Overview
Bowling Green is a small college town in Northwest Ohio about 30 mi south of the Michigan border. Surrounded by miles of flat farmland, Bowling Green is best known for its public university, Bowling Green State University (BGSU), and its national tractor pull event. Locals often shorten Bowling Green to BG - pronounced "Bee Gee".
14 sights · 40 things to do · 19 places to eat · 12 bars & cafés · 6 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Bowling Green
BGSU Planetarium
An planetarium open to the public. Has regular educational showings for all ages, and holiday features. Most shows feature a regular star talk, then proceed with the show. Upstairs there is an observatory where public st…
Biology Greenhouse
Contains a tropical plant collection, and a desert plant collection. Also houses a student projects room and an aquaponics lab. Tours are available if scheduled in advance.
Fine Arts Galleries
Several galleries dedicated to showcasing student artwork. The Dorothy Uber Bryan Gallery and Willard Wankelman Gallery are conventional art galleries.The Hiroko Nakamoto Gallery, created by an interior design alumna who…
The BGSU Film Theater
A movie theater that often showcases classic and modern movies, as well as the occasional guest speaker. Free public screenings are usually held during the spring or fall semester on Tuesday nights at 7:30PM, or Thursday…
Life Sciences Building
The first floor houses the BGSU Herpetarium, a lab for the care and observation of over 30 species of reptiles and amphibians. Open to the public with an escort. The second floor houses the BGSU Marine Lab, which also of…
BG Wind Farm
One of the first commercial wind farms in Ohio, it started in 2003, and recouped its costs in 2015. The site consists of four turbines that stand at over 250 ft tall that can generate over 7 megawatts. On clear days they…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–Oct. Summer highs reach about 86°F; winter lows dip to about 20°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: May and Apr. (climate data from nearby Toledo)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- TOL Eugene F. Kranz Toledo Express Airport, Toledo — 17 mi away. Directions
- DTW Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Detroit — 60 mi away (major hub). Directions
The nearest major airport is the Detroit Metro Airport (DTW) at just over an hour north of Bowling Green by car. Some passenger flights may also go to the closer Toledo Express Airport (TOL) which is only a half hour north of Bowling Green by car.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $100–$140 a night (typical $120), from 5 listed prices.
- Typical meal: about $7 per person at listed restaurants.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$120, mid-range ~$170, comfortable ~$240.
Options are grouped as Budget, Mid-range, Splurge in the Sleep guide ↓.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning BGSU Planetarium, Life Sciences Building, Animarathon
- Lunch Falcon's Nest
- Afternoon Cherry Blossom Festival, The BGSU Film Theater
- Dinner Social House
- Evening Pizza Pub 516
Day 2
- Morning BG Wind Farm, National Construction Equipment Museum
- Lunch The China
- Afternoon Toledo, Lake Erie & Western Railway and Museum
- Dinner Sunset Bistro
- Evening Brewing Green
Day 3
- Morning Snook's Dream Cars, Heritage Days
- Lunch Sundial Kreischer
- Afternoon Wood County Museum
- Dinner Carillon Place
- Evening El Zarape
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Bowling Green's downtown area has a small town atmosphere with plenty of dining establishments to choose from, including sports bars (and other "bar" food), pizza, Italian, and family dining.
The area near I-75 and the extreme north and south ends of Main Street have many chain restaurants.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Bowling Green is primarily a college town. Bowling Green State University is known for its education, music, and aviation programs. As a result, many events have an educational bent, music and the arts are popular in town, and clear days are hallmarked with frequent flybys of propeller-driven airplanes.
The city also functions as the county seat and the largest city of Wood County, Ohio. The only other large city in the county is the Toledo suburb of Perrysburg. It lies on the edge of the Toledo Metropolitan area and caters to locals in nearby towns and farms by offering shopping, education, and entertainment, much like the city of Findlay 30 mi to the south. Because of this, Bowling Green is a melting pot between college and country culture.
History
Bowling Green was settled in 1832 near the center of the Great Black Swamp, and was named by its settlers after Bowling Green in Kentucky. It got its start as a city thanks to the oil boom in the 1880s and the resulting clearing of the swamp. The college was established in 1910 as Bowling Green State Normal School to train teachers along side its sister college in Kent. By the 1930s it became a fully fledged university. During World War II the University helped train Navy personnel. After World War II ended, the influx of returning soldiers and their baby boomer children greatly increased the size of the university, as well as the surrounding city. While current events are university focused, many relics of the oil days remain in and around the Bowling Green area.
