Visit Bowling Green, Ohio

Bowling Green, Ohio is a welcoming small college town in northwest Ohio, tucked between cornfields and Interstate 75. It's a good place to slow down for a weekend, with plenty of hotels near the interstate and easy day trips to Lake Erie's recreation and birding sites and the attractions around Toledo.

Downtown: The historic downtown is postcard-perfect Midwest, with specialty shops and boutiques selling clothing, gifts, jewelry, books, games, and vinyl records. Food options include coffee bars, brew pubs, locally owned restaurants, ice cream parlors, and college-town pizzerias. Ben's, a former Ben Franklin store, is a must-see. It feels like an old five-and-dime, with toys, party goods, candy in glass jars, art supplies, and homemade fudge.

Art and architecture: The Wood County Courthouse, completed in 1897, anchors the town. Its clock was once the second largest in America, with hands spanning 16 feet, and the interior has a stained-glass ceiling and murals about local history. Community murals and public art appear throughout town and across the BGSU campus, where Richard Roth's "Recumbent Thinker" sculpture near Olscamp Hall is the most famous piece.

Food: At The Clay Pot downtown, dishes are made with locally sourced ingredients. On Wednesday nights, guests can reserve a spot at "Dinner with the Chef," where the chef serves a three-course meal and then visits tables to talk about the ingredients, flavors, and traditions behind it.

History: The town's museums offer something for all ages. The Carter Historic Farm is a Depression-era living-history site, the Little Red Schoolhouse sits on the BGSU campus, and the Wood County Museum occupies the former county infirmary. Snook's Dream Cars is an antique car museum with a recreated 1940s Texaco gas station, a showroom of memorabilia, and vehicles displayed in scenes ranging from a 1930s general store to a 1960s racetrack. Recent additions include a 1964 Porsche 356C Coupe, though owner Jeff Snook's personal favorite is his 1963 Jaguar XKE Roadster.

Outdoors: Simpson Garden Park covers 11 acres of rolling gardens in the middle of town. Visitors can stroll the willow walk, peace garden, and sensory and sculpture gardens, and kids can try hands-on activities in the children's discovery garden. The nine-foot Judy Knox Memorial Sundial, created by BGSU alumnus and glassworker Adam Goldberg, is a popular photo spot for couples and families.

With its small-town charm, good food, outdoor fun, history, and creative culture, Bowling Green makes an easy and memorable getaway.