Established in 1981, The Children's Museum of Cleveland offers learning experiences for children up to 8 years old. Permanent exhibits include Splish! Splash!, which teaches kids hands-on about Earth's water systems, effects of water on weather and water transportation systems. The Bridges to Our Community exhibit allows children to learn about different experiences in daily life including shopping, banking, traveling and visiting hospitals.
The Great Lakes Science Center in downtown Cleveland has more than 400 hands-on exhibits on topics such as sound, light and space as well as energy and medicine. Highlights include the Polymer Funhouse, where kids can jump and play, the Indoor Tornado (touch a whirling cyclone!) and Shadow Room, where you can freeze your shadow.
For kids interested in an adventure on wheels, the Crawford Auto Aviation Museum presents vintage and classic automobiles, aircrafts, motorcycles and bicycles.
Cleveland Metroparks offers limitless outdoor activities year-round, including swimming, fishing and hiking as well as mountain biking, boating and ice fishing. Equestrian riding, sledding, cross-country skiing and golfing are other activities. Spend time picnicking at any of the parks' 70-plus picnic areas.
For a beach experience on the shores of Lake Erie, visit Edgewater Park. Fish, boat or swim with the kids and enjoy a picnic, or let them explore the playground.
Located south of Cleveland Hopkins Airport is I-X Indoor Amusement Park, offering a variety of fun activities from late March through early May every year. Highlights include the Five-Lane Giant Slide, a 35-foot ferris wheel ride and 25 different rides at Kidzville.
Pay a visit to animal friends at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, which has 3,000 animals featuring more than 600 species. Highlights include African Savanna safari, Australian Adventure (with free-roaming kangaroos and wallabies) and The Rainforest, featuring more than 6,000 plants and 600-plus animals from Asian, African and American jungles.
Visit the Cleveland Botanical Gardens at University Circle and spend some time with nature. You will come across a variety of gardens including herb, rose and Japanese gardens and a children's garden, among others. Glasshouse displays include recreations of a Madagascar desert and a Costa Rican rainforest.
The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes is another natural attraction children can enjoy. It offers hiking trails and changing nature exhibits. There are also nature camps, classes and workshops for kids.
Try the Hard Rock Café if you are looking for fun foods such as burgers, sandwiches and salads. The kid's menu includes cheeseburgers, hot dogs, chicken salads and pasta among others. Aunt Elaine's Silver Spartan Diner offers traditional foods such as burgers, chili dogs and milkshakes as well as homemade soups and appetizers. Enjoy homemade ice cream in different flavors including vanilla, banana, chocolate and strawberry at Honey Hut Ice Cream Shoppe, located at Huntington Beach in the west Cleveland suburb of Bay Village.
