What to Do in Cleveland, Ohio with Kids

As one of the largest cities in Ohio, Cleveland has exciting activities for any group of people. This includes experiences for children. If you’re visiting or living in Cleveland and have kids, here are a few of the more popular museums, parks, and attractions that are sure to be fun for the entire family.

Children’s Museum of Cleveland

skyline – Cleveland Ohio by Tim Evanson Licensed with CC BY-SA 2.0

The Children’s Museum of Cleveland is an interactive museum experience for children of all ages. Children can play with numerous exhibits in seven distinct areas: adventure city, wonder lab, theater, making miniatures, arts and parts, playlist, and the meadow, which is a specialized play area for children from birth to three years old. This museum also features a rotation of seasonal events, workshops, and temporary exhibits.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a museum located in downtown Cleveland. It features multiple exhibits detailing the history of rock and roll and the inductees of the hall and fame, who are known for their contributions to the genre of music. There are also rock performances, events, and an area known as the garage, where children can learn and play real musical instruments.

Cleveland Museum of Art

The Cleveland Museum of Art features fine art pieces from all around the world. There are two levels of galleries, and the art is sorted by the time period and area where they were made. This museum also offers children’s enrichment activities, educational art lectures, and special exhibits and events.

West Side Market

The West Side Market is a historical marketplace that was constructed in 1912. It features over 100 vendors that sell meat, spices, and ready-to-eat food from a large variety of cultures, including Greek, Polish, and Middle Eastern cuisine. Families can explore and shop, or take guided tours to learn about the architecture of the historic building.

Great Lakes Science Center

If you want to encourage your kids to love science, you can take them to the Great Lakes Science Center. This exploratory center for children and families features hundreds of interactive science exhibits, an IMAX Dome Theater, and a cafe. It’s also home to the NASA Glenn Research Center, one of only 11 NASA visitor centers in the country. From October to February the center hosts several temporary events, such as chemistry month or rotating activities at their learning lab.

Greater Cleveland Aquarium

Situated in a historic brick building, the Greater Cleveland Aquarium features nine galleries that allow you to closely experience over 300 species of fresh and saltwater creatures. This aquarium features a 175-foot underwater seatube, an Imagiquarium where you can pretend to own your own aquarium, and scheduled talks with divers or aquarists. You can also participate in live feeding events, such as stingray feedings.

Cleveland Museum of Natural History

Originally established in 1920, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History contains dinosaur skeletons, live animal interactions, and interactive exhibits. It also includes the Smead Discovery Center, a hands-on activity area for children and families featuring a paleontology zone and a children’s playground for babies and toddlers. There’s also a planetarium and observatory where you can learn about the stars.

Cleveland Zoo

Visit the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and come see wild animals in fascinating enclosures across seven main areas. See animals such as koalas, African elephants, snow leopards and gorillas. There are also a series of rides and attractions, including a train, carousel, zip line and a 4-D theater.

Cleveland Botanical Barden

The Cleveland Botanical Garden is a botanical garden space that features over 10 acres of plants and flowers. In addition to their garden areas, there is also a children’s garden where kids can interact with nature and an inspiration garden that teaches families how to grow plants in their own backyard. You can also check their website for additional activities, such as story time, scavenger hunts, and arts and crafts activities.

Progressive Field

Progressive Field is the official baseball field of the Cleveland Guardians. You and your family can enjoy a baseball game, concert, or other events at this stadium. This field also includes a two-story kid’s clubhouse where children can explore and play. Children also get discounted baseball tickets for certain games.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Cuyahoga Valley National Park is just outside of Cleveland and features 30,000 acres of beautiful landscapes and hiking trails along the Cuyahoga River. There are a variety of children’s activities at the park, including arts and crafts, a scavenger hunt that takes you to hidden boxes, and the opportunity to become a junior ranger. There are also seasonal events that you can find on the park website’s calendar.

Swings-N-Things Fun Park

Swings-N-Things Fun Park is a family fun park with a number of attractions and activities for children of all ages. Some of these attractions include mini bowling lanes, a playground, batting cages, go karts, and miniature golf. There’s also a wine room where adults can relax while children play around the facilities. Swings-N-Things Fun Park is open for events and birthday parties, and they’re currently constructing a new laser tag center.

USS Cod

The USS Cod is a real WWII submarine that is docked in Cleveland. Children and families can explore the historic vessel and learn about what life on a submarine was like. There are also special events and seasonal activities that take place at this site, which you can view on their website.

International Women’s Air and Space Museum

Discover the contributions of women in the history of air and space exploration in this unique specialty museum. Families can experience over 6,000 artifacts about women in the field of aviation, including photographs, letters, and airplanes. They also offer activities for kids, such as activity pages, take-home rocket kits you can purchase and interactive lessons about rocketry.

These are a few great things you can do with kids in Cleveland, Ohio. What do you think of our list? Do you have any favorite places that you like to take children? Feel free to contact our team at Kia of Streetsboro and tell us about where you like to visit in Cleveland with kids.