If you’re looking for things to do in Findlay, Ohio, you’ll find no shortage of activities and attractions.
The city of Findlay is located in northwestern Ohio and is well-known for its rich heritage and breathtaking natural beauty.
Outdoor enthusiasts will love the abundance of activities available in Findlay, such as hiking, biking, camping, kayaking, and fishing.
The city also has many museums and art galleries, including the Hancock County Historical Museum and the Mazza Museum of Art.
The stunning sunsets and riverside walks are definitely worth checking out while you’re in town.
This vibrant town has something for everyone, from historical sites to family fun venues. You’ll never be bored in Findlay!
Here are 20 different things to do in Findlay, Ohio:
1. Findlay Brewing Company
The Findlay Brewing Company is the only local brewery in Hanover County. You’ll find it situated in the middle of the downtown area.
They have an extensive menu with many types of delicious cuisine, local craft beers from the area, as well as many national brands of beer. Their signature label beer (Findlay Brew) is sold around the state of Ohio.
If you are looking for a great place to relax and have some amazing food and beer, be sure to add Findlay Brewing Company to your bucket list on things to do in Findlay.
2. Parks Of Findlay, Ohio
One of the best things to do in Findlay is to explore the many parks located throughout the city. There are over 10 parks in Findlay, so you’re sure to find one that fits your needs.
Some of the most popular parks include:
Riverside Park
Riverside Park is tucked around the shores of the beautiful Blanchard River. Visitors here can enjoy its picnic areas or explore its enchanting waterfall, the park’s playground, or concerts in the bandshell. Sports enthusiasts can play baseball, volleyball, basketball, kayaking, or boating. There are also hiking trails and a beach.
Emory Adams Park
Emory Adams Park features tree-lined walking paths, a playground, a picnic area, and sports fields. Many annual events are held here, including a hot air balloon festival and events that raise money for charities.
Van Buren State Park
The park features a serene and beautiful lake and extensive nature trails. Picnics and camping are also popular here. The lake offers a place for boating or fishing. Farmlands on the grounds of the park grow soy, wheat, and corn.
Oakwood Nature Preserve
This picturesque park has two separate lakes and picnic areas and a discovery center with nature exhibits. There are numerous trails and an area for boating or fishing. It also boasts a charming butterfly garden.
Riverbend Recreation Area
This is another park on the banks of the Blanchard River. Visitors can enjoy camping, hiking, boating, an arboretum, and disc golf. Dog owners will enjoy its large dog park. In the winter, this is the place area residents go to enjoy skiing and snowshoeing.
Blanchard River Nature Preserve
This nature preserve is great for those who enjoy bird watching. Bird watchers have reported sightings of warblers, flycatchers, and woodpeckers. Visitors can also go hiking, canoeing, and kayaking. The Blanchard River makes a beautiful backdrop to all the activities here.
3. Children’s Museum Of Findlay
One of the fun things to do in Findlay is to visit the Children’s Museum of Findlay. The museum has many interesting exhibits where children can have fun with the interactive exhibits and learn about science, math, technology, and the arts.
The kids can enjoy a climbing wall, glow-in-the-dark activities, and scale models of a hospital and schoolhouse. They can also pretend to be firefighters or miners.
The gift shop offers kid-oriented gifts that promote the themes of the museum.
4. Jeffrey’s Antique Gallery
This gallery is a family-owned business and was established in 1990. This gallery features antiques of all types.
It is the largest mall in Northwest Ohio and has two great locations. Over 300 antique dealers exhibit their wares here. You’ll find everything from antique glassware to handmade quilts; to vintage advertising signs.
If you have antiques, they will expertly appraise them. The galleries are pet-friendly, and you will enjoy strolling through the endless aisles to see what surprises await you.
5. The Cube Arena
This is an indoor ice arena founded in 1974. It serves as a host to local ice hockey events and offers open skating and adaptive skating.
During the times of the year when the arena’s ice melts, the arena is rented out for weddings, concerts, birthday parties, and flea markets. Groups can also rent the arena for their meetings.
