Bowling Green, a city in Ohio, United States, is known as Wood County’s seat.

It has a population of about 31 638 as of 2020. Founded in the year 1832, then in 1855, it was recognized as a town. Furthermore, in 1901, it became a city. It is well known because of the public University found there.

When you visit Bowling Green, you will easily identify that it is a city surrounded by vast farmlands and is regarded as “green for miles.” In addition, one can find many outdoor recreation centers and lush areas for fresh air.

You will also find a lot of mind-blowing attractions like festivals, museums, local restaurants, on-campus activities, sports, and shopping malls. You get to experience the country’s lifestyle and college culture.

Hence, if you are thinking of visiting Bowling Green, Ohio, either for school, vacation, or some other activity, these are the fun things you can do to make the most of it:

Things to Do in Bowling Green, Ohio

1. Ohio’s First Utility Wind Farm

In Ohio, as you drive down State Route (6) Six, you will see Bowling Green which houses the very 1st utility wind farm in Ohio, which stands on an aged landfill.

Its operation began in 2003. Every structure stands two hundred and fifty-seven feet with about 3 one hundred and thirty-two foot long rotating blades; it soars for about four hundred feet at an apex over the visible corn fields.

The turbines can generate about 14000 megawatts, which can power 1500 homes. These days, you can find numerous windmills in different locations and sizes.

Location: Bowling Green Rd W, Bowling Green, OH 43402, United States

2. Travel in the “Past Lane” with Snook’s Dream Cars

Here, automotive history is brought back to life. It is located along the Country Home Road. Late Bill Snook’s vast collection is displayed in the museum.

In 1963, the 1929 Ford Model was restored by the Snooks. This ignited their love for cars. Thus, at 16, Jeff (Bill’s son) drove the vehicle. Afterward, Jeff and Bill continued building their memorabilia and car collections to show the past’s style and beauty.

A true replica of the 1940s gas station Texaco is in the museum. Also, they displayed their collection of dream cars in an astonishing showroom; this includes a 1930s general store 1960s racetrack.

The models found in their collection are race cars, convertibles, sedans, roadsters, and coupes; they were made between 1930-1970.

These cars are of different makes, such as Willys, Triumph, Pontiac, Packard, MG, Kaiser, Jaguar, Ford, Datsun, Chevrolet, Cadillac, and Alfa Romeo. Jeff still drives the cars around town frequently.

Location: 13920 County Home Rd, Bowling Green, OH 43402, United States

3. Bike the Slippery Elm Trail from Black Swamp Preserve

It is created with the Bowling Green City Parks, found in the streets of South Maple. The nature preserve displays bluebird nesting containers/boxes, grass trails, and pollinator gardens.

Also, there is access to Slippery Elm Trail(SET), which is about thirteen miles of trail from BG to North Baltimore, OH. In 1995, SET was opened. It is a famous multi-purpose trail for an in-line form of skating, walking, and bicycling in northwestern OH.

The route starts from BG’s Black Swamp Preserve, passing through Rudolph and Portage to North Baltimore. The Wood Country Parks District maintains the SET.

Location: 1014 S Maple St, Bowling Green, OH 43402, United States

4. Experience the Great Depression at the Carter Historic Farm

It is a farmhouse that was restored, and it tells the Ohio tales of the time of the Great Depression. That period had a huge impact on the lives of people.

In 1901, the farmhouse was bought by the Carters. The family survived the period because they relied on food grown locally and the community too. The farmhouse belonged to them for generations till they donated it to Wood Country Park District.

Thus, the farmhouse is a history museum and a functional farmhouse. In the farmhouse, one will find the 1890s schoolhouse, a wetland of 20-acre, forested trails, a house that is a visible chicken coop, a barn, and farm equipment that was restored.

From Friday-Sunday, visitors are allowed to take a free tour.

Location: 18331 Carter Rd, Bowling Green, OH 43402, United States

5. Attend the Wood County Fair

During summer periods, about 100000 people go to this fair. The tradition has been long-standing for Wood Country. So many citizens have gained from the tradition in ways like entertainment, education, and exhibitions.

