If you’re anything like me, winter holds a special place in your heart. I have the best memories of a childhood filled with playing in the snow and taking family trips in the wintertime. The best part is you don’t have to go very far to enjoy winter activities right here in Ohio and nearby!
Snow Tubing & Skiing
Even though we can’t always count on snow during the winter in Ohio, there are two awesome ski resorts just south of Toledo that offer fun for the whole family! Sometimes they have to rely on man-made snow, but it’s still worth it!
Mad River Mountain in Zanesfield offers skiing, snowboarding, and tubing. For snow tubing, only one person is allowed in each tube, so kids must be able to ride on their own. Something to keep in mind if you have young ones!
Snow Trails in Mansfield also offers skiing, snowboarding, and tubing. They have the same rule on tubing – only one person allowed in each tube. They also offer glow tubing Thursday to Sunday evenings.
Outdoor Skating Rink
Ottawa and Jermain Parks offer an outdoor skating rink that’s open from mid-December to mid-March. They have changing rooms, skate rental, and an indoor Rink Cafe.
Sledding Hills
If we are lucky enough to get snow, we have some pretty awesome sled hills in our area!
Whitehouse: Just off Providence Street at the Nona France Recreational Area, is one of the area’s tallest sledding hills. I grew up sledding on this hill, and have some wonderful memories from it.
Maumee: Located at Side Cut Park, Wagener Sledding Hill is even lit up at night so you can sled after dark. There’s also another hill at Fort Miamis Park in Maumee that overlooks the Maumee River.
Sylvania: At Harroun Park, you can find a sled hill that is pretty steep and recommended for older kids.
Toledo: Ottawa Park Sledding Hill is located behind the Toledo Police Museum, and is close to the outdoor skating rink.
For a unique and extra fun adventure, you can check out the Toboggan Run at Pokagon State Park near Angola, Indiana. A friend of mine recently went there and it looked like a total blast. It operates from the end of November through March 1, 2020 – with or without snow!
Indoor Activities
If staying warm and cozy indoors, and pretending like its summer is your thing, then you’ll want to check out these places.
Maumee Bay Lodge & Conference Center in Oregon has a variety of options for a quick getaway. With lodge rooms, cabins, and even pet-friendly accommodations, you can load up the kids and enjoy the indoor pool and splash pad. Or even do some cross-country skiing if there is snow on the ground.
The Sandusky area offers three indoor waterpark resorts. Kalahari Resort has an indoor waterpark, game room, dining, theater, and even a spa for all of us moms looking to relax! Great Wolf Lodge has an indoor waterpark, dining, fitness center, and a ton of activities for kids of all ages. Finally, Castaway Bay is known for its Caribbean theme waterpark. They also have an arcade and lots of activities for kids. Day passes are available for all of the resorts’ waterparks if you’re looking for a day trip.
