Family Fun in Ohio
Family Fun in Ohio
AIRPORT GO-KARTS
16208 Brook Park Road, Brook Park, OH 44135, (216) 265-0750 or (888) GO-KART1.
Open 7 Days a Week (weather permitting): Mon. - Fri., open at 4 p.m.; Sat. & Sun. open at Noon. Call for more info or check our website.
Rookie Karts are $5.00 for 4 minutes, average speed=19 mph - about 10 laps; Pro Karts are $8.00 for 4 minutes, average speed= 26 mph - about 12 laps. Rookie Kart drivers must be 54" tall, Pro Kart drivers must be 16 years old with a valid picture ID. Double seat Karts are also available in Rookie or Pro versions. Driver of the Double seat Kart must be 18 years or older, passenger must be between 34" & 54" tall. There is no extra charge for the passenger. Group rates and hourly rentals are available.
Airport Go-Karts is the place to race in Ohio! The track is 1/8th mile oval with a race line of 621'. Straightaways are 20' wide, with corners 30' wide. Single seat Karts are the open bodied style, while the double seaters have bodies. League racing and corporate events available, call for details. Refreshments available for purchase.
THE AKRON ART MUSEUM
One South High, Akron, 44308, (330) 376-9185. Admission: $7.00 for adults, $5.00 for children under 12 accompanied by an adult, $5.00 for students and seniors and FREE for members. Hours: Tues.-Sun., 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thurs., 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Closed Mondays.
The widely acclaimed new Akron Art Museum showcases regional, national and international art created since 1850. The museum’s permanent collection houses over 3,700 objects. Particular areas of strength include American painting and sculpture since 1960, 20th-century American and international photography and American impressionist and tonalist paintings. A dozen special exhibitions each year present celebrated artists in various media, including painting, sculpture, glass, photography and video. Please visit our website for additional information on exhibits and upcoming events and activities.
Summer 2008 Calendar highlights:
California as Muse: The Art of Arthur & Lucia Mathews (June 21-Sept. 7) This exhibition represents the rediscovery of Arthur (1860-1945) and Lucia Mathews (1870-1955), leaders of the Arts and Crafts style in California and creators of luminous paintings, stylish furniture and dazzling decorative objects.
Bill Brandt: Shadows and Substance (May 31 – Aug. 24) Bill Brandt (1904-1983) is widely considered England’s greatest 20th century photographer. This exhibition features 58 important vintage prints from all facets of Brandt’s varied career.
Downtown at Dusk 2008 (June 10-Sept. 11) The annual concert series will be held Thursday evenings from 6-8 p.m. in the parking lot adjacent to the museum. Family Fun Nights and ArtTalks will also take place.
Creativity Transcends (On view through July 13) Over the years, artists and writers with disabilities have submitted their work with the hope of being published in Kaleidoscope, a magazine whose mission is to explore the experience of disability through literature and fine arts. Nine visual artists from across the country are being further honored in this exhibition.
.
AURORA PREMIUM OUTLETS
Route 43, Aurora. Only 30 minutes from Cleveland & Akron (4 miles south of Geauga Lake Wildwater Kingdom). (330) 562-2000, Fax: (330) 562-2002, Website Open 7 days a week. Mon. - Sat.: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Sun.: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. (Call for seasonal hours.)
Enjoy strolling in a charming village setting including a scenic pond; children are invited to feed the ducks and enjoy our new playground. Featuring over 70 designer and name brand outlets offering savings of 25% to 65% everyday! Stores include: Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th, Coach, Nike Factory Store, Aeropostale, Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store, Ann Taylor Factory Store, Brooks Brothers Factory Store, Michael Kors, Gap Outlet, Calvin Klein, Nautica, Tommy Hilfiger, Adidas, Le Gourmet Chef, Mikasa, The Children’s Place Outlet, OshKosh B’Gosh, and more! Customer services include: ATM, strollers, wheelchairs and gift cards.
Annual Sales and Special Events: July 3-7, July 4th Summer Sale; Weekends in July: Musical Entertainment; July 31-Aug. 3, Back-to-School & Fall Preview Sale; Aug. 2, Family Fun Festival & Kids Truck Day; Aug. 29-Sep. 1, Labor Day Sidewalk Sale; Oct. 10-13, Columbus Day Weekend Sale; Oct. 30, Halloween Trick or Treat and Costume Parade; Nov. 28-30, After-Thanksgiving Weekend Sale featuring Midnight Madness.
Return to top
BEDFORD HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM(S)
30 South Park Street (Squire Place), Bedford 44146, (440) 232-0796 during hours. Website Mon. & Wed.: 7:30 - 10 p.m.; Thurs.: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.; 2nd Sunday monthly: 2 - 5 p.m. Admission: Free. Free street and off-street parking.
The Bedford Historical Society operates four museums. All buildings are located on historic Bedford Public Square, Rt. 14. The main Town Hall museum is located at 30 South Park Street (Squire Place). The 1874 structure contains four floors of exhibits and an 12,000 volume library and archives.
The Society also maintains the 1832 Hezekiah Dunham House, open Apr. – Oct., the 2nd Sunday monthly from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. A Victorian style 1892 former church with restored sanctuary and organ; and a 1920s era train station in the 1882 railroad depot (call for hours).
Brochures and materials are available which provide information on Bedford historical sites. Check our website for information on current educational events and activities for children and adults.
BEREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY- MAHLER MUSEUM & HISTORY CENTER
118 East Bridge Street, P.O. Box 173, Berea, 44017, (440) 243-2541. Fax: (440) 243-8882; Website Email address
Tours: May through Dec., Sun.: 2 - 4 p.m.; or by appointment year round by calling (440) 243-2541. (Office hours: Mon. through Thurs., 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.) Admission: free. Donations accepted.
Mahler Museum is a Berea sandstone dwelling built in 1854 with a kitchen added in 1910. The home is listed on The National Register of Historic Places and was named in honor of Otto Mahler, local businessman and benefactor of the Museum, and his wife, Mabel. The house was opened to the public in 1979, and is decorated and furnished in late Victorian Period.
The History Center, added in 1991, provides offices, storage and exhibit space with handicapped access. The meeting room features a special exhibit entitled “The Changing Face of the Berea Triangle” which depicts through photos and memorabilia the various changes that have taken place on and around the Berea Triangle since it was established as a park in 1847. Also on exhibit are an 8-foot Victorian Mansion Doll House, a replica of Gray’s Candy Kitchen, artifacts from Berea’s sandstone quarrying days, and other displays which change periodically.
The lower level contains a wide variety of memorabilia of days gone by in Berea. Our Resource and Archives Center offers an extensive collection of reference materials for use by the general public doing research. The large meeting room is available for meetings, luncheons, group activities and special events.
BRANDYWINE FALLS ADVENTURE - by Carriage Trade
Located in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, near spectacular 65’ Brandywine Falls, only minutes from Akron or Cleveland at 8050 Brandywine Road, Northfield, Ohio 44067, 330-467-9000. Website Open May through October: Saturday and Sunday or by special arrangements, from 11:00 a.m. to dark. Reservations required. Services available include Trail Tour, Motor Coach Tours, Hay Rides and an Exclusive Outdoor Wedding site.
Try to imagine the adventure of boarding a restored antique, horse-drawn carriage with your special someone. Begin on our picturesque fifty-five acre farm with a thirty minute historic tour. Off the road and away from the noise, enjoy the leisurely pace and beautiful scenery of the eastern edge of the Cuyahoga Valley. Watch for deer as they graze and listen as your driver explains how the Ice Age formed the valley nearly 70,000 years ago. He will describe the various Indian cultures which dominated this area and how Brandywine Village once prospered around its dynamic waterfalls. Bring back the past with a visit to our interesting, eclectic Antiques Museum and enjoy a delicious ice cold Sassafras Float. At your leisure, visit spectacular 65’ tall Brandywine Falls! Stroll along the million dollar boardwalk for fantastic photo opportunities. Consider our “Wine, Cheese, Crackers & Fruit To Go Pack” for your visit to Brandywine Falls.
BRECKSVILLE NATURE CENTER
Rte. 82 entrance of Brecksville Reservation, Brecksville 44141. 440-526-1012. Website The center is open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily.
Brecksville Nature Center, nestled in the heart of Brecksville Reservation, was opened in 1939 after being constructed by federally-funded Works Progress Administration (WPA) craftsmen. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Brecksville Nature Center boasts excellent chestnut carpentry, wrought iron work and native Berea Sandstone throughout its design. The staff at Brecksville Nature Center host a variety of programs each month, and have one of the best wildlife feeding areas in the Park District.
BURNETTE'S PET FARM AND EDUCATIONAL CENTER
6940 Columbia Rd, Olmsted Township, 44138 (440) 235-4050. Located about 1 mile south of I-480 on Columbia Rd. Website
Admission: $6.00 adults; $5.00 kids; infants are free. Tour hours: Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. We can do tours other times on request. Closed on Mon.
Former teacher Dr. Jim D. Burnette created this one of a kind, nonprofit farm where kids can feed, pet, and learn about the farm and exotic animals and birds that live there. Dr. Burnette is a modern day Dr. Doolittle who takes in orphaned and injured animals and helps them get well. His one hour tours are a combination petting zoo and open-air science class. You can bring fresh fruits, vegetables, and bread to feed the animals. You can also buy feed at the farm to help with the animals upkeep.
We are open to the public and family groups. Call or visit our website for more information on the farm tours, dates and times, prices for birthday, company parties, traveling animals shows to schools, and field trips. We also do pony rides for groups of 10 children or more for a small additional fee. We have many points of interest to please everyone from our Koi goldfish pond, to the lovely flower gardens and herb garden. We even have chickens that lay all colored eggs; such as green, blue, brown, and white. We invite you to our farm for a really great teaching experience. Need a pet for your classroom or home? Call Burnette's Farm. We can get you most any pet . Call 440-897-6044.
Return to top
CAIN PARK
Lee & Superior Roads, Cleveland Heights, 44118, (216) 371-3000. Open June 19 – August 18 weekdays and weekends. Website
Built in 1938 as a project of the Works Program Administration (WPA), Cain Park is a unique 22-acre Summer Arts Park owned and operated by The City of Cleveland Heights. The Park has two theatre spaces – a 282-seat thrust theatre and a 1,222-seat + lawn amphitheater – as well as a visual arts gallery. Cain Park’s 2008 season will include a variety of national music acts, dance companies, regional orchestras and pop music groups, in addition to two musicals - The Wiz and the regional premiere of Harold & Maude: An Intimate Musical. The Park will also host art gallery shows, the weekend-long Cain Park Arts Festival on July 11-13, and "Kidzart," a special series of performances geared specifically toward children. Check our website for this year's schedule of events.
CEDAR POINT
Located on a Lake Erie peninsula, midway between Cleveland and Toledo in Sandusky, Ohio. Take the Ohio Turnpike and Exit 118 (US 250), follow the signs north, or take Exit 110 (SR 4) and follow Route 4 north. Once you get to Sandusky, just follow the signs to the Cedar Point Causeway. The park is open daily through Labor Day, Sept. 1, with a Bonus Weekend and HalloWeekends in September, October, and for the first time, November. For admission prices, season pass options and detailed park hours, visit our website or call 1-419-627-2350.
A coaster-lover’s dream, Cedar Point is home to 17 roller coasters (more than any other park in the world)! Coaster line-up includes: the American classic, Blue Streak; the rustic-themed Cedar Creek Mine Ride; the world’s first triple-looping coaster, Corkscrew; a futuristic space adventure coaster, Disaster Transport; and the swaying and banking Iron Dragon. For aggressive roller coaster thrill-seekers, the line-up includes: Gemini, Magnum XL-200, Mantis, Maverick (named the “Best New Ride of 2007), Mean Streak, Millennium Force, Top Thrill Dragster, Raptor and the Wicked Twister…and there’s still more!
