Every issue of Toledo Area Parent has its own particular charms, but putting together the fall issue is my very favorite. I begin working on the content in early July, just when I’m starting to look wistfully toward the cooler months (which, admittedly, are my happy place). Our Fall Guide is extensive, with you-pick locations for pumpkins and apples, festivals all over the region and special events at family go-tos like the Toledo Zoo. The Fall Guide in this issue is part of an even more comprehensive version at toledoparent.com. We update the online Guide throughout the season! You can also learn about trick-or-treat/trunk-or-treat locations and dates on our website, covering Toledo and surrounding areas. Toledo Parent has everything you need to plan a fun-filled spooky season!
Additionally, this issue has resources for back-to-school prep, from homeschooling resources and survival guides to open house spotlights, along with our celebration of Black entrepreneurial moms in the 419. The content in this issue is very special for me. Readers will also love getting to know folks in our community with the 2023 Kid Mayor Gabbie Mukiira, featured in our Family Matters column. Our Food Fight column visits Jing Chuan, explaining how the Sun family took their passion for creating family meals in South Korea and created a new life in Toledo, 38 years ago, with their celebrated restaurant.
As always, we’ve included resources for healthy living and education, like our profile on the Kobacker Center (mental health), learning resources for kids with Autism (iTaalk) and a roundup of sensory-friendly activities around the Toledo area. Our content often features stories to help kids with disabilities, and you can find more of that content on our website’s Inclusive Toledo page.
We put a lot of heart into this issue, and I know you’ll find lots within these pages to help you survive the new school year and to thrive within the coming crisp fall months that are so lovely in Northwest Ohio.
Warmly,
Erin Holden
Assignment Editor
Toledo Area Parent
My Favorite Things
1. Glass City Metropark’s Newest Developments – We loved the water park features in the summer, and we will continue to enjoy the park with the ice skating ribbon and sledding hill during the chillier months. This is certainly my new favorite Toledo Metro Park.
- Pasties – The final leg of our road trip this summer took us through the UP, where I got to try both savory and sweet pasties for the first time. Now I love them with the passion of a true Yooper! You can find them locally at Bakery Unlimited’s Sylvania location (bakeryunlimited.com).
- America the Beautiful Pass – The National Parks annual pass will cover admission at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites. This year we used it at Yellowstone, Glacier and the Badlands National Parks. There are also several sites in our region where this pass ($80 annually) can be very useful, especially if you love nature and travel.
- Toledo Fall Festivals – As always, the Old West End Festival and German American Festivals are at the top of my favorites list, but I’m equally excited about trying some new ones this year, like the Applebutter Fest in Grand Rapids in the fall.