Top Things To Do in Cleveland With Kids When Visiting For The Eclipse
Hey there! So you’re planning to visit Cleveland to see totality, are you? We’re so happy to have you! Cleveland is a beautiful city and we absolutely love raising our kids here.
There is so much to do and so many fun, exciting, and even educational adventures to go on that we couldn’t possibly list them all here.
I know when we travel to other cities, I’m always looking for advice from other parents on what to do with our kids. So, we’ve created this list to highlight some of our favorite things to do in Cleveland with kids.
If you’re looking for specific eclipse events, you should check out thisiscle.com’s blogs, as they have a great list of eclipse events happening April 8 in and around Cleveland
Some of these places will be closed on April 8 for the eclipse. So make sure you check their website before visiting and plan to visit either the day before or after.
Okay–let’s get to our list. Here are the top things to do in Cleveland with kids when visiting for the eclipse in 2024.
We’ve been to a few different zoos around the country, and the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is still one of our absolute favorites! The zoo is always clean and tidy, and the animal exhibits always seem to be well taken care of for our animal friends. It’s a pretty big zoo, so plan accordingly. If you have littles that are still able to use strollers, we definitely recommend bringing one. There are also strollers available for rent.
Our favorite exhibits include the giraffes, Australian Adventure, the monkeys, and the brand-new Susan’s Bear Hollow exhibit.
2. Cleveland Metroparks Rainforest
The Rainforest is next to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, and while it is a separate admission fee, we love going. Especially if the weather outside is less than ideal for walking around the zoo. There are lots of animal exhibits and it’s nice and warm.
3. Children’s Museum of Cleveland
Children’s Museum of Cleveland is one of my kids’ favorite places around town! I seriously feel like there are endless hours of fun to be had at the children’s museum.
✅ Water Room
✅ Craft Room
✅ Indoor Playground
✅ Sensory Friendly Room
✅ Craft Room
✅ Theater Room
✅ BRAND NEW Bubble Room 🫧
Lakewood Park has some of the most breathtaking views of any parks in or around Cleveland. Whether you’re hanging out on the Solstice Steps or down at the end of the brick walkway taking in the beautiful skyline views of Downtown Cleveland across the water of Lake Erie. This 31-acre lakefront park has a nice, serene walking trail, tennis courts, a skate park, volleyball courts, and plenty of picnic seating.
Lakewood Park also has one of THE BEST playgrounds in Northeast Ohio! It’s seriously one of our favorites.
5. Cascade Park Hiking Trails -FREE
Cascade Park offers rivers, waterfalls, and hemlock forests just minutes from downtown Elyria. Inside this 145-acre park the east and west branches of the Black River cascade over Berea sandstone converge. We love hiking to see the waterfall. It’s a fairly easy and short hike, and it’s so beautiful.
There are also three different playgrounds at this park. The playground right by the main parking lot even has a little splash pad attached. It’s so cute!
6. Canalway Center Trail -FREE
I tell people all of the time that the Canalway is my favorite Metropark trail. I grew up down the street from here, and it brings back great memories for me. It’s also such a beautiful, awesome trail with so many different serene nature scenes. Over the years, they have added a huge play area to their nature center, and now they have the most incredible pump track.
We think it’s easy to spend hours here!
7. Worden’s Ledges Hiking Trail - FREE
If your family loves hiking and you want to experience something that you’ll only find in Northeast Ohio, then you HAVE to check out Worden’s Ledges.
Located in the Hinckley Reservation, the stone carvings along this 0.7 mile trail are truly marvelous and make for a great scavenger hunt for young and old alike!
Worden’s Ledges is named after the old landowner, Hiram Worden. However, it was later discovered that his son-in-law, Noble Stuart, was the artist who created the stone carvings in the 1940s.
Some of the carvings include a Sphinx, George Washington, Ty Cobb, a Bible with a Cross, and names, among other portraits. See how many you can find!
Wordens Ledges Loop Trail, Hinckley, OH 44233
8. Rocky River Reservation Hiking Trails & Nature Center -FREE
The Rocky River Nature Center is a fun stop for nature and animal lovers. And there are over five miles of trails that lead from the Nature Center. The trails will take you to the river’s edge, a wetland forest, ponds, hilltops and ancient American Indian earthworks. These trails provide immediate access to the Fort Hill Stairs.
