It’s never too early to start planning for summer vacation. Sometimes, it’s the easiest way to get through the last few months of the school year. While the first place that comes to your mind is probably not the Midwest, there are some pretty awesome places where you can spend summer break within just a few hours of Toledo!
Hocking Hills State Park
Hocking Hills State Park is a beautiful gem for those who love the outdoors. Only about 3 hours from Toledo, this park offers beautiful scenic hiking trails, some of which are alongside cliffs. There are many waterfalls and caves to explore as well. The park also does a great job providing fun extracurricular activities like rock climbing, zip-lining, canoeing, camping and train rides.
RELATED: Road Trips from Toledo: Adventures in Hocking Hills
Looking to add some educational fun to your spring break? Check out some of the fully guided hiking tours where you and your family can learn about the history of land, the trees and plants and geology. Hocking Hills offers a variety of lodging options including cabins and cottages, bed and breakfasts, hotels and inns and even treehouses for rent.
13178 St. Rt. 664 S. Logan. 1-800-462-5464 & 740-385-9706. info@explorehockinghills.com.
Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor is just a quick hour drive north with many great little shops and artistic opportunities to check out. Additionally Ann Arbor offers some great educational outings to various museums. The University of Michigan Museum of Natural History’s Dinosaur Discoveries exhibit is open through the summer. Along with many amazing exhibits, the museum also has a planetarium.
Another museum to visit would be the Kelsey Museum of Archeology which features exhibits sharing artifacts and education on Classical, Egyptian and Near Eastern archeology.
Want a museum with a bit more hands-on opportunities? Check out Ann Arbor’s Hands-On Museum that focuses on inspiring young minds to discover science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM).
A stroll around Ann Arbor will take you to a variety of restaurants, coffee shops, dessert spots, bookstores and clothing shops.
Cleveland
Just a couple hours to the east and you’ll find a lot of great ways to spend spring break in the Cleveland area. Downtown Cleveland offers a little bit of everything for everyone. If your family loves sports, why not catch a Cleveland Guardians game? Or if you’d prefer a more educational experience, there are many museums in Cleveland such as Great Lakes Science Center, NASA Glenn Research Center and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
Of course, Cleveland is the home of rock and roll, so if you and your family love music then the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is a definite must see. For those interested in the arts, Playhouse Square and Cleveland Orchestra are great choices to see a performance. A
While there are definitely some great outdoor options in Cleveland, like the Cleveland Metroparks and Cleveland Cultural Gardens, if you drive just a little further south you’ll find Cuyahoga Valley National Park that offers over 33,000 acres of wildlife with many beautiful hiking trails.
Shipshewana
Shipshewana is at the heart of Amish country in Indiana and is about a two hour drive from Toledo. The town offers a little bit of everything for everyone. While many people visit Shipshewana to shop at their large flea markets and auction, there are also lots of fun activities the kids will enjoy like spending time with animals at the Dutch Creek Farm Animal Park and Stutzman Dairy Farm.
Buggy and carriage tours will take you around the town or even the countryside if you’d like. For a little nightlife entertainment, be sure to check out the Blue Gate Theatre, a large venue that brings in world-famous performers and Amish Musicals.
For the outdoor adventurer, be sure to visit T & L Country Canoes, LLC to take a canoe ride down the scenic Fawn River.
Mohican State Park
Only a couple hours southeast, you can find Mohican State Park. This state park offers thousands of acres to explore. The landscape and waterscape are beautiful and Clear Fork Gorge, Lyon’s Falls and Mohican State Scenic River are all must-sees!
Visitors can enjoy numerous hiking trails, fishing, hunting, mountain biking and even tubing along the river. This would be a great trip for the outdoor fans!
3116 State Route 3, Loudonville.
Sandusky
About an hour away, Sandusky offers a lot of great options for fun spring break activities. Perhaps the most well known spot would be Cedar Point. Your adrenaline seekers will love to spend a day at the “Roller Coaster Capital of the World”.
After spending a day at Cedar Point, check out the Merry-Go-Round Museum which is a really unique chance to learn more about carousels and the work that goes into making them. Another stop for your thrill seeking fans is the Ghostly Manor Thrill Center which has a little bit of everything including a haunted house, roller skating, virtual reality games, an escape room, XD 4D theater, bounce houses and an arcade.
If you are looking for even more fun in Sandusky, a visit to the largest indoor waterpark in the Midwest, is a great time for the whole family. Kalahari has water slides and rides, games, pools, a lazy river and even a spa and swim up bar for the adults in the family.
