OHIOIt had been a long, cold winter and everyone in our household was experiencing a bad case of cabin fever. We all needed fresh air and sunshine. Guess it was time for another fabulous froggy adventure! Mom said she knew of a perfect place to explore, and we wouldn’t have to travel far to get there. So, the family hopped in the car, and in just 30 minutes we would travel north from our hometown of Bowling Green to our destination – Toledo, Ohio.

Toledo was founded in 1833 on the west bank of the Maumee River. Because it’s so close to several waterways, Toledo became a major trade center for the Midwest. Glass manufacturers flocked to the area, leading to the nickname of “The Glass City.” But that wasn’t its first moniker… before the arrival of industry, settlers had coined Toledo “Frogtown” because of all the frogs and toads that populated this corner of The Great Black Swamp. Apparently, these amphibians croaked so loudly it was deafening to the residents. In a salute to its name, frog statues can be found throughout the city. I just love frog folklore!

We visit Toledo often. My family loves to walk around the world class Toledo Museum of Art, where we can view paintings by famous artists including Vincent van Gogh and Claude Monet. We enjoy watching glass-blowing demonstrations in the Glass Pavilion and attending one of the many art classes that they offer. It’s really an amazing place.

The Toledo Zoo is also one of our favorite stops. We spend hours looking at the exotic animals in their realistic habitats. And, we enjoy attending the zoo’s special events throughout the year. It’s a place to return to time and again.

But for today’s adventure, we’ll be going someplace new – Glass City Metropark sits on the banks of the Maumee River and offers year-long activities for all ages and abilities. Today, my parents loved sitting by the firepit, watching while my sisters and I skated on The Ribbon Ice Skating Trail. Afterward, we purchased hot chocolate at the concession stand and took a long stroll on the Riverwalk.

While wintertime at the park was magical, I can’t wait to return to the Glass City Metropark when the weather warms up. The Ribbon Trail turns into a fun place for roller skates, blades or kick scooters. I look forward to spending time in the three play areas…climbing an adventure tower, weaving through a prairie maze or cooling off in the water feature. The Kayak Cove and Adventure Boardwalk sounds like an amazing opportunity to experience the Maumee up close on a series of interactive bridges or by paddling in one of their kayak rentals. Visit their website for more information on planning your trip.

But our day was not done yet…just a short distance from the park is the National Museum of the Great Lakes. This museum tells the incredible stories of the Great Lakes through photography, artifacts, and many hands-on exhibits. My family sure enjoyed touring the 617-foot iron ore freighter Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship and the historic Museum Tug Ohio located next to museum. Use the QR code here to watch a virtual tour and find out about admission costs and hours.

I had the best day exploring the metropark and museum but was getting hungry after all this family fun. I think Dad was hungry, too. He mentioned (several times) that Tony Packo’s was just down the road and that a chili dog sure sounded delicious. So off we went to our final destination of the day – Toledo’s iconic restaurant, Tony Packo’s Café. Dad was right, it was delicious! 

Until next time…

Froggily,

Ruby