New this summer is Planet Snoopy, a Peanuts’-themed children’s area that features seven rides that young children can ride by themselves or with their parents. Next door is the new Joe Cool Café that serves favorites such as peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, macaroni and cheese, root beer floats and freshly baked dog bone cookies. There are three other special areas for fun and adventure for the little ones including: Camp Snoopy, a play land themed around the world-famous Peanuts’ characters; Kiddy Kingdom, an enchanted adventure land, packed with over 12 rides; and who says roller coasters are just for big kids? Gemini children’s area is a training ground for young thrill seekers.
And finally, a place to relax, play or swim, the Soak City Waterpark. Admission to Cedar Point is not required.
CENTURY VILLAGE MUSEUM GEAUGA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
14653 East Park Street, Burton, 44021, (440) 834-1492. Located 35 miles east of Cleveland at the intersection of Routes 87 & 168 in Burton, Ohio. For information on village tours, Crossroads Museum Store hours, festival prices, calendar of events, summer special event prices, group tours, and membership, call or visit our website
Where History and Culture Meet, Century Village Museum is a fully restored Western Reserve Community that boasts over twenty- two buildings that house over 20,000 museum artifacts including: 1798 Umberfield Cabin, five furnished historic homes, vintage barns, 1872 School House, Blacksmith Shop, Tinsmith Shop, Sawmill, three merchants’ stores, 1878 Train Station, Caboose, Marshal’s Office, Doctor’s Office, Shanower Library, a Band Stand, 1846 Auburn Church, and in addition, view the nationally acclaimed Thoburn Toy Soldier Collection. A vast collection of early people’s points, tools and knives dating 7500BC – 1600BC are on exhibit as well as a special presentation depicting early pioneer life in the Western Reserve.
The Crossroads Museum Store offers unique giftware, rare reproductions of old time school books, historic books, antique toy reproductions, locally crafted items from historical artisans, old fashioned jams, Fowler’s Mill stone ground pancake and cookie mixes, and our own maple syrup and apple butter.
Special events for 2008 include:
Summer Concert at Century Village Museum: July 11 at 7 p.m. Bring your lawn chair and enjoy a blues retrospective outdoor evening concert with the Moss Stanley Trio. After the concert, enjoy an evening of stargazing (weather permitting), courtesy of the Chagrin Valley Astronomical Society. Free admission.
Antique Power and Steam Show: July 25-27. Old engines whistle, puff smoke, saw wood, thresh grain and demonstrate the innovation that transformed society into the machine age. Don’t miss the exhibits highlighting the power of these amazing machines.
Summer Concert at Century Village Museum August 1 at 7 p.m. Bring your lawn chair and enjoy songs from your best loved Broadway musicals performed at an outdoor evening concert by the 6-piece Erie Heights Brass Ensemble plus vocalist. Free admission.
International Festival: Aug. 16 & 17. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. A celebration of food and dance with vendors offering samples from the many cultures of the people who settled in Geauga County. Adults $6.00, children 6-12 $3.00 and under 6, free.
60th Apple Butter Festival: Oct. 11 & 12. Take in the delicious aroma of apples and cinnamon while apple butter simmers in copper kettles right in front of your eyes. A fall festival celebration with gifts, fine arts, crafts, antiques, picnic games and pony rides welcomes the arrival of autumn.
Breakfast with Santa: Nov. 28. Santa is making a special stop in Geauga County for breakfast at The Century Village Museum. Help send him off to work for the Holidays with a full tummy of Geauga County Style – Pancakes and Sausage!
Pancake Sundays are Back!: June 1, July 6, August 3, Sept. 7, Oct. 5, Nov. 2 and Dec. 7. All you can eat pancakes featuring our very own fresh maple syrup. Adults - $7.00, Children 6-12 - $4.00, and under 6, free.
THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF CLEVELAND
10730 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, 44106. Located in University Circle. (216) 791 KIDS. Website: Open daily – 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (Exhibit areas close at 4:45 p.m.) Call for special holiday hours. Admission: Members free; Infants 11 months and under, free; Children (ages 1 to 12 years), $7.00; Adults (age 13 and over) $6.00.
Discover the world and learn through play! Offering a variety of hands-on, family-oriented exhibits and programming, The Children’s Museum of Cleveland is the Northeast Ohio destination and resource for all young children, parents and caregivers to engage in fun, innovative, interactive play that accelerates the child’s creativity, development and education. Permanent exhibits include Splish! Splash!, exploring the world of water and weather; Bridges to Our Community, a miniature Cleveland designed for interactive, imaginary role-play; and including the new additions of a safety car, 2-story house and replica Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital; and Big Red Barn designed specifically for infants and toddlers age 4 and under. The Children’s Museum also offers a variety of activities, camps, and workshops year-round for children, birth to age 8.
Located within the Museum is our official shop, ELF Corner for Early Learning Fun! Filled with entertaining and educational toys, books, plush and puzzles, it is the perfect place to find that special gift that will continue the learning long after your visit.
For additional information, schedule of events and directions to the museum, call 216-791-KIDS.
CITY OF CLEVELAND ROCKEFELLER PARK GREENHOUSE
750 East 88th Street, Cleveland, 44108, (216) 664-3103. Open daily, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Free admission and parking. Wheelchair accessible. Website
Botanical garden features four acres of outdoor display gardens including perennial and annual flower displays, roses, herbs, Japanese garden, Betty Ott Talking Garden, and formal garden with trimmed hedges.
Conservatory features displays of tropical plants including banana, citrus trees, palm trees, and exotic flowering plants. Also visit our fern, orchid, and cactus displays. Seasonal floral displays include winter poinsettias, spring flowering bulbs, summer annuals, and fall mums.
CLEVELAND BOTANICAL GARDEN
11030 East Boulevard, Cleveland, 44106, (216) 721-1600 or 888-853-7091. Website
Hours: Mon.–Sat., 10 a.m.-Noon; Sun., Noon-5 p.m.; Wed., Open until 9 p.m. (Admission is only $5 after 5 p.m.); Closed on Mon. from Nov. 1-Mar. 31 Pricing: Members – Free; Adults - $7.50; Children (3-12) - $3.00; Children (under 3) - Free
Located in the heart of Cleveland’s cultural district, Cleveland Botanical Garden has been one of Northeast Ohio’s treasures for more than 78 years. It features 10 acres of lush, beautiful gardens, including the award-winning Hershey Children’s Garden, the ever-popular Sears Swetland Rose Garden, the nationally recognized Western Reserve Herb Society Garden and the tranquil Japanese Garden.
Cleveland Botanical Garden’s Eleanor Armstrong Smith Glasshouse, a soaring 18,000 sq. ft. conservatory, houses authentic recreations of Madagascar and Costa Rica and has more than 400 species of exotic plants, butterflies, insects, birds and animals. The Glasshouse is also the best butterfly house in Ohio! The daily 2:00 p.m. butterfly release makes visitors of all ages smile with delight.
In addition to the gardens and the Glasshouse, Cleveland Botanical Garden presents several special exhibits and events throughout the year, and hosts a biennial flower show that is the largest outdoor flower show in the United States. Special events include: Gourmets in the Garden, Wed.: Jun 18-Sept. 3; Good Gardening Workshop: Beginning Bonsai, Jun. 25; Botanical Arts: Botanical Jewelry Making Workshop, Aug. 6-Aug. 20; and Go Bananas! Summer Story Hour (Curious George stories and a special appearance by Curious George), Aug. 27. Check online for the admission prices of the special exhibits and for further events offered.
No matter what the season, a paradise in the city awaits you at Cleveland Botanical Garden.
CLEVELAND INDIANS - PROGRESSIVE FIELD TOURS
Cleveland Indians, 2401 Ontario St., Cleveland, Ohio 44115. For information call (216) 420-4385 or check our Website.
For information on months, days, and times of guided tours, admission prices, locations where tickets are available, and flat rates of school or group tours, call our Fan Services Department at (216) 420-4200 or check our website.
The 1-1/2 hour tours depart from the Indians Team Shop on Ontario Street and includes: Bullpen, Party Suite, Club Lounge, Press Box, Dugout, and Heritage Park. Don't forget to bring your camera! Concession stands are not open during tours.
Please Note: Tour route is subject to change without notice. There is a good deal of walking, so please wear comfortable shoes. Tour is entirely wheelchair accessible. All proceeds benefit Cleveland Indians Charities.
CLEVELAND METROPARKS
Administrative Office, 4101 Fulton Parkway, Cleveland, 44144. 24 hour information line, (216) 635-3200. Website
Cleveland Metroparks today consists of over 21,000 acres of land in 16 reservations, their connecting parkways, and Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Over 100 miles of parkways provide driving pleasure and easy access to Cleveland Metroparks facilities: picnic areas and play fields; hiking, bridle, all purpose, and physical fitness trails; swimming, boating and fishing areas; wildlife management areas; stables; tobogganing on twin ice chutes, sledding, skating, ice fishing, and cross-country skiing areas; seven golf courses and three driving ranges; and seven outdoor education facilities. Adding to that is NatureTracks, Cleveland Metroparks nature center on wheels, which "brings the parks to the people," through interactive learning. The recently-renovated, 38-foot mobile classroom features a newly updated tree house with touch-activated sound pads and canopy, an indoor mini theatre with accordion seating, fabricated trees, digital murals, and a reproduction of a wetland area. Specializing in grades K-5, the mobile learning experience presents programs year-round, with priority in urban school districts and is ADA accessible. For more information on NatureTracks, call 216-341-1707.
CLEVELAND METROPARKS GOLF
Golf Services Offices, 18753 Egbert Road, Bedford 44146. 24-hour tee time reservation/information line: 216-635-3673 (FORE). 'Fore' information visit our Website
For over 70 years, golfers have enjoyed the aesthetically beautiful golf courses of Cleveland Metroparks - Manakiki in Willoughby Hills, Sleepy Hollow in Brecksville, Shawnee Hills in Bedford, Big Met in Fairview Park, Little Met and Mastick Woods in Cleveland and the newest gem - Washington Golf Learning Center in Newburgh Heights. Located conveniently throughout Greater Cleveland, the courses are open dawn to dusk, daily mid-Mar. through Dec., and offers the perfect opportunity for golfers of all ages and skill levels - from sporting par threes to championship layouts challenging even the best golfers. Features include pro shops, private outing opportunities, and a variety of special golf events, clinics and lessons for the public to enjoy. Tee time reservations - 24-hour-a-day, 7-days-a-week - are available: 216-635-3673 (FORE).
CLEVELAND METROPARKS ZOO and THE RAINFOREST
3900 Wildlife Way (between West 25th and Fulton Parkway), Cleveland, 44109. (216) 661-6500. Directions: The Zoo is easily accessible from Interstates 71, 77, 90 and 480. For the latest Zoo news and info call or visit our website.
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily year-round (except for Christmas and New Year’s Day). Admission to the Zoo and The RainForest is $10 per person, $6 for kids ages 2 to 11 and free for children under 2. Admission to the Zoo only is free on Mondays for residents of Cuyahoga County. (Proper ID required.)
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is home to 3,000 exotic animals representing 600 species from six continents. Explore the jungles of The RainForest, home to orangutans, fishing cats and frogs. Roam the outback of Australian Adventure and see koalas, wallabies and kangaroos. Take in the grassy plains of African Savanna where zebras, giraffe and gazelles roam. Journey through the wilds of Northern Trek, home to tigers, wolves and bears. Discover the exotic at the Primate, Cat & Aquatics Building, and stroll around scenic Waterfowl Lake.
