Cleveland, a city in northern Ohio, has over 440,000 residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The city dates back to 1796, when it was a major manufacturing area in Ohio, according to Positively Cleveland Convention and Visitors Bureau. Cleveland is known for its cultural attractions, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Cleveland Museum of Art. Along with the major attractions, people can find recreational and educational activities in Cleveland and surrounding cities.
The Great Lakes Science Center offers a number of interactive displays for children, including exhibits on the moon, electricity generation and tornados. The science center also features a children's play area with a ball pit and an IMAX theater. At the museum, people of different ages can explore a large-scale replica of a 1925 freighter ship and watch a 150-foot-tall wind turbine in action. During spring, winter and summer breaks, the museum holds youth camps, where children get the opportunity to build robots.
Great Lakes Science Center
601 Erieside Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44114
216-694-2000
greatscience.com
The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo features over 600 different types of animals. Guests can see the zoo's animals engaging in activities that nurture their natural skills and instincts, such as playing with a piñata or a cardboard tube, because of the zoo's "Animal Enrichment" program. The indoor rainforest environment has animals that are native to North and South America, Africa and Asia. Inside the environment's "Discovery Center," visitors will find a weather station and a 25-foot-tall waterfall. The zoo offers overnight trips and day camps, where children spend the night at an animal ranch, interact with animals, participate in craft-making activities or learn about cultures and animals from different parts of the world. The zoo also holds scavenger hunts, where visitors find answers to questions about the zoo's animals.
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
3900 Wildlife Way
Cleveland, OH 44109
216-661-6500
clemetzoo.com
People can tour the house used in the movie "The Christmas Story." The leg lamp from the film is found in the house. At the museum across the street from the house, people can look at items from the film, including the snowsuit that the character "Randy" wore and the Parker family car. Every year, the house has a convention, where people can meet with cast members, shoot a BB gun and ride in the fire truck used in the film, as of 2010.
A Christmas Story House
3159 W. 11th St.
Cleveland, OH 44109
216-298-4919
achristmasstoryhouse.com
Found in Lakewood, a city that is about six miles from Cleveland, Lakewood Park is a 33-acre recreational area with a range of outdoor activities. The park features a walkway with views of Lake Erie, an outdoor swimming pool, a children's pool, tennis and volleyball courts, a playground, an entertainment venue, rentable pavilions, softball fields, a section with picnic tables and grills and a skate park. People can watch concerts and movie in the park during the summertime. The park also features the Oldest Stone House Museum, a museum that is inside a house that was constructed in 1838.
Lakewood Park
14532 Lake Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44107
216-529-4121
http://onelakewood.com
The Frostville Museum is an outdoor museum that is centered around life in Ohio the 1800s. The museum is found in Olmsted, approximately 17 miles from Cleveland, in a metropark. Historic buildings that make up the museum include a Methodist church that was built in 1873; homes that were constructed in 1815, 1830 and 1876, and a cabin that was built in 1820. The museum also has barn areas, where banquets and other events are held, and it regularly hosts events, such as car shows and ghost hunts.
Frostville Museum
24101 Cedar Point Rd.
North Olmsted, OH 44070
440-779-0280
olmstedhistoricalsociety.org