6. The Lavender Hour
The Lavender Hour is a yoga studio and fitness facility. They also serve as educational outreach to the community for wellness topics.
Visitors can attend their regular yoga and fitness sessions or take lessons in reiki, self-care, and quantum healing.
There are special classes in prenatal yoga and meditation sessions each morning at sunrise.
You can buy naturally-made soaps, incense, candles, prayer beads, and crystals in their gift shop.
7. Marathon Center For Performing Arts
Theater lovers can choose from performances from all genres of stage entertainment, including readings of literary works.
There are performances scheduled all year long; you can check what’s playing during your visit by going to their website.
Recent performers include children’s singer Mr. G, Christian artist Michael W. Smith, and a tribute concert to rock groups of the 70s, including The Guess Who, Firefall, and the Atlanta Rhythm Section.
The Center can also be rented for events such as weddings and reunions.
8. Dining In Findlay
One of the top things to do in Findlay, OH, is to experience the great dining options.
The city has a diverse range of eateries to choose from, including American, Chinese, Italian, and Mexican cuisine.
Some popular restaurants include:
West End Tavern
People from surrounding areas come to Findlay to dine here. This neighborhood bar and restaurant have been here since 1930. They have a large deli-style menu, but many families enjoy coming for their Star Wars menus.
Anvil Whiskey Bar
This place features some of the best scotch, whiskey, and bourbon in the Northern Ohio area, but its cuisine is also worth visiting. The food ranges from prime cuts of steak to fresh-caught seafood. There is live entertainment on the weekends.
9. Shady Grove Golf Course And Restaurant
The restaurant was established in 1959, and the golf course was added in 1960.
The golf course has an 18-hole course plus a 3-par course. Its owner has invited many golf professionals to play and hold tournaments.
10. Escape Room
One of the fun things to do in Findlay is to test your skills at an escape room.
Try the Findlay escape room if you and your group want a fun mental challenge.
Your group will be locked into a room where they will be tasked with solving puzzles.
The puzzles will give you clues – and the clues will lead you to the key, which will open the door to the Room. Each escape room here has a different theme, but all have a one-hour limit.
Current escape themes include The Bandit’s Breakout, The Post Office (find a special package to get the key), Santa’s Workshop, and Grandma’s Kitchen.
None of these rooms look like they are meant for the younger crowd, but all look interesting.
11. Swiss Community Historical Society
This attraction is also called the Schumacher Property since the Schumacher family once owned the property and land.
It is comprised of a house, a barn, and a garden. The family immigrated from Switzerland and built the house in the 1800s to replicate a typical Swiss home.
A tour through the buildings will give visitors an idea of the life of Swiss immigrants to Findlay during that era.
There are artifacts and historical documents that will help visitors to learn more about history.
12. Northwest Ohio Railway Preservation
This is the place to visit for any railroad lover. You can see working quarter-scale trains, which the visitors can ride.
The biggest attraction here is the train ride, and the Center hosts several events during the year. Kids will love discovering the trains and learning about the area’s contributions to the history of the railway.
13. Black Heritage Library And Multicultural Center
One of the best things to do in Findlay is to visit Black Heritage Library And Multicultural Center. This library and exhibit center was opened in 1983. It is known internationally, and its collection of art and artifacts comes from worldwide.
The mission of the Center is to present the various contributions of African-American artists. One of its most popular rooms has a thorough history and art display of the Tuskegee Airmen of World War II.
Community events during the year that are associated with African-American culture and history are sponsored here.
14. Hancock Historical Museum
If you are a history buff, or a nearby resident interested in the history of Hancock county, you will find a wealth of information here.
The museum comprises nine separate buildings; almost all are models of historical buildings. The buildings will give you a good idea of the life of citizens in this area around the time of the 1800s.
Here are some brief ideas of what each building offers for visitors:
Agriculture Building – also called the Barn, this building gives insights into the farm owners’ lives in the 1800s. This is a favorite destination for school trips because they aim many of its programs are for children. The guides here are often volunteers who work as local farmers.