Situated on 168 rolling, wooded acres, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is a gem on Cleveland’s near west side, attracting 1.2 million visitors a year.
New this summer: Frogs, Hogs & Dogs – a snorting, squealing, singing good time featuring endangered amphibians, red river hogs and New Guinea singing dogs. And back by popular demand: TOUCH! Amazing Rays & Sharks. The only interactive exhibit of its kind in Northeast Ohio, this popular attraction allows visitors to reach into an 11,000-gallon saltwater tank to feel the smooth skin of stingrays and small sharks. Also this summer: Professor Wylde’s Animal Show, an educational and entertaining stage show, Butterfly Magic and the “Mission Possible” live animal show featuring “Foster” the wallaby joey at the Zoo’s Ballarat Theater.
.
CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART
11150 East Blvd. in University Circle, Cleveland, 44106 1-888-CMA-0033 or 216-421-7340, website www.clevelandart.org
Gallery Hours: Tues., Thurs., Sat., and Sun., 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Wed. and Fri., 10 a.m.–9 p.m.; Closed on Mon.
Sunday, June 29 – Join the Cleveland Museum of Art in celebrating a milestone as the main floor of the historic 1916 building reopens to the public. Enjoy a day of art, events and programs for all ages; all for free. Explore 19 spectacularly renovated galleries, featuring renowned masterworks from the museum’s collections of European and American art, as well as the beloved Armor Court. More than 900 works in all in over 27,000 square feet. Programs that day include: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, 1916 Architecture Tour: Then and Now, Gallery Tour: Old Friends in New Spaces, Family Tours, Sketching in the Armor Court, Art Carts in the Armor Court and Family Express Studios. Create art projects designed for the whole family and enjoy an afternoon of creativity, live music, and light refreshments, check our website for times of activities.
Upcoming Events: Chalk Fest: Sat., Sept. 20, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sun., Sept. 21, Noon to-5 p.m. Fine Arts Garden. Enjoy chalk artists and entertainment at no charge. Chalk your own picture for a modest fee. Preparatory workshop on Chalk Making and Street Painting Sun., Sept. 14, 2 p.m.-4:30 p.m. or Wed., Sept. 17, 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m. For more information, email or contact the Community Arts Department, 216-707-2483.
Exhibitions: Artistic Luxury: on view Oct. 19, 2008 thru Jan. 19, 2009. Admission: adults, $17; college students and seniors 65 and over, $12; children 6-18, $8. This exhibition marks the first comparative study of three of the greatest jewelry and luxury goods designers at the turn of the 20th century: Peter Carl Fabergé, Louis Comfort Tiffany, and René Lalique. Their worlds collided in a rivalry of creative exuberance. The competition found its stage at the 1900 World's Fair in Paris. Each of the artists was linked by a common purpose: to provide the most luxurious and artistic creations to their clientele. The most elaborate of their designs for the Paris World's Fair will be reunited for the first time in a gallery recreating the ambience of this opulent exhibition.
.
THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY AND PLANETARIUM
1 Wade Oval/University Circle, Cleveland, 44106, 1-800-317-9155, (216) 231-4600, TDD (216) 231-7777. Museum: Mon. - Sat.: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Wed.: 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.; Sun.: Noon - 5 p.m. Closed most major holidays. Call for information on admission prices, exhibitions, group rates, school group rates, special events, parking fee, educational services, collections and research, new programs and much more, also check our Website.
From dinosaurs and exotic cultures, to rare diamonds and distant planets, The Cleveland Museum of Natural History provides a fun and exciting environment for adults and children to explore the Earth and beyond. Learn about space and astronomy in the state-of-the art Shafran Planetarium. Then explore the world of space in the Reinberger Hall of Earth and Planetary Exploration and the fabulous gems and jewels in the Wade Gallery. "Lucy," one of the world’s oldest skeleton of a human ancestor, is on display, along with a 150 million-year-old plant-eating dinosaur, 160 million-year-old meat-eating dinosaur and a massive armored fish.
A variety of family activities take place Mon. thru Fri. and on weekends. They include animal shows, Shafran Planetarium programs, and in the Smead Discovery Center. Other activities to consider are stargazing in the Mueller Observatory, exploring the Perkins Wildlife Gardens for live animals and participating in the Museum Store’s "Read, Soar and Explore" program.
The Museum also offers educational programs and exhibits combining health and natural history. These explore topics such as nutrition and natural resources, environmental health and epidemiology, genetics and human evolution, and human cultures and natural sciences.
CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER TOUR
Located off I-480 on Tiedeman Road in Brooklyn 44144. For tour information: call the Tour Department number (216) 999-5665 or email them.
Free Public and Private 1-hour tours are available. All tours are by appointment only. The tours are conducted with headsets and receivers, enabling each person to hear the tour guide. We require that all children must be at least 8 years old. The tour consists of: the Museum, newspaper warehouse, 2 levels of the presses, short story line video and the distribution center. The facility is wheelchair accessible, with two wheelchairs available if needed.
Public Tour: for individuals and groups consisting of 14 or less, we offer a Public tour. Public tours are offered on Saturdays, at 1 p.m. only.
Private Tour: for groups of 15 to 25 people, the tour is considered a Private Tour, which will be exclusive to your party only. Private tours are held on Saturdays, 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and Thursdays & Fridays, 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
After your tour has been confirmed through the Tour Office, we will mail you the designated number of dated tickets with maps on back, along with a detailed confirmation letter. If your group is arriving by bus, we will mail you a dated bus pass to be displayed in the windshield. The bus pass will also have maps on the back.
CLEVELAND POLICE MUSEUM (HISTORICAL SOCIETY)
Located in Cleveland Police Headquarters at the Justice Center, 1300 Ontario St., Cleveland, Ohio 44113, (216) 623 5055. Fax: (216) 623-5145 Website. Hours are: Mon. - Fri.: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Closed major holidays. Admission: free. Please call for information on guided tours.
The Police Museum features the history and development of the Cleveland Police Department from its beginning in 1866 to its current leadership in police communication, forensic science, and safety education programs.
Highlights on display are the Kingsbury Run Torso Murders, Eliot Ness in Cleveland, a 1926 jail cell, Harley-Davidson motorcycles and a bomb robot.
The COP SHOP in the museum features a variety of T-shirts, mugs, jewelry, books, and police toys. Cleveland souvenirs and police memorial books are also available. Browse through The COP SHOP during museum hours or go online and shop.
COLUMBIA BERRY FARM
19060 West River Road, Columbia Station 44028, (440) 236-8416.
Blueberries in July and August. Red raspberries in July and August, hours 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Blackberries in August and September. Pumpkins available in October. Call for information on produce availability.
COSI – COLUMBUS
(Center of Science & Industry - Columbus)
333 West Broad Street, Columbus, 43215, (614) 228-2674. Website
Call or visit our website for information on our hours of operation, general admission, extreme screen admission, and calendar of events.
At COSI, you’ll be dazzled, amazed and delighted as your family explores one incredible wonder after another. COSI features more than 300 interactive exhibits throughout our discovery-based and themed exhibition areas * Ocean, Space Gadgets, Life, little kidspace®, Progress, WOSU@COSI and our outdoor Big Science Park. The exhibition areas provide experiences for all age levels to creatively combine science facts and learning through play. Beyond the exhibits, you’ll find COSI’s hair-raising Electrostatic Generator Show, the only High-Wire Unicycle in the country, a seven-story Extreme Screen theater, a Science 2Go! retail store and the Atomicafe’ restaurant. COSI also hosts world-class traveling exhibitions from other museums throughout the year.
CSI: The Experience opens on May 24 thru Sept. 1. Become a CSI Investigator and Crack the Case at COSI! COSI Visitors will have the chance to step behind the yellow caution tape and become real-life sleuths for a day, in the newest traveling exhibit CSI: The Experience. Based on the popular CBS television show, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, guests will take on the role of forensic scientists as they learn real investigative techniques and use ground-breaking technology used to solve crimes.
The ALPS: Climb of your Life-Extreme Screen Movie will run from June 7, 2008-Jan. 4, 2009. The Alps is an extraordinary giant screen mountain adventure about Europe's greatest mountain range and one man's quest to climb the infamous North Face of the Eiger. The mountain is alluring to a mountaineer on a personal journey to make peace with the mountain that killed his father, with its harmonious culture, perilous avalanches, and irresistible views.
CRAWFORD AUTO-AVIATION MUSEUM
10825 East Boulevard, University Circle, Cleveland 44106, (216) 721 5722. Website: Mon.-Sat.: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun.: Noon-5 p.m.
Admission: $8.50/adults $7.50/seniors $5/children (3-12). Includes admission to the Western Reserve Historical Society Halle Costume Wing, Archives Library and History Museum.
One of the best collections in the country, the Crawford features nearly 200 antique, vintage, and classic automobiles and aircraft, as well as motorcycles and bicycles. The Crawford also has the nation’s largest collection of cars that are 100 years old or older that actually run, with 28 cars with this distinction. The collection documents the technological and stylistic development of the transportation industry, with a focus on early automobiles created in Cleveland.
Note: The museum will be hosting the Vatican Splendors exhibition and our airplanes will not be available for viewing until mid September.
CUYAHOGA COUNTY AIRPORT
26300 Curtiss Wright Parkway, Richmond Heights, 44143, (216) 289 4111. Tours available. Call for schedule and information. Contact airport office at 216-289-4111.
Tours available include the Airport's Aircraft Rescue Firefighting Station and other airport operations. Tours are limited to children 5 yrs and older. Recommended group size, 25 persons or less. Email to request a tour date and time. Please allow one week for scheduling confirmation.
CUYAHOGA COUNTY FAIR
Main entrance on Bagley Road, Middleburg Heights, Berea, 44017. Less than one mile west of I-71 at the Bagley Road exit. Additional entrances off Eastland Road. (440) 243-0090 or call Fair Information Line after July 1, (440) 239-FAIR. Website
Fair Dates: Aug. 4-10, 2008
Fair Hours: Tues. thru Sat.: Noon-11 p.m.; Thurs., Kid’s Day, open 10 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sun: Noon-10 p.m.; Mon: 5-11 p.m.
General Admission: Adults, $5.95 daily; Youth (3-12) $4.95 daily; Senior Citizens, $4.95 daily; Kid’s Day on Thursday only, 3-16 years, $2.00. Rides not included in admission prices. Under 3 years and Service Men/Women (with ID) are free. Individual ride tickets and all-day wristbands for Kissel Bros Midway available inside the fairgrounds. Free Parking.
Premium books for entering adult and children’s crafts, needlework, flowers & vegetables, antiques, photography and culinary arts will be available in June from the Fairboard Office or via the website (www.cuyfair.com) free of charge.
Attractions: Fast paced motocross, demo derbies, a variety of grandstand attractions, and continuous strolling entertainment. Educational animal displays, delicious fair foods, exciting games of skill, safe midway rides, and informative commercial exhibits make a full day of family fun.
“Wanted” 100 drivers with their cars for the “Worlds Largest Demolition Derby.” Call for rules & entry form – 440-243-0090.
Visit our website for more information on all the coming special events at the Fairgrounds scheduled year round.
CUYAHOGA VALLEY SCENIC RAILROAD
P.O. Box 158, Peninsula, Ohio 44264 800-468-4070 Website
New in 2008: One Size Fits All Pricing. All regular excursions are $15 for adults and $10 for children 3 – 12. Trips depart from the Rockside Station, Peninsula Depot, Akron Northside Station or Canton Lincoln Highway Station.