The community prides itself on its activities, as does the state and country. At Fairgrounds of Wood Country, the Agricultural Society organizes this event annually; it starts either after or before July ends.

You will witness concerts, Queen and King contests, tractor and truck pulls, harness raising, and a youth parade at the fair. In addition, you can watch a tournament of water balls, pull of kiddie pedal, pig contest, antique tractor display, cheerleading competition, et cetera.

You can have an unforgettable experience by visiting this fair.

Location: 13800 W Poe Rd, Bowling Green, OH 43402, United States

6. Gaze at the Stars at the BGSU Planetarium

The planetarium is located on the BG State University campus; it is the science theater class for the Astronomy sessions.

Both students and the OH northwest community make use of the planetarium. The doors of the planetarium opened in 1984.

Between 2013- 2014, it underwent notable renovations. The planetarium of 114-seat is on the dome of 40-foot with the modern technology of SciDome video. Spectators can view the sky and universe as if they are from any place on earth.

Anybody can come for public Planetarium events, including the Planetarium show and star talk. The Weekend activities are accompanied by the public strategizing from a 0.5meter telescope while on an observatory roof.

There, guests can learn more about astronomy and have a close view of the sky.

Address: 112 Physical Sciences Lab Bld, Bowling Green, OH 43403, United States

7. Visit the Wood County Museum (WCM)

The WCM is the initial Infirmary of Wood Country, also called “Poor Farm.” It is a fifty-acre site that features the Lyle Fletcher Arboretum and the History Museum of Wood Country.

There are many outbuildings, including the house for pests, the log cabin, the hog barn, the lunatic house, and an oil derrick. In 1868, it was built.

The major building housed the country’s mentally ill, physically disabled, and poor people. One of the reasons why BW was selected as the “county seat” was because of the infirmary.

In 1971, the infirmary was closed, and the residents were relocated to another facility. A director of the city parks and local historian convinced the commissioners of the country to retain the building.

In 1975, it was reopened and called the Museum of Wood Country. More than 30 exhibits that tell Wood Country’s history and that of the building are found in the museum.

You can partake in a museum tour to see walking trails, museum grounds, and the kid’s scavenger hunt of Animal Crossing.

Location: 13660 County Home Rd, Bowling Green, OH 43402, United States

8. Join a Class at Big Fab Lab

If you are an aspiring artist, engineer, or inventor, the Big Fab Lab will aid in unleashing your creativity by using tools and creating various prototypes of anything you think of.

The community runs the Lab, and people with comparable interests usually meet up and collaborate. The Lab features manufacturing, crafting, and designing expertise for businesses, individuals, and schools.

The retail space of the Lab is for members to test and sell products they made. Equipment for things like woodworking, pottery, photography, programming, electronics, welding, metalworking, 3D printing, 3D scanning, laser engraving, et cetera, are found there.

Also, there is a provision for skilled instructors who educate people on how to use the equipment and tools to secure their ideas properly.

When you become a member and equally pass the training for tool safety, you are free to access every piece of equipment and tools there.

Location: 1234 N Main St d, Bowling Green, OH 43402, United States

9. Visit the Construction Equipment Museum (CEM)

The National CEM is not interested in gaining profit but is committed to retaining the history and existence of the weighty equipment used in surface mining, construction, and dredging industries.

The museum is run by HCEA (Historical Construction Equipment Association.) You will find numerous construction equipment like shovels, scrapers, rollers, dump trucks, drills, concrete mixers, bulldozers, cranes, and other machines.

In 1992, the Historical Construction Equipment Association rented the land in BG to serve as the equipment museum.

Now, the collection is over ninety machines from the 1800s – 1960s. CEM is not just an attraction for tourists but has held numerous HCEA international conventions.

In addition, the National CEM archives a large historical artifacts collection that worldwide researchers use. The artifacts include movies, pictures, documents, videos, and slides representing over 2600 firms universally.

