The Glass City – Toledo’s Transformation

With an influx of business development, transformative projects and community investment, Toledo is continuing to become a premiere location for hosting your next event. Witness, first-hand, the excitement that is happening in the Glass City. From the $70 million reimagining of the Glass City Center to mainstay facilities like Fifth Third Field and the Huntington Center, downtown Toledo is the center of the buzz surrounding our city. And with approximately $2.2 billion in investment projects, Site Selection Magazine has ranked Toledo in the top 10 for new business investment for six consecutive years. But urban renewal is only the beginning. The Four Corners project will bring 360 residential units and retail and commercial space to our historic buildings. And don’t forget about Metroparks Toledo’s current Riverwalk Project, which drew more than 600K visitors in 2023 alone! Don’t miss out on witnessing Toledo’s transformation – see it for yourself in the Glass City. You will want to come back again and again!

Whether you have an hour break from your conference, or are extending your stay for the weekend, there are plenty of ways to have a memorable time in Toledo! From world-class attractions to delicious dining options, there are a multitude of ways to have a unique experience in Toledo, no matter how much (or little) time you have.

Glass Pavilion at Toledo Museum of Art

An Hour or Two
Have a quick break between sessions or want to unwind for a bit before you head home from your conference? Toledo has plenty of fun things to enjoy for the visitor with limited time! Toledo is known as the Glass City for its contribution to the glass industry, it’s also the home of the Studio Glass Movement. Learn more about glass art at the Glass Pavilion located on the campus of the Toledo Museum of Art. The 74,000 sq. ft. building features award-winning architecture and houses one of the largest collections of glass art in the world. You can also enjoy scenic views of Downtown Toledo’s transformation and get some fresh air at the Glass City Metropark. The newest of Metroparks Toledo’s 19 parks, Glass City Metropark is one of the first components in the larger, transformative River Walk project that will see Toledo’s riverfront become one of the nation’s largest riverwalks. Take a stroll, enjoy the views, or don some skates and hit the Ribbon, the park’s muti-purpose skating rink. Toledo is full of delicious dining options, but if you only have time for one stop, a visit to Tony Packo’s is in order. This Toledo original has multiple locations where you can enjoy their world-famous Hungarian hot dogs, pickles and peppers, and other Eastern European favorites. Be sure to visit the gift shop and take a taste of Toledo home with you!

Registry Bistro

A Free Evening
Maybe you have one night before or after your conference to hit the town. You’re in luck, there are countless dining and nightlife options to enjoy in Toledo. Toledo’s food scene features exciting chef driven menus that feature both local ingredients and inspiration from cuisines from all over the world. Enjoy elevated takes on classics and inventive cocktails at Registry Bistro or Assembly American Brasserie, Mediterranean fusion at Souk Mediterranean Kitchen & Bar, or some of the Midwest’s best sushi and yakatori at Kengo. If classic Americana is more your speed you can’t beat Mancy’s Steakhouse for traditional, old-school steakhouse vibes, The Standard for a modern take on the steakhouse experience, or Schmucker’s for roadside diner favorites and homemade pie. Get a taste of the area’s craft beer culture with a stop to one of the local breweries on the 419 Ale Trail. Maumee Bay Brewing Co. is Toledo’s oldest brewery, and their taproom is full of local beer history to take in as you enjoy one of their inventive styles or a classic Buckeye lager. Earnest Brew Works, Quenched & Tempered, and HEAVY Beer Co. are all also close to the heart of downtown, with many other outstanding breweries a short drive from downtown. Feeling lucky? Hit the Hollywood Casino Toledo, which has an array of dining options, table games, video machines, and an ESPN Bet lounge and sports book.

Toledo Zoo & Aquarium

A Whole Day
If you arrive early or opt to stick around for an extra day, Toledo has plenty of exciting attractions and activities to have a memorable experience! The Toledo Zoo & Aquarium features over 16,000 animals across its sprawling campus. With a variety of animal exhibits, a state-of-the-art aquarium, and the ProMedica Museum of Natural History, the Toledo Zoo is three attractions in one! The Toledo Museum of Art is world renowned for its collections. With 30,000 pieces from throughout civilization, including pieces from Van Gogh and Monet, across 45 galleries, the Toledo Museum of Art has one of the most extensive collections in the world. With the right vantage point and the right conditions, you can see Lake Erie, one of the five Great Lakes, from Downtown Toledo. The National Museum of the Great Lakes celebrates these amazing freshwater lakes with artifacts, exhibits, presentations and tours of the 617-foot iron ore freighter Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship, which is moored right outside the museum. You can also enjoy one of Metroparks Toledo’s 19 Metroparks, covering 12,000 acres of protected natural land to explore, and 200 miles of trails to traverse.

A Weekend
Spending multiple days in Toledo is the best way to experience the Glass City! Combine visits to multiple attractions, restaurants, and retail shops to get a fully immersive view of Toledo. In addition to the Toledo Zoo & Aquarium, Toledo Museum of Art, National Museum of the Great Lakes, and Metroparks Toledo, there are plenty of other places to make incredible memories. Take a scenic trip down the Maumee River with J&M Cruise Lines aboard the Sandpiper and get an up-close look at the Glass City River Wall, the largest mural in the U.S. Learn about the wonders of science at Imagination Station, downtown’s science center, where hands-on exhibits make science fun. Join our community’s passionate sports fans for a baseball game with the world-famous Toledo Mud Hens at Fifth Third Field, a raucous time at the Huntington Center with hockey’s Toledo Walleye, one of University of Toledo’s athletic events, or enjoy one of the area’s golf courses or tennis and pickleball courts. Shop and explore The Towne Center at Levis Commons and Franklin Park Mall for a mix of popular brand names and local flavor, take home some Toledo souvenirs at Jupmode or Handmade Toledo, or take home a bottle of craft spirits from Toledo Spirits Co., the area’s first legal distillery.

Visit the Glass City and witness Toledo’s Transformation!