Ideas for a spring break trip to Cleveland

Anonymous
Anyone have suggestions for things to do with 4 kids in Cleveland?

My sister lives in Chicago and I live in DC, so we are taking a road trip and meeting up in Cleveland with our kids for 4 days over spring break next week. We have 4 boys ranging in age from 10 to 6.

This is a last-minute trip so we don’t have a hotel or anything else booked. Our only requirement is that the hotel have a pool for the kids.

None of us have ever been to Cleveland. Does anyone have suggestions about places to stay or things to do or decent places to eat?

The arboretum looks cool and the science museum sounds good too but otherwise I have no ideas. Thanks in advance!
Anonymous
My oldest child is at Case Western so I spend quite a bit of time in Cleveland. The weather this time of year could be pretty bad- Here are some suggestions.

The Football Hall of Fame in Canton (not too far)
Maybe a professional basketball game
Visit West Side market for lunch
Presti's bakery in Little Italy for pastries and desserts.
Maybe try to visit a few of the Cleveland Script signs for family photos (my younger kids like to a different one each time we go)

The art museum is good and free, see if they have some kid programming or tour.
Not sure if Cedar Point amusement park will be open.


Anonymous
Just another plug for the Science Museum is next door to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. My kids loved the science center at those ages.
Anonymous
These are great ideas—thank you!
Anonymous
If your kids like animals, they’ll enjoy this place. It opens for the season this Saturday.

https://www.africansafariwildlifepark.com/
Anonymous
Cedar Point
Rock and roll HOF
If you’re into national parks, there’s a small one south of Cleveland.
Anonymous
Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Rent bikes
Anonymous
Lakewood Park has a really nice playground, lovely site overlooking Lake Erie.
Anonymous
The House from A Christmas Story!
https://housefromachristmasstory.com/

or Sweeties -- the world's largest candy store!
https://www.sweetiescandy.com/

Anonymous
Somewhere in Cleveland there’s an exhibit about the dog Balto - a real dog that the cartoon movie was based off of. We’ve never been but its been on our list since my daughter was obsessed with that movie when she was little…
Anonymous
If you were a few weeks later you would be able to take in the total eclipse on 4/8 as Cleveland is a prime location
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Somewhere in Cleveland there’s an exhibit about the dog Balto - a real dog that the cartoon movie was based off of. We’ve never been but its been on our list since my daughter was obsessed with that movie when she was little…


Balto is taxidermied in the Natural History Museum. The museum is good. Some kids might have issues with taxidermied heroes.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/balto-the-sled-dog

Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:If your kids like animals, they’ll enjoy this place. It opens for the season this Saturday.

https://www.africansafariwildlifepark.com/


I have done this once with elementary age kids and it was funny to have water buffalos drooling on our car while we fed them carrots. The animals seemed o.k. which was a worry before we got there.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:The House from A Christmas Story!
https://housefromachristmasstory.com/

or Sweeties -- the world's largest candy store!
https://www.sweetiescandy.com/



If you're interested in the house from A Christmas Story, you may also like this in nearby Medina:

https://castlenoel.com/

It has props from Elf and some other famous movies.



Anonymous
There is an aquarium downtown...Greater Cleveland Aquarium.

Also water parks in Sandusky near Cedar Point.

There is Kalahari and a Great Wolf Lodge.
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