Mention that you’ve just spent your spring break in Cleveland, Ohio and you’ll likely hear the following question: “Did you get to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?” You can answer either positively or negatively, but the fact is there is much more to Cleveland than just the $84-million dollar museum that attracts hundreds of thousands to the area each year.
The following are some our family’s favorite pit stops in the Cleveland area:
The Children’s Museum of Cleveland
If you have kids it’s a no brainer—-when you are visiting a new city seek out the closest children’s museum. We do anyway. The Children’s Museum of Cleveland is filled with interactive exhibits, including “Blast Off,” where kids can explore outer space, and “Egyptian Sands: Families Explore Ancient Egypt.” Your children can burn off energy in this sandy area made to look like the banks of a miniature Nile River. You can also check out a Scribe House where your little ones can learn about hieroglyphics. You can even make it a family affair by using the museum’s costumes to dress up like an Egyptian family. Admission is $6 for anyone older than 11 months.
Cleveland Botanical Garden
I’m lucky that my young daughter loves flowers as much as her mother. She is a joy to take to botanical gardens. Cleveland’s just underwent a two-year, $37 million renovation/expansion and is now considered one of the city’s hottest attractions. The garden is home to more than 500 species of plants and 50 animal species. And, take it from me; kids (and parents) of all ages will get a work out exploring the garden’s 10 acres of displays. I would suggest taking a break at the garden’s centerpiece–the Eleanor Armstrong Smith Glasshouse. It’s home to the cloud forest of Costa Rica and the spiny desert of Madagascar. Admission is $7.50 for adults, $3 for children age 4-12 and free for younger children.
Great Lakes Science Center
This gigantic 165,000-square-foot building is located north of Public Square, and is a haven for kids and parents who like to act like kids. This place is so huge it’s hard to know where to start. Some must-see exhibits include piloting a scaled-down blimp, watching an eight-foot tornado form under glass, viewing an OMNIMAX film or simply taking a good part of the day to enjoy the center’s 400 other hands-on exhibits. There are nearly 100 interactive exhibits in the Polymer Funhouse alone—where you can see 1.8 million volts of electricity shoot across a stage.
Lolly the Trolley
It’s touted as the most entertaining ways to tour Cleveland—Lolly the Trolley. Lolly is part of a fleet of red trolleys that tour the city (1 and 2 hour tours are available). The tour guides are knowledgeable, friendly, and are more than happy to tell you everything you ever wanted to know about Cleveland—-and then some. Lolly also offers specialty tours, including a “Steeples & Spires” church tour and an “Eliot Ness” tour, which takes you by homes and haunts frequented by the man who busted Al Capone. A word of warning: children under five are not permitted on the 2-hour tour.
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