Climb Aboard for an historic, educational and fun-filled adventure traveling through the heart of Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP), along the Cuyahoga River within the Ohio & Erie Canalway.
Make a Day of it! Combine a train ride through CVNP with a visit to the Canal Visitor Center and view the history of the canal era, the historic Village of Peninsula for shopping and dining, the City of Akron to enjoy one of its many attractions, OR in June, July and August, travel through the urban countryside to the City of Canton to see their venues!
Bike Aboard! Cyclists can bike the Towpath Trail in one direction then ride the train in the other for only $2. Flag down the train at one of the boarding stations when you want to explore the park by rail.
Watch for the CVSR sponsored special programs and events throughout the year, including Day Out With Thomas™, The Little Engine That Could™, Grape Escape – Wine tasting Trains, The Polar Express™ , and more! Call 800.468.4070 or visit www.CVSR.com for more information.
Return to top
DITTRICK MUSEUM OF MEDICAL HISTORY
Allen Memorial Medical Library Building, 11000 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, (216) 368-3648. Website
Mon. - Fri.: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Sat., Sun., and holidays closed. Admission: free.
One of the largest collections in the United States documenting medical history from a local perspective with emphasis on Cleveland and the Western Reserve from the early days of settlement to the mid-20th century. Exhibits feature the history of medical education in the area, instruments used by area physicians, and the emergence of technology in medical practice. Includes the complete furnishings of two period doctors' offices (1880 & 1930) and an 1880 pharmacy.
The museum grew from the late 19th century efforts of Dudley Peter Allen, M.D., a founder of the Cleveland Medical Library Association, to preserve the medical heritage of northeastern Ohio by preserving the equipment of its physicians. The idea carried on and expanded by Howard Dittrick, M.D., who was first involved with the collection about 1925. Dittrick was named Curator of the museum in 1928 and later Director. In 1943, the museum was named in his honor.
DUNHAM TAVERN MUSEUM
6709 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, 44103, (216) 431 1060. Wednesday & Sunday: 1-4 p.m. Grounds open year-round during daylight hours. Website Email for reservations, group tours, room rentals and inquiries.
Admission: adults, $3.00, children, $2.00, 3 and under are free. Group tours by reservation.
Dunham Tavern Museum, built in 1824, is the oldest building still standing on its original site in the City of Cleveland. The home and tavern was also a stagecoach stop on the old Buffalo-Cleveland-Detroit post road. Inside are many fascinating items of early America. The “keeping room” was the family’s two-room abode until the remainder of the house was completed. A formal parlor is furnished in the style of Western Reserve settlers from New England. The original Taproom and “ladies’ parlor” preserve the atmosphere of a meeting place of the mid-19th Century. A family bedroom, a stagecoach drivers’ sleeping room and a library are furnished with appropriate 19th Century Ohio antiques. Display areas help visitors understand the home’s early and later history.
Other attractions on the grounds include The Dunham Barn, built in 2000 in the footprint of a barn and stable which formerly stood on the property, and an 1840’s log building which was moved to the site in 1998. Cleveland Botanical Garden’s Learning Garden Program is headquartered in the 1860’s-era Banks-Baldwin House, also moved in 1998, on the corner of Chester and East 66th Street.
Return to top
FORT RAPIDS INDOOR WATERPARK RESORT
4560 Hilton Corporate Drive, Columbus, OH 43232, conveniently located at I-70 and Hamilton Road, minutes from all Columbus area attractions. 1-877-337-7527 Website
Wet, Wild Western Family Fun! Fort Rapids is central Ohio's largest indoor waterpark. Holiday Inn's 60,000 square foot resort offers a trip back to the old west with western authentic decor throughout this entertaining hotel. Complete with exposed beams, cozy fireplace and plenty of down-home hospitality, it is the ideal place for family gatherings, wedding receptions, corporate meetings and all types of events. Business guests enjoy free high-speed wireless internet access and fully equipped business center.
For entertainment galore, Fort Rapids' main waterpark, Westward H2O, drenches guests with 800,000 gallons of water featuring 12 waterslides, the Cowboy Creek Lazy River, Toddler Zero Depth Area, a gigantic 30-person hot tub and four-story interactive water play structure featuring a 1,000-gallon tipping bucket. For the little tykes, the Kiddie Koral will have kids splishing and splashing in shallow water, with two small slides ending in the Zero-Depth Toddler Area. For the older ranchers, the 40-foot tall Rascal Roundup entertainment offers water cannons, 4 long winding slides, the opportunity to face the 1,000-gallon water bucket, or just float along the river but beware of mini-rapids. And for those who feel the need to conquer the old west, Slide Tower, Ambush Alley, Raging Bull, Black Out Pass and Shoot Out Racer, are just waiting to be tamed. Call or visit our website for more information on adventures awaiting you at Fort Rapids.
GARDENVIEW HORTICULTURAL PARK
16711 Pearl Road, Strongsville, OH 44136, (440) 238-6653. Website April 1 thru Oct. 15 Hours: Saturday and Sunday, Noon – 6 p.m., other times by appointment. Admission: adults, $5; children, $3. or $25 per year Memberships. Groups welcome any time by appointment.
One of the last “open green spaces” left in Strongsville, the park presents six acres of English cottage gardens made up of rare and unusual plants collected from all over the world, featuring plants with variegated, golden, silver, or colored foliage.
There is also a 10 acre arboretum, containing 2,500 unusual trees (including 500 varieties of flowering crabapples), under-planted with thousands of daffodils. This virtual Garden of Eden is maintained by memberships; an admission charge for those who do not wish to take out a membership; and by donations to the Gardenview Endowment Fund. For membership, please call 440-238-6653.
The gardens begin to bloom in mid-February. Every 10 days there is something entirely different blooming through November. The Fall colors, at the end of October, are a spectacular special treat.
GARFIELD PARK NATURE CENTER
11350 Broadway Avenue, Garfield Park Reservation, Garfield Hts. 44125. 216-341-3152. Website
The center is open 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., daily.
Garfield Park Nature Center opened to the public in 1987, and hosts a variety of recently-renovated exhibits, including a live honeybee display. Garfield Park Nature Center hosts its annual event, Bug City (Saturday, August 9), which brings out thousands of bug enthusiasts, young and old. In addition, the nature center features a nationally-recognized wildlife garden that contains a variety of flowering plants, shrubs and evergreens that attract wildlife throughout the year.
(JAMES A.) GARFIELD NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE - LAWNFIELD
8095 Mentor Avenue, Mentor, OH 44060, 1-440-255-8722. Website
Entrance Fee is $5/person. Youth 15 years old and under are free. Visitors holding Interagency Annual, Senior or Access Passes from the National Park Service are also free. Operating hours and specific programs are listed on our website.
The James A. Garfield National Historic Site includes the home of James Garfield, the 20th President of the United States. The nearly 8 acre property also includes a carriage house that now serves as the site’s Visitor’s Center, a former horse barn that’s been converted into educational space and other outbuildings, including a windmill. The site was nicknamed “Lawnfield” by journalists who camped out in the front yard during the presidential campaign of 1880.
The Visitor Center is housed in an 1893 carriage house on the grounds of the home. It features scenes from Garfield's career as a politician, including his inauguration, his nomination at the Republican Convention, and his death after he was shot by an assassin. Also featured are documents, clothing, and funeral memorabilia. An 18-minute video describes President Garfield's life and career.
Regularly scheduled tours through the Garfield House, including behind-the-scenes tours and child-friendly tours.
Special Events include:
Youth Tour of the Garfield Home: Every Saturday at noon, youth are invited to participate in a special tour of the Garfield Home. Geared towards preschoolers – age 8, children focus on the Garfield family and how they lived in the 1880’s. Parents must accompany children. Entrance fee is $5/person, and youth 15 and under are free
Behind the Scenes: First Saturday of every month at 11 am. Explore various areas of the Garfield Home and property not shown on the standard house tour, including: the basement and third floor of the main house, four floors of the reconstructed windmill, and other outbuildings. Guests are expected to walk and stair climb without difficulty. Appropriate footwear is required – no flip flops or sandals please. Tour is about 2 hours, and is $15/person. Minimum age is 16 years old. Please call ahead for reservations, 440-255-8722.
Old Village Market: Fridays Aug. 1 – Aug. 22, from 4 to 8 p.m. Enjoy the combination fresh-produce market and arts festival featuring specialty food items, locally-grown produce, musicians, entertainers and artists on the expansive lawns of the James A. Garfield property.
Ghosts of the White House: Sat. Oct. 25, enjoy an evening tour of the President’s home and stories of presidential hauntings at the White House and Capitol Buildings. Minimum age for this tour is 16 years old. Reservations are required, please call ahead, 440-255-8722.
GEAUGA LAKE & WILD WATER KINGDOM
1060 North Aurora Road, Aurora, Ohio (located on Rt. 43 between Solon and Aurora). The park is open daily through Sunday, Aug. 24, and will reopen for Labor Day Weekend, Aug. 30 through Sept. 1. For admission prices, season pass prices and detailed park hours, visit our website or call 330-562-8303.
Every member of your family will have a full day of sliding and splashing fun at Geauga Lake’s Wildwater Kingdom. Covering 17 acres, Geauga Lake’s Wildwater Kingdom is Northeast Ohio’s premier waterpark and features the 390,000-gallon Tidal Wave Bay wave pool, and Splash Landing, a three-story play structure that includes a dozen water gadgets and a giant bucket that dumps 1,000 gallons of water on guests below. For more water adventure, challenge Thunder Falls, Ohio’s tallest slide complex, and the 60-foot-tall Liquid Lightning funnel slide, or meander along the Riptide Run inner tube river.
Guests who want to simply relax can enjoy private VIP Cabanas that are available for daily rental. The cabanas feature lounge chairs, a table and complete food and beverage service.
GENEVA STATE PARK
Located on Ohio’s northeastern shoreline. Park entrance is six miles North of State Route 534, turn left. Park Office: 1-440-466-8400. Marina: 1-440-466-7565. Camp Grounds: 1-440-466-5069 Website
Geneva State Park offers a variety of summer fun from swimming, fishing, boating, to treating nature enthusiasts to the park's freshwater marshes and estuaries associated with Lake Erie. Camping with a full facility campground is available. Lake Erie provides unlimited opportunities for boaters. A six-lane boat ramp provides easy access to the lake's central basin. The picnic areas of Geneva are especially inviting. The shelter houses scattered about, are available on first-come, first-served basis. Three miles of multi-use trails traverse the park. Fishing and hunting is permitted (in designated areas) with a valid Ohio hunting/fishing license. A 300-foot guarded swimming beach adorns the shoreline of Lake Erie.
Return to top
GENEVA-ON-THE-LAKE LODGE & CONFERENCE CENTER
Located at 4888 North Broadway (State Hwy 534). Adjacent to Geneva State Park, visitors staying at the lodge can avail themselves of swimming, boating, fishing and all the beauty of Lake Erie. Guests can stay in one of the lodges finely appointed guest rooms (the majority with lake views). The Lodge offers luxury at a value price, featuring three-star accommodations with the level of quality and service you would expect from a four-star hotel and conference center. Enjoy a day taking in the activities of Geneva Park and then relax at “Horizons,” an upscale restaurant with a striking octagonal dining room with breathtaking views of the Lake. Amenities at the lodge include a fitness center, game room, indoor pool, outdoor pool complex and gift shop.