Location: 16623 Liberty Hi Rd, Bowling Green, OH 43402, United States

10. Explore the Wintergarden/St. John’s Nature Preserve

This is a nature preserve of 103-acre with wetlands, forests, and meadows. Previously, BG was part of the Great Black Swamp, which covers the major part of Northwestern OH.

At that time, the area was overflowing with savannas, wildlife, and vast forests covered in lush vegetation. After WWII, BG purchased Wintergarden Woods.

People visit to engage in leisure activities. The city acquired additional properties, including Bordner Meadow, Twyman Woods, St. John Woods, et cetera.

Today, the Preserve features over 3 miles of walking/hiking trails with numerous loops going through woodlands and prairie meadows acres.

The Preserve’s staff naturalist conducts varieties of events. The aim is to inform their community about the area’s animal and plant life.

Location: 615 S Wintergarden Rd, Bowling Green, OH 43402, United States

11. See Art at the BGSU Fine Arts Center

The BG State University has a Center for Fine Arts that features three galleries with items carefully chosen and organized by the University’s Art School.

The exhibits display contemporary art; this includes work by the faculty, students, national artists, and the region’s successful and brilliant artists.

In addition, visitors are welcome to partake in collaborative and inclusive events that give room for political, cultural, and social problems to the table through new ideas and dialogue. Every exhibit is for public view, and it is without cost.

Location: Bowling Green, OH 43403, United States

12. Watch the National Tractor Pulling Championships

This is globally known as the biggest outdoor truck and tractor-pulling event. For more than 50 years, people have traveled from various countries to participate in and attend the Championships.

The three-day event is held towards the end of August. The event features every kind of truck and tractor pulling from Super Semis, Super Farm, Mini Rods to Two-Wheel-Drive Trucks.

The event has five mind-blowing pull sessions, a merchandise tent, campsites, live bands, and food stands.

For over 20 years, the association has been in partnership with Make A Wish Foundation, with some volunteers that run around their stadium to raise funds used by the foundation.

For their weekend event, about 65000 people are drawn, and over 2000 campsites are available, making it a beautiful way of closing your summer in BG.

Location: 1150 Haskins Rd, Bowling Green, OH 43402, United States

13. Get Active at the BGSU Student Recreation Center

In 1979, a Recreation Center for Students was opened, which has added to the improvement of the community’s well-being and that of the Students.

The recreation center offers a State-Of-The-Art-Facility space; this includes a strength/weight area, a stretching/abs area, an area for slam walls, and courts for badminton, volleyball, and basketball.

Also, you can play tennis, swimming pools, an indoor track, and climb a thirty-five-foot wall. The BGSU Recreation Center gained the famous “Official Hammer Strength Training Center” level. To use the facility, you need to get a membership or day pass.

Location: 1411 Ridge St, Bowling Green, OH 43403, United States

14. Go Skating at Slater Family Ice Arena

Do you love ice? Or are you interested in learning new stuff? Since 1967, it is safe to say that the Ice Arena has played a notable role in serving the University and the local community.

This has been so for over fifty years. It was previously called BG State University Ice Arena and, in 2017, was then renamed after the Slater Family.

The arena contained seats of about 2800 till 1989, when their expansion happened, and they held 5000 seats.

The Ice Arena has been regarded as the home of the BG Falcons under CCHA (Central Collegiate Hockey Association.)

The arena hosts other high school hockey teams: the BG Skating Club and the BG Youth Hockey Association.

The arena features numerous activities for people with different skill levels and ages, including recreational skating, figure skating, and hockey.

Location: 417 N Mercer Rd, Bowling Green, OH 43402, United States

15. Play Golf at the Stone Ridge Golf Course

One hundred and fifty acres of rolling hills and gentle slopes surround the Golf Club. It is a 7064-yard bent, 72-par, 18-hole grass course.

It is the best-established golf course for the public in Northwest Ohio. Also, it is included among the “Ten Top Public Courses.”

Thus, it has retained its reputation over the years by featuring exceptional customer service in its first-class establishment. The Golf Club caters to weddings, banquets, and clubhouse dining.

