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Though it has long been the butt of jokes, Cleveland has overcome its downtrodden, rust belt past and has blossomed into a vibrant modern city, with flourishing art, theater and cultural districts and plenty to do, whether your kids like sports, museums, the outdoors or pretty much anything else.
This list contains the best things to do in Cleveland with kids but it also lets you know which things you can skip. Some “things to do lists” just list every single attraction, museum or well-known spot.
And while this may be technically accurate, some of the things either aren’t worth doing or are things kids will hate. And since you’re reading this list to find things to do in Cleveland with kids, this list makes sure kids will actually want to do them.
Use the Table of Contents to Jump to Each Individual Attraction
Best Things to Do in Cleveland With Kids
See a Baseball Game at Progressive Field
There aren’t too many things that are better than watching a baseball game on a sunny afternoon or evening from Progressive Field. Cleveland’s baseball stadium is in the heart of downtown and has beautiful city views. The stadium even has an area designated for families and kids called the Family Deck.
It’s an indoor/outdoor spot with a parents lounge, concessions and the “Kids’ Clubhouse,” an area designed to keep kids entertained and to instill in them a love of baseball.
Activities for kids include a a two story slide that winds around a baseball bat and the Step 2 Zone, where younger kids can play on the Cleveland-based company’s toys.
On Slider’s Field, kids can dream of hitting one out of the park in this small scale version of the stadium. There’s a pitching simulator and other interactive attractions where kids can practice their stance, base running skills and vertical jumping ability to catch those high fly balls. There are also 3-D photo booths and an interactive locker room.
The Family Deck has plenty of hands on activities to keep kids entertained, all while allowing Mom and Dad to still watch the game.
To see Cleveland’s baseball schedule, click here.
Go to the Beach- Mentor Headlands
Mentor Headlands State Park has the largest natural beach in the state. The mile long sandy beach is great for swimming. The shallow depth of Lake Erie also creates waves so it’s almost like being at an ocean beach.
The sandy beach and water is clean and a popular site for swimming, sunbathing, boating, picnicking and fishing. There are concession areas, nature trails, sand dunes and marsh areas.
If you can, time your visit so you can attend Headlands Beach Fest in July (July 17th in 2021.) The beach fest features live music, food trucks, kite flying, games and sand castle building contests.
Visit the Best Amusement Park In the World
Cedar Point is not in Cleveland, it’s about a 90 minute drive to the west. If you’re from Ohio, you’ve likely been there. If you’re not, a visit to northeast Ohio would be wasted without a trip to the world’s best amusement park.
Cedar Point has some of the tallest, fastest and most extreme roller coasters in the world. Their newest coaster, Steel Vengeance, opened in 2018 and broke 10 world records, including one for having the steepest and longest drop and the most “air time.”
There are 17 other roller coasters at Cedar Point and a total of 71 rides and attractions. Perched on the shores of Lake Erie, the 150 year old park has gorgeous lake views, a swimming beach, a boardwalk, hotels, cabins, camp grounds and a water park. You could easily spend 3-4 days at Cedar Point and still not experience everything the park has to offer.
If your kids are old enough to spend some time in the park by themselves, Mom and Dad can sneak away for a boardwalk wine tour. The one hour pedal cab tour includes a bottle of wine and a tour guide who not only pedals the cab but will teach you about the history of the park and area.
Twins Days Festival
Every year on the first weekend in August, twins from all over the world gather in Twinsburg, Ohio for the largest festival of its kind in the world. You don’t need to be a twin to enjoy this festival though.
There is a parade, a golf outing, a 5K race, music and food. There are carnival rides and games for the kids and a beer garden for the adults. Thousands of twins visit each year. Have fun spotting them in the crowds and watching the twins talent competition. The 2021 Festival is Aug 6th-Aug 8th. For festival info, visit the Twins Day Festival website.
Lolly The Trolley Tours
The bright red trollies are ubiquitous in downtown Cleveland. For over 30 years, they’ve been the premier tour company in Cleveland and offer the best way to see Cleveland and surrounding neighborhoods and to learn about the city. They have either a 1 hour or 2-1/2 hour tour.
