Best Things to Do with Your Kids in Cleveland
•Lake Erie Science Center
The Lake Erie Nature and Science Center, located east of Cleveland in Bay Village, is a place where young and adults can learn about wildlife and nature. The center, founded in 1945, houses an animal rehabilitation clinic as well as a variety of indoor and outdoor animal exhibits.More »
•Lake Erie Beaches
Lake Erie isn't necessarily known for its beaches, but one notable exception is the beach at Mentor Headlands Park, east of Cleveland in Lake County. This long, family-friendly stretch of white sand is ideal for getting lost in a good novel, watching the waves lap up at the shore, or combing for seashells. There's even a picturesque lighthouse. The park has ample free parking, just off the beach.
Another good choice is Breakwater Beach at Geneva State Park in Geneva-on-the-Lake, Ohio. This large cove beach has lifeguards, picnic tables, and restrooms. Parking is free here, too.More »
•Cleveland Museum of Art
Cleveland's best free attraction is not just for adults. The Cleveland Museum of Art, located at University Circle, is filled with more than 43,000 works of art from virtually all periods and genres. Of particular interest to kids is the armor court, a light-filled interior courtyard filled with medieval suits of armor, weapons and tapestry. Admission to the museum's permanent collection is free every day.More »
•Federal Reserve Museum of Money
The Federal Reserve Bank Museum of Money, opened in 2005, features 30 exhibits about the history and the power of money. The most striking feature is a 23 foot tall money tree located across from the museum's entrance (pictured at left). This interesting museum is located in the Federal Reserve Building on E. Sixth St. in downtown Cleveland and open Monday through Thursday from 10am to 2pm.
•Cleveland Greenhouse
Cleveland's Rockefeller Park Greenhouse, located just off of Martin Luther King Blvd near University Circle, houses a wonderful collection of exotic and native plants. This peaceful and fascinating place is rarely crowded and exhibits include the extensive orchid and tropical plant exhibits as well as the spring bulb and December holiday plants displays. Of particular interest to kids is the room full of cacti and other southwestern plants.More »
•Hale Farm and Village
Located south of Cleveland near Bath, Hale Farm is a working museum, situated adjacent to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Once the home of early Western Reserve settler, Jonathan Hale, the museum features livestock, 19th century working artisans, and the original red brick farmhouse. The site offers visitors a unique look at life in the Western Reserve during the time shortly after the War Between the States. A working farm with artisan workshops including a glass-blowing and a pottery studio, Hale Farm features volunteers in period dress, period music, and a blacksmith shop, spinning and weaving workshop, candlemakers, and more.More »
•William G. Mather Museum
A part of the Great Lakes Science Center, the William G. Mather is an authentic 1925-circa Great Lakes bulk freighter, permanently moored at North Coast Harbor in downtown Cleveland. The 618-foot, 14,000-ton vessel is now a museum and visitors can climb aboard and get a glimpse at what live on Lake Erie was like in the early 20th century. The William G. Mather is open from May through October on Saturdays and Sundays.More »
•Holden Arboretum
Located about 45 minutes east of downtown Cleveland in Kirtland, Holden Arboretum is a 3000+ acre showplace for indigenous Ohio plants, flowers, trees, and wildlife. The beautiful park features specialty gardens, miles of hiking trails for all skill levels. The garden hosts also hosts a full schedule of special events, many of which are geared towards younger visitors. During the summer and fall months, they also operate "Buckeye Bud's Adventure Woods," a zip line tour designed for families with children ages 3-10.More »
•West Side Market
The West Side Market is fascinating for kids of any age. The neo-classical structure at Lorain Avenue and West 25th Street in Ohio City just celebrated its 100th anniversary, but the market is as vital as it ever was. Produce stands line the outer courtyard, offering everything from berries to cucumbers to fresh herbs and flowers. Inside, meat and cheese vendors vie for your attention. There are even a few food stands where you can grab a quick (and inexpensive) bite to eat.More »
•International Women's Air and Space Museum
The International Women's Air and Space Museum (IWASM), located inside the lobby and west wing of downtown Cleveland Ohio's Burke Lakefront Airport, celebrates the contribution of women in air and space flight with a rotating schedule of temporary exhibits. The museum is open seven days a week and admission is free.
The many exhibits are the IWASM illustrate the contribution of women to aerospace history, beginning with early 19th century European hot air baloonists and continuing through to contemporary women astronauts. Items on display include Amelia Earhart's flight suit, the tail of Ruth Nichol's Lockheed Akita, and biographies of scores of women who contributed to flight and space history.More »
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