Days are longer, weather is warmer, and school is out, now what? Looking for some fun ways to fill your summer days? Whether you’re looking for fun things to do close to home, at home, or perhaps you’re ready to venture a bit further, we’ve got you covered! Here’s an awesome list of fun ideas for the 419 & beyond!
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Two months and three weeks!!! Ask any child and they could probably give you the time and their exact location when they heard the news that playgrounds were officially closed. March 22, 2020, Gov. Mike DeWine closed all public playgrounds in Ohio in order to limit the spread of the coronavirus. The next day playgrounds everywhere looked like crime scenes, with yellow caution tape draped where kiddos once climbed, slid, & swung. And for the next two month and three weeks we’d walk past the playgrounds at parks fondly remembering endless hours spent at play and longing for those days to return! And return they have, playgrounds opened today! And we didn’t waste a second……
We got up early and hit as many playgrounds as we could!
As we walked up the hill towards the playground I literally thought my youngest might burst from enthusiasm! But once she was face-to-face with the playground she froze for a moment, looked back at me for reassurance, & I gave her the “go for it” nod, and she climbed up, ran over, slid down, and repeated before the rest of us even officially made it all the way up the hill, lol!
We were the only ones at the playground for a while and then another mother and her daughter joined us. The kiddos ran, climbed, laughed, jumped, swung, you could literally feel the joy in the air. I sat on the picnic bench and for the first time in months I can honestly say it felt like pre-pandemic time, it felt amazing, it felt normal!
Address: 4659 Airport Hwy, Toledo, OH 43615
Phone: (419) 407-9758
Website: https://metroparkstoledo.com/explore-your-parks/swan-creek
Amenities: Restrooms, swinging bridge, picnic shelters, & playgrounds
Where: 4139 Girdham Rd, Swanton, OH 43558
Phone: (419) 360-9179
Website: https://metroparkstoledo.com/explore-your-parks/oak-openings/
Amenities: Endless…picnic areas, playgrounds, shelters, horseback riding, camping grounds, restrooms, etc.
Address: 10001 Central Ave, Berkey, OH 43504
Phone: (419) 360-9179
Website: https://metroparkstoledo.com/explore-your-parks/secor-metropark/
Amenities: Restrooms (one next to the playground has been removed), picnic areas, sheltered picnic area, window on wildlife (not open yet)
Last playground….
This was the perfect last stop of the day, we had the secret forest all to ourselves, it was so beautiful and peaceful.
Address: 5403 Elmer Drive Toledo, Ohio 43615
Phone: 419-270-7500
Website: https://metroparkstoledo.com/explore-your-parks/toledo-botanical-garden/
Hours: Open 7 a.m. until dark every day
Amenities: Picnic area adjacent as well as restrooms
And them home to cool off & play on the water blob….
Today was a great day!
Click here https://momonthegoinholytoledo.com/2018/04/22/10-awesome-playgrounds-in-nw-ohio-se-michigan/ for a list of some more awesome playgrounds to take the kiddos to this summer (please note, some are located in Michigan and may not be open yet).
Did you visit any playgrounds today or have plans to in the near future? Do your kiddos have a favorite playground they are excited to visit?
Need a break? Why not meet up with other parents/ grandparents and enjoy some adult conversation while the kiddos run off all that excess energy?
Here’s a list of awesome playground in Toledo and the surrounding areas….
Trip Advisor has it listed as #8 or 80 things to do in Toledo and I could not agree more! It is home to “the Spot” which has earned quite a reputation amongst Insta-grammers from all over Ohio as well as photographers from Michigan, Washington, D.C., New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Minnesota, California, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. With its sand dunes, bike trails, Tornado Alley, Mallard Lake, campgrounds, Horse trails, picnic areas, etc. it’s the Disney World of Metroparks with endless beauty everywhere you turn just waiting to be explored!
The playground is endless fun carefully constructed as to not deter from the natural beauty of the space. It is a camouflage of make-believe full of adventure!
The Zipline is the best…
Address: 4139 Girdham Rd, Toledo, OH 43558-9667
Phone: 419-826-6463
Website: https://metroparkstoledo.com/discover/blog/parkblog/?park=Oak+Openings&parkId=1765
Do take the time out of your busy week to get outside yourself and explore the wonder that is Oak Openings Metropark!
Farnsworth is located at 8505 S River Rd, Waterville, OH 43566.
The Interurban Bridge was once the largest earth filled, concrete reinforced bridge in the entire world, though the bridge is in ruins it is quite a sight to behold.
The Roche de Bout is one of the only significant rock outcroppings in the Northwest Region of Ohio and serves as a support for the bridge. The rock was an important landmark to Indians centuries ago, who met on the rock for meetings, including one before the famous 1794 Battle of Fallen Timbers. As long as the water level is somewhat low, you can easily wade out to the rock.
The 100-mile Bowling Green Fault line, the only fault line in the entire Great Lakes Region & it runs through the park. If the water is low enough you actually are able to see it.
Towpath Trail is 2.5 miles and Easy (Stroller and ADA accessible).
The trail parallels the Maumee River the whole way, passing by several islands on the river owned by the Ohio Division of Wildlife. (Unfortunately, there’s no way of getting to the islands).
However the Kayak Concession is open and you can rent a Kayak and Kayak around the islands.
Price: (Credit card payments only) Single Kayak, $10 per hour Tandem Kayak, $15 per hour Downriver kayak trip, Farnsworth to Side Cut Metropark, including transportation back to Farnsworth, $20 per person. E-bike rental, $10 per hour
Hours: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The playground (closest parking lot is the Boat Launch entrance to the park on 8801 S. River Road (US24), ) is AWESOME!
It includes; a turtle, a Great Blue Heron, a buckeye leaf, and even the Bowling Green Fault Line are depicted in the sculptures. Not only can children enjoy playing outside in the park, but they can learn about it at the same time.
And there is a really nice, new, shelter adjacent (and restrooms too) that is available to rent along with a charcoal and gas grill (locked)…it would make the perfect spot for a family reunion, birthday gathering, etc. Kids could play on the playground, older kiddos/adults could take turns kayaking, have a cookout, walk the towpath, and enjoy the natural beauty that is Ohio!
Hours: 7am-dark everyday
Address: 8505 S River Road (US 24) Waterville, OH 43566
Ranger Phone: (419) 779-6052
Map: http://metroparkstoledo.com/media/2158/river-parks-map-nov14-map-only.pdf
Website: http://metroparkstoledo.com/explore-your-parks/farnsworth/
Sources:
http://www.naturalohioadventures.com/farnsworth-metropark.html
http://metroparkstoledo.com/explore-your-parks/farnsworth/
Mom on the go in Holy Toledo 