My kids love getting to the top of the stairs (it’s a workout! 155 steps 😮💨) and taking in the sights from the overlook to see the giant shale cliff overhanging the river.
24000 Valley Parkway North Olmsted, OH 44070
9. Brandywine Falls Hiking Trail - National Park -FREE
This 1.5-mile loop trail is fairly easy, and the views of the waterfall are breathtaking. You can see the waterfall from the upper and lower boardwalks. This is a national park, and it does get busy, so be forewarned that your parking options may be limited.
10. Rockefeller Greenhouse & Botanical Garden -FREE
The Rockefeller Greenhouse & Botanical Garden is one of Cleveland’s hidden gems aaaand we just can’t get enough of it! 😍 The greenhouse isn’t huge, but it’s always fun to walk around and see all the beautiful plants and cacti.🌵There are also some really nice paths to walk right outside of the greenhouse. We love visiting here, and it’s ABSOLUTELY FREE!
My kids always love looking around at the incredible variety of plants at this greenhouse. It really is a breath of fresh air! It’s also a big plus that it’s right down the street from the Cleveland Museum of Art (also free & amazing).
Spring bulb flowers will be on display at Rockefeller Park Greenhouse March 22 - April 22. Featured plants will include Easter lilies, Asiatic lilies, tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths.
750 East 88th Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44108, United States
11. Cleveland Cultural Gardens -FREE
Built in 1916, these gardens are some of Northeast Ohio’s oldest and most beautiful treasures. 🌳 There are more than 30 gardens that are designed and cultivated by distinct cultural or nationality groups, and many feature symbolic statues and monuments. I think it truly is one of Cleveland’s best gems!
The Cleveland Cultural Gardens are fantastic for any occasion, whether going on a family hike, a date night, or taking out-of-towners on tour. We love how the gardens allow us to share our family heritage with our children while also pointing out how each culture can and does uniquely contribute to making the world a better place. 🌎
We explored for about an hour this last visit and made it to seven gardens.
Big event days aside (see our One World Day web page), there is ample street parking available on the west side of MLK and on the east side of East Boulevard and its side streets.
Google Map directions can be found here.
12. Cleveland Museum of Art -FREE
Can I just tell you that Cleveland has one of the best FREE art museums in the United States? The art they have on display is absolutely astonishing. There are works from many famous artists like Picasso, Rembrandt, Monet, Dali, Rousseau, Warhol, and Van Gogh—just to name a few!
They also have a super fun medieval room with lots of different armor on display (my son’s favorite exhibit) and an amazing interactive kids' exhibit that allows young people to make their own digital art.
13. Community Art Center -FREE
This is a free, fun, and educational hands-on experience open to the public Friday through Sunday. You can view their gallery exhibition, Parade the Circle: Celebrating 30 Years of Art and Community, to see puppets and costumes from past parades that happened in Cleveland.
At the Community Art Center, you can walk around and see all the amazing art displays. When you’re ready, you can make your way to the workshop rooms to do some hands-on crafts. No reservation is needed! There are also classes you can sign up for as well. There’s also a great coffee shop attached to the same building!
14. Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Our kids love to visit the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. They have lots of hands-on learning experiences and some really cool historical artifacts. Some of our favorite things are the kid’s play area in the basement, the amazing wildlife center and wood gardens.
15. Great Lakes Science Center
Who doesn’t love a great science center?! There is SO much to do at the Great Lakes Science Center, and since they have the Polymer Funhouse for the little kids (for children ages 7) there really is something for all ages.
If your kiddos love hands-on exhibits and play, we definitely feel like the Great Lakes Science Center is worth the price of admission. We’ve found it’s easy for our kids to spend hours here.
16. Downtown Cleveland Public Libary -FREE
If your family loves libraries and historic architecture, then you have to visit the Main Library in Downtown Cleveland when you visit! The courtyard is a beautiful space and the perfect place to enjoy lunch. And while the buildings are breathtaking and worth seeing, there’s also plenty to explore inside.
On the 3rd floor, you’ll find the Special Collection Room. This room has fun and unique chess sets, folklore, and the game’s history. The main reason we visited this floor was to see the miniature books collection. It has what was once known as the world’s tiniest book. We had to use a magnifying glass to see the words. It was so cute!
The 2nd floor houses a Superman collection consisting of comic books, toys, clothing, photographs, and other memorabilia. Items in this exhibit rotate every 6 months.