Each tour starts in the Flats and visits Public Square, the Harbor, the Warehouse District, Ohio city and the Gateway sports complex. The one hour tour ends there but the longer tour goes out to Millionaire’s Row, Playhouse Square and University Circle.
Learn all about Cleveland’s beginning, its heyday during the industrial revolution and its modern rebirth. Visit Lolly the Trolley tours website here.
The Dino Stroll is coming to Cleveland in June! Click here to read more about it.
The Good Time III
See Cleveland from the water on a sightseeing cruie aboard a luxury cruise boat. The Goodtime 3 sails on the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie to give guests stunning views of the city skyline while the narrator educates them on Cleveland’s rich history and local points of interest.
The large ship can hold 1000 passengers and has 3 decks- an open air sundeck, a partially enclosed second level and a fully enclosed and climate controlled 3rd level. They also have dinner cruises and other special event cruises.
The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad
The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad is a tourist excursion railway dedicated to preserving vintage train cars and providing educational and recreational excursions throughout Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
The train cars are all restored, vintage sleeping cars, dining cars, saloon cars and passenger cars. There is even a car called the Edu-tainment Car, which is part museum and part children’s activity center.
The CVSR has several different tours and trips geared towards families. There are dinner tours, daytime scenic tours and special event tours. There is a superheroes tour and a princess tour, as well as a make your own stuffed animal tour, cookie decorating tour and more. The most popular seasonal tour might be the Polar Express Ride.
The CVSR also has several adult-themed tours for when you’re in the area without your kids. They have a wine tour, a beer tour, wine and paint tour, trivia tours and elegant dinner tours.
The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad is sometimes overlooked but it is a wonderful way to spend a fun afternoon or evening in northeast Ohio.
Castle Noel
America’s largest indoor Christmas attraction is a short drive south from Cleveland in Medina, Ohio. Experience the magic of Christmas 365 days a year when you visit Castle Noel.
Guided tours take you through the Christmas themed museum, filled with Christmas movie memorabilia, actual New York City animated window displays and even a replica of Whoville. After the tour, guests can visit Santa the same way Ralphie did in A Christmas Story, complete with a trip down the slide.
For more information about your visit and to purchase tickets, click here.
Even More of the Best Things to Do in Cleveland With Kids
Akron Fossil and Science Center
Enjoy a more hands-on experience than a traditional museum for your young dinosaur aficianodos.The Akron Fossil and Science Center gives visitors the chance to hold and touch real fossils and make their own fossil replica to take home. They also have live animals to interact with and special, interactive programs. Outside, there is a 2 acre park for the kids with ziplines, a challenge course and a 60 ft long slide.
Admission to the Akron Fossil and Science Center is only $40.00 per family! Some attractions and programs may cost extra. This is a great, inexpensive family activity.
In the summer, they are open Tuesday through Saturday. From September 9th through May 29th they are open Saturdays only.
The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and Rainforest
The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is a great place to spend a day with kids. There are 8 themed exhibits to tour, each offering a fun yet educational experience for the whole family.
The Rainforest exhibit is closest to the entrance. This indoor exhibit is full of plants, birds and animals native to the rainforest.
Next, visit the rhinos on the Daniel Matz Rhino reserve. Then, head to the African Savanna to see the giraffes and the Wilderness Trek Retreat to visit the wolves. You can take a break from the exhibits to ride the Circle of Life Carousel and let the kids burn some energy on the playground. The food court is close, too so you can feed your hungry bunch.
After that, stroll around the lake to see the waterfowl exhibit. See black swans, flamingoes, ducks and more. From there swing up to the primate, big cat and aquatics exhibits to see the monkeys, gorillas, apes, tigers, leopards and salt and freshwater sea life. After that, head down under to the Australian Adventure to see the koalas, kangaroos and wallabies. Finally, see the elephants in the African Elephant Crossing.
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is one of the best places for kids and adults in Cleveland. It has indoor and outdoor exhibits, live animals and lots of hands on and interactive experiences. There is an entire dinosaur hall, full of huge dinosaur fossils and other prehistoric creatures.
