Discover How to Plan a Budget-Friendly Family Trip to Toledo, Ohio

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Toddler at an aquarium

 

Fun activities for the whole family



The average hotel cost in Toledo is below the national average: hotels typically go for $124 a night in Toledo, and the national average is $148. This alone sets you up well for savings. That extra 24 bucks can add up, so you’ll have a little bit more spending cash for your activities and knick-knacks you’ll bring back.

Some free activities include the Toledo Museum of Art, home to over 30,000 pieces of art composed of various mediums; also, be sure to check out its website for unpaid events you can attend. The Toledo Botanical Garden spreads over 60 acres and is a great place to take anyone interested in plants and nature. You’ll also have fun at the Sylvania Fossil Park, where the entire family can dig for real fossils on its grounds.

If you don’t mind paying admissions fees, then the Imagination Station is the ideal place to take the little ones. It’s a hands-on science museum geared towards children, meaning they’ll have ample opportunities for learning and fun. Admission prices vary and depend on what you want to do. They range from $6.50 to $25. There’s also the Toledo Zoo and Aquarium, an ideal choice for animal lovers of all ages. Tickets are $27 and $29 for adults and $24 and $26 for kids, depending on what you do.

Finding deals on food and hotels

Toledo skyline



To save even more, you can seek out restaurants where kids eat for free — like The Original Pancake House — or at a heavily discounted cost. At Fricker’s, a fried chicken joint, kids under 10 eat for free when an adult buys a meal. Paddy Jack’s, a sandwich and pizza restaurant, also has the same deal Mondays through Thursdays.

For hotels, you can find a variety of chains located in and around the city. There’s a Hilton Garden Inn in the heart of downtown, whose rates start at $134 per night, and a Holiday Inn Express, which has a pool and complimentary breakfast and whose rates start at $99 per night. You can find great rates for these places as well as other ones on sites like Hotels.com and Kayak.com.

Family trips don’t have to drain your wallet completely. You can find fascinating cities to travel to that allow for great ways to save. Toledo is such a city and will enable the whole family to have fun at a decent cost. Next time you’re looking for ways for your family to have fun while saving big, book a trip to Toledo.

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Dave Pennells

By Dave Pennells

Dave Pennells, MS, has contributed his expertise as a career consultant and training specialist across various fields for over 15 years. At City University of Seattle, he offers personal career counseling and conducts workshops focused on practical job search techniques, resume creation, and interview skills. With a Master of Science in Counseling, Pennells specializes in career consulting, conducting career assessments, guiding career transitions, and providing outplacement services. Her professional experience spans multiple sectors, including banking, retail, airlines, non-profit organizations, and the aerospace industry. Additionally, since 2001, he has been actively involved with the Career Development Association of Australia.