Downtown Toledo - Toledo, OH Area Guide

Originally Michigan territory, the city became incorporated in Ohio after the Toledo War. Toledo grew rapidly due to its location on the railway between New York and Chicago and its close proximity to the Erie Canal. The city's easy accessibility and abundance of factory jobs attracted a large population of immigrant newcomers. By 1880, Toledo had grown to be one of the largest cities in Ohio.

Based heavily on locally designed innovations in the glass industry, Toledo earned the nickname the Glass City. The city's history with manufacturing, however, earned it a "rust belt" reputation, which prompted local factories to begin using greener technologies in the early 2000s. Local colleges, including Bowling Green State University and the University of Toledo also received special grants to research this alternative energy.

The world-renowned Toledo Museum of Art provides a venue to more than 30,000 works of art, including paintings, sculptures and glass works, many of which represent worldwide cultures. Visitors and residents know the museum best for its quality of collections, innovative education programs and architecturally creative buildings.

Downtown Toledo offers many different dining and entertainment options for visitors and residents. Locals call Pam's corner a "dining experience" due to the cheery atmosphere and tasty dishes at affordable prices. Toledo's best-kept secret serves up classic favorites such as a chicken pesto sandwich, tuna melt, homemade soup and pear salad.

A casual spot near Maumee River, PizzaPapalis prepares tasty pizzas as well as other Italian specialties. Patrons can't stop raving about the made-to-order, topping-heavy deep-dish pies. Be sure to stop by this foodie joint and order a specialty drink from the full bar when exploring the downtown area.

The nightlife in Toledo can be described as a lively bar scene. Wesley's Bar & Grill features old school DJs on Fridays and live local bands, in addition to the only bocce ball court in the city right on the patio. A fun local bar with ample parking, great service, affordable prices and a fantastic menu, you can also come across free food on weekends during sports games. Yuengling, Sierra Nevada and Budweiser are generally always on tap along with over 20 choices of bottled beer.

For a more chic and upscale experience, head to Ice Restaurant & Bar for classic American dishes paired with speciality drinks from the full bar. Be sure to order the chicken marsala and steak tips as an appetizer and the hearty spinach pie for a filling lunch choice.

The public transportation system offers everything from an Amtrak station and Greyhound stop to the city bus lines. Generally, people walk around the neighborhood and take the bus to work; some residents use their vehicles. Hailing a cab is possible, but calling a city cab or arranging a ride with Uber ensures a ride arrives when you need it.

Positioned in the middle of it all, Interstate 75, Interstate 280, Interstate 475 and Highway 24 all align with City Center. Locals frequently walk though the neighborhood during the day as pedestrian pathways line the area, but there are no designated bike lanes.

Choose from a handful of pleasant parks for your next quiet afternoon lunch. Promenade Park features a grassy waterside park with benches, paths and a pavilion, while the Southside houses Glass City dog park for when your furry friends need some exercise

Riverside Park provides another great backdrop for family or company BBQs and picnics. When the kids need to run around, turn to Hamilton Playground and Bass Playground.

Home to Wilson Park Roller Hockey Rink, Woodrow Wilson remains the go-to exercise-centric park for hockey and pickup basketball and field games. Great for basketball enthusiasts, Smith Park offers plenty of updated outdoor courts, while Landers Park provides two baseball diamonds, making this the perfect spot for practices and pick-up games.

Although the cost of living in downtown is 3.2 percent greater than the Toledo average, many locals save on transportation costs due to living in a dense neighborhood. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment stands at around $691 per month.

Living in the city center can come with steeper prices on goods and services. Expect to pay around $7 for a pint at a local pub. The price of gas in Toledo, on the other hand, rests evenly with the national average.

A 10-minute drive northwest of Downtown Toledo, Franklin Park Mall features familiar department stores such as Macy's and high-value chains such as Forever 21, Old Navy and Build-A-Bear Workshop.

Directly in the neighborhood, High Level Fashions brings you high-end athletic apparel, quality denim and shoes for men, women and children. A tremendously talented jewelry designer sells wares at Bello Cose' Boutique, which specializes in women's tops and accessories. When searching for a fun vintage reseller, head west to Thrifty Trendz where you can buy and sell clothing from decades past.

Seaway Market Place services most of the neighborhood for groceries, while Save-A-Lot and Food For Less provides discounted food as well. There are also small neighborhood corner stores such as Madison Market for those quick items on the way home from work. When in season, the city holds a farmers market conveniently located on Market Street.