L_B_2015_04_

B

oaters can get anywhere from Toledo.

But before cruising up the Great Lakes from Lake Erie

or heading off to sea via the St. Lawrence Seaway, why not drop anchor

and sample the smorgasbord of attractions in this Ohio port city on the

banks of the Maumee River?

You may be pleasantly surprised.

So says Shirley Levy, former longtime boating writer for the Toledo

Blade, who touts Toledo as both an attractive cruising base from which to

explore nearby ports and a destination worthy of discovering on its own.

“From Lake Erie, you can get anywhere in the world, believe it or not,”

Levy says. “It’s very accessible to many other ports within a 100- or 200-mile

radius, including Canada’s southernmost community, Pelee Island, the

Lake Erie Islands, and the roller coaster-rich Cedar Point amusement park.

“But there are a lot of attractions here, too,” she continues. “Toledo

has many nice restaurants on the waterfront, and other points of interest

are easily accessible. We have a world-class art museum and zoo — those

are little-known treasures.”

Beyond that, Levy says, boaters may be surprised at the welcoming

attitude (especially for Associated Yacht Club members) at the city’s

private yacht clubs, scattered along the Maumee River.

“Unlike some cities, there’s a real spirit of friendliness at the private

clubs,” Levy says. “They roll out a big welcome mat.”

That goes for the rest of the city as well.

GETTING TO KNOW “GLASS CITY”

Located on the northern border of Ohio and the western end of Lake Erie,

Toledo grew in the 19th century, thanks to its location on the railway line

between Chicago and New York and at the terminus of the Miami and Erie

Canal. Its status as a transportation hub attracted immigrant groups and

industries such as furniture- and carriage-makers, breweries, automotive

suppliers, and glass manufacturers. Jeeps have been produced here since 1941.

Today, as headquarters for three glass companies, it’s still known as

“Glass City” and is a center for the American studio glass movement, glass

artists and galleries. The Toledo Museum of Art’s stunning, post-modern

Glass Pavilion, with its world-class glass collection and glass-blowing

studio, should be a must on any visitor’s itinerary. Check out the dazzling

Libbey cut-glass punch bowl custom made for the 1904 World’s Fair in

St. Louis; it weighs 134 pounds, holds 15 gallons and has 23 surviving

cups (TOLEDOMUSEUM.ORG/GLASS-PAVILION).

A good starting point in this city of 282,000 is the revitalized downtown,

home to a growing core of venues for all ages and interests. The Toledo Mud

Hens, a minor league/AAA affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, draws baseball

fans to the new Fifth Third Field in the Warehouse District, while the

nearby Huntington Center Arena buzzes during Toledo Walleye Hockey

games and concerts. Culture buffs flock to the historic Valentine Theatre,

whose lobby and entrance have been lovingly restored to their 1895 grandeur.

Toledo Harbor Light

Toledo Glass Pavilion

LIGHT PHOTO COURTESY

OF

DESTINATION TOLEDO

BOATS PHOTO BY JEFF

GREENBURG

PHOTO BY SRP

50 APRIL 2015 | LAKELANDBOATING.COM

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