Since its founding, the university has taught many notable people including Olympians, scientists, captains of industry, and Hollywood actors.
Climate
Bowling Green has four distinct seasons. The spring brings plentiful cherry blossoms. The summer can have sweltering and humid heat, but the hydrangea and hibiscus bloom. During the fall the temperatures drop and the trees change the color of their leaves to shades of red, orange, and yellow. Winters in Bowling Green can be highly variable. Some winters are mild with only a few inches of snow accumulation. However sometimes winters can be quite harsh with blizzards and several feet of snow accumulation or ice storms. A constant of all seasons are frequent windy days. A windbreaker is recommended, even in the early summer.
Visitor information
Place BTSU Info Desk
The Bowen Thompson Student Union Information Desk can provide information specific to the Student Union, and general campus information. Offers car rentals for a fee. This also serves as the general BGSU lost and found. Upstairs on the fourth floor is the LGBTQ+ resource center, which can offer advice specific for LGBT travelers.
Get in
By plane
The nearest major airport is the Detroit Metro Airport (DTW) at just over an hour north of Bowling Green by car. Some passenger flights may also go to the closer Toledo Express Airport (TOL) which is only a half hour north of Bowling Green by car.
Go Wood County Regional Airport (Bricker Field)
Private pilots may land at this general aviation airport, and non pilots may charter flights here. This airport is on campus and offers a lounge, fuel, and an airport shuttle. The airport has some historic significance - During World War II the airfield was used to train pilots for the Navy. There is also a Korean War-era Lockheed T-33 jet on display near the lounge. While many organizations take pictures of their members on the wings of that jet, you should ask permission before attempting it yourself.
By car
Bowling Green is on I-75 at exit 181, and it is a quick 25 mi drive south from Toledo, a 130 mi drive north from Dayton, and an 80 mi drive south from Detroit. Regional car services include: a city subsidized van service with low rates, B.G. Transit Reliable Taxi, Supercab, BG Airport Shuttle, and Bill's Limousine.
By bicycle
A community group Bike BG offers slow bike rides throughout the city once a month.
Go Slippery Elm Trail
Goes 13 mi south to North Baltimore, passing through the villages of Portage and Rudolph. If you are a pump cyclist, the village of Rudolph contains a pump track that is among the largest in the world. The trail is asphalt and features several rest stops and water fountains. At the entrance at the Bowling Green Black Swamp Preserve, there is a free bicycle repair station. Van Buren is 5 mi south from the end of the trail on flat country roads.
Get around
By car
Bowling Green is next to Interstate 75, and its Main Street is also an important local highway (Old US 25). Outside of the downtown area and campus, it may be time consuming to go without a car.
Free parking is available along both sides of Main Street in the downtown area. However getting a spot can be difficult during business hours and late at night from Thursdays to Saturdays.
The city operates public parking lots in the downtown area. The university also offers public parking in many of its parking lots. These are both available for small fees, and may be free during certain hours, especially during the weekend.
BGSU and the city both have parking enforcement units! BGSU uses automated plate readers and human patrols to quickly catch parking violations. Those parked illegally will almost certainly get caught, and the small fee at the kiosk is much better than a moderate fine. Most public parking lots that charge a fee have replaced their coin operated meters with an automated kiosk that lets you register your licence plate number, eliminating the need to go back to your car to place a permit on it.
There are a few car rental agencies in town, and one on campus.
By bus
Go BGSU Shuttle Services
The university provides a shuttle service, with some routes going off campus. The central hub of the bus service is the Centrex building. Shuttles are wheelchair accessible. Current shuttle locations and ETAs can be viewed with the live shuttle tracker or via an app. SMS "BGSU" to 41411 for route info on all cell phones.
Some residential areas will charter a private bus to make regular stops between their neighborhood and campus. The city also sometimes runs buses between parking and major events downtown, such as the Black Swamp Arts Festival.
By taxi
Taxicabs are very inexpensive at $3-4 per fare (as of January 2019).
Go B.G. Transit
A city-subsidized public transportation service whose route is determined by scheduled rides. Vans are accessible to the disabled. Since it is not a traditional taxi service, schedule your ride at least an hour in advance, but accommodations may be made for short-notice trips if capacity is available. It does not go beyond more than 1 mi from the city limits.
By foot
Most of Bowling Green is about as walkable as any American city, with a few exceptions.
