Toledo

Toledo, balanced between Lake Erie and the Maumee River, is known for its glass factories, including Owens-Illinois, Owens Corning, Libbey Glass, Pilkington North America and Therma-Tru. The first glass-covered building was built in Toledo in 1936. Walk through the Glass Pavilion at the Toledo Museum of Art and see why Toledo was known as the glass capital of the world.

The city has done well preserving its history with an array of museums and hands-on centers. Landmarks include the Fort Meigs State Memorial, which is the largest walled fortification in the United States. William Henry Harrison ordered his troops to build the fort on the south side of the Maumee River and was the site of two important battles during the War of 1812. The 25-block Old West End has the largest collection of Victorian-era homes still standing in the country. The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center has an extensive display of Civil War artifacts. The Wolcott House Museum complex includes a Federal 14-room mansion, a log cabin, depot, schoolhouse and church. The Sauder Farm and Craft Village captures the essence of life 100 years ago. Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral, completed in 1931, harkens to the city's namesake with its Moorish architecture.

For more modern pursuits, check out the Toledo Zoo, ranked among the top 10 in the country.

The ethnic diversity of Toledo is obvious in its restaurants. Stop at Tony Packo's Cafe, known for its Hungarian hot dogs, or stroll The Docks along the Maumee River that flows through downtown. For more formal fare, try Mancy's Steak House or Manhattan's.

Toledo also has an array of quality golf courses. The classic South Toledo Golf Club (originally known as Heather Downs Country Club) was designed by William Rockefeller in the 1920s and spruced up by Arthur Hills in the 1990s. The family-run, 27-hole Green Hills Golf Course is continually updated. Red Hawk Run Golf Course south of Toledo is a water-laden, 7,000-yard top-tier course designed by Hills. Closer to town, Pike Run Golf Club tightens the screws for the back nine that squeezes through tall trees, and Valleywood Golf Club is just minutes from the airport.