Outside, there is a large stegosaurus statue that is 100% climbable. One of the most popular exhibits is dedicated to Balto, the sled dog who led the final leg of the serum run in Alaska. The real Balto has been stuffed and preserved and is on display for everyone to see. I found it a little disturbing but everyone else seems to love it.
There is also a planetarium with varied programming, like a show about the creation of the universe and one about Mars explorations. For museum hours, ticket prices and information about special exhibits, click here.
Cleveland Botanical Gardens
I’ve included this as a yes because of the tropical rainforest exhibit. Kids will likely be bored by the outdoor gardens but I’ll bet they’ll like the 17,000 square foot Glass House exhibit. This year-round greenhouse features two separate ecosystems- a central American rainforest and an African desert.
Between the 2 separate habitats, there are more than 350 species of exotic plants and 50 different types of butterflies, birds, reptiles and amphibians. Don’t miss the daily release of butterflies in the rainforest and make sure you search for the chameleons and tortoises in the desert. The Glasshouse is open Tuesday-Sunday until 5:00pm.
The Great Lakes Science Center
The Great Lakes Science Center is a museum dedicated to science and designed for kids. It has 3 floors of hands-on, interactive exhibits that are meant to bring science, technology and math to life.
Learn about space exploration, engineering, computer coding, electricity and more, all through engaging, kid-centered programs. There is a 6 story domed theater where you can watch movies about the Ice Age and Tornadoes with 180 degree sound and images.
The Science Center is located on the shores of Lake Erie, between the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Browns’ Stadium.
Outside of the museum, you can tour the William G Mather steamship. This 618 foot vessel is a restored 1925 Great Lakes Freighter. She was the flagship of the Cleveland Cliffs company until 1952.
During your visit, you can explore the entire ship, from the 4 story tall engine room to the elegant guests’ quarters. You can also see the pilot room and the enormous cargo holds.
If you’re visiting Cleveland during the 4th of July, you can reserve seating on the decks of the ship for the best view of the fireworks display anywhere in the city.
Edgewater Park
Enjoy walking or biking on the paths along the lake. They offer great views of the city and the lake. However, don’t make the mistake of swimming there. The currents can be strong, making it a dangerous place for even experienced swimmers.
Unfortunately, drownings seem to happen at least once a year there. Water quality can be an issue, too, because of runoff from the storm sewers. There are better places to swim in the Cleveland area, so visit for the trails and the views only.
Cleveland Metroparks- The Emerald Necklace
Among the many attractions Cleveland has to offer, the most varied and unique might be the Cleveland Metroparks. The Cleveland park system spans 24,000 acres around the city and creates a ring of green space that when viewed from the air, looks like an emerald necklace.
The activities the parks offer are almost unlimited. You can practice archery, ride horses, snoe show, cross country ski, play foot golf, kayak, see waterfalls and tour castles.
On the southwest side of the city at Mill Stream Run Reservation, there are two, 700 foot toboggan chutes. These refrigerated ice chutes are open from November through March and offer a thrilling and fast ride.
In the summer, Mill Stream Reservation has a zip line and ropes course. The Go Ape Tree Top Adventure has 50 foot high tree to tree crossings and Tarzan swings.
The Cleveland Metroparks has something to offer visitors of all ages so spend some time on their website reviewing options.
The Greater Cleveland Aquarium
The Greater Cleveland Aquarium is one of the newer museums in downtown Cleveland, opening in 2012. It features 9 different exhibits of freshwater and saltwater sea life.
The aquarium is located in the former Cleveland Power House, an 1890’s Romanesque style building that provided power to Cleveland’s streetcars and railways. The space was renovated and restored and today houses the aquarium.
You can observe over 300 species of sea creatures up close with 360 degree views. Feed the stingrays and touch a blue tongued skink in the touch pool, then look for the seahorses, jellyfish and more.
The aquarium also has a 230,000 gallon shark exhibit with 3 species of sharks, moray eels, angelfish, giant barracudas and more.
