If you ask us, we think that the dog day’s of summer are just for the dogs. Beat the heat with creative activities and cool afternoons. Enjoy the full swing of Toledo’s summer with our jam packed list of things to do and see, from outdoor festivals to quaint riverside town visits. Here is a list of the most creative and adventurous things to do from the shores of the Maumee River and beyond. See how many you can cross off before Labor Day. Ready… set… go!
1. Who says soup is for winter?
Instead of warming up, try cooling off with a fresh, cold summer soup. Check out the best recipes online and serve some for dinner. Or, just stop by The Real Seafood for a bowl of their Chilled Gazpacho.
2. Books in the park
Meet up with a friend at the park and exchange your favorite books. Or, visit one of the local libraries or bookstores and pick up a favorite author (perhaps one of the many talented wordsmiths from Toledo) or an interesting book of art to gaze at with a buddy. Check out Beads & Books (4925 Dorr St.) for inexpensive, used options, or the many Toledo Lucas County Library locations and, make sure you check out littlefreelibrary.org for local “take a book, return a book” lending library locations.
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3. Discover the farmer’s market
Not just for foods and goods, the market makes the perfect location for sketching and people watching. You can mix up the typical BBQ with local fruits and veggies on the barbie. Are you as obsessed with avocado as we are? Try grilling a firm avocado for a creamy, rich and warm taste perfect for tacos. Our favorite local markets are downtown on Saturdays (8am-2pm) and the Perrysburg market on Thursdays (3-8pm).
4. Pick up a picnic at Deepam Indian and head to Secor Metropark
Satisfy your hunger for fragrant Indian food and wildlife at the same time. The multi-dish Indian cuisines are perfect to spread out on a blanket while you take your time and experiment with new flavors.
5. Break camp
Travel to Hocking Hills and check out the caverns, rentable cabins and serene wilderness. Can’t get out of town? Just set up shop in your own backyard. The plus of at-home camping: running water.
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6. Enjoy an outdoor movie
Check out a double feature at Sundance Kid Drive-In (4500 Navarre Ave., Oregon). The best part is that tickets are per carload! Bring a picnic and enjoy the “old fashioned” summer-take on a movie theater. Wanna get creative at home? Purchase or rent a projector, from American Rent-All (toledorentall.com) and hang a white sheet, voila! a movie theater. Want to up the ante? Hang a patterned sheet and give animated movies a new atmosphere for a cool, psychedelic evening perfect for summer nights.
7. Watch the sunset from a rooftop
The library has the perfect rooftop to watch the setting sun on the Maumee River. Check out a book, relax, and enjoy the sky’s beautiful colors.
8. Be a tourist in your own town Toledo is filled with fun historical places, little nooks and crannies… see what you can find. You can join a group of other Toledo enthusiasts on one of Toledo Flavors Food Tours (toledoflavors.com) and take in the local architecture and downtown food hot spots. There are wonderful restaurants within an hour drive from Toledo’s city-center. Check out Knuckleheads Kafe (24208 Front St.) in Grand Rapids or Dietsch Brothers Ice Cream (400 W. Main Cross St.) in Findlay.
9. Find constellations
Pick up a constellation book and sit outside under the stars with a cold brew in hand. How many can you find? Visit the Ritter Planetarium (2855 W. Bancroft St.) or Lourdes Planetarium (6832 Convent Blvd.).
10. Head to a music festival Outdoor music is what summer is all about, and there are many music festivals within a short drive from here. All Good Music Festival & Camp Out (July 9-12) or Pitchfork (July 17-19) are some of our favorites. Visit our festival guide for a full list, including options later in the summer, at toledocitypaper.com/2015MusicFestivals.
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11. Cocktails on the Patio at
Grand Plaza hotel Pretend you are in Europe enjoying a summer spritzer or cocktail with a breathtaking view of the sunset… yet, instead of being along the Seine River in Paris, enjoy the beauty of the Maumee. No passport necessary.
12. Fun on the water
Visit downtown Grand Rapids, Maumee Bay State Park and Olander Park for an afternoon of watercrafts. Rentable kayaks and paddleboats are available at some locations.
13. Spin your wheels
Hidden deep inside Oak Openings Metropark (4139 Girdham Rd., Swanton) are rippling sand dunes just begging to be explored.
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14. Disc Golf
Show off your putting swag at Ottawa Park (2204 Bancroft St.) with the free disc course. Give it a spin!
15. Find your own vintage style
Spice up your wardrobe and accessories with great finds from antique malls or garage sales. Or, travel back in time for a little bit of role play. Who says only kids can play dress up? Some great “finding” locations are the Maumee Antique Mall (1552 S. Reynolds Rd., Maumee), Vintage Vibes (1501 Adams St.) and the Antique Barn (1598 W. Sylvania Ave.).
16. Make a fairy garden
Your friends will finally believe your fantastic stories of hanging out with fairies once you build them their own home. Creque’s Greenhouse (8700 W. Sylvania Ave.) and Hoen’s Garden Center (1701 Perrysburg Holland Rd., Holland) have everything you need to become a fairy interior decorator.
17. Local overnights
Wanna get away for a night, or perhaps a long weekend? Check out the cutesy B&Bs in Grand Rapids— The Mill House (themillhouse.com) and The Housley House (thehousleyhouse.com). For more things Grand Rapids, check out our special section on pg. 11.
18. McCourtie Park in Irish Hills
Take a Sunday drive through the rolling hills of one of Michigan’s most beautiful and historic regions. The McCourtie Estate, which is now a public park, contains 17 detailed Mexican folk art cement structures made using an old technique called el trabejo rustico; making wet concrete resemble wood. Located in Somerset, MI on US12, two miles west of US127.
19. Take a trip to the vineyard
Hidden gems like Majestic Oak Winery (13554 Mohler Rd., Grand Rapids) and Chateau Tebeau Winery (525 OH-635, Helena) have outstretched fields of grapes, live music and intoxicatingly delicious wines.
20. Toledo Geocaching
Channel your inner Lewis and Clark with localized geocaching. If you want to amp up the ante even more, try it at night. Let the North Star lead the way! geocaching.com, metroparkstoledo.com
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21. Make ice cream from scratch.jpg)
Love the local flavors of Rachel’s Handmade Ice Cream or other Toledo-treat masters? Experiment with your own flavors. The options are endless when it comes to ice cream, and it is way easier to make than you think. Looking for a shortcut for dessert? Check out our Ice Cream Round up for some local sweets.
22. Have a cute, candle-lit outdoor dinner party with friends
The weather is perfect for an outside meal, especially with your closest friends and a bottle of wine.
23. Brunch it up
Don’t sleep in and miss out on brunch! Mix up your morning/afternoon food fix at one of the many local brunch locations. Visit our Brunch Crunch for a full list.
24. Support local arts while becoming a local artist.
Have fun painting a vase at The Art Supply Depo (29 S. St. Clair). When it’s done, walk across the street to Floral Pursuit (48 S. St. Clair) to fill it with flowers.
25. Put yourself out there Even if you are unsure of your abilities, Toledo’s many open mics offer a great chance to show off your talents. The positive, encouraging environment of an open mic will give you the confidence you need to share your stories and songs. Our favorites include Black Kite Coffee (6-7pm, Wednesdays) and Delightful Art’'s Art With A Heart’s Art Jam, the last Tuesday of every month.
Show us how you love Toledo during the summer. Use #TCPsummer or tag the Toledo City Paper
on Facebook for a chance to have your photo featured in our end of summer photo album.
