Fun Winter Activities for Kids in Toledo

Last Updated on August 8, 2022 by lindseymahoney

Today I am sharing 7 fun winter activities for kids in Toledo. The cold winter months in Northwest Ohio can make you want to hibernate in your home, but these activities encourage learning, exploration and are enjoyable for both kids and parents. This winter break we visited many of these places and had a blast!

7 Fun Winter Activities for Kids to Try in Toledo

1 | Toledo Art Museum

The Toledo Museum of Art is my FAVORITE place to take the kids in winter or summer! We are so lucky to have such an amazing art museum in Toledo that is free. The museum always has fantastic exhibits – I have highlighted a few of my favorites below. The museum also offers a kid’s area in the basement where you can take your kids to play and create art.

Rebecca Louise Law exhibit at the Toledo Museum of Art | Building Bluebird — Rebecca Louise Law exhibit at TMA

Between Light & Shadow exhibit at the Toledo Museum of Art | Building Bluebird — Between Light & Shadow exhibit at TMA

2 | Local Library

Many of the local libraries in Toledo have been recently renovated and offer wonderful kid’s areas! Head to your local library this winter for storytime or to browse the book selection and learn how to borrow books.

Kid-friendly activities to check in in the winter | Building Bluebird

3 | Imagination Station

Imagination Station is another fabulous, kid-friendly place to visit in downtown Toledo. Let your kids explore the experiments and exhibits and learn all about science! My kids would spend a full day in here if I let them. My son’s favorite exhibit is the flight simulation attraction.

Visit Imagination Station this winter with your children | Building Bluebird — Imagination Station in downtown Toledo

The tightrope bike was always my favorite exhibit growing up, but my kiddos are still terrified of it at their age.

Imagination station tightrope bike is a great spot to take kids in the winter | Building Bluebird — Imagination Station tightrope bike

4 | Toledo Zoo

The Toledo Zoo is ranked as one of the top zoos in the United States! During the holiday/winter season, one of the more popular activities for kids is visiting the zoo lights! They do such a beautiful job with the Lights Before Christmas exhibit and the enormous Christmas tree is a showstopper.

Visit the Lights Before Christmas at the Zoo with your kids | Building Bluebird

5 | Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Museum

Take your kids on a little field trip to the 19th President’s home & Museum in Fremont, Ohio. During the winter months, you can take a sleigh ride around the grounds which the kids love. You can tour the home of the Hayes family and visit the museum that is packed with historic artifacts and displays.

Rutherford B. Hayes was the first President to save much of his correspondence during his time in the White House. He was fascinated by genealogy and his family history and spent his life preserving objects and letters from important parts of his life. This included his time served as a lieutenant during the Civil War and his Presidency. If you love old homes and history, this place is a must.

Visit the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Museum this winter with your kiddos | Building Bluebird

A good portion of the museum also shared the history of his wife, Lucy Hayes, who was a nurse in the Civil War. She was a strong female figure during her time and the museum has many preserved artifacts from her life as well.

Kid-friendly activities: Take your children on a field trip to the presidential museum in Fremont | Building Bluebird — Photo booth at the Presidential museum!

6 | Wildwood Metropark & Manor House

Northwest Ohio is home to some of the most beautiful Metroparks around. Wildwood Metropark was originally the property of a prominent family, the Stranahans. The property became a public park in the ’70s and locals have been enjoying it ever since!

Kid-friendly activities in Toledo: Visit Wildwood Metropark and tour the Manor House | Building Bluebird

During Christmas time, locals can visit the manor house and tour the home decorated for the holidays. Outside they offer free s’mores for visitors and a large train display in the old limousine garage. I love walking through this beautiful, historic home every year and my kids love the s’mores station! This winter activity is one that kids and parents will enjoy.

Take your kids to the Wildwood Manor House this Christmas for s'mores | Building Bluebird

7 | Playland

If your kids start to get cabin fever this winter, Playland is the prescription! Let your kids run around on swing sets and bounce houses for an hour and they will be happy as clams. There is not much for parents to do during this time except watch, but the kids love it.