creamery
Odd Fodder
Address: 26520 N Dixie Hwy, Perrysburg, OH 43551
Phone: (419) 386-9800
Website: https://odd-fodder.square.site/
Hours: Monday-Sunday 11am-9pm
Stay
What better way to really seal the deal and totally embrace the essence of “Vacation” then to stay the night somewhere else!! An yes, somewhere else can literally be 5 miles from your house. Embrace the vacation…and all the things you don’t have at home, perhaps it’s cable, pool, & best part for mommas, someone else does the laundry and makes the beds!!!
Holiday Inn Express & Suites on Secor
Things to know before you book….
Most local places require you to have a card on hand for incidentals (apparently sometimes local people get a bit rowdy)
Inquire about the pool- is it open? Is the heater working (forgot to ask last time we stayed and it was a very chilly swim)? Do you require reservations be made?
Is there a “grab-n-go” breakfast bar? (continental breakfast has been replaced w/grab-n-goes)
More fun places to stay…
Added Fun…
Surprise kids w/new pajamas at the hotel!
Make a special playlist just for your Staycation!
No matter what you do, where you decide to do, remember that Spring Break is only as much fun as you allow it to be…try your best to relax, channel the kid inside you, and most importantly, be present, turn off the phone and give the kiddos your undivided attention, turns out that’s the best treat of all!!!
Mom on the go in Holy Toledo 
If I ever go to Toledo, im going to all these places!