Location: 1553 Muirfield Dr, Bowling Green, OH 43402, United States

16. Go To Simpson Garden Park

It is a garden of about eleven acres located in the center of BG, Ohio, urban landscape. The Garden Park looks like a classroom with a wide knowledge of the climate conditions and soil needed for growing different trees, herbs, plants, et cetera.

It also displays the role of each one in humans’ lives and our beautiful relationship with nature. Are you searching for a good field trip to explore and learn about oxygen, carbon dioxide, plant life, and how to nurture the environment?

Go to Simpson Garden park. As a result of multiple years of fundraising and planning, Garden Park is a dream come true.

The committee formed by the Simpsons raised more than $750000 and joined with more than $1000000 in public funding from the Recreation Department and BG Parks. Due to donations, there is free admission. If you want to make donations, call this number 4193546297.

Location: 1291 Conneaut Ave, Bowling Green, OH 43402, United States

17. Go to Doyt Perry Stadium

It is known for its school colors: seal brown & burnt orange. Then there is a mascot school, the Falcon, and the Stadium of Doyt Perry, which has been the football team’s home since 1966.

This has been so for over four decades. In mid-1960, the stadium began to age, and there was a need to adopt new facilities for the Falcons.

Thus, money was allocated, and construction began. In 1966, the construction was completed. Initially, the stadium’s seating capacity was about twenty-three thousand, but today, its seating capacity is twenty-four thousand.

The tier grandstands are just a single on each side of a playing field and in the end zones.

A period before the beginning of the 2007 season, FieldTurf replaced the Grass playing field. Also, the north end zone was removed to give room for the construction of the Sebo Athletic Center.

Location: 1610 Stadium Dr, Bowling Green, OH 43403, United States

18. Have fun at the Pub known as Grumpy Dave

The name was gotten because Dave Harper’s voice is gruff, and he is big. Before he opened his business, he studied the decision-making and memory processes of the human brain; hence, he became a good research psychologist.

In 1998, he left psychology and started a bar business to have a fun experience. He has remained a constant fixture in BGs nightlife.

His place is located downtown BG, directly above the Easystreet Cafe. The previous name was Easystreet Upstairs before it was called Grumpy Dave in 2004.

It has been recognized to be amongst the town’s versatile spots, not minding that there is no exact theme daily, but, on some nights, they have themes.

Tuesday night is comedy night, Saturday is for karaoke, and the live band performs every other evening. Students can hire the place for a soiree or shindig.

Grumpy Dave’s logo makes it easy to recognize, and exciting things happen there. His logo is a bald man holding a snarl, with a mug filled with frothy and golden liquid, then a red and green background. The logo is from when Dave Harper was younger.

Location: 104 S Main St, Bowling Green, OH 43402, United States

19. Al Mar Bowling Lane

Back in 1940, the co-owners Marley Wilson and AI Stevens joined their names and formed the popular Al-Mar Bowling Lanes as an independent bowling center here in BG, OH.

In the late 1950s, Ann & Bob purchased the business, and the location was moved. In 1979, business started declining rapidly when investors bought the bowling center.

Then in 1989, Bill Wammes took over, and the business is still functional to date. Events you can engage in are tournaments, birthdays, fundraisers, corporate parties, et cetera.

Also, there is the Kosmic Bowling that is held on Saturday and Friday nights. They feature strobe lights and music.

Location: 1010 N Main St, Bowling Green, OH 43402, United States

20. Bowen Green State University Ice Arena

The Ice Arena has been the only building responsible for bringing together the community and the University since 1967. The building has three main activities: curling, ice hockey, and figure skating.

The facility is worth $1.8million. More than 2,000,000 people have been to the arena and testified of the beauty of the arena and their exhilarating experience.

Location: Bowling Green, OH 43403, United States

Conclusion

Aside from annual festivities and permanent attractions, the college town has other seasonal activities. Generally, Bowling Green is known as a city of charm and character that will definitely satisfy anyone’s thirst for exploration and travel. Whenever you visit beautiful Ohio, make sure you go there.