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! |
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. |
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. |
These are great ideas—thank you! |
If your kids like animals, they’ll enjoy this place. It opens for the season this Saturday.
https://www.africansafariwildlifepark.com/ |
Cedar Point
Rock and roll HOF If you’re into national parks, there’s a small one south of Cleveland. |
Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Rent bikes |
Lakewood Park has a really nice playground, lovely site overlooking Lake Erie. |
The House from A Christmas Story!
https://housefromachristmasstory.com/ or Sweeties -- the world's largest candy store! https://www.sweetiescandy.com/ |
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… |
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 |
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 |
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. |
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. |
There is an aquarium downtown...Greater Cleveland Aquarium.
Also water parks in Sandusky near Cedar Point. There is Kalahari and a Great Wolf Lodge. |