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Bowling Green is a city of about 30,000 people in northwest Ohio, about 25 miles south of Toledo, and the seat of Wood County. Founded in the 1830s in the old Great Black Swamp, it boomed in the late 1800s with an oil and natural gas rush, which left the downtown full of handsome brick commercial buildings and a grand courthouse.
Today Bowling Green is a lively college town shaped by Bowling Green State University, founded in 1910. Its Main Street is lined with local cafes, bars, shops and the restored Cla-Zel Theatre, and each September the Black Swamp Arts Festival fills downtown with art, music and food. The Wood County Courthouse and the Wood County Museum, housed in the former county infirmary, tell the area's story.
Green spaces are easy to reach: Wintergarden and St. John's Nature Preserve has woodland trails, Simpson Garden Park offers free themed gardens, and the Slippery Elm Trail runs south through farmland. Carter Historic Farm shows rural life in the 1930s.
A large public university founded in 1910, with a leafy campus of brick halls, a student union, art galleries, a planetarium and performing arts venues. Falcons football, basketball and hockey games are lively and affordable. Visitors can walk the campus freely; visitor parking passes are sold online.
A massive stone courthouse completed in 1896 during the oil and gas boom, with a tall clock tower, carved details and painted murals inside. It is one of the finest county courthouses in Ohio and still in use. Admire it from the lawn, and step inside during business hours to see the rotunda and murals.
A walkable downtown of late 1800s brick buildings from the oil boom, now filled with local restaurants, coffee shops, bars, bookstores and boutiques. A summer farmers market and seasonal events bring crowds to Main Street. Park in a public lot and stroll; evenings are busy when the university is in session.
A historic downtown movie theater on Main Street dating from the 1920s, restored and reopened as a venue for concerts, films, comedy and private events. Its marquee is a downtown landmark and a favorite photo spot. Check the event calendar online, and pair a show with dinner at a nearby Main Street restaurant.
A local history museum in the former Wood County Infirmary, a large 1869 brick building that once housed the county's poor and ill. Exhibits cover the infirmary, the oil boom, farming and daily life in the Black Swamp, and the grounds have walking paths and gardens. Check seasonal hours before visiting.
A free arts festival held each September in downtown Bowling Green, with a juried art show, a youth arts area, food vendors and free live music on several stages from Friday night through Sunday. It is the biggest event of the year in town. Arrive early on Saturday for the best choice of art.
A city nature preserve on the edge of Bowling Green with miles of easy trails through oak woods, wetlands and meadows, plus a nature center with exhibits and programs. Spring wildflowers and fall colors are highlights. Trails are well marked; bring bug spray in summer and binoculars for birding.
A free public garden park run by the city, with themed gardens, flower beds, a pond, walking paths and a building for classes and events. It is especially colorful from late spring through early fall and a quiet place to relax. Combine it with a walk to the nearby neighborhoods and downtown.
A paved rail trail of about 13 miles running from Bowling Green south through farmland and small villages to North Baltimore, managed by the Wood County Park District. It is flat and popular with cyclists, runners and walkers. Bring water, as services along the route are limited outside town.
A Wood County Park District farm that shows rural life in the 1930s, with a farmhouse, barn, gardens and farm animals, plus demonstrations of traditional chores and crafts during special events. It is a good outing for families with children. Check the park district calendar for open days and programs.
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Photo: Mbrickn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Mbrickn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Tma169, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Nyttend, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: w_lemay, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: w_lemay, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: w_lemay, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Photo: Mbrickn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Mbrickn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Mbrickn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Mbrickn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Mbrickn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Mbrickn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Mbrickn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Mbrickn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Mbrickn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Mbrickn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Mbrickn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
