Explore Northeast Ohio By City

Written By Cleveland With Kids

Ready to explore the best of family activities and things to do in Northeast Ohio with Kids?

We've explored Northeast Ohio city by city, mixing free activities, kid-friendly restaurants, local coffee shops, and paid experiences so you can plan the perfect budget-friendly outing without the guesswork.

A few years ago we started picking a city and taking the day to explore it with our kids. We like to mix in free activities along with a food option, coffee spot (so we can stay energized on our outing) and a paid activity. It tends to be a great budget-friendly option for our family and the kids love it.

I know it can be hard to find out what each city has to offer so I thought it would be a good idea to put together a blog where you search by the city you’re interested in and find everything in one place. 

I will continue to add to this blog as we find new places and explore new cities so be sure to check back for new info each month. Also, if you see something we missed, be sure to shoot us an email so we can add it to the list! And if there's a city you think we should explore next let us know!

Whether you're planning a fun family day trip or just need fresh ideas close to home, this guide has you covered. From Downtown Cleveland and Lakewood to Avon, Medina, Parma, and beyond, this is your one-stop resource for family activities in Northeast Ohio!

THINGS TO DO IN AVOn, OHIO WITH KIDS

FREE ACTIVITIES IN AVON

  • Avon Library 37485 Harvest Dr, Avon, OH 44011-recently updated with a beautiful play space and outdoor kids patio area.

  • Every Child’s Playground 36265 Detroit Rd, Avon, OH 44011- Large playground that is great for all ages, but has a lot of toddler-friendly equipment and no large play structure.

  • Schwartz Park 35001 Schwartz Rd, Avon, OH 44011- Great medium-sized playground with a unique climbing structure.

  • Eagle Point Park 39115 Detroit Rd, Avon, OH 44011- Smaller playground

  • North Gate Park 2155 Eaton Dr, Avon, OH 44011- Medium-sized playground with a cute pirate ship that my kids always love.

  • Burger King Play Space 36240 Detroit Rd, Avon, OH 44011 (the play space is free, but food is not!)

If you want to see some of our favorite Avon playgrounds, click 👉 here 👈.

DESSERTs/COFFEE SHOPS IN AVON

KID-FRIENDLY RESTAURANTS IN AVON

PAID ACTIVITIES IN AVON

THINGS TO DO IN AVON LAKE, OHIO WITH KIDS

FREE ACTIVITIES IN AVON LAKE

  • Discovery Works 32649 Electric Blvd, Avon Lake, OH 44012- Basically like a free mini science center. Check out more photos from our visit to DiscoveryWorks 👉 here 👈.

  • Bleser Park 32800 Electric Blvd, Avon Lake, OH 44012- HUGE brand new playground for 2026!

  • McDonald’s PlaySpace 32799 Walker Rd, Avon Lake, OH 44012 (play space is free, food is not!)

  • Miller Park Pier Lake Erie, Avon Lake, OH 44012- Walk on the pier to see a great view of Lake Erie

FOOD/COFFEE SHOPS IN AVON LAKE

PAID ACTIVITIES/SHOPPING IN AVON LAKE

See how we spent our day exploring Avon Lake 👇

THINGS TO DO IN Bay village, OH WITH KIDS

FREE ACTIVITIES IN BAY VILLAGE

  • Bay Village Library27400 Wolf Rd, Bay Village, OH 44140
    Small but fun, updated play space

  • Play in Bay Park 325 Dover Center Rd, Bay Village, OH 44140
    One of the last wooden playgrounds in Northeast Ohio. fully fenced in.

  • Huntington Beach 28492-28648 Lake Rd, Bay Village, OH 44140
    Great place to spend your summer days playing in the sand and seeing the lake views.

  • Lake Erie Nature & Science Center 28728 Wolf Rd, Bay Village, OH 44140
    Free nature center with indoor fun and live animal exhibits to see outside.

  • Karen’s Way Play Space
    Newer nature themed playground located at the top portion of Huntington Beach, with a water feature, zip line, climbing structures, and more.

  • Bradley ParkBradley Rd, Bay Village, OH 44140 (located behind the tennis courts)
    Cute, medium-sized playground

FOOD/COFFEE/DESSERTS IN BAY VILLAGE

PAID ACTIVITIES/SHOPS IN BAY VILLAGE

See how we spent our day exploring Bay Village here 👇

THINGS TO DO IN BEREA, OHIO WITH KIDS

FREE ACTIVITIES IN BEREA

  • Coe Lake Park, Berea, OH 44017
    Beautiful park with 2 playgrounds, a treehouse, and trails that walk around the lake.