An ideal place for business get-togethers, conferences or family gatherings, the lodge offers seven flexible meeting rooms and many different packages and events to meet all your needs anytime of the year. For room reservations or information call 1-800-801-9982 or visit our website.
GOODTIME III CRUISE SHIP
East 9th Street Pier, Cleveland, 44114, (216) 861-5110. Website
Summer schedule: June 15 - Labor Day, Tues. - Sun./river cruises: Noon & 3 p.m. Sun.: 1 p.m. & 3:30 p.m. Day Time Sightseeing Cruises:
Adults, $15.00; Children (2-11), $9.00; Seniors, $14.00. Group rates available for 20 or more. Evening Entertainment Cruises: call for ticket prices & information. Call or visit our website for more inforatiion.
Take a cruise on the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie aboard the Goodtime III, the largest quadruple-deck 1,000 passenger luxury ship on the Great Lakes. Enjoy the fast changing panorama of Cleveland's skyline and get to know about our All-American City. Refreshments are available from the ship's galley. The Goodtime III operates from Cleveland's North Coast Inner Harbor at E. 9th Street Pier. Weather is no problem, we sail rain or shine. Private charters are also available.
Call for ticket availability: After-to-Work Cruise (Friday only); Dance Cruise (Fri. & Sat.). By reservation only: Dinner-Dance Cruise (Sat. only); Daily Luncheon cruises (Tues.-Sat.); and Sunday Brunch Cruise. Note: $1.00 Coupon (Valid Tues.-Fri.) available on line, visit our website.
GREAT LAKES SCIENCE CENTER
601 Erieside Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44114. Located on Cleveland’s North Coast Harbor, between the Rock Hall and the Browns Stadium. 1-216-694-2000. Website Open Daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Separate admissions for Science Center and Cleveland Clinic OMNIMAX® Theater. Combination tickets available. Tickets can be purchased at the Science Center Box Office, website or call Ticketmaster Vista at 1-866-866-4506.
Enjoy a day of hands-on family fun at the Great Lakes Science Center. We have more than 400 interactive exhibits for you to see, touch and explore. Watch a tornado twist and twirl, see your hair stand on end, and use a composite beam to lift a car! Discover the wonders of science, biomedical technology, renewable energy, information technology and the Great Lakes. We offer fun and education for all ages.
Learn about one of the greatest scientists of all time when you see our special exhibition, Einstein, on view May 24 – Sept. 2. Present your Cuyahoga County Public Library card at the Great Lakes Science Center box office on Sundays and receive $2 off admission to Einstein. (Discount valid Sundays only, May 25 – September 7, 2008.)
Thrill to the excitement of an OMNIMAX® film. Surround yourself with breathtaking images and ultra-real digital sound under a domed screen that soars six stories high. Journey to Mars, explore the Great Lakes, and more.
Come aboard the Steamship William G. Mather Museum, and marvel at the 618-foot historic Great Lakes freighter. Enjoy lunch in our café, and shop for great science-themed gifts in our Science Store.
Return to top
HALE FARM & VILLAGE
2686 Oak Hill Road, P.O. Box 296, Bath, 44210. For information on tours, programs and special events visit our website
Admission: $14.50, adults; $12.50, seniors; $7.50, children (3-12) Hours of operation: June-Labor Day: Wed.-Sat., 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun, Noon-5 p.m. Closed Mon. & Tues. Sept. & Oct.: – Limited hours weekdays, open weekends. Additional special programming available throughout the year.
Meet the residents of the Village of Wheatfield, circa the 1860’s, in NE Ohio’s outdoor living history museum. Learn about everyday life during the Civil War while exploring restored houses. Period crafts are made on the premises by skilled artisans. Visit the gift shop and cafe in The Gatehouse Visitors’ Center.
Special Events: Fun on the Farm programs for preschoolers (ages 2-6) Jun. – Aug., reservations required; Old Fashioned Family Fun Days, Aug. 17; Music in the Valley, July 12 & 13; Civil War Weekend, Aug. 9 & 10; Antique & Classic Car Show, Aug. 24; Harvest Festival, Oct. 11 & 12; Farm House Suppers, Nov. 7-8, 14-15, 21-22, 28-29 at 6-9 p.m. – each Farm House Supper is limited to 12 people. Special admission fee and reservations are required; Lantern Tours, Dec. 6-7, 13-14, 19-21 – a favorite holiday event returns with a leisurely guided tour around the Village of Wheatfield.
Additional programming and special events throughout the year. Call 1-330-666-3711 or visit our Website.
HARBORTOWN - 1837 HISTORIC DISTRICT
5741 Liberty Avenue, Vermilion, Ohio 44089 (Rt. 6 & Rt. 60), (440) 967-4262. We are just ½ hour away from Cedar Point, Thomas Edison's and Milan Museum, island hopping, 20 golf courses, 4 hotel water parks, with more coming, you will have many memorable moments visiting Lake Erie's Vacationland area.
…Step into Lake Erie's Nautical Past…Vermilion's Harbor Town 1837 is a downtown historic district uniquely combining yesterday's landmarks with today's summer fun, found in the center of Vermilion, Ohio. This exceptional blend of the past and the present promises a visit to remember for many years to come.
Nostalgic and nautical, the area offers the old salt tang of New England right on Lake Erie's shores year round. Its territory is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The area snuggles Vermilion's scenic coastline and bustling riverfront. Vermillion is truly a place to stay or visit for ALL SEASONS.
Bring your club or organization or hop on a motor coach to spend the day in Vermillion with a Step on Guide sharing our narrated heritage and guiding you from the minute you arrive,. Enjoy a delicious dinner, paddlewheel boat ride, museum, walk on the beach, and have time for shopping in our specialty shop.
You are invited to visit our many fine restaurants, unique shops, the Inland Seas Maritime Museum; enjoy the beautiful parks, a boat ride on the river, miniature golf course for the family, a sandy beach, swimming, fishing, fishing charters, marinas, public docks, public boat ramp and enjoy staying in one of many motels and historic bed and breakfasts in the downtown area.
Some of the upcoming 2007 Special Events: Jun. 15-17 - Festival of the Fish; Jun. 23 - Historic SummerFare; Jul. 10-Aug. 26 - Concerts in the Park; Aug. 4 - Antiques in the Park; Aug. 12 - Annual Mill Hollow Crusin' Car Show; Sept. 23 - Wollybear Festival; Sept.-Oct. - Haunted State Street School; Nov.-Jan. - Operation Twinkle; Nov. 23-24 - Christmas Fun Fair; Dec. 1 - The Christmas Tree Ship; and Dec. 22-23 - Vermillion Shopper's Extravaganza. For in-depth details on the above listed events and others, check our website.
HICKORY RIDGE FARMS HAYRIDES
16309 South Boone Road, Columbia Station, Ohio 44028, just west of Strongsville, off route 82. (440) 236-3558.
Website For reservation for hayrides eMail Admission: adults, $10.00; children under 10, $8.00; children under 2 are free. Groups of 10 or more required. Reservations required. A great idea for friend and/or family get togethers, children's birthday parties, scout group outings, day care and school field trips.
Take an old-fashioned (tractor-drawn) hayride through the natural setting of this 80-acre farm. All rides are exclusive, we do not intermix groups. Your ride takes you through the woods and over the river (creek), then back to your own personal campfire and wiener roast, which includes individually handcrafted wiener roasting sticks, wieners and buns, country baked beans, homemade macaroni salad, and Hickory Ridge Sweet-water. Add to that, a 'sweet' ending with marshmallow toasting! Be sure to ask about our special October Pumpkin Hunt Rides. Call well in advance for reservations.
HILLCREST ORCHARDS
50336 Telegraph Rd. (State Route 113), Amherst, 44001, take I-90, State Route 2 or the Ohio Turnpike west from Cleveland to the Baumhart Rd. exit. Travel south on Baumhart Rd. to State Route 113, proceed west on State Route 113 about 1 mile to the farm. The phone number is (440) 965-8884. The farm market is open from the end of July through Thanksgiving. Pick your own apples are available on the weekends in Sept. and Oct. and pick your own pumpkins are available on the weekends in Oct. Call or check the website for the current picking schedule.
Hillcrest Orchard is a 4th and 5th generation farm located in Amherst, Ohio. Covering 90 acres of prime Ohio farmland, Hillcrest produces apples, peaches, pumpkins and other fall decoratives. In addition to a wide selection of locally grown produce, the market offers a variety of other crafts and decoratives, including straw, Indian corn and corn stalks. Visit our booth at the Farmers Market at Crocker Park on Saturday mornings!
Wanting to provide a total and unique farm experience, many activities have been added to the list of fun things to do during your visit to Hillcrest Farm. Visitors can spend time picking their own apples in the orchard, take a hayride out to the pumpkin patch or conquer the 7 acre corn maze. Younger children can also crawl through the straw tunnel and navigate the crate maze in the activity barn.
This year’s 7 acre corn maze pays homage to our national pastime, BASEBALL! The 23 stations that guests search for in the maze will have information about the great game of baseball and pay tribute to the 60th anniversary of our Cleveland Indians winning the World Series in 1948. Learn facts about the players that led the Tribe on the march to a world championship. The maze will be open on Saturday and Sunday in September and October from 10-6. Admission is $8.00 for adults (13 and over) and $6.00 for youths (age 4-12). Discounts are available for groups of 20 or more.
HISTORIC ROSCOE VILLAGE
660 North Whitewoman Street, Coshocton, Ohio 43812, call 1-800-877-1830 for a free information packet or for further details for tour times, directions, lodging, restaurant and shop hours. Website Admission into the Village is free; Exhibit Buildings: adults $9.95; student $4.95; family $29.95; children 4 and under free; senior, group, and AAA rates available. Nearby horse-drawn canal boat rides available at extra charge (seasonal).
Open year-round, Historic Roscoe Village is a restored 1830s canal town. Visitors of all ages will enjoy the costumed interpreters on the Living History Tour, skilled artisans demonstrating 19th century crafts, and hands-on activities like candle dipping, tin punching, weaving, and ink stamp printing. Roscoe Village offers festivals throughout the year, shopping in unique stores housed in original 19th century buildings, dining, garden strolls, a museum and nearby horse-drawn canal boat rides.
Upcoming 2008 events:
Music Box Society International Band Organ Rally – July 17-19. This organization will bring mechanical music to the village such as music boxes, musical clocks, singing bird boxes, band organs, reproducing pianos, nickelodeons, calliopes, carousel organs and much more.
Wine, Art & Garden Festival – Sept. 13. This one-day event features wine tasting by local wineries, wonderful artists stationed throughout the village and a select group of garden and craft vendors set up on the sidewalks of Roscoe Village. Guests can stroll through the gardens of Roscoe Village or take part in a 'Park & Walk' tour of private gardens above Roscoe Village. $3.00 admission charge.
Apple Butter Stirrin’ Festival – Oct. 17-19. With over 100 crafters, this invitational craft festival celebrates the sights, sounds and scents of autumn. Smell the fresh apple butter simmering over an open fire as you stroll through the street to the tunes of bluegrass and old-time music. Watch cooking demonstrations, participate in a craft auction, a hog-calling contest or sign up for a quilt raffle. Events throughout the week-end will include living history tours, canal boat rides, musical entertainment and children’s activities. $3.00 admission charge.
Christmas Candlelightings – Dec. 6, 13 & 20. The first three Saturdays in Dec., Roscoe Village cheers on the holiday season with its Christmas Candlelighting Ceremonies. Share in the tradition of lighting the Christmas tree and participate in lighting your own candle as "Silent Night" is heard throughout the crowd. Throughout the day, guests can enjoy art with Santa, strolling carolers, live reindeer, roasted chestnuts, candlelight tours, complimentary hot-mulled cider and cookies and many other holiday festivities.
