Experience downtown Toledo for Mud Hens opening day, explore Japanese gardens, get up-close to exotic animals, or get hands-on with history at one of many Toledo area attractions reopening for the season. Make your travel plans with for a spring break getaway in and around Northwest Ohio today! 

Photo by: HandleBar Toledo

March Openings

Toledo Mud Hens
Mud Hens opening weekend is March 29 - 31, 2024
Who's ready for some Mud Hens baseball? Opening Weekend at Fifth Third Field is Friday, March 29 through Sunday, March 31. Mark your calendars and get your tickets now for Toledo’s biggest celebration. A beloved community tradition for over 20 years, the home opener is regularly a standing room only sell out! Learn more about the whole season and game day promotions, here.

Toledo Museum of Art Sculpture Garden
Open year round, but best enjoyed as warm weather begins
The sculpture garden at the Toledo Museum of Art was purposefully sited at the front of the building within an existing park-like setting, re-integrating the main façade. The sculpture walk—a graceful arc—connects three existing terraces, rebuilt and modified to accommodate the new arrangement. Twenty-two sculptures are carefully sited within the garden, and the design balances enclosure and openness by creating niches for the individual works, while allowing visibility from the street. Interested in exploring inside as well? Check out their current exhibitions.

577 Foundation
Open daily, year round, but the grounds and outdoor events are best enjoyed as warm weather begins
The 577 Foundation is a nonprofit community arts and nature center situated on the former estate of the founder, Virginia Secor Stranahan in Perrysburg, Ohio. 577 is open to all, with free admission to the gardens and grounds including the Geodesic Biodome, Bee Room, and the historic Log Home. Check out one of the dozens of classes offered each month in a variety of subjects including pottery, painting, gardening, wellness, and more. View their website for a list of current classes, upcoming special events, and to plan your visit.

African Safari Wildlife Park
Drive Thru opens March 22, 2024
Drive your car through and get in touch with your wild side with hundreds of exotic animals. Have you ever fed a bison? Been nose-to-nose with a giraffe? If not, you will, in the Drive-Thru Safari! Make sure to bring your camera as you will undoubtedly capture that Insta-worthy shot right from the comforts of your own vehicle. From Alpaca to Zebra, you’ll see it all at the African Safari Wildlife Park. Next up, come walk in the wild and visit more exotic animals in the Walk-Thru Safari featuring the walk through exhibit, Aviary Adventure. Feed and meet over 400+ budgies in this interactive aviary.

The HandleBar Toledo
2024 Booking is now open
The HandleBar is Toledo's original pedal-powered bar bike, offering 2-hour tours of downtown Toledo. Bring your own beverages and book one of their 4 bike powered rolling pubs for tours or special occasions like corporate events, bachelorette party’s birthdays or any celebration! This year they also have a 2.5 hour brunch experience tour with Focaccias and Maumee Bay Brewing!

Fifth Third Field

April Openings

Fort Meigs: Ohio’s War of 1812 Battlefield
Reconstructed Fort and grounds open April 1, 2024
History buffs can take self-guided tours of Fort Meigs reconstructed fort on the grounds where remnants still remain from battles of yesteryear. Explore the fort’s seven blockhouses, five artillery batteries and a quartermaster’s warehouse. Historical interpreters, dressed in period clothing, are on hand to provide weapons demonstrations, discuss the history of the fort, and answer any questions. Explore the Museum & Education Center filled with exhibits and artifacts found on site, then shop at the impressive gift shop. Visitors center, museum and gift shop are open year-round.

Country Lane Tree Farm
The farm will be open by reservation only this spring as they allocate the space for kids groups to take advantage of field trip days starting April 15, and running through July. They are also currently booking summer horse camps, farmer camps and birthday parties during this time frame. You can book one of these experiences by calling (419) 471-1298 or messaging Country Lane Tree Farm on Facebook.

Schedel Arboretum & Gardens
Opening day is April 2, 2024
Spring is the perfect time for a visit to Schedel Arboretum and Gardens. Stroll through fragrant and colorful gardens of nearly 20,000 annuals, roses, perennials, irises and lilies, including a Japanese garden complete with Torii, waterfall, pools, lanterns, bridges and a pagoda. In recent years they have added the Blair Museum of Lithophanes. This is the world’s largest collection of 19^th century lithophones on display in the historic 1881 manor house. Lithophanes are intricate carvings made of porcelain. Browse through the McAlear Gallery, located in the Brown Welcome Center, featuring exhibits showcasing the works of international, national and regional artists. Schedel is located in Elmore, Ohio, just a 30-minute drive southeast of Toledo.

J&M Cruise Lines
Walleye Fishing Trips begin Saturdays in April, 2024 | Public cruises run May 12 through October, 2024
Enjoy public and private boat rides on The Sandpiper and the recently acquired 65-foot Glass City Pearl. The Sandpiper offers a number of relaxing and fun cruises on the Maumee River in Downtown Toledo. Spend time on Lake Erie on the Glass City Pearl with cruises to Put-In-Bay, Harbor Lighthouse, and the remains of The Turtle Island Lighthouse. You can also enjoy a Musical Dinner Cruise or turn any given Tuesday into TACO Tuesday. Check out their special April 8 Eclipse Cruise for a special way to view the upcoming celestial event.

Toledo Speedway
First Race is Saturday, April 20, 2024
The ARCA Series has raced at Toledo Speedway since 1963. Toledo Speedway has long been known for being one of the best short tracks in the country with its ½ mile semi banked oval and ¼ mile figure eight in the middle. Throughout their season they host several stock car races, figure 8 bus events, monster truck shows all culminating on October 5 for their ARCA Menards Series finale. 

