The industrial backdrop of Toledo adds a rustic flair to the city and its many contemporary attractions. The Toledo Museum of Art is a world-class art museum with diverse collections.

Other top attractions in Toledo are the Toledo Zoo, which continues to add exhibits every year; Toledo Botanical Garden; and Imagination Station, an interactive science museum along the waterfront with rotating exhibits and regular public programs.

Toledo sits along the Miami and Erie canal system, so a visit to the Providence Metropark in the city is a must-see. The Canal Experience takes you back to the late 1800s, when Toledo played an important part in transporting products and people through Ohio. The area still has the original working Isaac Ludwig Mill, a water-powered saw and gristmill, and Lock #44, one of the only working limestone locks from the 19th century.

Since Toledo sits along Lake Erie and is one of the busiest ports in the Great Lakes, there is plenty of nautical history to explore, including the National Museum of the Great Lakes with interactive exhibits and historical artifacts. You can also plan a day on the water with a boat tour around the historic Toledo Lighthouse.

For a memorable night out in the city, catch a Toledo Mud Hens baseball game after dinner at Tony Paco’s Café, which serves a hot dog made famous by the hit TV show M*A*S*H.