We also visited the kids’ floor to read and play, the technology room to see projects being 3d printed, and we took the elevator to the 10th floor to see the city from the observation deck.
The Downtown Branch of the Cleveland Public Library is a real treasure, and if you haven’t been at least once—you have to check it out!
325 Superior Ave, 44114
17. Money Museum - Federal Reserve -FREE
There’s a FREE money museum in Downtown Cleveland connected to the Federal Reserve!
When you walk in, you are immediately presented with the beauty of this old, historic building. We were greeted by the nicest lady, who gave us a short tour of the Federal Reserve Bank and told us about the history of the building. We recommend planning to spend about 45 minutes at the museum.
The museum is self-guided, so you can do as much as you like and skip anything that doesn't interest your kids. We took money photos, and the kids thought it was really fun. I plan on printing them so they can use their own personal money around the house. We then played a computer game that taught the kids about the bartering system.
After that, we watched a short film that explained the concept of money. The film is on a loop, and you can leave anytime. Next, we saw the huge money tree, which the kids thought was so cool. There's also an area where kids can learn about counterfeit money. They get to use a magnifying glass to examine money to see if they can figure out if it's authentic or counterfeit. Lastly, there's another station for kids to make their dollar bills.
And at the end of your visit, they get to take a bag of shredded money home.
1455 E 6th St, Cleveland, OH 44114
18. Our Favorite Nature Centers -FREE
Nature Centers are some of our favorite places to visit year round in Cleveland. The trails are exciting and beautiful to explore. Inside the buildings, there's often lots to do and learn about nature. These visits for us are almost always both educational and inspiring! For a list of our favorite nature centers, click here.
Let’s be honest — sometimes you need to go somewhere to let your kids get as much energy out as they can! Cleveland has some absolutely fantastic playgrounds around the city. We started this blog back in 2016 to try to catalog some of our favorites and have found that there’s almost too many to count. We have compiled a list of 70 of our favorites in and around Cleveland. You can find our playground list here.
20. 16 Best Children’s Libraries -FREE
Cultivating a love for reading is such an important part of childhood development, and libraries with fun & unique children's spaces make the connection between reading and fun that much easier. And they’re an especially great place to visit when Cleveland weather is less than ideal.
We’ve compiled a list of our sixteen favorite libraries with kids spaces and activity areas. You can find that list here.
21. Adventure Play at Jordan Creek Park - FREE
Adventure Play is considered a natural playground. It features interactive sites designed to engage children in creative and imaginative play. It is designed for kids 7+, but it definitely just depends on the kid. My kids both enjoyed this since we first went when they were 4 and 6. There were some things they couldn’t do yet at those ages without my help, though.
Adventure Play has a HUGE rock wall, a zipline, a slackline forest, balancing obstacles, a 30-foot rope bridge, and so much more--all for FREE!
Another fun feature is the beautiful walking trails behind Adventure Play, including a storywalk and a creek perfect for skipping rocks. There’s also a nature center with varying hours.
22. Penitentiary Glen Reservation - FREE
The DREAMIEST free nature play is only 30 minutes outside of Cleveland. This place seriously feels like walking into an enchanted garden full of adventure. I feel like it’s a space that inspires my kids’ minds to run wild and free for hours (literally hours).
It is very large, but it’s also fenced in with only one exit. There is a water feature and sandpit, so we always bring an extra set of clothes when we visit. Also on site are a nature center, wildlife center, and hiking trails.
Penitentiary Glen Reservation, 8668 Kirtland Chardon Rd, Kirtland, OH 44094
Pins Mechanical Co. is one of our go-to spots around town if we want to have some old-school arcade fun. Pins is only kid-friendly until 8pm. They have arcade games, jumbo jenga, hookie, jumbo connect four, and a huge lite board. They’re all FREE, as long as you purchase at least one drink. You can also pay for extra games, such as duck pin bowling, pinball machines, and bocce ball. Pins is a great spot for kids and adults to have fun together!
24. Family-Friendly Desert Options
Our family LOVES to go out for treats. And Cleveland has some great ice cream and desert shops around town. We’ve made a list of some of our favorites. You can find that list here.
25. Family-Friendly Restaurants
If you’re looking for a few restaurant options while you’re in town, we made a list with a few of our favorites. Each one has a kid's menu and a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere. You can find that list here.