HISTORIC SAUDER VILLAGE
22611 State Rt. 2, Archbold, 43502, less than 3 hours west of Cleveland via Ohio Turnpike-Exit Gate 25, 1-800-590-9755 for more details or visit our website. Open late Apr.-Oct.: Tues.-Sat.: 10:00 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. 12-4 p.m. Closed: Mon., except holidays.
Admission: adults, $12.50; students (6-16), $6.25; children 5 and under free with parents; seniors rates available. Free parking. Sunday Special – kids 16 and under are FREE every Sunday this season!
Allow 4 hours to tour this living-history Village where you’ll visit with costumed interpreters and working craftsmen as you wander through the 40 restored homes and shops at your own pace. And when children need a break, it’s a good time to visit the barnyard with animals or the play area, or ride the miniature train and horse-drawn buggy.
At “Natives and Newcomers” guests can step into the daily lives of the Native Americans and Europeans who lived together in Northwest Ohio. Experience their lifestyles and crafts and visit the wigwams, trading post, gardens and fields. At Little Pioneers Homestead, children 18 months to 8 years of age can “play pioneer” while “milking” the fiberglass cow, “gathering” eggs, washing clothes on a scrub board and pretending to cook over the fireplace. There are also plenty of special events scheduled throughout the season - call or visit the website for a calendar of events!
Reasonably priced food in Village Cafe and Barn Restaurant and overnight accommodations available in campground or the Sauder Heritage Inn with new indoor pool and hot tub. Plan a visit soon to enjoy experiences rich in history, hospitality, creativity and fun!
HISTORIC WAREHOUSE DISTRICT
Historic Warehouse District Development Corp., 614 West Superior Ave., Suite 680, Cleveland, 44113, (216) 344 3937. Website
To schedule a tour (groups of ten or more) to suit your interests, time frame and budget, please call (216) 344-3937. We serve tourists, schools, and convention and community groups; tour fees vary according to group size and preferred format. To complement your tour, we’d be happy to assist you with meal arrangement at any of the District’s fine eateries. (We require at least 10 days’ advance notice.) For those interested in exploring Cleveland’s Original Neighborhood on their own, self-guided walking tour booklets are available for $5 each.
The Annual Warehouse District Street Festival is scheduled for Aug. 24 from Noon until 8 p.m. on West 6th Street. Enjoy great food, live entertainment, an art show, children’s activities and much more!
Visit the Downtown Farmer’s Market on Mondays in the summer from 4:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. in front of Constantino’s Market (1278 West 9th St.)
THE HOLDEN ARBORETUM
9500 Sperry Road, Kirtland, 44094, 440-946-4400. Located off Kirtland-Chardon Road in Lake County. Take Exit 193 off I-90 from Cleveland or Erie PA. Turn South on Route 306 and follow the signs. For a detailed map, events and class schedule call 440-946-4400 or visit our website. Open 7 days a week, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., year round. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas day.
Spanning 3,500 acres, straddling two counties, and documenting more than 120,000 plants, Holden connects people with nature for inspiration and enjoyment, fosters learning and promotes conservation. Holden’s horticultural focus is on the documented collection of trees and shrubs, which are displayed in gardens accompanied by groundcovers and perennials, in themed collections and natural areas. A partner in the Greater Cleveland Biodiversity Alliance, Holden is a significant source of environmental and ecological research and conservation efforts.
Share in the Four Seasons of Beauty year round. May brings the annual spring plant sale, the largest in Ohio. During the summer and fall, come hike our miles of trails, look for critters in our 26 ponds or explore our beautiful gardens, forests, fields and natural areas. Holden offers guided tours and rugged hikes, classes for all ages, and tram tours. And in the winter, Holden offers cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Celebrate every season at The Holden Arboretum.
Return to top
INLAND SEAS MARITIME MUSEUM
(Harbour Town Historic District)
480 Main Street, Vermilion, 44089, 1-440-967-3467. Website
Open daily: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. except closed on Christmas, New Year's, Easter and Thanksgiving. (New wintertime hours in effect May 31, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.)
Admission: adults, $6.00; children under 12, $5.00; preschoolers under 6, free; seniors (65+), $5.00; family rates, $14.00. Call for group rates for 8 or more.
Located in the nautical town of Vermilion, the Inland Seas Maritime Museum is a key attraction on Ohio's north coast, and is a focal point of the historic Harbour Town. Visitors to the museum come from around the world as well as from the U.S. and Canada. The museum contains one of the world's largest collections of Great Lakes historical maritime artifacts, documents, ship models, and original artwork. Its Clarence S. Metcalf Great Lakes Maritime Research Library is highly regarded by researchers and historians, and has been used by researchers from the History Channel, the Discovery Channel, and many others. The Society's quarterly Inland Seas® quarterly journal is considered one of the best historical journals throughout the Great Lakes region.
You can take a virtual tour of the Inland Seas Maritime Museum, view listings of some of the collections in the Clarence S. Metcalf Great Lakes Maritime Research Library, find information on special events, and even shop in our bookstore! Come and explore why the museum is truly a great place to discover the Great Lakes!
KALAHARI WATERPARK RESORT - SANDUSKY
Located on State Rte. 250 (Milan Road) just north of exit 118 off the Ohio Turnpike. For reservations and guest information, call (877) 525-2427. Website
Introducing the largest indoor water park in Ohio, Kalahari Waterpark Resort. Immersed in the lush designs, sounds, and openness of Africa, guests enjoy the experience of this resort, infused with African influences and magnificence of its awesome artwork and fabrics. Exotic African decor extends throughout the hotel, restaurant, shops and activities, all geared to give you fun!
The 80,000 square feet Waterpark features: FlowRider - one of only two indoor stand up and surf attractions in the USA. 50,000 gallons of water each minute flow under you to create a five-foot ocean-like wave. Combining the thrills of surfing, skateboarding and snowboarding all in a wet, wild, and safe environment; Zip Coaster, designed to give riders a feel of weightlessness while propelling them through 500 feet and 30 thrilling seconds of freefalls, dips and high-banking turns. Lazy River, 920 feet of smooth gliding down a Lazy/Torrent River. Wild Kingdom, surrounded by a 3,000 sq. ft. pool, enjoy net crawls, water guns, slides from 6-20 feet high with several levels of interactive water fun.
For those who want to relax, enjoy a leisurely beautifully prepared dinner or snack found in any of the exclusive dining facilities. Or enjoy an array of massages, body wraps, skin care, reflexology and nail care services in Spa Kalahari. Shop, play and fun activities surround guests to make this vacation a unique adventure.
Play for the Day! Can't stay overnight? Come experience all the thrills, spills & wet & wild fun of Kalahari's Waterpark. All day admission (10 a.m.-Close) - $34 per person. Evening admission (5 p.m.-Close) - $24 per person. Waterpark admission passes available on a first come, first serve basis. Availability and pricing of waterpark passes is subject to change and is not guaranteed. Pricing based on ages 2 and up.
KIRTLAND TEMPLE
(A National Historic Landmark)
9020 Chillicothe Road, Kirtland, 44094, (440) 256-3318 (one mile south of I 90, 25 minutes from Cleveland). Website
Hours: Mar. - Oct., Mon. - Sat., 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sun., 1-50 p.m.; Nov. - Dec., Mon. - Sat., 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Sun., 1-4 p.m.; Jan. & Feb., weekends only, Sat. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sun., 1-4. Closed: Christmas Eve, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, and New Year’s Day.
Admission: $2.00 preservation fee. For groups of 15 or more please call for reservations.
This National Historic Landmark was built in the 1830s by the followers of Joseph Smith. The Kirtland Temple was the first house of worship for the Latter Day Saints. Guided tours of the Kirtland Temple last an hour and begin with a 10-minute video. Kirtland Temple is owned and maintained by the Community of Christ.
Return to top
LAKE ERIE NATURE & SCIENCE CENTER
Located in Cleveland Metroparks beautiful Huntington Reservation at 28728 Wolf Road, Bay Village, 44140, (440) 871-2900, Website
Admission: Free! Open daily: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Planetarium charges a nominal fee ($1 - $3) for star shows.
Lake Erie Nature & Science Center is the area’s premier informal science education facility with more than 100 live animals on exhibit, free wildlife rehabilitation, interactive nature and science classes and programs for all ages and a world-class planetarium.
Exploration, discovery and fun await you! Come nose-to-beak with a Bald Eagle. Get “wrapped up” in our snake exhibits. Touch a turtle or get up-close to native Ohio wildlife like fox, deer, turkeys and more.
Take a class and learn about the wonders of nature. Stargaze in our Planetarium. Escape on a peaceful hike through the woods or to Lake Erie. Relax by our pond, listen to the waterfall and enjoy our gardens. You can even find help for the injured animal found in your backyard!
The Center also makes a unique setting for your special events like birthday parties, receptions and corporate conferences. Call or log on to our website to find out about live animal exhibits and outreach, camps, pre-school and school-age programs, planetarium presentations (including off-site programs with our portable StarLab!), scout events, field trips and activities for the entire family.
Awaken your curiosity about the natural world you live in. Come to Lake Erie Nature & Science Center and Discover the Universe in your Backyard!!
LAKE METROPARKS FARMPARK
(A Lake Metroparks Facility)
Lake Metroparks Farmpark is located at 8800 Chardon Rd in Kirtland. Take I-90 to the Rt. 306 exit. Head south on Route 306 five miles to Chardon Road (Route 6); turn left on Route 6, and head east one mile. Entrance to Farmpark is on the right 1-800-366-3276 or 1-440-256-2122. Website Open everyday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Admission is adults, $6; Ages 60+, $5; ages 2 to 11, $4; children under 2 and Farmpark members are free. Free admission does not apply to Vintage Ohio, Village Peddler, Halloween Hayrides, or Country Lights. Farmpark is closed Mon. Jan. thru Mar., New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, & Christmas, and for Vintage Ohio. For more information about Farmpark or special events offered throughout the year, call (440) 256-2122 or (800) 366-FARM (3276).
See farm animals up close and learn about agriculture and how it affects our daily lives. Enjoy a day at the farm discovering what farmers do and more - first hand! Milk a cow, make ice cream, make bread, see how cheese is made, and so much more. Take a wagon ride and meet over 50 breeds of farm animals. At the Arena, visit a variety of farm animals in the Well Bred Shed and watch the Border collie herd sheep. Grind grain or make bread at The Grain Place. Watch a sheep herding demonstration with the border collie.
Learn about plant life in The Great Tomato Works and hydroponics exhibits. The Plant Science Center is home to The Great Tomato Works exhibit, a tomato plant that is 24 times life-size and teaches guests about the parts of the plant. Also featured is a hydroponics lab and beautiful themed gardens, including a "Backyard Kitchen Garden" and a "Native American Garden". Education is also featured in this area with a solar array, a wind turbine and composting area to enlighten visitors about the future of farming and renewable resources.
Lake Metroparks Farmpark presents seasonal opportunities for visitors to experience farm life first-hand throughout the year. These activities include sheep shearing in May, a three-acre corn maze in late August through early October, and cider pressing in September and October.
2008 Special events:
Farmer’s Market: Wednesdays, Jun. 4– Oct. 29; Working Dog Weekend: June 7 – 8; Dairy Days: June 14 & 15; Woolfest: Jun. 28 - 29; Vintage Ohio – Aug. 1 - 2, special rates and times apply; Village Peddler: Sept. 13 & 14, no discounts apply - special rates and times apply; Fall Harvest Festival: Sept. 20 & 21; Corn & Pumpkin Weekend: Oct. 11 & 12; Halloween Hayrides – Oct. 10-11, 17-18, 24-25 (tickets go on sale Sept. 2); Country Lights – Dec. 5 – 23 (tickets go on sale Nov. 3).
