I'd like to share this list of hidden gems in the Toledo Area. Feel free to add to this list.

EDIT: Please re-visit this list if you checked it out early. I have added some things.

Other Great Resources & Megathreads

• Things to Do in Toledo

• All things bikes! Bike trails and bike paths in Toledo

• Toledo Bike Map!

• All Things Kayaking

• Toledo-area breweries

• Vegan Toledo

• Toledo food trucks

• More Toledo food trucks

• Toledo's Attic

• Metroparks Toledo

• Toledo Museum of Art

• Toledo resources for artists and creatives

• Important post-Roe info

Gardens and community centers

• Simpson Garden Park in Bowling Green - Charming public park with botanical garden, a Japanese garden, a small rock garden/fountain, and a large open grassy area.

• Schedel Arboretum & Gardens in Elmore - Another lovely botanical garden.

• Bennett's Orchard in Ottawa Lake, MI - Apple orchard with hard cider tasting room.

• Sidecut Metropark bird house - The canal locks side of the park has two areas dedicated to birdwatching - a small tree house, and a small porch. Both have pictorial guides to help you identify the local bird species that visit the nearby birdhouses. It is surprisingly delightful.

• 577 Foundation in Perrysburg - One of the most magical places I've ever visited. Most indoor activities currently closed due to COVID, but they are lovely when open. Community garden plots, apiary, bird watching house, community book shop, pottery house and kiln, children's musical playground, small river walk hike, restored 1800s log cabin.

• Canal Experience at Providence Metropark in Grand Rapids, OH - View the docked canal boat. I don't know if canal rides are open right now but I have heard good things.

• Lou Campbell State Nature Preserve - In Monclova. A true hidden gem. Unlike the metroparks, the trails aren't paved. You can get lost in nature. It was closed to the public until 2014 and is still pretty isolated. In all these years, I've never seen another person here.

• Toledo Public Library - When people lament the closure of video stores like Blockbuster, I wonder why they don't remember that the public library branches have great DVD selections that you can browse in-person and online.

• Schooner Farms in Weston - Lavender fields. Currently appointment-only.

• MacQueen's in Holland - Apple orchard with apple picking in the fall, cider made on-site, cute little country store and gift shop. Thank you u/mikeyj198

• Perennial Plant Peddler near Findlay - Daylily garden.

• Hidden Lake Gardens in Tipton, MI - Thanks to u/Monkey_Time_Warp - "It's absolutely beautiful and not much further away than some of the others you have listed. I should mention there is a $5 entrance fee, but it's well worth it."

• Sterling State Park in Monroe, MI - thanks to u/tolwat - "a good park on Lake Erie with a nice beach (though there is an entry fee), if looking for an alternative to Maumee Bay or coming from a more northern portion of the area."

• Thanks to u/tolwat - "A couple of the City Parks are worth noting. Ottawa Park is a good size and has some nice trails, nature, disc golf, regular golf, and connects to the Overland bike trail (and just a short jog over to connect to the University Parks bike trail. The Cullen Park/Detwiler Park/ Bay View Park area gives you the best chance to see the some of lake from the city limits."

Art, Museums, History, Culture

• Blair Museum of Lithophanes at the Toledo Botanical Garden - Delightful little museum of this little-known art form. Located near the Elmer entrance to Toledo Botanical Garden. Moved to Schedel Gardens - thank you u/winningjenny

• Historical Museum of the Great Lakes

• Copper Moon Studio and Fire Nation in Holland, OH - lovely glassblowing studios and glass art galleries.

• Public lectures at Toledo Museum of Art - Did you know that these are a thing? Collab between Archeological Institute of America and TMA. Typically on Friday nights, now held on Zoom. Free. So many fascinating topics, discussed by experts but accessible to laypeople.

• Dorothy McKenzie Price Piano Series recitals at the Univ of Toledo - I don't know if they still do these, but they have been hosted every spring. Series of free recitals by local pianists, along with master classes. Smaller and more intimate than a large concert. Absolutely worth making the time to attend.

• Toledo Repertoire Theater - Community theater performances.

• The Village Players - Theater group. Thank you u/charlesdexterward - "they have their own space, which to me puts them on par with the Rep."

• Univ of Toledo Ritter Planetarium - $8 planetarium shows on Friday nights, resuming in August. Great for date nights.

• Fort Meigs in Perrysburg - Reconstruction of Civil War War of 1812-era fort. I haven't been here in years but I remember it as a lovely time; good for peacefully taking in the historical context.