The Crawford Log Home – this home was built in 1840 and was home to area resident Samuel Crawford.
The Museum – The museum displays artifacts and exhibits from area citizens in the mid-1800s. There is also a display of vintage motorcycles and cars.
The DeWald-Funk Home – This home is another log cabin that belonged to the family of a Civil War soldier.
The Hull/Flater Home – This home was built in 1881. It was owned during the late 1800s by the man who brought electric lighting to Hanover County. This building is near the front of all the museum’s buildings and serves as the welcoming Center to all the other buildings.
The Davis Homestead – This is the oldest building in Findlay and was built in the 1800s.
Michael G Oxley Government Center – the historical artifacts in this building are all about government leadership since the Civil War era. Every year since 2015, the fourth graders in Findlay have used this building for a day-long seminar about local area government.
Marathon Petroleum Annex – this is not a historical building, but it ties together with the theme of introducing visitors to this area’s important industries. It explains the role of oil and gas in Findlay’s history and in its present industrial development.
The museum uses all its buildings for an immersive experience for visitors who want to learn about area history, and they host annual events like the Findlay Oktoberfest. This makes it one of the fun things to do in Findlay, OH.
15. Litzenberg Memorial Woods & Mckinnis House
This home was owned by the McKinnis family and remained as a memorial to how their family lived during the 1800s.
The neighboring Litzenberg family maintained the surrounding grounds, including a wetlands area and some beautiful nature trails.
There are lots of small animals in the courtyard (like squirrels and rabbits) for the children to enjoy. This makes one of the fun things to do in Findlay with kids.
16. Shopping In Downtown Findlay
As long as you’re in Findlay, you won’t want to miss all the great finds in its downtown area. There are large department stores, but there are also some unique little shops.
You can enjoy antique shops like Cammy’s, Bread and Butter, or Liberty Ridge antique shops.
Don’t miss a visit to Pack Rat’s Pawn Shop – if only to enjoy the almost-psychedelic colors of the patchwork deer statue in front of its shop.
You can find fashion galore at Flag City Clothing, Boutique 415, or find accessories at Gillie Leather.
At the end of your busy shopping day, treat yourself to blooms at the Bo-Ka Flower and Gift Shop, or enjoy picking your own flower and herb bouquet at the U-Pick Flower Farm.
17. Mazza Museum
This art museum is devoted to the art of picture books, and it is associated with the University of Findlay.
Their mission is to celebrate and promote child literacy. There are usually up to 300 pieces exhibited daily. It is free to visitors.
18. Family Fun Venues
Rolling Thunder Skating and Family Fun – Your whole family will enjoy the fun here. Strap on some skates, skate along to the music, and enjoy a room full of arcade games when you’re done.
Flashover -This indoor sports arena is great for sports enthusiasts on a rainy day, but you may enjoy it so much that you’ll return during any type of weather. You can enjoy dodgeball, lacrosse, knocker ball, and soccer. There are also plenty of arcade games. You can book a birthday party here and have a great time.
19. Awakening Minds Art
This is an art studio downtown where you can create a painting you will be proud to bring home. You can take an art class there, or go with a group or someone special.
They also offer art lessons for individuals or Scout troops, plus community outreach art programs. Any time you go, you will discover your inner artist.
20. Buffalo Trading Company Shooting Gallery
This indoor shooting gallery will test your skills and allow you to have fun shooting at a target. Before you grab a gun, you must watch a safety video to ensure you enjoy yourself as safe as possible. It will be an activity you won’t soon forget.
Plan a Trip to Findlay
If you’re looking for a fun and vibrant town to explore, be sure to add Findlay, Ohio, to your list.
You’ll never find yourself bored in this lively city with plenty of attractions for all ages. From historical sites to family-friendly venues, there’s something for everyone in Findlay!
Start planning your trip to Findlay today and experience all this city has to offer. Pin this article for later and use it as a guide while you explore all the great things to do in Findlay, Ohio!
