Itineraries
History & Heritage Itinerary
Ohio’s central Lake Erie coast is a wonderful place to explore historic gardens and to learn the exciting stories of Ohio’s past.
DAY ONE:
Toledo is a great spot to begin your discovery of the historic gardens along Ohio’s Lake Erie coast.
Start the day at Wildwood Manor House. This former estate of Robert A. Stranahan, Sr., co-founder of the Champion Spark Plug Company, boasts formal gardens designed by Ellen Biddle Shipman, 300 acres of forest and a variety of wildlife. Walking trails loop through areas of meadow and prairie, which are a hotspot for summer wildflowers.
The University of Toledo’s 47-acre Stranahan Arboretum offers a full array of micro-environments where visitors can find 1,500 specimens of cultivated, mature trees from areas as far away as China, Japan and Norway. 150-year-old oak trees amid sand dunes line paths in the natural forest. A restored prairie is planted with big bluestem, Indian grass, and other native prairie plants and is burned every few years to maintain the grassland ecosystem.
Founded in 1876, Woodlawn Cemetery was designed to emphasize nature and art. Today it offers an oasis of more than 300 species of mature trees, blossoming shrubs, plantings and unique architecture. The 130-year-old cemetery’s 160 acres of rolling hills provide and mirror-like lake are a great respite for an afternoon stroll.
Next, visit the Toledo Botanical Garden, which is known for its magnificent hosta collection and a fragrant herb garden. The site also hosts working artisans, the Blare Museum of Lithophanes and an arts festival.
Then settle into a good night’s sleep at one of downtown Toledo’s comfortable hotels.
DAY TWO:
From Toledo, head out into the countryside, where you will find ample evidence of Ohio’s glacial era in the landscape and plant communities.
Oak Openings Preserve in Swanton is recognized by The Nature Conservancy as one of 200 “Last Great Places on Earth.” Oak Openings is home to prickly pear cactus blooming on dry, hot sand dunes just yards from orchids growing in low, wet swales. This unique landscape is a remnant of Ohio’s Ice Age, when Lake Erie extended far beyond its modern limits, depositing sand dunes here.
Next, drive west to Archbold, home to Sauder Village. From the sheep shearing and planting in the spring to harvesting and preserving in the fall, every day at Historic Sauder Village is unique. You can experience history up close as the costumed staff leads many activities and demonstrations of daily rural life in the 19 th and early 20 th centuries. Depending on the day and season, your visit may include hymn singing, demonstrations of old printing techniques, samples of a 19 th century recipe or a chance to taste a homemade pickle or help with food preparation.
Next, head east along Ohio Route 2, skirting the magnificent Lake Erie coastline to Lakeside Daisy State Nature Preserve in Marblehead. This former limestone quarry is home to the only natural population of Lakeside Daisies in the United States. The bright yellow flowers burst forth in early to mid-May.
Finish your day with an overnight stay on Kelleys Island, where you can see glacial grooves, the largest in North America, cut into the bedrock reminding you of Ohio’s Ice Age, and relax on the sandy Lake Erie beaches.
DAY THREE:
Finally, swing down to Ohio’s central Lake Erie coastline for a peek at beautiful gardens and historic sites.
Start in Elmore, where Schedel Arboretum and Gardens features an exquisite Japanese garden, more than 50 varieties of lilacs, 25 varieties of Japanese maple, bristlecone pines, bald cypress and more. Also located on the grounds is the Schedel mansion, where you can view treasures collected by the family during their worldwide travels. Of special interest are items such as antique carved jade, vintage Persian rugs and archaic bronzes.
Next, drive a few miles southeast to Fremont, where a presidential mansion is sure to please nature lovers and history buffs alike. The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Site is an exciting museum, with many rotating exhibits about local and regional history, the Civil War, and more. The 25-acre estate also contains stands of huge, old growth trees and natural foliage.
Then, travel to Historic Lyme Village in Bellevue. The village is a collection of 18, 19 th century buildings, including log cabins from the 1840s, an 1860s schoolhouse and 1880s brick mansion.
Finally, drive southeast to Birmingham for one last look at the blooms of north central Ohio. Schoepfle Garden holds collections of exotic and native species collected by Otto Schoepfle beginning in the 1930s. The formal garden, shade garden, rhododendrons, roses, hostas and topiaries highlight the 70-acre botanical garden.
For one last coastal escape, stay at Sawmill Creek Resort in Huron. With lake views, a wonderful golf course and plenty of activities, you can unwind from your historic garden excursion.
For more history & heritage experiences in northwest Ohio, visit:
Toledo Convention & Visitors Bureau
Kelleys Island Chamber of Commerce
Sandusky/Erie County Convention & Visitors Bureau
Sandusky County Convention & Visitors Bureau
For a downloadable version of this itinerary in .pdf format, click here.
