Cleveland Activities with Kids

The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is sure to please not only the children in your family but all the adults too.

The museum offers several engaging educational activities for children of all ages and you should be sure to visit their website ahead of your visit to find out what to expect and how to get the most out of your visit. Besides a wealth of interesting exhibits which you can tour at your own pace, the museum offers a regular series of special immersive programs for toddles, pre-schoolers and older children. One of the highlights of your visit will undoubtedly be the brilliant dinosaur exhibition.

Cleveland Museum of Natural History, 1 Wade Oval Drive, Cleveland, OH 44106, Phone: 216-231-4600

Visiting the Children’s Museum of Cleveland is a sure-fire way to excite and entertain children of all ages, including children with special needs.

The museum has recently moved to larger premises and can now offer several extra playing and learning areas together with an outdoor space where you are encouraged to stop and enjoy a BYO picnic. Highlights of the museum include Adventure City, (where children can climb, build, work and explore while learning about daily life) and the fascinating Wonder Lab where children can have hours of fun at two water tables. Children are encouraged to express their artistic talents at the Arts and Parts laboratory and the Making Miniatures exhibit.

Children’s Museum of Cleveland, 3813 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44115, Phone: 216-791-7114

You can awaken a love of theatre and live performance in your children by introducing them to the Children’s Theatre at Playhouse Square at an early age.

An inexpensive season ticket will give you four opportunities to take the children to see entertaining and age-appropriate productions each year. If you child shows more than a passing interest in the shows you can expand their experience by enrolling them in a forty-five minute creative workshop led by a professional teaching artist. Workshops are available for each of the four shows presented at Playhouse Square each year. Playhouse Square has an on-site parking garage and is also easily accessible via the E-Line and C-Line RTA Downtown Trolley service.

Children’s Theatre at Playhouse Square, 1501 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44115, Phone: 216-771-4444

The ever-popular West Side Market has been supplying the people of Cleveland with farm-fresh produce since November 1912, making it the oldest public market in the city.

As you make your way through the stalls your nose will sniff out just about every type of food you can imagine, all under one roof. The list of vendors is impressive and you could easily stock up on everything you need for a week of nourishing and wholesome family meals as well as all the naughty stuff like cakes, pastries and other treats. There are dozens of stalls selling delicious ready-prepared foods to eat as you go – be sure to bring along a big appetite.

West Side Market, West 25th and Lorain, Cleveland, OH 44113, Phone: 216-664-3387

Children of all ages will enjoy a visit to the Greater Cleveland Aquarium where they can immerse themselves in the colorful underwater world which is showcased in over fifty exhibits spread over eight galleries.

Most of the younger children will tell you that their favorite exhibit is the Touch Pool in the Coastal Boardwalk gallery where they can come face to face and even touch the sting rays. Older children tend to regard the underwater Sea Tube, where they can be surrounded by sharks and dozens of other sea creatures to be the highlight of their visit. As you move through the aquarium you children will learn about important ecological concerns such as pollution and climate change.

Greater Cleveland Aquarium, 2000 Sycamore St, Cleveland, OH 44113, Phone: 216-862-8803

The Great Lakes Science Center effortlessly combines fun and learning for the whole family.

The center has hundreds of hands-on exhibits for children to explore including many which are suitable for really young visitors. A few of the most exciting exhibits include the new Grossology exhibit where children can learn all about our (sometimes) embarrassing bodies. The Cleveland Clinic Dome Theater is one of the most popular exhibits at the center, featuring a giant dome screen which surrounds you with amazing sounds and images of some of the world’s most extraordinary natural wonders. The center hosts Early Childhood Workshops for children less than seven years of age and daily Science Demos for all ages.

Great Lakes Science Center, 601 Erieside Ave, Cleveland, OH 44114, Phone: 216-694-2000

The Cleveland Museum of Art is definitely not an adults-only city attraction – families will find that the museum has a great deal to offer children of all ages.

Starting with the very youngest of visitors, the museum invites toddlers (under 18 months) and their parents to enjoy a Stroller Tour every second and third Wednesday of the month. Slightly older children are invited to come and read, look and play at the Saturday morning Art Story workshops and then there are regular studio art classes for various age groups. On Sundays you can bring your children along to enjoy some hands-on creativity in the Make Space.

Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44106, Phone: 216-421-7350

For a welcome change from visiting museums and workshops you can head for the great outdoors and take the children to spend a day in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. If you are traveling with older children you can all hire bikes and enjoy a ride along the beautiful Towpath Trail which runs all the way through the park. The trail is also perfect for hikers who can enjoy excellent bird watching along the way. Younger children will probably prefer a ride on the vintage Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad which runs between Independence and Akron on Saturdays and Sundays, offering great views of the park and the chance to visit scenic Peninsula.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio.

Watching the Cleveland Guardians in action at their Progressive Field baseball park is a great option for a family outing.

Parents who are attending with younger children can use the Family Deck which is a great indoor/outdoor area which boasts a parent’s lounge area, family-friendly concessions and the Kids Clubhouse which is filled with fun interactive play areas where younger children can be entertained. There are great ride-on toys for toddlers and 3D player cutouts where children can have their photo taken. Older children can hone their baseball skills with the interactive Hot Corner video game and have fun with the interactive Locker Room exploration area.

Progressive Field, 2401 Ontario Street, Cleveland, OH 44115, Phone: 216-420-4200

Located at the Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank, the Cleveland Learning Center and Money Museum will educate children about money, saving and the economy in a fun and engaging way.

The museum is open to the public from Monday to Thursday from 9.30am to 2.30pm and entrance is free. Children can have fun as they move from one interactive exhibit to the next, and will learn about trading at Barter Island, find out how to recognize counterfeit notes and even have the chance to make their own currency. You can take a virtual tour of the Learning Center on their website to see what to expect during your visit.

Cleveland Learning Center and Money Museum, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, 1455 East Sixth Street, Cleveland, OH 44114, Phone: 216-579-3188