BGSU is even more walkable than the rest of Bowling Green. Almost every major building is within 1 mi of another.
The Downtown area too is similarly extra walkable, as it is less than 1 mi long. Walkability is helped by shaded building passages, ample crossings, and frequent benches.
Wooster Street opposite of the university is unpleasant to walk due to a lack of shade and close proximity to vehicle traffic. Many locals choose to cross the street to the University Sidewalk, or walk down Clough Street (Pleasant shaded residential street parallel with Wooster).
By bicycle
Bowling Green tends to be cyclist friendly. Most destinations have ample bike parking.
On-campus bike parking is widely available outside each building. Some buildings, such as the Art Building and the Student Recreation Center have newer green roofed racks that can keep your bike dry in light rain. Watch out for small delivery robots with low profiles when cycling on campus.
The downtown core of BG should be bypassed by cyclists who are passing through. Because of heavy traffic and low visibility around corners biking on the street is less easy here, and biking on the sidewalk is illegal downtown. For cyclists visiting downtown as a destination there are some anchored stands for bicycle parking.
See
Bowling Green State University
See BGSU Planetarium
An planetarium open to the public. Has regular educational showings for all ages, and holiday features. Most shows feature a regular star talk, then proceed with the show. Upstairs there is an observatory where public stargazing sessions are offered after weekend showings at the planetarium, or separately when events such as eclipses are ongoing.
See Fine Arts Galleries
Several galleries dedicated to showcasing student artwork. The Dorothy Uber Bryan Gallery and Willard Wankelman Gallery are conventional art galleries.The Hiroko Nakamoto Gallery, created by an interior design alumna who survived the Hiroshima atomic bombing, is stylized as a traditional Japanese tea room, and is a work of art on its own. Outside the galleries, the Fine Arts Building houses many smaller displays down its corridors which are typically accessible even if the main galleries are closed.
See The BGSU Film Theater (Formerly Gish Film Theatre)
A movie theater that often showcases classic and modern movies, as well as the occasional guest speaker. Free public screenings are usually held during the spring or fall semester on Tuesday nights at 7:30PM, or Thursday nights at 7:30PM for international films.
See Life Sciences Building
The first floor houses the BGSU Herpetarium, a lab for the care and observation of over 30 species of reptiles and amphibians. Open to the public with an escort. The second floor houses the BGSU Marine Lab, which also offers public tours if planned in advanced. The Marine lab offers a variety of fish, as well as a touch tank where fish can be touched. The upper floors contain Professor Moseley's taxidermied animals on display in the hallways, as well as more modern specimens.
Attractions
See BG Wind Farm
One of the first commercial wind farms in Ohio, it started in 2003, and recouped its costs in 2015. The site consists of four turbines that stand at over 250 ft tall that can generate over 7 megawatts. On clear days they can be seen from Wooster Street. Has an info board on site.
See Bridge Over Troubled Waters (The Elephant/The Dinosaur)
A 14 ft tall memorial to the events of May 4th, 1970 that took place at BGSU's sister school, Kent State University during the Vietnam war. This is a sister sculpture of a piece that was pierced by a bullet at Kent State during the shooting, made by the same artist with the same metal.
See Clough Street (Clough Windmill)
A residential street with many interesting houses built in a fanciful style. Notably, one house is a traditional style windmill. The inside is not open to the public, but it serves as a local landmark.
See Wood County Courthouse
Built in the oil boom era, the courthouse is castlelike and the exterior is lined with turrets and stone carvings. On the courthouse grounds there are many war memorials. The courthouse is topped with a giant clocktower which is visible across the city, and has a nest for peregrine falcons. The grand staircase of the original courthouse is lavish, with giant painted murals. The law library is cozy and a relaxing environment to take a breather. The grounds outside feature a fountain and war memorials. This is an active courthouse, so you will have to pass through a security checkpoint to enter.
Museums
See National Construction Equipment Museum (NCEM)
Showcases historic construction machinery including trucks, excavators, paving equipment, drills, scrapers, rollers, graders, cranes, excavators, and tractors.
See Snook's Dream Cars
Classic car museum features a recreated 1940s-era Texaco gas station with authentic antique signage, a showroom of extensive automobile memorabilia, coin operated antique machines and classic cars that are all in excellent working order and are even driven on a regular basis. Within the museum painted murals and background scenes recreate the looks of a 1930s general store to a racetrack from the 1960s. The car collection features models from the 1930s to the 1960s. The facility also houses a complete four-bay shop for maintaining collector cars and a special area for events.
