April showers bring May flowers and lots of fun family-friendly festivities in Toledo!! The weather is getting warmer, days are getting longer, and everything is blooming!! It is officially that time of year when everything comes back to life, including your family’s social life. Though let’s be honest, May should come with a warning, before you know it it’s summer, and then you blink and school is already starting back…so don’t blink!! Don’t delay; call up your playgroup peeps, neighborhood friends, family, etc. coordinate schedules, and get these awesome festivities on the calendar today!

Here is a list of 10 Kid Approved Things to Look Forward to this May in Toledo:

1-The Butterfly House 2023 Grand Re-Opening!! May 4th – July 30th

This is one of my Favorites!! Between the classical music playing, watching the delicate fluttering of the gorgeous butterflies, and the general warm embrace of the atmosphere my blood pressure lowers instantly….and kiddos absolutely adore visiting. They look forward to the Re-Opening this May!!! FYI-the land is gorgeous and there is a picnic table available so pack lunches and make an afternoon of it!!

“The Butterfly House contains over 1,000 butterflies with many different species from North & South America and Asia. The facility was built with the idea of developing beautiful gardens in a controlled environment to exhibit butterflies to the general public. An opportunity to learn about the life cycle of the butterfly and how to promote a healthy environment for these special insects will be provided as well. The average life span of the butterfly is 2 to 3 weeks, so each week we introduce new species. Throughout the season we will have over 100 different species, so multiple visits can be rewarding. Our experienced staff are available to answer your questions. We hope you enjoy your visit.” — Duke Wheeler

Hours: Thursday-Saturday 10am-4pm and Sunday- noon-4pm

Phone Number: 419.877.2733

Address: 11455 Obee Road in Whitehouse, Ohio

Website: http://www.wheelerfarms.com/

Admission: Adults (12-64)$10, Seniors (65+) $9, Kids (4-11) $8, and 3 & Under are Free

329685706_243374454884899_7552359030461574532_n

2-Book Your Sandpiper Cruise!

The Sandpiper is a 100-passenger cruise vessel located on the Maumee River. The boat is available for private and public rides from May through October. There are a variety of cruise options throughout the summer but our favorite is FRIDAY NIGHT FAMILY CRUISE Bring the whole family for a fun 2-hour cruise on the Maumee and enjoy the dusk views of Downtown Toledo, area wildlife, and stately homes. Note: All public cruises are BYOB)

Hours: Varies (May-October) ***Family Night Family Cruise is May 19th***

Phone Number: (419) 537-1212

Address: The Sandpiper is docked at Water Street and Jefferson Avenue in Downtown Toledo. GPS directions to the dock: 1 Jefferson Avenue Toledo, Ohio (Street and lot parking is available nearby).

Website: https://www.sandpiperboat.com/

Admission: Friday Family Cruise-Adults $23/ $15 Ages under 12.

3-Col. James M. Schoonmaker (May-October) at The National Maumee of The Great Lakes

“The Schoonmaker was unsurpassed in both size and elegance. On her maiden trip, she carried 12,650 net tons of coal from Toledo, Ohio to Sheboygan, Wisconsin. The ship held the title of “Queen of the Lakes” as the largest ship operating on the Great Lakes until April 14, 1914”. And you and your kiddos can step aboard!! Tour this magnificent ship and get awesome, pics aboard (I may have dressed my kiddos in sailor suit-inspired outfits and taken pics-still my favorites!) and of the Toledo Skyline! FYI-This one is totally worth the membership!!