LOLLY THE TROLLEY
P.O. Box #91658, Cleveland, Ohio 44101, (216) 771-4484 or 1 800-848-0173. Website
Admission: adults, $17 and $11; seniors (60+) $16 and $10; children (17 and under) $12 and $8 depending on choice of 1 or 2 hour tour. (Children under 5 not permitted on 2 hour tour.) Call for exact schedule, reservations and fares. One hour tours are recommended for families with younger children. (All tours are subject to state sales tax.)
Take a sightseeing tour with Cleveland's official Goodwill Ambassador! One and two hour tours are available daily from May through October 31 and on Fridays and Saturdays only from November 1 through April. Reservations are required for all tours which depart from the Powerhouse at Nautica on the west bank of Cleveland's Flats. Holiday Lights rides are also a popular offering.
Tours cover the past, present and future of Cleveland with narration by an entertaining Driver Guide for over 20 miles and 100 points of interest. Let Trolley Tours of Cleveland and Lolly the Trolley show you a Cleveland you never knew existed!
Return to top
MAIZE VALLEY FARM MARKET AND WINERY
6193 Edison Street, NE Hartville, OH 44632. 3 miles EAST of Hartville. From I-77 take Rt.224 East to Rt. 43 South to Rt. 619 (Edison St.) East, Maize Valley is on the North side of 619. 1-330-877-8344 (VEGI). Call for information on all family, tour, group outings, wine tastings, corn mazes, wagon rides, greenhouse and more. Website
Located in a restored 150 year old barn, our family farm market and winery features outstanding homegrown produce, baked goods, deli meats and cheeses, and wines. We carry a wide variety of produce, most of which is grown on our family farm or nearby when in season. Crops include sweet corn, green beans, tomatoes, cantaloupes, watermelons, cabbage, peppers, squash, cucumbers, and much more. Our deli features over 100 Amish Country meats and cheeses, as well as a bakery with fresh baked pies, breads, and cookies. A flower filled greenhouse can also be found when you make the trip to our family farm market. Hanging baskets, planters, pots, and more await you.
Bring your kids and spend the day. Our market features an interactive petting farm, pedal cars, rascal racers, and a wide range of fall activities including pumpkin picking, wagon rides, straw bale crawl, and our famous Corn field Mazes.
Award-winning grape and fruit wines make our destination special and worthwhile. We feature wines from Catawba to Cabernet, when you mix that with all we do at Maize Valley We Make Great Wine… FUN! We are a different kind of winery with our huge deli selection and great activities. Fri. and Sat. nights we have live music. Appetizers, Angus burgers grilled chicken and more will await you too. Check our Website for the fun events, and special attractions.
We offer different options for the group planner or individual for a few hours or a day on the farm. The animals are back in the petting pasture, the wagons are rolling and there are lots of things to do in the kids play area including the tire crawl, Noah's ark, and sand bin box. Check our website for special weekends and events throughout the summer and into the fall. We are focused on the family and groups of all sizes. Family parties, company picnics, corporate outings, from five to five hundred, let us know what your needs are and we will work it out. We specialize in giving relaxation to the group planner. Spring, summer, to fall we do it all.
Seasonal Events: Wagon Rides, Pumpkins and so much more make Maize Valley the Place to Be!! Plus our Pumpkin Cannon really ROCKS! We really got the hang of this thing and found out we can shoot a pumpkin out up to one half mile! As we say, "come see pumpkins fly." This is how Tim Allen would market pumpkins! We even added a barrel train and a peep show…(It's a chicken pen folks).
MALTZ MUSEUM OF JEWISH HERITAGE: AN AMERICAN STORY
2929 Richmond Rd., Beachwood OH 44122 located just a few miles from Interstate 271. 216-593-0575 Website Admission: adults, $7; seniors, $5 (60 yr+); students, $5 (12 & older & college students); free for all children under 12. Additional charge for special exhibitions. Groups are welcome, discounted tickets and 10% discount in our Museum store. Call 216-593-0575 for more information and to book a tour. Parking is free. Hours: Sun., Tues., Thurs., & Fri.: 11 am-5 pm; Wed., 11 am-9 pm; Sat., Noon-5 pm; Mon., closed. Check website for holiday schedule.
Opened in 2005, The Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage joins an elite group of world-class institutions as a living testament to the courage and achievements of Cleveland’s Jewish community. The stories of individuals and families - past and present - come to life through state-of-the-art exhibitions, interactives and films, oral histories, photographs and artifacts. The Museum includes The Temple - Tifereth Israel Gallery, an internationally-recognized collection of Judaica, and a special exhibition gallery featuring important exhibitions of national and international acclaim.
Upcoming special exhibitions include: Zap! Pow! Bam! The Superhero: The Golden Age of Comic Books, 1938-1950, Sep. 16, 2008 thru Jan. 4, 2009. Check website for other activities and exhibits in 2008.
Coming next year: The Enemy Within: Terror in America – 1776 to Today, May 16, 2009 through Aug. 16, 2009. This marks the first time any exhibition from the International Spy Museum will visit the state of Ohio!
MAPLESIDE FARMS
294 Pearl Road, Brunswick, 44212. Call 1-330-225-5577 (stores) for further information or 1-330-225-5576 (Apple Farm Restaurant). Website Summer hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Monday, closed. Fall hours (late Sept.-Oct.): 7 days a week, 9 a.m-9 p.m.
Mapleside Farms includes: apple orchard with 4,000 trees, restaurant, bakery, gift shop, farm market and deli, and cafe. Homemade ice cream and frozen yogurt is featured in our ice cream parlor, which is open May through October.
Fall activities include: the 35th Annual Johnny Appleseed Festival, Sept. 20 & 21, with 100 crafters, Harvest Hideout for Kids, food, horse-drawn wagon rides, entertainment, corn maze, and children’s activities. Weekends in October feature horse-drawn wagon rides through the apple orchards, corn maze, Harvest Hideout Playland, bag your own apples and tons of pumpkins. Fall Foliage Fest, Oct. 10, 11 & 12. Orchard tours for schools and groups in Sept. and Oct. Hayrides and bonfires for groups.
Winter activities include: Wild Game Nights in the restaurant, Nov. 7 & 8. Santa Fest: Dec. 6, 13, and 20 with Breakfast with Santa, kids crafts, and wagon rides. For further information on activities call, 330-225-5577 or visit our website.
MEMPHIS KIDDIE PARK & MINIATURE GOLF
10340 Memphis Avenue, Cleveland, 44144, (216) 941-5995. Website Open Apr. 20 thru Sept. 30, 10 a.m.-9:00 p.m. (Weather permitting-open 1st two weeks in Oct.) Free admission & parking. Ride tickets: Book of 25 - $21.50; Strip of 10 - $12.75; Single tickets - $1.40. Miniature Golf: $3.75, children under 5 free with a paying adult. Birthday parties & groups welcome, call for party/group rates.
Ride eleven rides including the merry-go-round, train, NASCAR, Space Shuttle, roller coaster and lots more! Play our 18 hole miniature gold course, one of the most challenging in the Cleveland area.
MERRY-GO-ROUND MUSEUM, INC.
A Museum of Carousel Art & History
301 Jackson Street, Sandusky, 44870, located in the heart of downtown Sandusky, Ohio at the corner of West Washington (Rt. 6) and Jackson Streets, 1-419-626-6111. The museum is open year round. For a preview of the exhibit and more visit our Website.
Information on days of operation, times, admission prices, programs, events, parties, educational programs, or group rates (reservation only) call or visit our website. Consider hosting a party at the museum. Theme birthday party packages include an ice cream social, afternoon tea, A Knight to Remember, and Carousel Princess.
Fun for everyone, the Museum of Carousel Art and History entertains and educates visitors on the art and history of carousel, including transportation, leisure activities, technology and the impact carousels had on America. Housed in Sandusky's historic former post office building, the museum exhibits carousel art from national and international private collections. Also on display are antique tools, workbenches, and carvings from the Dentzel Carving Shop of 1867. Wood carvers demonstrate their talent creating new carousel animals, including a horse that will be raffled off to a lucky winner in December. Take a ride on the fully restored Allen Herschell merry-go-round in the center of the gallery! Visit the Lead Horse Gift Shop for carousel related items.
MIDDLEFIELD CHEESE HOUSE, INC.
15815 Nauvoo Road, Middlefield, 44062, 1-800-32-SWISS or (440) 632-5228. (Rt. 608, 1-1/2 miles north of Rt. 87. Forty-five minutes from Cleveland.) Website Monday-Saturday: 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. All year. Closed Sunday. Admission: free. Handicap accessible.
Visitors are invited to view a film which carefully describes each step in the cheese-making process. Then take a walk-thru of the Cheese House Museum which features Old World carvings from Switzerland, antique cheese-making equipment, Amish artifacts and historical photos. See our unique visual display depicting the expansion of Middlefield Cheese from 1956 to the present.
A selection of popular cheeses and meats, Geauga County Maple Syrup, gourmet items, free cheese samples and other delectables are available in the Cheese Chalet Shop.
MUSKINGUM WATERSHED CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
1319 Third Street NW, P.O. Box 349, New Philadelphia, OH 44663, phone 1-330-343-6647 or Toll Free 1-877-363-8500. The MWCD, headquartered in New Philadelphia, manages 10 lakes and more than 54,000 acres of land and water in an 18-county area in Ohio. Check our Website for information on times open, special events, boating, golfing, fishing and fish species, banquet facilities, and detailed maps of each lake. Admission: $5.00 per vehicle; some special events slightly more.
Memorial Day - Labor Day: Park: 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.; Beach: 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Open year round camping. Call for further information on campground hours, special events, and reservations.
ATWOOD LAKE PARK 4956 Shop Road NE, Mineral City, 44656, 1-330-343-6780.
(Take I-77 to Bolivar Exit #93, then east on route 212 approximately 13 miles to park.) eMail
Cottages, resort with 104-room lodge and golf course, cabins; swimming, fishing, boating, two marinas on 1,540-acre lake; tent and trailer sites. Call for rates or check our website for more information.
CHARLES MILL LAKE 1277A SR 430, Mansfield, OH 44903, 1-419-368-6885.
Located in Richland and Ashland counties, near Mansfield, accessible by I-71 or US 30 to State Routes 603 and 430. eMail
500 campsites, swimming beach, camper cabins, picnic shelters, hiking trails, 1,350 acres of water surface.
PLEASANT HILL LAKE 3431 SR 95, Perrysville, Ohio 44864, 1-419-938-7884.
Located in Richland and Ashland Counties, near Loudonville, accessible by SR 39 or SR 603 to SR 95. eMail
380 campsites, swimming beach, concession, vacation cabins, camper cabins, picnic shelters, activity center, hiking trails, and playground, 850 acres of water surface.
SENECA LAKE 22172 Park Road, Senecaville, Ohio 43780, 1-740-685-6013.
Located in Guernsey and Noble counties, near Cambridge, accessible by I-70 and I-77. eMail
513 campsites, swimming beach, concession, bicycle rentals, vacation cabins, camper cabins, picnic shelters, log cabin nature center, hiking trails, amphitheater and playground, 3,550 acres of water surface.
TAPPAN LAKE P.O. Box 29, Deersville, Ohio 44693, 1-740-922-3649.