  • Berea Library 7 Berea Cmns, Berea, OH 44017

  • McKelvey Park Splash Pad 30 E. Bridge Street, Berea, Ohio 44017
    Small splash pad located in the downtown area of Berea

  • Wallace Lake and BeachValley Parkway, Berea, Ohio
    Newly renovated lake with a beach. This is a part of the Cleveland Metroparks, and swimming is allowed seasonally for free.

  • Dora Lee Payne Park 145 Riveredge Drive, Berea, Ohio 44017
    Berea’s Rocket Ship Playground

  • Parknoll Playground12 Stonesthrow Dr, Berea, OH 44017
    Large playground, basketball courts, pickleball courts, and baseball fields

PAID ACTIVITIES IN BEREA

FOOD/DESSERT/COFFEE IN BEREA

THINGS TO DO IN Brecksville, OHIO WITH KIDS

FREE ACTIVITIES IN BEREA

  • Andrew’s Nature PlayChippewa Creek Dr Brecksville, OH 44141
    A fun nature play located across the street from the Brecksville Nature Center

  • Kids Quarters Playground1 Community Drive, Brecksville, OH

    Huge new playground. Mostly fenced in.

  • Brecksville Library 9089 Brecksville Rd, Brecksville, OH 44141
    Small but cute kids area

  • Gorge Loop Trail - Located behind the Andrews Nature Play

  • Brecksville Nature Center 9000 Chippewa Rd, Brecksville, OH 44141
    Smaller nature center, but worth a visit if you plan on checking out the Andrews Nature Play across the street or hiking any of the trails around the nature center.

PAID ACTIVITIES IN BRECKSVILLE

FOOD/DESSERT/COFFEE IN BRECKSVILLE

THINGS TO DO IN Cleveland Heights, OHIO WITH KIDS

FREE ACTIVITIES in Cleveland Heights, Ohio

PAID ACTIVITIES/SHOPS IN CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO

Beautiful brick building with a teal door and colorful sign that reads S'il Vous Play Toys

S’il Vous Play 3216 Silsby Rd, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
European inspired toy store with sustainable toys and a cute play area upstairs.

FOOD/COFFEE/DESSERTS IN CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO

Check out this video to see how we enjoyed our day exploring Cleveland Heights. 👇

THINGS TO DO IN Cleveland WITH KIDS (within 10 minutes of University Circle)

FREE ACTIVITIES NEAR UNIVERSITY CIRCLE

PAID ACTIVITIES NEAR UNIVERSITY CIRCLE

FOOD/COFFEE/DESSERTS NEAR UNIVERSITY CIRCLE

THINGS TO DO IN DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND WITH KIDS

FREE ACTIVITIES IN DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND OHIO

PAID ACTIVITIES IN DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND OHIO

FOOD/COFFEE/DESSERTS IN DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND OHIO

THINGS TO DO IN CLEVELAND (OHIO CITY) WITH KIDS

FREE ACTIVITIES IN OHIO CITY

  • West Side Market 1979 W 25th St, Cleveland, OH 44113
    Beautiful, historic market (opened in 1912!)

  • Pins Mechanical Co. 1880 W 25th St, Cleveland, OH 44113
    Arcade games are FREE there are also paid activities like Duckin Bowling (kids bowl free on Sundays with the purchase of an adult bowling)

  • Lindsey Family Play Space 1 Upper Edgewater Dr, Cleveland, OH 44102
    This one is not technically in Ohio City but its just down the street and one of the best playgrounds in Northeast Ohio and worth a visit if you’re in the area.

  • Edgewater Beach Cleveland, OH 44102

FOOD/COFFEE/DESSERTS IN OHIO CITY

Mitchell's Ice Cream (Ohio City Kitchen & Shop) 1867 W 25th St, Cleveland, OH 44113
We love this location because you can actually watch them making the ice cream. There is also a lot of seating with additional seating upstairs.

Edda Coffee Roasters2011 W 25th St, Cleveland, OH 44113

Ohio City Burrito 1844 W 25th St, Cleveland, OH 44113

Mason's Creamery 4401 Bridge Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113

Hecks Ohio City 2927 Bridge Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113

Choolaah1903 W 25th St, Cleveland, OH 44113
Casual style Indian food that has a kids’ menu.

