Our twelfth anniversary was actually in March, but we delayed it again this year, for another baseball game.
While not strictly part of our Toledo trip, the night before we left was wine and stein at the zoo. We received two free tickets when we bought our zoo membership, and it was a very fun event. They had live music, vendors passing out free samples, and tickets to try out local wines and beers!
This was Billy's first trip* to the zoo, but I was there earlier that morning with the Twins. = )
The next morning, after getting our children off to school, we packed up and were Toledo bound!
Ohio state line.
In Toledo, we saw a truck with Texas plates and Waxahachie on the mud flap!
Our first stop was Tony Packo's. It was everything I'd ever hoped for.
Every dish I ordered had pickles or dill of some sort in it. It was tasty.
They have hundreds of buns! Plenty signed by famous people, but most importantly signed by the M*A*S*H cast!
From Tony Packo's, we checked into our hotel. It was also themed in a way that made my heart happy.
Our view of the Maumee river.
<3
Is that a foot locker dresser...
...nope, it's a mini fridge. = )
There was even a jeep in the Lobby! The license plate read "FARR" I didn't see it until we were pulling away, so I don't have a picture. = (
We set out to explore downtown Toledo along the river.
There was plenty of corporate art to add to my collection.
Billy wasn't able to pull our baseball tickets on his phone, so we headed toward the stadium to see if the box office could help us out.
It was not open, so we killed some time at the Bronze Boar.
The box office was able to print off our tickets for us, and we headed inside.
Toledo has a thing for sign posts I think.
Way to go Mud Hens!
So many people came part way through the game, and it wasn't until we were discussing it later that we realized the game started an hour earlier than the tickets that we'd purchased. Also, after 7 innings (we lost) they cleaned off the field, changed uniforms (both teams) and reset the score board! Our night was a make up night, making it a double header. It all made so much sense in hindsight. We won the second game! So, the only Mud hens game we've ever been to they won and lost. = )
The temperature dropped rapidly, making our seats cold and quickly unbearable. We ended up huddling up in one of the covered bars for the remainder of our time in the stadium.
After a busy day, it was early to bed for us old folks, but we were up and at early the next morning.
We started with a brunch at the restaurant in the lobby. Everything was really tasty.
Next-door to our hotel was a science museum. I asked if they had a reciprocal agreement with our local place, and it turns out they did! So, we checked this place out (just us, no kids.) It was a cool place. They had a water room, a bee hive, hurricane simulator, and a very interactive music collection.
We had checked out of our room, and left our bags at the hotel so that we could spend more time exploring.
Signpost art?
This shot is necessary so that the other one makes sense. Too bad one of us only took a single fuzzy picture.
Billy pointing out an imaginary spider behind me.
We swung by Packo's at the park, to get a Christmas ornament. This is what greeted me. = )
We walked down to the farmer's market. Bought a few things, but we are anxiously awaiting the opening of our village one.
There is a big Owens Corning facility off the Maumee near downtown. I cant' help but wonder if maybe that's where the semi with the Waxahachie mud flap was headed. Guess I'll never know for sure.
Billy admiring the blanket-like grass.
The river is muddy, but massive. It goes all the way from Lake Erie down to Ft. Wayne, IN!
We opted to reclaim our car and drive the two miles down to Jamie Farr Park. It was probably a sound decision in the end. There wasn't much to see along the way, and I don't think we were there more than 5 minutes.
While we were at the game, there was a plane advertisement for Ventura's Mexican Restaurant. We decided that we would check them out for lunch.
It was a 20 minute or so trip from downtown Toledo. We were a week too early for patio dining, so we sat inside. But the Queso. Oh yes. The Queso was the best I've had in 2 years (since we moved to Michigan.) It was good. The fajitas were okay. But if you are ever in Toledo, go get Queso at Ventura's.
We took the road less travelled out of Toledo and ended up at a church carnival in Sylvania, Ohio. Turns out, these things are far less fun without our children. Neither of us wanted to ride any rides, and we were both stuffed from Ventura's. We didn't stay long, but long enough to take a picture.
We passed the Michigan state line so unexpectedly that I didn't even see it (Billy did) let alone snap a picture.
It was a whirlwind trip, but oh so fun. Coming home always makes me feel so loved. This is how our bed looked when we went to bed that night. I think they missed us.
Toledo was everything I thought it would be, and a little more. I do love travelling the world with my favorite person.
later days
*This makes Alice the last person in our family who hasn't had the opportunity to go to the zoo. We will make it a point to go early in the summer and rectify that.
How we've celebrated our anniversary in years past:
11th Anniversary - St. Louis
10th Anniversary - Fish Grille, Waxahachie
9th Anniversary - Ft. Worth
8th Anniversary - Arby's
7th Anniversary - Hookah bar
6th Anniversary - Thai Chili
5th Anniversary - Carino's - Waxahachie
4th Anniversary - Flemming's Steakhouse @ City Centre
3rd Anniversary - Dinner Movie Theater
2nd Anniversary - Le Mistral
1st Anniversary - Paris
Recap of 1st-5th
