on the walls; or sample Hungarian specialties such as stuffed cabbage,
chicken paprikash with dumplings, and apple strudel (TONYPACKOS.COM)
Across town, the acclaimed Toledo Zoo is making headlines with its
new, state-of-the-art aquarium, which is scheduled to open in late March.
Shark sightings — in northwest Ohio, of all places — are guaranteed.
Though the zoo’s new residents include salt- and freshwater species, it’s
the zebra sharks in the 93,000-gallon Pacific Reef exhibit that are taking
center stage. Showtime gets commences underwater when divers feed
them, talking to anxious observers through microphones in their masks.
Other crowd-pleasers include touch-tanks with small, black-tipped
reef sharks, stingrays and other small sea critters, plus an outdoor koi
pond whose specimens — variously orange, yellow, white or indigo —
dazzle in the sunshine. The new aquarium is in the zoo’s refurbished,
copper-roofed WPA building, home to an aquarium since 1939.
Named “Best Zoo in the U.S.” last year in an online voting contest
(USA Today 10 Best Readers Choice), the zoo also introduced three new
bird-themed exhibits: “‘Keet Retreat,” a free-flight parakeet encounter
where visitors wave optional $1 seed sticks to encourage birds to land
on them; “Penguin Beach,” with a walk-through exhibit showcasing
penguins on three sides — from ground level, above and underwater
though a “wall of water;” and “Flamingo Key,” a tropical island-inspired
exhibit starring a flamboyance (or flock) of adult and juvenile flamingos.
And that’s all in addition to its five-acre African habitat and Safari
Railway, pioneering hippoquarium, arctic wolves, and North America’s
largest saltwater crocodile, a 17-foot-long, 1,500-pound Australian
reptile named Baru (TOLEDOZOO.ORG).EXPLORE DOWNTOWN
When it comes to name-dropping, the internationally known Toledo
Museum of Art can be forgiven. It’s chock-full of 30,000 treasures by
a who’s who of the world’s master artists, including Monet, Degas,
Picasso, Rembrandt, Rubens, Renoir and Van Gogh. What’s more,
admission is free (TOLEDOMUSEUM.ORG).
Back in the downtown Warehouse District, a favorite gathering spot is
the restored Oliver House, a former grand hotel preserved and transformed
into multiple eateries. They include: Petit Fours Patisserie, a chic little lunch
spot and bakery; the casual Mutz Sports Bar; and Maumee Bay Brewing
Co., with a large selection of award-winning beers and seasonal brews.
Amid a colorful collection of memorabilia, friends gather in Maumee Bay
Brew Pub to sample flights that may include Glass City Pale Ale and the
historic hometown Buckeye Beer; many are available for carry-out. Don’t
miss the cheddar beer soup, giant brick oven pretzel and Oliver House pizza.
Nearby, at 205 S. Erie Street, shoppers give their credit cards a workout
buying glassware, gifts and accessories for boats and homes at the sprawling
Libbey Factory Outlet Store, seven days a week. Just outside, the Outdoor
Farmer’s Market is open Saturday mornings and early afternoon year-round.
Toledo’s stylish new Hollywood Casino, adorned with movie star
posters, is another spot for wallet action. Sprawling across 125,000
square feet, it buzzes with more than 2,000 slot machines (from penny
to $100), 60 table games, and 20 live poker tables.
Among several lounges and eateries is the elegant and splurge-
worthy Final Cut, where Chef Aaron Lawson creates lobster “popcorn,”
handcrafted sorbets and other fancy fare to accompany a full menu of
prime steaks and fresh seafood (HOLLYWOODCASINOTOLEDO.COM).Local Resources
Destination Toledo Convention & Visitors Bureau
DOTOLEDO.ORG
800-243-4667Toledo Chamber of Commerce
TOLEDOCHAMBER.COM
419-243-8191National Museum of the Great Lakes
INLANDSEAS.ORG
419-214-5000Maumee Bay Lodge
MAUMEEBAYSTATEPARKLODGE.COM
419-515-5512OFFERINGS AND EVENTS
Boaters seeking a change of pace may head for Maumee Bay State Park
Lodge, just outside town, in Oregon, Ohio, where 24 overnight docks
come with power and water hook-ups for 40-foot boats and smaller.
Marina guests may use all the lodge facilities, including pools, racquetball
courts, fitness center, hot tubs, dockside picnic tables and grills, and
miles of paved biking and walking trails. A 2-mile boardwalk winds
through protected, bird-friendly wetlands. Glimpses of the 1904 Toledo
Harbor Lighthouse are possible on a clear day. Complimentary shuttle
service is provided to the 18-hole, Arthur Hills-designed golf course
(MAUMEEBAYSTATEPARKLODGE.COM).
Also popular are the waterfront dining room and nautically themed
Ice-Breakers Lounge. Maumee Bay lodge hosts two annual festivals:
The 12th annual Toledo Lighthouse and Waterfront Festival, July
11-12, will feature live entertainment, fresh perch, an arts and crafts
village, lighthouse and boat tours, seminars, children’s activities, and a
sand castle contest (TOLEDOLIGHTHOUSE.ORG).
Or join the thousands of bird buffs who flock to “The Biggest Week
in American Birding Festival,” May 8-16. Last year’s event drew more
than 70,000 enthusiasts to the Lake Erie shoreline between Toledo
and Sandusky to view birds that stop there to rest during their great
migration to Canada, which lasts about four weeks, typically April 20
through May 21.
“Last year during the festival, the lodge recorded visitors from 44 states
and 22 countries,” says Patrick Czarny, general manager, adding that
many of the birds arrive in full color spring plumage and rarely are seen
other than during migration times (BIGGESTWEEKINAMERICANBIRDING.COM).
Whether they arrive by land or water, what all those visitors find when
they come to Toledo these days is a far cry from what greeted them a
decade ago, according to Don Smith, owner of Brenner 75 Marine.
Citing the city’s burgeoning array of concerts, ballgames, restaurants,
museums, zoo enhancements, and public dock space, Smith says, “A
lot of people don’t realize, but the downtown area has a lot going on.
They’ve done a nice job creating activities and options.”
Toldeo welcomes boaters with open arms to indulge in its sights,
sounds and sustenance. Come see for yourself! ★LAKELANDBOATING.COM | APRIL 2015 5 5POC_Toledo_APR15.indd 55 3/2/15 12:38 PM