PAID ACTIVITIES IN OHIO CITY

Tabletop Board Game Cafe1810 W 25th St, Cleveland, OH 44113

Cleveland Rocks Climbing 2831 Franklin Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44113

Perplexity Games Escape Room 2515 Jay Ave #B3, Cleveland, OH 44113

THINGS TO DO IN Lakewood OHIO WITH KIDS

FREE ACTIVITIES IN LAKEWOOD OHIO

  • Lakewood Park 14532 Lake Ave, Lakewood, OH 44107
    Huge playground, splash pad (open seasonally), and a beautiful trail that leads down to Lake Erie where you can see the skyline of downtown Cleveland

  • Madison Park
    13201 Madison Ave, Lakewood, OH 44107
    Really unique playground with huge tube slides.

  • Lakewood Public Library Main Library 15425 Detroit Ave, Lakewood, OH 44107
    Large kids space with a unique play area. This area doesn’t have a lot of toys and is more for imaginary play with a wooden boat, kitchen and other activities.

  • Kauffman Park 15450 Detroit Ave, Lakewood, OH 44107
    A smaller playground that also has a water pump feature for kids to play with (water feature is seasonally)

If you want to see some of our favorite Lakewood playgrounds, click 👉 here 👈.

PAID ACTIVITIES IN LAKEWOOD OHIO

FOOD/COFFEE/DESSERTS IN LAKEWOOD OHIO

SHOPS IN LAKEWOOD OHIO

THINGS TO DO IN North Olmsted OHIO WITH KIDS

FREE ACTIVITIES IN NORTH OLMSTED OHIO

  • Rocky River Nature Center 24000 Valley Pkwy, North Olmsted, OH 44070
    This is probably our all time favorite nature center. There is a large indoor space that has a cool treehouse for the kids. The hiking trails outside are amazing and they recently added a nature play that is located across the walking bridge outside of the nature center.

  • North Olmsted Branch Library 27403 Lorain Rd, North Olmsted, OH 44070
    Super cute farm themed play area.

  • North Olmsted Community Park and Splash Pad 28114 Lorain Rd, North Olmsted, OH 44070
    Under construction. Will update once it is reopened

PAID ACTIVITIES IN NORTH OLMSTED OHIO

  • Kids Empire 4954 Great Northern Blvd, North Olmsted, OH 44070
    Huge indoor playground.

  • Phoenix Theatres 450 Great Northern Mall, North Olmsted, OH 44070
    This theater is more affordable others in the area, and we love it! They also have heated, reclining seats which we love in the colder months.

  • RollHouse24488 Lorain Rd, North Olmsted, OH 44070
    Bowling, large arcade, and escape room

FOOD/COFFEE/DESSERTS IN NORTH OLMSTED OHIO

THINGS TO DO IN MEdina OHIO WITH KIDS

FREE ACTIVITIES IN MEDINA OHIO

PAID ACTIVITIES IN MEDINA OHIO

FOOD/COFFEE/DESSERTS IN MEDINA OHIO

SHOPPING IN MEDINA OHIO

THINGS TO DO IN PArma OHIO WITH KIDS

FREE ACTIVITIES IN PARMA OHIO

  • Watershed Stewardship Center2277 W Ridgewood Dr, Parma, OH 44134
    Nature center with a small play room for kids.

  • Nike Park/James Day ParkParma, OH 44130
    Playground, Ninja course, and free mini golf (bring your own golf clubs and golf balls)

  • Parma-Powers Library Branch 6996 Powers Blvd, Parma, OH 44129

  • Veterans Memorial Park 6328 Loya Pkwy, Parma, OH 44134
    Playground and free mini golf course (bring your own clubs and golf balls)

  • Stearns Homestead6975 Ridge Rd, Parma, OH 44129
    The farm is free to visit but we always buy food to feed the animals while we’re there . May – Mid October, Saturday: 11am – 2pm

PAID ACTIVITIES IN PARMA OHIO

FOOD/COFFEE/DESSERTS IN PARMA OHIO

We're always discovering new spots across Northeast Ohio, and this guide gets updated regularly as we explore more cities with our kids. Bookmark this page and check back often because we’ll be adding new cities and activities monthly! Have a favorite spot we missed? Send us an email and we'll add it to the list.

And if you're looking for even more ideas, check out our guides to the best playgrounds in Northeast Ohio, indoor activities, and outdoor activities in and around Cleveland, Ohio.

Cleveland With Kids
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