Cleveland, Ohio and its surrounding suburbs offer a wide variety of activities for children and families to do together. Whether you’re taking a long vacation, planning a weekend get-away, or simply need to escape for a couple hours, Cleveland has a little bit of something for everyone. Here are just a few of the attractions available:
Theme Parks: There are two major theme parks in the Cleveland area.
*Cedar Point. Located in Sandusky, Cedar Point is the premier theme park in Northern Ohio, and is home to the state’s largest roller coaster. Although not exactly next door to Cleveland (it’s about a two hour drive), the trip is well worth it.
*Geauga Lake. Although smaller in size than Cedar Point, it's still tons of fun. It also has an adjoining water park. Located in Aurora.
Museums: Museums abound in this city by the lake--Lake Erie that is.
*Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Located right near the lake shore and housed in a very cool, very modern building, the Rock Hall is packed with music history and memorabilia. Occasionally offers special events and exhibits.
*NASA Glenn Visitor Center. Situated in Brookpark and named after the astronaut John Glenn. Tours are available.
*Cleveland Children’s Museum. A fun, hands on museum for children and adults of any age. Plan to spend at least a few hours there.
*Great Lakes Science Center. Another interactive, hands on museum that covers all aspects of science, from physics to meteorology. Make sure to check out the IMAX theater.
Animals and Nature: Cleveland is a nature lover's paradise.
*Lake Farm Park. This is a real working farm. You can milk a cow, ride a pony, plus everything in between.
*Cleveland Zoo. A huge zoo that also includes a separate rainforest.
*Penitentiary Glen Reservation and Nature Center. Enjoy 400 acres of forest and wetlands. It features a nature center, butterfly garden, and animal adoption program. Picnicking and hiking are favored in the summer, while cross-country skiing is available in the winter.
*Cleveland Metroparks. Also referred to as the Emerald Necklace. A park system that winds around the entire Cleveland metropolitan area, the Metroparks are the place for hiking, biking, fishing, golfing, picnicking, and just about any other outdoor activity you can think of.
Sports: Love sports? Then Cleveland is the place for you.
*Brown’s Stadium. The home of the Cleveland Browns professional football team.
*Jacob’s Field. The home of the Cleveland Indians professional baseball team.
*Gund Arena. The home of the Cavaliers, Cleveland’s professional basketball team.
*Ice Skating. In addition to several indoor rinks in the neighboring suburbs, there is an outdoor rink right in the middle of downtown. Open to the public.
*Skiing. Brandywine is one of the most popular ski resorts around. Also check out its sister ski resort, Boston Mills.
*Lake Erie. Just because it’s the smallest of the Great Lakes doesn’t mean it has little to offer. Fishing, boating, and jet skiing are just the beginning. Public beaches and parks dot the shoreline; many are staffed with certified life guards.
So whether you’re interested in exploring the great outdoors, or just having fun in the wonderful indoors, chances are you will find exactly the right activity in Cleveland for you and your children to enjoy.