The Greater Cleveland Aquarium is an enjoyable way to spend a few hours in the city.
Cleveland’s Little Italy
The area known as Little Italy is on Cleveland’s near east side and is packed with Italian restaurants, bakeries, food stores, art galleries and shops. Little Italy hosts frequent festivals and events that will appeal to kids. There are art walks, the Feast of The Assumption, Bocce Ball Tournaments and an event called The Meatball Crawl.
Memphis Kiddie Park
If you have children 5 or under or less than 50 inches tall, Memphis Kiddie Park is a must do. Memphis Kiddie Park is an old school amusement park with rides just for younger kids. This is a family oriented and affordable activity that generations of Clevelanders have been enjoying since the 1950’s.
The park has 10 rides including a roller coaster, merry go round and train. They also have concession stands with typical carnival snacks like hot dogs, popcorn and cotton candy as well as a miniature golf course.
There is no fee for parking or admission; ride each ride by purchasing tickets. The tickets never expire so you can come and go as you please (or as your kids dictate) without worrying about wasted tickets. Single tickets are $2.50 each and there are discounts for larger quantities.
Memphis Kiddie Park is one of the few remaining parks of its kind in the US and is a must do during your visit to Cleveland if you have little kids.
For Cleveland area hotels, click here.
The Children’s Museum of Cleveland
The Children’s Museum in Cleveland is a hands-on learning museum dedicated to fostering creativity, imagination, problem-solving and communication. The museum has 7 different sections with multiple opportunities to play, experiment and learn in each.
In Adventure City, kids learn to build, work and climb in this replica of a city. There’s a market, a construction site and more.
The Wonder Lab Exhibit is an industrial science laboratory where kids can become scientists for the day as they explore and experiment.
The top floor of the museum is dedicated to a world of miniatures. Kids can view the collections of dollhouses and learn to make their own miniature creation.
The Children’s Museum is designed to be fun for kids of all ages and parents, too. Spend several hours at this museum learning, creating and experimenting.
Public Square
Public Square is a 4 block area in downtown Cleveland known as the city center. It’s surrounded by Tower City Center, the Renaissance Hotel, Jack Casino and the Old Stone Church.
The square itself features a splash pad for warmer months, art installations, gardens and a self-guided tour. In the winter, there is an ice rink and a fabulous Christmas light display.
Be sure to visit the Terminal Tower while you’re there. This historic building was the first skyscraper in Cleveland and was the second tallest building in the US until 1964. There is an observation deck near the top you can visit on the weekends in the summer months.
The tower is also frequently lit in different colors depending on the time of year and for special events. When the musician Prince died in 2016, the building was lit with purple lights in his honor.
Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland & Cleveland Money Museum
First, a quick history lesson. The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland is one of 13 banks that makes up the central banking system of the United States. The Federal Reserve sets US monetary policy, controls the supply of money and supervises banking and financial institutions, among other things.
The Cleveland Federal Reserve building is on the National Historical Register. The exterior of the building is made of pink marble and the inside is ornately designed with gold marble walls and pillars, intricate iron work and a vaulted ceiling that resembles a Roman basilica.
While the adults can appreciate the building’s beauty, the kids will be thoroughly entertained by the interactive activities in the Money Museum. There are over 25 hands on exhibits where you can learn about the history of money, make a personalized $1,000,000 bill, learn how to identify counterfeit money and see a 23 feet tall money tree.
Visitors leave with a free souvenir kids’ activity book, a bag of shredded money and more. The Money Museum is free to visit and is open Mondays through Thursdays.
Western Reserve Historical Society
The Western Reserve Historical Society is Cleveland’s oldest cultural institution. It’s current primary location is in the Hay McKinney mansion. The mansion itself is an exhibit, with furnishings and artifacts that tell the story of the early entrepreneurs who helped build Cleveland. The Italian Renaissance revival mansion was built by Abram Garfield, son of President James A. Garfield.
The Crawford Auto and Aviation Museum is also part of the WRHS. It celebrates Cleveland’s crucial role in developing the transportation industry and highlights the history of transportation, from carriages to airplanes. They have almost 200 antique automobiles, bicycles, boats, motorcycles, sleighs and aircraft.