See Wood County Museum (Wood County Historical Society)
The Wood County Historical Center and Museum is the original site of the Wood County Infirmary, which was in operation from 1869 to 1971. The site re-opened as an Historical Center & Museum in 1975, and has rotating exhibits and self-guided tours inside, plus a public park outside with trails, picnic tables, herb garden, and original out-buildings. The Historical Center also hosts a variety of educational experiences and public events throughout the year.
Do
Festivals
Do Heritage Days
Annual event held the second full weekend in June. Step back in time and get your hands on history with soap making, rope making, fresh butter churning, free blacksmith and farm demonstrations, farm-themed activities, farm animals, historic games, swap meet, kiddie pedal pull, Power of Yesteryear antique tractor show, BBQ and live music. All set amid the rustic historical museum grounds.
Do Wood County Fair
The fair typically includes concerts, a car show, a demolition derby, tractor, truck and semi pulls, championship horse and pony pulls, dances, a cheerleading competition, live music, food, games, rides, industrial arts, woodworking and carving demonstrations, cookie decorating, balloon artists, livestock, flower show, quilts, needlework, karaoke, 4H projects, baked and canned goods, ice cream, wine competition and a parade of floats.
Do National Tractor Pull Championships (Pulltown)
One of the three National Tractor Pullers Association Super National Events. This has all kinds of tractor pulling, from two-wheel drive to Super Semis. Part of the fairground is turned into a temporary campground with 2,107 campsites, making it the fourth-largest campsite for motorsport events in the USA, highlighting the sheer size of the tractor pull.
On-campus events
Do Animarathon (Anime Marathon)
Animarathon is an annual two-day student-run spring Japanese anime convention. Animarathon has taiko, cosplay competitions, a maid cafe, special guests, and panels related to anime and Japanese popular culture. The Student Union ballroom is used to host artists and vendors of Anime merchandise.
Do Cherry Blossom Festival (O-hanami)
The Cherry Blossom Festival is held annually in April by the Japanese Club at BGSU. The Cherry Blossom festival hosts Japanese cultural programming, origami and shodo brush writing workshops, a Taiko drum performance, Martial Arts demonstrations, a bon-odori dance, kimono try ons, Japanese game tables, and free Japanese snacks including sushi and green tea. The event started as a small gathering of 75 people in 2001 to thank the support of Tokyo Alumni, and hosts over 800 people as of 2018.
Do Dance Marathon (DM / Ziggython)
A charity dancing event in support of the Children's Miracle Network. The largest student-run event on the BGSU campus.
Do STEM in the Park (Wood County Air Fair)
Annual event to promote science, technology, engineering, and math to youth. Exhibits include robotics, food science, digital media, water science, and demos from Toledo institutions such as the Toledo Zoo and Imagination Station. Features live music with local bands. Operates jointly with the Wood County Air Fair, which showcases and flies current and historical aircraft, helicopters, hot air balloons, and rockets.
Do The Hatch
Annual spring entrepreneurship competition at BGSU operated by the College of Business. Each participating student, referred to as Hatchlings, work on a project over the course of several months with local business mentors. This culminates in a gameshow style event held in the basketball stadium where the Hatchlings compete to try to get investors to take a stake in their entrepreneurial projects.
Do ArtsX
BGSU's annual winter art talent show. Includes performance art, music, theater, fine art, and art sales.
Sports
A popular fight song is "Ay Ziggy Zoomba" (pronounced Aye Zigg-e Zoom-ba). If someone shouts, "Ay Ziggy Zoomba", you should respond "Ay Ziggy Zoomba Ze!". Games against rival school the University of Toledo are often shorted to TSUN, meaning "That school up north".
Do Doyt L. Perry Stadium (The Doyt)
BGSU's football stadium. The layout of the stadium is like a horseshoe, with the south end open. The north building is the Sebo Athletic center, where BGSU's collegiate athletes train. The stadium interior contains sports faculties, offices, and lounges. On years ending with an odd number, this stadium hosts the Battle of I-75 with BGSU Falcons' arch rival the Toledo Rockets. While it's not part of the stadium, the University of Toledo's Glass Bowl keeps a Cold War era US Army Nike Ajax rocket aimed at the Doyt's 50-yard line.