Phone: (419) 214-5000

Website: http://www.inlandseas.org/

Ship Museum Website: https://nmgl.org/museum-ships/

Address: 1701 Front Street Toledo, Ohio 43605

Admission: Varies, see website

4-Aerial Adventure Course at the Toledo Zoo (This one is for the older kiddos 12+)

This Aerial Adventure has a menu of options sure to meet everyone’s quest for adventure!! I know it met mine (I rented a GoPro to commemorate my adventure last summer that’s me in the video!!) My two favorites-Challenge: Test your stamina as you traverse across the Africa exhibit. Tackle a series of obstacles designed to challenge guests both mentally and physically, including rope bridges, swinging log crossings, horizontal climbing walls, and much more. And, Zipline: In this exhilarating and unique experience, guests will start off 80 feet above the Africa exhibit and coast over 760 feet across giraffes, watusi cattle, wildebeest, and more. Click on the Website link below to read about the Sky Bridge, Flight line, Quick Jump, & package options.

Hours: The Zoo opens daily at 10 am. The last admission is at 4 pm with Zoo closing at 5 pm.

Phone: Tel: 419-385-5721

Website: https://www.toledozoo.org/adventure-course

Address: Toledo Zoo 2 Hippo Way, Toledo, OH 43609

Admission: $15 for members and $20 for non-members

5-Indian Creek Zoo

Indian Creek Zoo is a unique place that offers camel rides and up-close viewing of exotic animals such as Zebras, Camels, Emus, Wallabies, Donkeys, Coatimundi, Alligators Peacocks, and many more! My kiddos have an absolute blast each time they visit!

Hours: April- October, daily 10am-5pm

Phone: 734-224-0390

Website: http://indiancreekzoo.com/

Address: 2744 Consear Road, in Lambertville Michigan (between Secor & Douglas) just 3 miles north of Toledo

Admission: Child (17 and under) $14, Adult $16, Senior $15, Children 2 and Under FREE

6-Mud Hens Games!!!

Take me out to the ball game. Take me out to 5/3^rd Field. Buy me some peanuts and crackerjacks. I don’t care if I never get back. Let me root, root, root for the Mud Hens…and get my pic with Muddy and Madonna!! Get your tickets now and enjoy a fun-filled family-friendly American pastime.

Hours: Varies see home schedule on the website

Phone: 419-725-4367

Website: http://www.milb.com/schedule/index.jsp?sid=t512

Address: 406 Washington St, Toledo, OH 43604

Admission: Tickets start at just $16

7-Kids Bowl FREE

Registered Kids Receive 2 FREE GAMES Of Bowling Each Day Of The KBF Program All Summer Long, Valued At Over $500 Per Child!

“Select bowling centers and schools around the country are participating in the first-ever Kids Bowl Free program. This program is designed by bowling centers to give back to the community and provide a safe, secure, and fun way for kids to spend time this summer.

Children whose age does not exceed a limit by a participating bowling center are eligible to register for 2 free games each day of the KBF program, all summer long, courtesy of the participating bowling centers along with the schools and organizations”.

Hours: Vary

Website: https://www.kidsbowlfree.com/all_centers.php#OH

Offered in Maumee, Rossford, & Bowling Green (click website for exact locations & to sign up today!)

8-Mule-Drawn Canal Boat Experience

Plan your trip today….go back to the future!!

Details

Address: 13801 S River Rd, Grand Rapids, OH 43522

Phone: 419-407-9741

Website: For Boat & Mill Schedule Click on link https://metroparkstoledo.com/features-and-rentals/canal-experience/

Hours: Vary (see website)

Admission: $7 adults, $6 seniors (60 and over) and Metroparks members, $4 children (3 to 12); ages two and under free.

9-Kayaking the Maumee River Water Trails

The trail stretches 107-miles from Maumee Bay (Lake Erie) to the Ohio-Indiana border, and can be accessed at 39 locations.

The trail connects five Metroparks (Bend View, Farnsworth, Middlegrounds, Providence, and Side Cut), three state parks (Independence Dam, Mary Jane Thurston, and Maumee Bay), three wildlife areas (Meyerholtz, North Turkeyfoot, and Van Tassel), as well as 15 other publicly owned parks.

Website for all the details: https://mpdta.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Cascade/index.html?appid=b00a542678124619aa19cdffda4cd499