Sitting on the beach with a drink in hand, enjoying time spent with the family or friends is the daydream of many desk dwellers, so why ruin the image with a dying cell phone?
The Sun Power 6000 Charger allows you to charge your electronics without leaving the fun in the sun. This handy charger is water resistant, and perfect for seaside festivities.
Or, got kids playing sports? I’ve spent gobs of hours at ballparks all summer long. Tournaments can go all day…and I’m checking emails and updates of brackets all day. My battery always runs out at the worst times. Not now…
Easy to use, really simple. You’ll never feel out-of-communication out n about again.
A little Frazzled? Busy? Have a Free Weekend coming up but no time to plan it? Kids Love Travel Family Guides to the rescue! We’ve already surveyed all the kid-friendly attractions and organized them for you to plan day trips and getaways…on a budget.
How does it work?
1. QUICK TOURS of Hand-Picked Favorites – to help you choose, if you have a limited time frame.
2. DAY TRIP ZONE CATEGORIES – makes it easy to locate multiple activities in the same area.
3. EDUCATIONAL OR FREE DOWNLOADS – coloring sheets, scavenger hunts, puzzles and lesson plans.
4. QUICK VIEW CHARTS – organized by city.
5. DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS – including pricing, hours, overview and insider tips.
6. ACTIVITY INDEX – to locate attractions by theme (ex. Tours, Science, Seasonal Events).
A great resource for busy moms everywhere, Kids Love Travel Family Guides will guarantee your family vacation is worth all the time, money, and emotion you put into it.
Moms everywhere are planning their family vacations for the year. Destination Toledo and Ohio State Parks are here to help mom out by providing a slew of great ideas for a family getaway to Northwest Ohio!
Start your journey at the Toledo Zoo (KIDS LOVE OHIO), one of the nation’s top-ranked zoos and the number one attraction in Toledo! Immerse yourself in the heart of Africa on the Safari Railway through a 5-acre African habitat teeming with giraffes, zebra and all the wilds of Africa. Grab lunch at the Carnivore Café before enjoying your whirlwind trip through the Arctic Encounter, Hippoquarium, Nature’s Neighborhood, Museum of Science and Aquarium…your journey is endless! The new aquarium was funded by locals, so it’s their pride and joy. I particularly loved that the zoo keeps many old structures and recycles them. For instance, the old lion and tiger cages are now the Carnivore Café – indoor seating in actual barred cages!
Take a break and relax with a view of the beautiful downtown Toledo skyline at one of several restaurants located at the Docks (22 Main Street, www.realseafoodcorestaurant.com). Enjoy the picturesque riverfront on the outdoor patio of Real Seafood for an afternoon nibble and a cold drink. They bring in fresh seafood from the Atlantic, Pacific and Great Lakes. Many rave about their crab cakes. I liked their selection of locally caught Perch or Walleye. Lunch runs $10-$13. Dinner runs about double. Entrees include two sides. I recommend you try their blue cheese vinaigrette coleslaw with any fish entrée. All kids meals include a beverage and the entrees (shrimp, burger, tenders, spaghetti, etc) run $5.95. On a nice day, try to get a patio seat. Really good view.
The fishing pier is tiered steps leading right into the water. Once you’re down in there, you escape the resort view and feel like you’re at a favorite fishing hole!
Get ready for some fun in the sun! Head out to the 1,850-acre Maumee Bay State Park (KIDS LOVE OHIO pg 220) and play on the beach on the shores of Lake Erie. Rent a jet ski, kayak or a banana boat and venture out on the water. Take a nature walk on the marshland boardwalk teeming with wildlife, or bike along one of the winding trails with stunning views. Options include the Nature Center, geocaching, court sports, horseshoes, children’s activities, swimming (inside or out), hot tubs, children’s soft play area, fitness room, game room, corn-hole, shuffleboard, fishing, canoeing and paddle boating. And dad will love the 18-hole Scottish Links golf course!
Nature Center is very hands-on.
Indoor splash pad area.
A nice beach for swim and play.
After an afternoon of sun and fun, it’s time to check in at the Maumee Bay Lodge & Conference Center. Whether you opt for one of the fully-furnished cozy cottages, or select a loft-style room at the lodge, your stay is sure to be a delight. Simple furnishings for old-fashioned fun.
No need to leave the park for dinner! Water’s Edge Restaurant encompasses a breathtaking glass wrap-around view of Lake Erie with a variety of choices to suit every appetite. This is not your typical state park dining. The chef uses mostly local ingredients and prepares gourmet entrees that have appealing subtle look and flavor. If you’re there for brunch, it’s so diverse. Come hungry. After dinner, hang out at either the outdoor or indoor pool, or soak in the warmth of the relaxing whirlpool or sauna. Then, watch a feature movie inside or a bonfire and roast s’mores outside.
The ice cream shop was hopping! Veryyyy large portions!
A bonfire and smores – at dusk. Perfect ending to the day!
Moms everywhere are planning their family vacations for the year. Destination Toledo and Ohio State Parks are here to help mom out by providing a slew of great ideas for a family getaway to Northwest Ohio!
DAY ONE
First stop on our Playtime tour is an art museum? (Toledo Museum of Art, KIDS LOVE OHIO pg 219, FREE admission)
Probably my favorite space is the Glass Pavilion. The Glass Pavilion is—in itself—a work of art. All exterior and nearly all interior walls consist of large panels of curved glass, resulting in a transparent structure that blurs the boundaries between interior and exterior spaces. You are greeted by a clear glass “fish-looking” Chihuly sculpture and then drawn in further by the live glass-blowing artists at work.
Toledo’s newest attraction, the National Museum of the Great Lakes (KIDS LOVE OHIO pg 216), reveals the haunting and fascinating history of our treasured Great Lakes that happen to make up 84 percent of the fresh surface water in North America. The main emphasis is on the new museum at the Toledo Maritime Center with a complete experience for visitors of all ages to include: original artifacts (some from horrific shipwrecks like the Edmund Fitzgerald); over 40 hands-on exhibits (for example: direct your own submersible through the wreckage of a lost freighter or keep your own ship afloat by operating a real bilge pump); the real life-size S.S. Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship sits outside the museum for touring; and for waterside wonderers – A beautifully landscaped 3.5 acre maritime-themed park.
Ever felt the whipping winds of a hurricane? Step inside the hurricane chamber at the brand new Imagination Station(KIDS LOVE OHIO pg 215) and your answer can be ‘Yes’. This brand new attraction promises to engage visitors of every age in a multi-sensory experience that’s as fun as it is educational. Defy gravity as you ride the High Wire Cycle, or bounce on the BOYO, a human YoYo. We especially liked the science experiments where it was “old-school” science museum – kids and parents helped make the tests work! I even beat my athlete son at the Pendulum Pull. Brains over Brawn…
Batter up! Family fun is waiting for you as the Toledo Mud Hens (KIDS LOVE OHIO pg 217) play ball at Fifth Third Field! Grab some popcorn, cotton candy and a cold drink and settle in to this unique ballpark situated in the historic downtown landscape of the Warehouse District. We love and support AAA ball…it’s so fan friendly for the price. Not only do you get to see MLB up n comers but it’s likely you’ll see major league stars playing off the dust during rehab. We liked the way this park was setup too. Any seat ticket holder can enter the Club Level Lounge to cool off, catch some stats from other games being played, or grab some upscale food that’s fairly priced.
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