Do Slater Family Ice Arena (BGSU Ice Arena)
BGSU's dual rink ice arena. The ice area includes a pro shop, and a lounge area. Hosts hockey games, figure skating, skating lessons, and public skating. The Falcons, Local High Schools, and the Black Swamp Ice Frogs play hockey here. The lobby has a small section with memorabilia of Olympic gold medalist Scott Hamilton, who used to skate here as a student.
Do Stroh Center
BGSU's primary basketball arena, replacing Memorial Hall for most events. The Stroh Center also houses the BGSU Athletics Hall of Fame, practice courts and the Anderson Club.
Parks & golfing
Do City Park
City Park features the city pool and waterpark, skate park, rollerskating rink, the historic Needle Hall, and golf course at the adjacent country club. The waterpark includes a waterslide, lazy river, diving boards, and splash playground.
Activities
Do Moore Musical Arts Center
Features a variety of performance halls specifically for the musical arts. Outside of regular rehearsals, practices, competitions, and special events, hosts two major recurring events - the New Music Festival and the Orchard Guitar Festival are in the Fall. It also hosts the Summer Music Institute which builds musical skills.
Do Wolfe Center for the Performing Arts
The performing arts building, featuring a proscenium theater, a black box theater, and the BGSU Box Office. The entrance to the black box theater features several replicas of ancient mosaics, the originals once kept here were returned to their home in Gaziantep, Turkey, at the Zeugma Mosaic Museum. A digital media lab on the second floor contains a giant Starcraft II box, signed by the dev team, one of whom was an alumnus. The back of the building is a grass ramp that leads to the second floor, and this area is occasionally used as an outdoor theater. Often hosts musicals.
Learn
Place Teaching Kitchen
A teaching kitchen operated by university chefs that offers public lessons on how to prepare various foods and drinks. Lessons are usually themed around a particular holiday, diet, or cuisine. Lessons are usually split between meat and vegetarian options.
Buy
General items
Shop Falcon Outfitters (BGSU Bookstore)
Formerly known as the BGSU Bookstore, Falcon Outfitters primarily offers BGSU apparel and goods. Also carries general goods, such as stationery, art supplies, and hygiene products. Ziggabyte is the Computing section of Falcon Outfitters. They offer computers, cables, and accessories.
Media stores
Specialty stores
Shop Cyclewerks
A small bicycle chain in the Toledo metro. Sells bicycles, bicycle accessories, and offers bicycle repair services. For travelers who just need a bike for a short time, they offer daily rentals, although this can be more expensive than purchasing a cheap bike for periods longer than a few days.
Shop Farmers Market
A market of local farms and businesses. Besides general produce a few specialty items and services can be purchased at the Farmers Market, such as Asian vegetables, freshly picked oyster and shiitake mushrooms, raw honey, blade sharpening, and handmade soaps. May have live music present.
Eat
Bowling Green's downtown area has a small town atmosphere with plenty of dining establishments to choose from, including sports bars (and other "bar" food), pizza, Italian, and family dining.
The area near I-75 and the extreme north and south ends of Main Street have many chain restaurants.
Budget
Eat Dairy Queen (Myles Dairy Queen)
One of the first Dairy Queens in the United States from 1940. It's a bit different from a normal Dairy Queen chain restaurant as the interior is much older and the food portions are more generous. Locals call it as Myles Dairy Queen or just Myles (which may also refer to a former pizza pub in town).
Eat Kermit's
Local mom & pop family diner with large portions.
Eat Pisanello's Pizza
Sells solid pizza, subs, wings, and breadsticks. Has a ninja turtles pinball machine, psychedelic artwork, and a woody decor that screams 1980.
Eat South Side 6
A tiny convenience store with a counter that sells gyros and Mediterranean food. Has many vegetarian options. Most orders are delivery, and the only place to eat on site is a small picnic site outside. The convenience store section has a selection of international beer, non alcoholic drinks, and snacks. Has a gyro-eating challenge to eat 6 large gyros in 66 minutes, but participants must call ahead to schedule a session.
Eat Kabob It
Offers cheap and quick Lebanese Mediterranean food, with gyros and Greek fries.
Mid-range
Eat Call of the Canyon
A small deli that's southwestern from the food to the decor. Sell sandwiches, chili, BBQ, and roast beef. Has some vegetarian options.
Eat Guajillo's Cocina Mexicana
A sister to El-Zarape closer to downtown with a different menu. Has a salsa bar.