Fort Meigs

May Openings

The Great Lake Erie Birding Trail
Birding is one of the top attractions in the Toledo region. Remarkably, tens of thousands of visitors converge on northwest Ohio each spring from all 50 states, 54 countries and 6 continents. The folks over at Black Swamp Bird Observatory knew the natural phenomenon of the spring bird migration could turn the Lake Erie shoreline and beyond into a tourism mecca, so they launched The Biggest Week in American Birding in 2009 and are proud to be celebrating their 15th year May 3-12, 2024, headquartered at Maumee Bay Lodge & Conference Center.

Indian Creek Zoo
Opening day is May 1, 2024
This zoo, located in Lambertville, MI is home to over 400 animals and 80 different species that you can get wildly close to! Visitors can see an array of exotic & native animals & ride camels at this seasonal habitat. A day at Indian Creek Zoo is perfect for preschool outings, field trips, birthdays, parties corporate events and more! They offer up-close viewing of exotic animals such as Zebras, Giraffes, Camels, Emus, Wallabies, Donkeys, Sloths, Monkeys, Wolves, Coatimundi, Alligators and Peacocks and many more!

Canal Experience
Open May through October, 2024
Step back in time at the Canal Experience and get a taste of life on the Miami and Erie Canal in 1876. Providence Metropark is located in what was once the canal town of Providence, Ohio. Today, the Metropark has one of the greatest concentrations of canal era features in the country, including:
- The Volunteer, a reproduction of a mule-drawn canal boat
- The Isaac Ludwig Mill, a working water-powered saw and gristmill
- More than a mile of the original Miami and Erie Canal and towpath
- Lock #44, one of the last functioning 19th century limestone locks
- Scenic Providence Dam, constructed across the Maumee River to maintain water levels in the canal
- Characters in period attire welcoming visitors to a time gone by
- Visit the Heritage Center to view The Volunteer and Lock 44 in action

Cedar Point
Open for the season May 4, 2024
Just a short drive from Toledo,  located in Sandusky, Ohio, Cedar Point is a must-do destination. It's home to 68 amazing rides, from the family-friendly Wild Mouse to the adrenaline-pumping roller coasters like Steel Vengeance and Millennium Force. Live shows, immersive dining and signature summer events add diverse layers to the experience. The amusement park has a little bit of something for every thrill-seeker. And summer splashes are right next door at the Cedar Point Shores Waterpark with its multiple water gadgets, pools for little ones and slides for the whole family.

The Lathrop House
Part of Heritage Sylvania, The Lathrop House is open Sundays May through October, 2024
The Lathrop House was one of many locations that were scattered throughout the state of Ohio where men, women and children fleeing slavery found shelter and safety. Harboring runaway slaves was illegal in America after the passage of the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850. The 1850s Lathrop House is the only Underground Railroad site in northwest Ohio open to the public.

Jet Express Ferry 
Ferries run from May through October, 2024
The Jet Express is the premier ferry service to the Lake Erie Shores & Islands. They four ocean approved water jet propelled catamarans. This design gives customers the smoothest ride of any ferry to Put-in-Bay and Kelley's Island. Traveling with a large group? The Jet Express offers exclusive discount rates to groups of 15 or more.

National Museum of the Great Lakes
Museum ships open May – October, 2024 | Museum open year-round
The National Museum of the Great Lakes reveals the varied and fascinating history of our treasured Great Lakes, which make up 84% of all of the fresh water in North America. Come explore the history of the world's greatest natural resource—from canoes and schooners to early steamers and freighters—some of which ply the mighty Maumee River right next to the Museum. The National Museum of the Great Lakes is extraordinarily lucky to have two museum ships for visitors to tour. Both are included with full admission: the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship and the Museum Tug Ohio. 

Metroparks Toledo Kayak Rentals  
Open Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day, 2024
Our local metroparks system with its 19 locations throughout the region offer many facility rentals as well as equipment rentals for activities in the parks. Many of the parks are nestled along bodies of water where visitors can kayak. Farnsworth, Howard Marsh, Blue Creek, and Glass City Metropark all have kayak rental facilities which are open seasonally. Along the banks of the Maumee River you can hop from park to park on the Maumee River Water Trail with a rental or bring your own personal water crafts along.

National Museum of the Great Lakes

Sauder Village
Opening day May 1, 2024
Take a step back in time at Ohio’s largest living-history village that captures Ohio life from 1803 to 1928. Explore more than 40 historic homes and shops, meet farm animals, visit with costumed guides and working craftsmen and try unique hands-on activities for yourself. The most recent addition to the village’s attractions, 1920s Main Street, is part of the “walk through time” experience at Sauder Village. This one-of-a-kind project replicates a portion of a 1920s Main Street typical to Northwest Ohio. Highlights at Sauder Village that are open year-round include: Barn Restaurant, Doughbox Bakery, Retail Shops, Sauder Heritage Inn and Founders Hall.

Toledo Farmers Market
Moves outside Saturdays, May - November, 2024 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
One of the longest running farmers market in the country. This market offers a variety of in season produce. Look for asparagus, peas, snap beans, rhubarb and strawberries in the summer months, in addition you will also find meats, flowers, ground coffee, baked goods, herbs, and artists selling jewelry, candles, soaps and other handcrafted items.

Westgate Farmers’ Market
Open every Wednesdays May - October, 2024 3 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Located in the parking lot of Westgate Shopping Center on Central Avenue across from Costco. Take I-475 to exit #17. Turn south and proceed to Central Ave. Turn right on Central Ave. you will see the market on the right-hand side of the road across from COSTCO.

Toledo Farmers Market