Looking for something to do that isn't a specific event? Check out these great venues!
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Indoor Play
Play Hard
Goldfish Swim School - Want to get wet without worrying about the sun (or the cold!)? Check out the Family Swim times for jut $5/person ($15 family max).
Playground World - For just $5/child, drop in during PlayZone times!
Walk Around and Learn
Rockefeller Park Greenhouse - A Cleveland landmark! The Rockefeller Greenhouse includes one acre under glass and 3-4 acres of outside gardens. FREE
Cleveland Museum of Art - Gallery One, this is a family-friendly space with hands-on activities is for the youngest visitors with an adult.
Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Smead Discovery Center - Hands-on fun. Free with Museum admission
Cleveland’s Learning Center and Money Museum - Visit the Federal Reserve of Cleveland to learn about money. FREE
International Women’s Air & Space Museum - FREE admission
MOCA Cleveland - Family trips to MOCA Cleveland are great ways to connect to art and one another. Click on the link to help make your family visit a fun and memorable experience.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
Western Reserve Historical Society KidZibits Family Education Space - Appropriate for preschoolers through age 9.
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Rainforest - Who says you can't go to the Zoo when it's too hot or too cold? Included with Zoo admission.
Lake Metroparks Farmpark - A family-oriented science and cultural center devoted to agriculture, farming and country life. Admission required.
Cleveland Botanical Garden - Besides the obvious butterflies and flowers, there are numerous small play areas.
Libraries - Most local libraries have wonderful play areas in the children's section. Check out the Cuyahoga County Libraries, Shaker Heights, Heights, Euclid, Mentor, Willoughby-Eastlake and Morley Public Libraries for reading and fun!
Penitentiary Glen Reservation in the Lake Metroparks - Nature Center and Wildlife Center. Free admission.
Cleveland Metroparks Nature Centers - With 10 different nature centers, there is so much to discover! Free admission
Sit and Relax
Whole Foods Markets - Sometimes you just need to sit and have a cup of coffee while the kids play. Both Whole Foods Markets locations (Cedar Center and Woodmere) have coffee and a play area!
Outdoor Play
Play Hard
Cleveland Botanical Garden, Hershey’s Children’s Garden - Just for kids! Water the flowers, plant seeds, play in the fountain and run through the treehouse. Just watch out for the frogs!
Preston’s H.O.P.E. - A playground for everyone.
Coventry Village Park - Fantastic playground in Cleveland Heights
Horseshoe Lake Park - Beautiful park with swings and climbing in Shaker Heights. Perfect for a picnic!
City of Wickliffe Parks - Click the link for details about parks and playgrounds in Wickliffe.
Cleveland Metroparks - Many of the Metroparks have playgrounds and places to picnic.
City of Cleveland Heights Playgrounds - Click the link for a list with details
Splash Zones and Spray Parks
Beachwood Outdoor Pool & Spray Ground at the Mandel JCC (membership required)
City of Cleveland Spray Basins and Spraygrounds (Free. Check website for specific times.)
Cain Park Splash Pad (Free. Check website for specific times.)
Euclid Spray Park (membership or drop-in fee required)
South Euclid Quarry Splash Park (membership or drop-in fee required)
Lyndhurst Spray Park (membership or drop-in fee required)
Shaker Heights Thornton Park Splash Zone (membership or drop-in fee required)
Willowick Water Spray Park at Dudley Park (Willowick residents only)
Walsh SprayPark in Mentor (Daily admission applies)
Morton Pool & SprayPark in Mentor (Daily admission applies)
Mentor Civic Center Waterpark (Daily admission applies)
Orlando Spray Park in Wickliffe (membership or drop-in fee required)
Enjoy Nature
Holden Arboretum
Cleveland Metroparks Squire’s Castle - What kid wouldn't want to run through a castle? Also great for picnicking and hiking.
Nature Center at Shaker Lakes - Beautiful hikes and small but fun nature center.
Penitentiary Glen Reservation - The nature center for Lake Metroparks.
Chapin Forest Reservation - A beautiful park with a playground, fishing, water fountains and restrooms.
Cuyahoga National Forest - We are so lucky to have a National Park right in our backyard!
Pete’s Pond Preserve - In Wickliffe, this is part of the Lake Metroparks.
Rockefeller Park Greenhouse - A Cleveland landmark! The Rockefeller Greenhouse includes one acre under glass and 3-4 acres of outside gardens. FREE
Macaroni Kid Cleveland East is a free weekly newsletter and website focused on fun family events and information on Cleveland's east side. We gather all kinds of local family events and activities each week, and add useful information about classes, family-focused businesses, book and product reviews, recipes, crafts, school and camp guides and more. We proudly serve families in in eastern Cuyahoga County and western Lake County including: Cleveland, Shaker Heights, University Heights, Cleveland Heights, Beachwood, Garfield Heights, Bedford, Solon, Pepper Pike, Hunting Valley, Euclid, South Euclid, Richmond Heights, Willowick, Willoughby, Mentor, Painesville, Chesterland and Gates Mills!
