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With the prices of everything from food to gas rising these days in the United States, it’s become even more rewarding to find family-friendly events and kid-friendly activities that are free, especially when it comes to doing something with the family. Cleveland is one of those special places that has affordable family activities for all ages and interests.
A day in the heart of downtown Cleveland is generally more affordable than spending the day in say Chicago or New York, but sometimes it can be absolutely free! Here are some family-friendly activities for the entire family for a unique experience right here in Cleveland!
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Is One Of The Best Places To Visit
3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland, OH 44109
Take a long weekend and head to the Cleveland Zoo any Monday this summer. Admission is free for the whole family and with the elephants returning this May, there’s no better time to check out the local zoo. (Admission is still required for the Rainforest)
The Art Museum Is A Great Place To Enjoy Special Exhibits
11150 East Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44106
Daily admission to the Cleveland Art Museum is free. Located in University Circle, the Cleveland Art Museum is one of the most visited art museums. Many of the major interactive exhibits and special events are open. Visitors of all ages will love exploring the Medieval armor room and find tranquility in the Impressionist display.
Edgewater Park Is A Great Idea In The Summer Months
Grab a cooler and head on Route 2 to Edgewater Park. Enjoy a picnic, take a walk on the pier, and even fly a kite to the skyline of the Cleveland area in the background. You can even take the family dog for a long walk with Lake Erie at your side.
E-Line/B-Line Trolley
Take a few self-guided tours of the RTA. Both the E-Line and B-Line Trolleys are free during the week and run about every ten minutes. Take the E-Line to the Entertainment District, the Old Arcade, and the Theatre District. The B-Line runs past the Soldiers Monument and the Cleveland Public Library Main Branch which is host to a number of special book collections and historic archives.
Westside Market
1979 W 25th St, Cleveland, OH 44113
Take a step back in time and stroll around the over 100-year-old Westside Market. You can even barter with a local vendor for some thick steaks or a juicy pear.
Lake View Cemetery In Full Of Fun Things To See
12316 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106
This is oddly enough one of the most beautiful and peaceful spots in the city. Take a walk around President Garfield’s Monument and Wade Memorial Chapel. This cemetery is the final resting place of a number of big names in Cleveland, including John D. Rockefeller and Eliot Ness.
Lorain Avenue
Discover antiques, electric stores, ethnic foods, and amazing architecture and historic buildings from the Kamm’s Corners area to the Market Square Historic District. Show the kids items from your past and beyond.
Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Summer In The City Concert Series
1100 E 9th St, Cleveland, OH 44114
See a free concert on the outdoor plaza of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Discover up-and-coming bands before they make it big.
Go on an Art Walk
Many Cleveland neighborhoods host monthly art walks. Check out the Tremont Art Walk on the second Friday of every month. Or head out to Murray Hill from June 3rd through the 5th for Little Italy’s Art Walk. You’ll find unique boutiques and amazing local art.
Ingenuity Festival
See what happens when art and technology combine on the lower level of the Veterans Memorial Bridge. Cleveland is lucky to have this free cutting-edge festival every summer.
Cleveland Is The Perfect Place To Take The Kids
The four seasons, a refreshing lake, and a fun outlook are all you need in Cleveland, Ohio, to fill a day with high-energy activities with the kids. Cleveland’s eclectic landscape accommodates a range of venues, from beaches to winter wonderlands to fascinating downtown streets and festivals, all of which are accessible when extra cash is not.
Outdoor Recreation
The North Chagrin Reservation is located in Mayfield Village, Willoughby Hills, and Gates Mills and features outdoor recreation, wildlife sanctuaries, hiking trails, and picnic areas. Kids can run around, explore nature and botanical gardens and burn off energy.
When it gets a little late in the afternoon, stop by Squire’s castle built at the turn of the century by F.B. Squire. Once intended to be the gatehouse of a large country estate, the small castle is now an empty stone shell that welcomes visitors to explore and imagine chilling ghostly apparitions wandering through the spooky structure.
Neighborhood Parks
When pockets are empty, a trip to a municipal park can fill a day with active fun. Cleveland has plenty of viable destinations. This North Coast city boasts no less than 90 public playgrounds. Facilities include playgrounds, swimming pools, and basketball courts.
The 41st and Archmere location features a rock climbing structure, or let the kids splash away at spray basins in Regent, Port, or Miles Height Park.
Beaches
Whether it’s running in the hot sand or cooling off in the refreshing lake water, Cleveland’s lakefront parks can accommodate. At Edgewater Park, the panoramic views of the shores of Lake Erie and Cleveland’s skyline are free, or choose historic Euclid Beach. Open green spaces at Edgewater will also accommodate all your freestyle activities from Frisbee flinging to kite flying. Both parks have picnic areas and free admission.
Go Sledding
Cleveland’s Metroparks have nine locations with designated sledding areas where everyone can safely enjoy this old-fashioned activity. Pack extra mittens and a thermos full of cocoa and head to Euclid Creek, South Chagrin, or Big Creek Reservation, which are all minutes from downtown. Allow enough time for an invigorating winter walk.
A Downtown Walkabout Is So Much Fun
There are hidden jewels in plain sight all around downtown Cleveland that kids and adults alike will enjoy. The Free Stamp is a massive colorful sculpture in Willard Park that looks like an official stamp that fell from the sky.
About a mile up 9th Street is Erie Cemetery, which was constructed in the gothic style and houses headstones dating back to the early 1800s. Loop back around to Public Square for a free tour of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. On the way, don’t miss the castle-like Cleveland Gray’s Armory Museum, which was built in 1893.
Cleveland Street Festivals For A Great Time
This beautiful place named Cleveland is home to an array of free street festivals that are ideal destinations for families with kids who are looking for original entertainment that goes beyond the Disney and Nickelodeon mentality.
Parade the Circle is a dazzling celebration of culture and art that attracts thousands of spectators each year. The Coventry Street Arts Fair features fresh local food and impromptu performances in one of Cleveland’s oldest neighborhoods.
Chocolate Tour Is A Fun Way To Spend The Day
Visit the famous Malley’s Chocolate at 13400 Brookpark Road in Cleveland for a free self-guided tour through 60,000 square feet of chocolate delight. Tours start-up after Labor Day and can accommodate up to 50 people per tour group.
Delight your children with a walk through the chocolate shop, and enjoy a small sample of Malley’s custom chocolates as part of the tour experience. Call the tour line at 800-835-5684 to reserve your tour.
Final Thoughts on Top Family Activities in Cleveland
Whether you plan to visit Cleveland just once or you live there full-time, it can be a challenge finding inexpensive and entertaining activities for the family and kids to do throughout the year. Once you know where to look, you will learn that Cleveland is home to professional sports teams, lakes, beaches, and interesting attractions that cost nothing.
Spend time together as a family, stimulate your child’s imagination, and take the opportunity to teach and engage your child at some of the funnest activities and attractions in Cleveland.