Eat Mister Spots (Mr. Spots)
A Philadelphia-style restaurant with cheese-steaks, wings and hoagies.
Eat Pagliai's (Pollyeyes)
A pizzeria that offers an all-you-can-eat family pizza buffet, where they will make a pizza off the menu with each order. This allows you choice in what you eat with access to a buffet which includes pizza and salad. Allows for regular non-buffet orders too. Locals call it "Polly-eyes", not "Pag-Lee-ais".
Splurge
Eat SamB's
SamB's offers a diverse menu in a fine dining environment. SamB's has an art gallery, and hosts a weekly Sunday Brunch.
Eat Sunset Bistro
A restaurant far from downtown and campus. They have a diverse menu selling Doukhobor Borsh, Cincinnati Goetta, seafood, burgers, noodles, and desserts like ginger ale cake. Many of their options are vegetarian, and they open their backdoor patio when the weather permits.
Dining halls
On campus, most restaurants are condensed into halls. The most notable ones are listed below.
Eat Carillon Place
An on-campus dining hall. Frequented by freshmen. Also has a convenience store and a Creperie.
Eat Sundial Kreischer
BGSU's late-night dining hall. Has pizza, breakfast for dinner, Mexican, and burgers. .
Eat Social House (Formerly known as The Oaks)
An on-campus all-you-care-to-eat dining hall. Has a specialty vegan section, a salad bar, and a rotating menu. Dining services often holds themed dinners and events here, particularly those featuring named chefs or Tailgate Thursdays during the football season. The building is notable for a futuristic barn-like architecture, its side awning solar panels, a modest garden on the roof, hydroponics for growing food indoors, and a water reclamation system that processes rainwater. Outside the all-you-can-eat portion is a coffee and doughnut shop, an event kitchen on the first floor.
Coffee shops
Eat Grounds for Thought (Grounds)
A relaxing, local coffee shop, they also have a variety of teas, other non-coffee drinks, sandwiches and desserts. They also are a used bookstore with a small comic section, some vinyl records, and plenty of local books. Has free Wi-Fi, but power outlets near tables are hard to come by. Has a group meeting room.
Drink
As a college town, Bowling Green has a number of pubs and bars. During the school year, and especially Thursday through Saturday, bar traffic is at its highest. During the day and during breaks, traffic slows down quite a bit.
Pubs
Drink Beckett's Burger Bar
Sells burgers, mac & cheese, chicken, and sandwiches. Specialty drink is the "8-Ball" flavored vodka. Most of the menu is meat, but has some vegetarian and vegan options.
Drink Campus Pollyeyes (Pollyeyes)
Unlike its parent restaurant Pagliai's, Campus Polleyes is a pizza pub. It is best known for their stuffed breadsticks, which are foot long breadsticks filled with cheese and pizza toppings. It delivers, and has a smallish dining area. They sell pizza and subs too, but they're not well-known for them.
Drink El Zarape (EZ)
A Mexican restaurant and cantina near I-75 that focuses on good and speedy service.
Drink Pizza Pub 516 (Formerly Myle's Pizza Pub)
A pizza pub between BGSU and downtown Bowling Green. Sells pizza, subs, salads, and craft beers. Uses a large amount of cheese on its pizza, though not as much as the former Myles did. The sauce is quite tangy, and they offer cauliflower crust pizza.
Bars
Drink Brewing Green
A small venue to meet a few friends and drink some delicious brews made on site. As a nanobrewery they create some of their own drinks.
Drink Brathaus
Known for its "Legal Joint" - a sweet cocktail with orange juice and some kind of alcohol.
Drink Campus Quarters
The southernmost local sports bar, next to campus near the Greek Village. Known for their shot club.
Drink Howard's Club H (Howard's)
One of Bowling Green's oldest bars, and a bit of a dive. It's most notable for its strong focus on bringing in bands and live entertainment. Since it opened in 1928, it survived prohibition as a speakeasy and it's since hosted a variety of music acts, including John Scofield, The Ramones, 21 pilots, and Fall Out Boy.
Drink Nate & Wally's Fishbowl
Known for their Fishbowls filled with alcohol.
Drink Ziggy's
Known for their "ShotSkis" which is a ski lined with shots that is communally drunk at once.
Sleep
Thanks to the Interstate Bowling Green has more hotels then usual for a city of its size. As a result, these hotels are all near either the highway or the university which is adjacent to the highway.
