Shaker Heights (Cleveland) to Ottawa Hills (Toledo) (Columbus, Akron: homes, theater)

[exit18b]

I have a job offer in the Toledo area. Currently we live in Shaker Heights (suburb of Cleveland). We looked at Perrysburg, but quickly fell in love with Ottawa Hills. It reminds us of Shaker Heights. Couple of questions! We have moved several times but have always been near a large city. What is it like in a small city? Meaning, do would we have to drive to Detroit, Columbus, Cleveland for museums (Toledo has a few), concerts, sports, good shopping, better dinning, travel. Has anyone else moved from the eastside of Cleveland to Toledo?

[Dennuchi46]

Toledo has everthing that the other mentioned cities have. Just not as many of each.

[Dennuchi46]

Ottawa Hills Not to many years ago was rated as one of the villages with the highest per capita income in the country. And yes if you need to shop really up town there is Detoit about 1 hour away. Columbus is 2.5 hours away and if you really need that special gift there is allways Chi town. Welcome to our town . It is not that small ,about 300,000 I would be happy to answer any questions reguarding Toledo. I've lived here 67 years in a business for 40 of them and I believe it will provide you with most of the things you might want or need. Good luck.

[exit18b]

THANKS FOR THE REPLY! We are just nervous! I am a big sports fan and I have never lived anywhere without major sports. We enjoy going "downtown" for dinner, shows, etc. We have lived in Metro areas of Cleveland, Detroit, Baltimore and D.C. I am originally from the NYC area. So as you can see, moving is not the issue. Each of those cities offer major sports, culture and upscale stuff.

[jam40jeff]

Downtown Toledo has some stuff to do, but on a much smaller scale. Such as watching a minor league baseball game instead of the Indians. It kind of reminds me of Akron.

[Dennuchi46]

EX18B-- By the way University of Toledo will be playing Ohio State this fall in football at the browns stadium.In Sept.

[NeedAVacation]

Be sure to check out the Toledo Opera productions and the Toledo Symphony. They are fantastic.

[lep6030]

I grew up in Toledo, went to school right down the street from Ottawa Hills, and also lived in University Heights for four years. There is not as many things to do in Toledo as there are in Cleveland, obviously, because it's a smaller city. I now live in the DC area, so we seem to have lived some of the same places.

There is a great art museum in Toledo and the zoo is really nice as well. We do have a minor league baseball team that has a great stadium downtown, but you'd have to drive to Detroit to see the Tigers for a major league game. We have an opera and a good symphony and live theater at the Valentine Theater and at Stranahan. Downtown is being revitalized, so there are a few good restaurants on the water and many other good non-chain restaurants but you have to be willing to drive because they are scattered around the city.

Shopping-wise, Toledo has the regular chain stores--Dillard's, Penney's, Macy's, Ann Taylor, Gap, Pottery Barn, Williams-Sonoma etc, but no Nordstrom, Saks, Neiman Marcus or Crate and Barrel. If you want really high-end shopping, Somerset Mall in Detroit-area is only a 45 minute trip.

I do think that Ottawa Hills is the closest thing to Shaker Heights. It's a really nice area and the homes have a lot of character...great schools too. I also thought the previous posters comparison of Toledo to Akron is a good one...they are similar in many respects.

Good luck to you!

[nickw252]

Congrats on Ottawa Hills - it is a beautiful community. Too bad all these new suburban sprawl subdivisions aren't like Ottawa Hills.

[vroomster]

Detroit's not far if you need a big league sports fix... got the Tigers, Red Wings & Lions all downtown.

Originally Posted by lep6030

...If you want really high-end shopping, Somerset Mall in Detroit-area is only a 45 minute trip.

Somerset's more like an 80-90 min trip, especially with that I-75 detour just south of Detroit.

Twelve Oaks in Novi is only about an hour's drive from West Toledo if you head up 23 through Ann Arbor. A little tricky getting there the first time, then it's smooth sailing. Lots of good stores both places.