• Toledo Harbor Lighthouse - I haven't been here yet, but my understanding is that it is visible from the shore at Maumee Bay State Park. Less-common architecture. The Fresnel prism lamp is on display at Maumee Bay State Park. Thanks to u/Gallahadion for the following info: "You can get a much closer view of the Toledo Harbor Lighthouse by taking a ride on the Sandpiper boat. They do a lighthouse cruise once a month from June through September. The entire river cruise takes 5 hours and also includes a view of the remains of the long-defunct Turtle Island Lighthouse."

• IMAX shows at the Imagination Station - You can see these without paying admission to the museum itself. Thank you u/VernalPoole

• Rutherford B Hayes museum in Fremont. Thank you u/AllNotKnowing

• Unholy Toledo city tours.

Record stores

• No Noise Records - One of those "in-the-know" places. Great record selection of vinyl new and used CDs. Rob, the owner, is such a great guy and incredibly knowledgeable.

• Culture Clash Records - Such a great selection, and next door to The Leaf and Seed, so you can make an afternoon of it.

• Finders Records in Bowling Green - thank you u/zebkello

• Allied - thank you u/charlesdexterward

• All Together Now - thank you u/charlesdexterward

• Finders Records in Bowling Green - thank you u/zebkello

Food

There are too many good restaurants to name, so I will just share some of my favorites that, I feel, deserve more recognition.

• Lowrider Cafe - Really great Mexican spot, with lots of vegan options. Lovely decor, I just get a great feeling when I go here.

• Koreana - Excellent excellent Korean food spot. Lots of vegetarian options. Also with a bar and American-style sushi.

• The Leaf and Seed Cafe - Entirely vegan cafe with remarkably good offerings.

• El Tipico - Amazing sit-down, family-owned restaurant. Local and organic ingredients prioritized. Has harder-to-find (in Toledo, at least) offerings like mole and nopalitos. Decor is lovely, too.

• China Chef - Really solid Chinese-American takeout. Easily my favorite in town.

• Bombay Kitchen 419 - Really good and more authentic Indian restaurant, with lots of street food style dishes. They also sell mithai (sweet treats usually given as gifts for special occasions).

• Rosie's Italian - thank you u/mikeyj198 - "Located off the beaten path on McCord between towns of Holland and Sylvania. Great italian food, nice atmosphere inside and an awesome patio on the back that is north facing so rarely gets too hot. Fountain and flora on the patio provide great ambiance."

• Sweet Shalom Tea Room in Sylvania - || UPDATE: Sadly, Sweet Shalom, a beloved Toledo landmark, closed in August 2021. Chris and Staff, you will always have a place in my heart and I am forever grateful for the peace you brought into my life. || Another true hidden gem. Afternoon high tea, with themes that change monthly. One of the most beautiful, quiet, calming dining experiences you'll ever have. Feels like you're spending an afternoon at grandma's house, or with a good friend. Reservations required.

• Clara J's in Maumee - Thanks to u/thejetsetcowfish - "a cute tea shop run by old ladies in a house. It is run by the kindest people and the food and tea are amazing!"

• La Fiesta in Maumee - Thanks to u/thejetsetcowfish - "the best fajitas I've ever had. My boyfriend and I go there as often as we can."

• Georgette's Grounds and Gifts - Great coffee shop/cafe in downtown Maumee. With a great fair trade gift shop in back. Georgette's is part of Sunshine Communities, an organization that serves individuals with developmental disabilities.

• R&B Bubble Tea - Thanks u/CraftsAndSass - "a great local business."

• Rice Blvd - Thanks u/CraftsAndSass - "around the corner [from R&B Bubble Tea] and has amazing Japanese and Korean food. Their sushi is pretty affordable and they have a wide selection."

• Pizza: SO MANY good pizza options. I like a thinner crust, and my personal favorites are Pizza Cat, Stubborn Brother, Mama Mary's, Village Idiot (SO good especially during live music nights), and Vito's. Calvino's is really fun with a couple good friends. Inky's is your classic solid local place. There are so many other great places in town, too.

• Original Sub Shop & Deli - Thanks to u/ericplaysbass - "Haven't found a nicer staff working anywhere, and the food happens to be delicious, too; fresh and homemade every single day. It's a bit expensive, but well worth it when you consider the quality of ingredients and service. They've also recently started selling homemade ice cream as well."