Located in Harrison County. eMail
The lake is 7 1/2 miles west of Cadiz on US 250. Take CR 55 to Tappan Lake Park. 500 campsites, swimming beach, concession stand, vacation cabins, camper cabins, activity center, nature center, hiking trails, laundry, camp store, and playground, 2,350 acres of water surface.
Return to top
NASA GLENN VISITOR CENTER
21000 Brook Park Road (next to Cleveland Hopkins Airport) 44135, 1-216-433-2000. Website Monday-Friday: 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Sunday: 1-5 p.m. Holidays: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Closed: Thanksgiving, December 24, 25, 31, January 1 and Easter. Admission: free. Programs are conducted with 6 weeks advance reservation. Individuals, groups and families welcome. Wheelchair access. Gift shop. Monthly special events and facility tours.
Since 1971, NASA visitor centers have provided information to the public on NASA aerospace programs and their benefits to humanity. The NASA Glenn Visitor Center opened its doors to the public in 1976.
Trace the development of space exploration and aerospace programs. The Visitor Center has 6 galleries covering 6,000 square feet of floor space. Come and see their most popular exhibit, the Apollo Command Module used on Skylab 3. It is a tribute to Glenn’s many contributions to the Apollo program. Also on display are a Moon Rock and the actual spacesuit that was worn by former astronaut Paul Weitz during his Skylab 1 mission. See a model of the International Space Station. Learn about its importance to mankind and Glenn’s involvement in history’s largest peacetime endeavor. There is a miniature drop tower on display. Come and actually operate the drop tower and learn about its importance to microgravity research. While at the Visitor Center see the Combustion Module-2 Crew Trainer, an interactive exhibit that was dedicated in memory of the Space Shuttle Columbia crew. The exhibit allows you to learn more about the science that was part of Columbia’s STS-107 Mission.
Also see the Aeronautics gallery with interactive exhibits, including a flight simulator. Learn about important research that is done in aeronautics and space at Glenn Research Center and see many more exhibits related to space exploration. The Visitor Center’s newest exhibit is the Constellation gallery. Learn about NASA’s vision for space exploration that will return astronauts to the moon, and eventually on to Mars. Test your skill at landing the Altair Lunar Lander, an interactive exhibit.
The Visitor Center also features a large video screen used for regularly scheduled videos about NASA programs and live broadcasts of space shuttle launches, in-flight activities and landings.
Facility tours are scheduled for the first Saturday of each month from April through October. Special events take place on the third Saturday of each month to provide visitors access to interesting lectures, unique programs and kids activities. Advanced registration guarantees admission to the tours and special events. Call (216) 433-9653 to register or click for details.
Note: All adult visitors are required to present a government-issued photo identification, such as a driver’s license. Access to the NASA Glenn Visitor Center is limited to U.S. citizens only. Visitors should be advised that due to heightened security at Glenn, they may experience a slight delay upon entering the Center. All vehicles are subject to inspection.
THE NATURE CENTER AT SHAKER LAKES
2600 South Park Boulevard, Cleveland, Ohio 44120, 1-216-321-5935. Free admission. For additional info on programs, services, offerings, or events, call or visit our Website.
The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes is dedicated to conserving a natural area, connecting people with nature and inspiring environmental stewardship. Since 1966, it has drawn students, families, birders and other nature-lovers to the wooded haven of the Shaker parklands. The Nature Center is surrounded by eight miles of wooded hillsides, marshlands and gardens along the Doan Brook and Shaker Lakes, offering access to six natural habitats: lake, stream, marsh, field, forest and ravine. Two trails allow visitors of all physical abilities to experience sights and sounds of the natural world. The elevated boardwalks of this trail enable everyone to experience the stream, forest and marsh habitats. The Stearns Trail offers visitors the opportunity to experience other natural habitats on the Nature Center's grounds. In addition to its outdoor spaces, the Nature Center has classrooms, galleries and exhibition spaces filled with hands-on learning tools for all ages. The Nature Center's spaces are available for rental in a truly unique setting.
The Center also offers a variety of nature programming for all ages. Its year-round Outdoor Adventure Classes allow children ages 2-½ through 10 to gain experiences in the environment and become budding naturalists. Adults will enjoy monthly Environmental Town Hall discussions focusing on today's critical environmental issues.
Special events this year include: the annual Breakfast with the Birds; Bug Bash; Hike for Nature; Celebration of Lights and Enchanted Forest. The Nature Center also offers numerous service opportunities.
NORTH CHAGRIN NATURE CENTER
Sunset Lane entrance of North Chagrin Reservation, Mayfield Village, 44143. 440-473-3370. Website
The center is open 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., daily.
North Chagrin Nature Center is surrounded by a popular wetland area, and is situated between Sunset Pond and Sanctuary Marsh. North Chagrin Nature Center is surrounded by a popular wetland area, and is situated between Sunset Pond and Sanctuary Marsh. The wetland area is home to muskrat, beaver, snakes, turtles, fish, insects, and more! Interpretive programs focus on a variety of natural history topics and visitors enjoy special events, movies, and hands-on learning adventures hosted throughout the year. Dragonfly, bat and butterfly surveys, and vernal pool monitoring are just some of the ongoing activities that are spearheaded by the staff. Located adjacent to North Chagrin Nature Center is the Nature Education Building, which features a wildlife observation window, and a recently renovated forest and nightlife exhibit.
Return to top
OHIO & ERIE CANAL RESERVATION
E. 49th Street entrance of Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation, Cuyahoga Hts. 44125. 216-206-1000. Website
The center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily.
Located in the heart of Greater Cleveland, CanalWay Center is Cleveland Metroparks newest outdoor education facility and is located in Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation, just a stone’s throw away from Cleveland’s industrial hub. CanalWay Center exhibits present the rich history of the railroad systems and the Ohio & Erie Canal and its impact on Cleveland’s transportation and economic history. An awe-inspiring view of the Short-Line Railroad, river valley forests, two overlooks and a variety of trails leading to the Towpath trail and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park are all fascinating reasons to visit. CanalWay Center’s exhibits and programs explore the relationships between people, industry and nature.
OHIO AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER
1680 Madison Avenue, Wooster, Ohio, 44691, 1 mile south of U.S. 30, about 1 hour from downtown Cleveland via I-71 and Rt. 83. 1-330-263-3700. Website E-mail Jane Houin, OARDC Public Relations, for group tour information. Office Hours: Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Reservations: Not necessary for self-guided tours; permitted 7 days, daylight hours. Guided tours available for groups of 10 or more, weekdays from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., with minimum of two-week advance notice. Dates subject to availability. Group rate: $2/person for guided tours; student groups are free of charge. Capacity: 25 in labs, unlimited outdoors. Bus parking on premises, handicapped accessible, restrooms.
OARDC is the research arm of Ohio State University's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. Come visit the Wooster campus to see the 85-acre Secrest Arboretum or take a guided tour of the facilities. The arboretum is home to over 2,000 species, varieties and cultivars of trees and shrubs for evaluation and viewing. Visit the azalea garden, rhododendron display, deciduous shrubs, dawn redwood trees, flowering crabapple and more. And don't forget to meander through the Garden of Roses of Legend and Romance – it's a "noseworthy" destination! Many laboratory tours are available in guided tours. The Visitor Center features photos, activities, and historical displays highlighting the history of Ohio agriculture and OARDC. A new K-12 center features many interactive displays and activities for youth to gain a hands-on understanding of the science of agriculture and how it impacts their lives. The K-12 center and the Bug Zoo (which has been relocated to Thorne Hall) are both open by appointment during business hours.
THE OHIO SCOTTISH GAMES
(Sponsored by the Scottish American Cultural Society of Ohio)
The Ohio Scottish Games, a thirty-one year old tradition, is a family event held at Lorain County Fairground on SR18 & SR58, that is sure to introduce you to modern Scotland and take you back to experience the Scottish culture of ancient times. As all of the Scottish performers take to their stages and compete and perform in their various arts, the atmosphere is transformed from 21st century Midwest to an old-world Celtic experience. Website On Friday night, June 27, 2008: witness Highland Dancing taken to another level in the solo and group choreography competitions, in which the dancers add flare and spirit to traditional dance moves. After an exciting Highland Concert, featuring Alex Beaton as performer and MC, witness the March of the Clans, which will lead you to the Ohio Scottish Games Ceilidh, a traditional Scottish gathering where you can see the Brigadoons perform, and learn some Scottish Country dances. On Saturday, June 28, 2008: don your kilt to join your fellow clansmen and experience the competitive feeling where you will witness the Highland Dancers, bagpipe bands, solo pipers, harpists, and fiddlers compete for the highest honor in their respective arts. Sports enthusiasts will enjoy the heavy athletics, including the hammer throw, and caber toss. Be sure to check out the sheepdog herding, and children’s games planned throughout the day. To satisfy your appetite, don’t forget to stop and savor a meat pie or shepherd’s pie, available throughout the day of the games, and wash it all down with one of our traditional brews. Craft and retail vendors, animals, clan tents, genealogist, and the British cars and motorcycles can all be visited throughout the day. End the day by experiencing the thrill of the massed bands, when all of the bagpipers and drummers perform together at closing ceremonies. Come celebrate your Scottish heritage, or learn about the Scottish traditions of now and yesteryear. For more information visit our website.
OLDEST STONE HOUSE MUSEUM
Lakewood Historical Society
14710 Lake Avenue, Lakewood 44107, 216-221-7343. Website Feb. - Nov.: Wed., 1-4 p.m. and Sun., 2-5 p.m. Closed major holidays.
Admission: Free, donations are welcome.
Stone house, built in 1838, features 19th century furnishings and artifacts on permanent display.
PIONEER WATERLAND & DRY FUN PARK
10661 Kile Road, Chardon, 1-440-285-0909. Located 45 minutes from Cleveland. Website Open daily: June 14-Aug. 17; Weekend of Aug. 23 & 24, 2008. Call to confirm schedule for early & late season. Park and dry attractions open daily at 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on the weekends and 7 p.m. on weekdays. Water attractions open: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Please check website for assorted pricing packages, discount tickets, etc.
Wet! Dry! Exciting! Relaxing! Children can ride and slide, splash and play in KIDSLAND. Kids of all ages will enjoy the giant Dinosaur Slide, big Gorilla Double Slides, Elephant and Turtle Slides located throughout the park. There’s also Adventure Island and Kiddie Waterland with its adorable Pelican Slide, raindrop and Water-Spouts. A special Tot-Land Play area provides a variety of ride-on toys, crawl-through tunnels, play houses and castles in a partially shaded area.
Dominating WATER-FUNLAND are the 6-story high waterslides: the Twin Bonzai Speed Slides, the “Thriller” and the “Screamer” Spiraling Waterslides; and the awesome BLACK HOLE DARK SLIDE, the only completely enclosed waterslide in Northeast Ohio! Additional attractions include: The Lazy Innertube Ride, and 3-acre cement activity pool. You don’t have to be a swimmer to enjoy the water, you can take one of the paddleboats out for a ride on the scenic 6-acre natural lake.
PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
2121 George Halas Drive, N.W., Canton 44708, 1-330-456-8207. Located in Canton at Exit 107A of I-77. Website
Hours: Open Daily: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Summer Hours: (Memorial Day - Labor Day) 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Closed Christmas Day
Admission: adults, $16; children (6-14), $10; seniors (62+), $13. Group rates for 12 or more available.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is America's premier sports showplace! Whether you are a diehard fan or just a casual observer, the Hall of Fame offers something for every fan every age. Test your football knowledge with the Hall of Fame Tele-Trivia, match wits with some of the game's greatest play callers in our Call the Play Theater, and take the quarterback challenge in the Complete a Pass throwing cage or even master EA Sports Madden Football. