CAPH52

As I mentioned on the holiday travel plans thread, we're leaving Saturday, from the Chicago 'burbs, to take our daughter back to school in Massachusetts. We're stopping in Syracuse on Wednesday on our way back. We'd been leaving Thursday night open as we didn't know didn't know whether we'd need time in Syracuse that morning.

We now know that we will be able to hit the road first thing Thursday morning. But we've decided that we don't want to drive all the way home that day. It's a little more of a push than we want to make. And we'd like to stretch out the trip that one more night.

We're thinking that Toledo probably makes the most sense as a stopping point for that night. We want to try to get home by midday on Friday which we should be able to do from Toledo. And, if we're going to have the expense of the extra night, we'd like to stay somewhere a little more exciting than a Super 8 at an exit off the interstate!

A few years ago we stayed in a suburb and went to a Mudhens game. But we've never been in Toledo itself. Does anyone have recommendations for a good area to stay? Should we aim for downtown?

We're also looking for restaurant recommendations. Something casual but interesting would be great! I remember on M*A*S*H Klinger always talked about hot dogs in Toledo. Was it Tony Packo's? Is that worth checking out?

Any and all recommendations regarding Toledo would be greatly appreciated!

Or, on the other hand, if someone knows of another interesting place to stay somewhere in that general area, I'd love to hear about that too!

Thanks!

LadyPhoenix

Stay away from Toledo...stick to the suburbs like Maumee, Sylvania, etc. Toledo is horrible!

LT

Caph:

While I think LadyPhoenix was a little too harsh, it's true that there's just not much going on in downtown Toledo. But, there is a Radisson hotel downtown that's pretty nice. You also might consider the Toledo Hilton, which is out in the suburbs. It's fairly close to the Ohio Turnpike.

I haven't been there, but I hear that the Toledo Museum of Art is quite good, especially if you like glass. Here's their website: http://www.toledomuseum.org/

Yes, Tony Packo's is a Toledo institution, and I think it's worth the trip! Go to the original one, which is east of downtown.

Also, one thing I truly miss since moving from Ohio is The Anderson's General Stores! It's the only store I've been to where you can pick up a box of nails and a bottle of Krug champagne! They have a fantastic wine selection, and their deli and bakery is top-notch! You could pick up some goodies for the ride back to Chicago. I know it wouldn't keep, but I love their redskin sour cream & dill potato salad . . . yum! Here's their website: http://www.andersonsstore.com/

If you're there on a Saturday, you may want to check out the Farmer's Market: http://www.toledofarmersmarket.org/

Have a safe and enjoyable trip!

CAPH52

Thanks for your quick responses, LadyPhoenix and LT! And thanks for the links, LT. That potato salad does sound yummy!

You guys are making me wonder whether Toledo is the best choice.

seetheworld

Hi Caph, well I don't have too much to add other than my DH said to "keep going", lol. He once stayed at a Marriott Courtyard about 2-3 years ago in Toledo and said it was "clean". I'm not sure I'd go on his memory though.

Have a great trip!

syd

Check out Maumee Bay State Park. A rather nice Ohio state park on the lake that has a lodge and cabins, golfing.

You could make it to Chicago by midday from Cleveland where you may have more lodging choices.

CAPH52

Thanks, STW and syd!

The state park definitely sounds worth checking out. I assume there's a restaurant in the lodge? I'll google it as soon as I'm done here!

Cleveland is where we usually stay when we've started from MA. Since we're starting farther down the road this time, we're hoping to get farther. And we've had problems in the past with traffic starting very early when we come in on a Friday. We once spent three hours covering ground we should have been able to make in an hour to an hour and a half! And it seems to me we hit the slow down around 2:00. So we'd like to get through there as early as we can!

Besides not wanting to waste time sitting in traffic, we need to try to get our son back in time for his AP Bio class. It's his last class of the day. His teacher told me that he'll miss two labs next week and that he may not be able to make them up because the material they're working with may not last the weekend. So if we can get him to school by 2:00, so much the better. We'll also save a day's rent if we can get the van back by 3:00!

Maybe we'd be smarter just driving straight through from Syracuse. But we'd all be so tired and crabby the next day!

Emucom

Tony Packo's is not to be missed! The original one is located off I280 Front Street Exit. It is located on the corner of Front street and Consaul st. You should be able to search for Tony Packos on Yahoo maps. Here is the link: http://maps.yahoo.com/py/maps2.py?Py...QEUJaYD6sDocMY

Emucom

Here is a better link: http://www.tonypackos.com/

CAPH52

Another dilemma. I checked out the resort in the park. Thanks again, Syd! It looks really nice. And I have a feeling that, for what it is, the price is pretty reasonable. But it's definitely more than we had been thinking about spending. Considerably more than we would pay for a chain in the suburbs!

So now we're going back and forth, back and forth. On the one hand, it's only one night, it would be a lovely way to end our trip and we haven't had any real splurges this summer. On the other hand, it's only one night, we probably won't get there until late afternoon and, at this point, it looks like rain may be in the forecast. So is it worth it? If I'm reading the web site correctly, they require cancellations two weeks ahead and we're only a week away right now. But there are only 4 rooms left!

Decisions, decisions!

Thoughts, anyone? Or any more input on Toledo?

CAPH52

Sorry, emucom, I forgot to thank you for your response and the links! If we wind up in Toledo, I think we'll definitely check it out. Although I'd still be happy to hear other restaurant recs.

motor_city_girl

The zoo in Toledo is really great too.

CAPH52

Thanks, motor_city_girl.

Anyone else have anything on restaurants or lodging? Any interesting neighborhoods?

Re LadyPhoenix's warning to stay out of downtown...Because there's nothing to do there or because it's a bad area at night?

Thanks

CAPH52

Topping this one more time before I have to make a decision on the lodge in the park.

LT

Caph:

Maumee Bay is nice, but it's kinda out there, and you sound like the kind of person who likes to do a little exporing in a new town?

As far as the downtown, it's been a few years since I've been there, but I think it's more to do with the fact that there's not much going on downtown.

As far as restaurants, Toledo has a huge Lebanese population (one of the largest in the country, if I'm not mistaken), and so if you like that kind of food, you're in luck!

The Toledo CVB has a pretty good website:

http://www.toledocvb.com/gtcvb/

Have fun! Perhaps we can convince you to become an "honorary Buckeye???"

MerryTravel

Sorry to make your decision even more difficult, but I know someone who recently stayed at the Lodge and she and her husband were very disappointed. I'm trying to remember specifics but I think they thought the room was sort of rundown and the service was very bad. I'm partial since I live here, but I'd still recommend Cleveland. If you'd like something different there's this B&B in my neighborhood, just across the river from downtown.

http://www.glendennis.com/

CAPH52

Thank you, thank you LT and Merry Travel! You've pretty much convinced me, that with our already mentioned concerns, it's not worth splurging on the lodge.

We love Middle Eastern food. So where exactly do we find those Lebanese restaurants?

gardeniapatti

If you like science museums, COSI Toledo is very good:

http://www.cositoledo.org/

CAPH52

Thanks, gardeniapatti!

That is a good web site, LT. I found two restaurants listed that are obviously Lebanese, Beirut and Byblos. Anyone have comments about either? Or a recommendation for one they like better?

Thanks!

CAPH52

Anyone have anything on the Lebanese restaurants?