• Italian: Sebastiano's. Reminds me a lot of La Scola, which I miss terribly. I like its intimate ambience more than, say, Mancy's, which is also excellent. Great wine selection. Lots of vegetarian options.

• Ice cream: Sweet Experience - awesome little ice cream shop, on Reynold's next to Schmucker's. Open year-round. Really, REALLY good ice cream. They also have vegan options. I love this place and highly recommend it.

• Manhattan's on Adams - Great drinks, great brunch, jazz, classy/casual. Thank you u/Sonofashotgun

• Holey Toledough - Thanks to u/StarkPR - "an ever-changing menu of unique doughnuts."

Farmer's Markets

• Perrysburg Farmer's Market - Just one of the best farmer's markets in the Toledo area.

• Erie St. Market - Downtown, Saturday mornings - Thanks u/phoenixed - "great farmers and local stuff market". I love Erie St. Market - a lot of the farmers are super passionate about their vegetables and will tell you all about the unique varieties they have cultivated. It is such a joy to learn from them.

Beer, Wine, and Liquor

• An exhaustive list of breweries can be found at this great thread.

• Ernest Brew Works - My personal favorite local brewery.

• Four Fires Meadery - Excellent meadery. Unusual location in a business complex but still an entirely charming and delicious experience. So many great flavors. Food trucks visit on Friday evenings.

• Garden Harvest in Holland, OH - A best-kept secret. Astoundingly excellent craft beer selection. I have been told that their deli sandwiches are some of the best in town.

• Holloway Beverage Center in Holland, OH - Excellent beer selection.

• Walt Churchill's Markets - Excellent wine selection; I won't buy wine from anywhere else in town. Great beer, too.

• Toledo Spirits - Thanks to u/backandforthagain - "They make their own liquor and have food trucks come by regularly, and it's all just lovely." Thanks to u/StarkPR - "some delicious local-produced spirits and specialty cocktails."

• Heavy Beer Co - Thanks to u/handikapat - "just opened in the basement of Toledo spirits. low ceiling underground vibes with a cool etchings done in the tables."

• Oliver House/Maumee Bay Brewing - Thanks to u/StarkPR - "Toledo's biggest brewery and multiple experiences under one roof."

• Levi & Lilac's in Maumee - Thanks u/MrAdler1899 - "a nice whiskey bar with a good sized selection. The food is also very good. I also enjoy the look of the restaurant."

• Mad Anthony's in Waterville - Thanks u/MattJamesUnplugged

• Wild Side in Grand Rapids, OH - Thanks u/MattJamesUnplugged

• Six Fifths - Thanks u/MattJamesUnplugged - "There's a small vodka distillery in Perrysburg that I like called Six Fifths that is family owned that is cool too."

• 60cc Brewing - A new (micro?)brewery that opened up next to Sweet Experience (ice cream shop) and Schmucker's (classic diner). I haven't been there myself but I have been looking forward to it for the past year. It looks great, and I am so excited to see such great businesses come to this little strip mall. If anyone visits, please let me know how you like it.

Gifts and Shops

• MacQueen's, as mentioned above

• Consign-It Home Interiors - Thanks to u/galxzroamer - "on Central Ave between King and McCord is the best place to buy used and vintage furniture and other home decor. There are a lot of local vendors (myself included) that sell different styles. But it's a place full of great deals."

• Handmade Toledo - Thanks to u/galxzroamer - "Also love Handmade Toledo for supporting local artist and for awesome gifts!"

• Taste of Toledo in Perrysburg, also for great local gifts!

• Northwood Markets. Thanks to u/SapphireRose138 - "Half a dozen flea markets, dollar store and Sally in one plaza. Vintage books, glass, and furniture galore. Sweet Pickin's in the old Value City even has a live organist."

• Jupmode - In-store and online for excellent Toledo swag. My closet is full of their stuff. I wish I'd bought their Bretz tshirt before it was discontinued :(

• Glean Vintage - Thanks to u/CloverBun - "another amazing consignment shop. He buys and sells mid century modern pieces. I have a beautiful dresser and some mirrors from him."

• Georgette's Grounds and Gifts - Posting this twice to highlight the gift shop. Great coffee shop/cafe in downtown Maumee. With a great fair trade gift shop in back. Georgette's is part of Sunshine Communities, an organization that serves individuals with developmental disabilities.

• Sunshine Studios - Excellent local studio with lots of handmade ceramics that you can buy. I have gotten some beautiful gifts from here. Also a part of Sunshine Communities.

Edit: Added a few more.