Hale Farm and Village is a living history museum that allows visitors to experience life in the 1860s. There are 32 historic buildings where skilled artisans demonstrate blacksmithing, glassblowing, weaving and more. Hale Farm has horses, cows, sheep and other farm animals that show what farming was like at the time.
There is even more to see and do at the various Western Reserve Historical society sites. You could easily spend 2 days seeing all they have to offer.
USS Cod
While you’re visiting the Great Lakes Science Center, you can also take a tour of a World War 2 era submarine. The USS Cod is the only remaining intact submarine from the US war time fleet and has been designated a National Historic landmark.
Learn about the Cod’s exploits in the war and the time it rescued Dutch sailors from a damaged vessel in the only sub to sub rescue in history. Climb down the hatch on the narrow metal ladder, and swing through each compartment’s hatch to see the engine room, the control room, sleeping compartments and even look in the periscope.
Back on shore, check out a WWII steam-driven torpedo, a 2000lb bronze submarine propeller and a vintage search periscope that gives a view of the port of Cleveland
Cleveland Attractions you Can Skip
These points of interest and Cleveland attractions frequently show up on “best of” and “don’t miss” lists and while they are cool places to visit, kids probably won’t appreciate them.
The Cleveland Museum of Art
The Cleveland Museum of Art was founded in 1913 and was enlarged and refurbished in the past decade. It’s actually a pretty great museum; it has more than 45,000 works of art and is one of the most popular art museums in the world. But, your kids will likely be bored to death, will start misbehaving, then you will yell and your family outing will be ruined. However, if you are looking for free things to do with your kids, this fits the bill since admission is free to the main galleries.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
When other people write lists like this, they always put the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on it. I’m leaving it off my list because kids don’t care about artists who have been around for at least 25 years (the requirement to be nominated for the Rock Hall). And since they don’t care about Van Halen, Motown or anything else, they really won’t enjoy 7 floors of exhibits about music they’ve never heard and don’t want to hear. Save your money and skip this attraction. Save it for a weekend getaway by yourselves.
West Side Market
While the West Side Market is an iconic part of Cleveland’s ethnic diversity, culinary specialties and cultural identity, kids will likely think it’s just a big grocery store. The historic building has a vaulted ceiling with Guastavino tiles and there is a 137 foot tall clock tower. There are over 100 different vendors selling grocery staples as well as ethnic delights. Worth seeing on your next trip sans kids.
A Christmas Story House
The movie A Christmas Story was filmed in Cleveland and the house from the movie has been turned into a Museum. It has many of the props from the movie, including the famous leg lamp. I’m marking this one skip because I’m not sure how many kids actually like this movie. Its audience seems to mainly Gen Xers and Millennials.
Cleveland Public Library
I’m not sure why this one is on anyone’s to do list. Every town has a library and there isn’t anything all that special about Cleveland’s. Unless you are looking for a free activity or have never been to a library before, don’t bother wasting precious vacation time on the Cleveland Public Library.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Even though the Cleveland Orchestra is considered to be one of the best in the world, your kids still won’t want to go see a concert. It’s unfortunate though because a trip to Severance Hall is quite unforgettable. The hall has been the orchestra’s home since its completion in 1931. It is an ornate combination of Neoclassical and Georgian style architecture on the outside and a glamourous blend of Egyptian and Victorian influenced décor inside. It is part of the Wade Oval arts and cultural district, near the Natural History and Art museums. Make it a must see for your next trip without the children.
Cleveland Playhouse Square
Cleveland is home to the largest theater district in the United States, after New York City. It’s made up of multiple historic theaters, elegant dining and luxury hotels. Unless one of the theaters is hosting a kid-centric play, Playhouse Square is more of an adult attraction.
To start planning your Cleveland vacation, visit TripAdvisor to book a hotel room.
As you can see, Cleveland is a dynamic city with something to do for everyone, young and old alike.
Have time to play a round of golf while in Cleveland? Click below to check out our list of the best course around the city.