Budget
Mid-range
Splurge
Stay safe
On campus you can use any of the blue emergency telephones in an emergency. These will immediately call dispatch and report your location, and flash an alarm.
Getting around
Drivers on Wooster Street should drive with caution. Many drive aggressively and jaywalking is common. Trucks often turn onto main street at a tight, low visibility, and busy intersection. Don't be afraid to slow down and yield, even if you are in the right. There are some unusual on demand crosswalks on Wooster. Slow down and drive with caution when the light blinks yellow, and fully stop when the lights blink red.
Watch where you walk - Campus operations sometimes leaves manholes open to access the vast tunnel network under the campus, mind the signs and don't fall in.
Bowling Green has a lot of nightlife, but please don't drink and drive. There is a free bus service from Thursday to Saturday from the downtown area to BGSU, which is close to many hotels. If the bus is not available, consider a designated driver, or use one of Bowling Green's taxis that can take you to your hotel safely.
Be on guard for ticks in natural areas if you leave designated paths. Make sure to check for ticks when you return.
Weather
Bowling Green experiences all manner of severe weather. The most common storms are thunderstorms with possible hail, but tornadoes during the summer pose the biggest threat. After a heavy rain, some areas will suffer from flash flooding. Bowling Green can also experience cold weather and rarely blizzards during the winter. Very rarely Bowling Green can experience minor earthquakes as it is directly next to a fault line. These earthquakes are usually low magnitude and rarely cause even minor damage, but may startle animals.
Police
Depending on where you are in Bowling Green, you may be served by one of two police departments.
Stay healthy
Bowling Green contains a number of family doctors and dentist practices.
Place Falcon Health Center
A non-emergency medical center with a pharmacy close to campus. The clinic offers vaccinations, and can offer a limited number of vaccines for international travel such as Diphtheria or Yellow fever if scheduled in advance. Wellness appointments, Physicals, Counselling, and Lab Work can also be done here. Operated jointly by BGSU and the Wood County Hospital.
Place Speech and Hearing Clinic
A specialized clinic operated by the university for hearing and speech issues. Offers training sessions to help English as a second language speakers manage their accent.
Place Wood County Community Health Center
Offers general non-emergency health services including wellness checks, a pharmacy, and a laboratory. Offers a phone translation service if you have difficulties explaining your problem in English. Travelers in need of assistance can consult with social workers here.
Respect
Smoking
BGSU is a non-smoking campus. Vaping and chewing tobacco are allowed outside, but smoking is only allowed in certain parking lots. The university may charge smokers with trespassing, even if they are not students.
The seal
It is rude to split up a group while walking around the University Seal, or to walk around it to the left. However, walking to the right of the seal is seen as a good luck charm. Standing on the seal (watch your balance!) at midnight for a kiss is a sign of future romance, and also a sign that you won't graduate.
Go next
Wood County
Bowling Green is in the center of Wood County, and all of these are not more than a half hour away by car.
Urban
- Perrysburg: An affluent suburb of Toledo on the north end of Wood County. Home to the Levis Commons shopping complex and the historical Fort Meigs. An easy 13 mi drive north of Bowling Green on I-75 or Dixie Highway.
Nature & history
Nearby cities
- Toledo: The nearest major city to Bowling Green. An easy 25 mi drive north of Bowling Green on I-75.
- Van Buren: A quaint village with a large state park.
- Findlay: An industrial city with an abundance of Victorian architecture, specialty shops, and restaurants. An easy 30 mi drive south of Bowling Green on I-75.
- Sandusky: A city with lakefront resorts and the Cedar Point amusement park. A 55 mi drive east of Bowling Green.
- Huron: Home to the BGSU Firelands campus and the Huron Playhouse. Around 60 mi drive east of Bowling Green.
- Fostoria
- Ann Arbor: A larger college town which is home to the University of Michigan. About 70 mi drive north.
- Lake Erie Islands: These islands are more remote vacation hotspots. Drive to Lake Erie and take a ferry or private boat.
Nearby
Perrysburg
City / town · 46 listings · 12 mi away
Whitehouse
City / town · 13 listings · 13 mi away
Maumee
City / town · 20 listings · 13 mi away
Van Buren
City / town · 16 listings · 16 mi away
Rossford
City / town · 17 listings · 17 mi away
Fostoria
City / town · 15 listings · 19 mi away
Elmore
City / town · 4 listings · 20 mi away
Toledo
City / town · 105 listings · 20 mi away
My experience
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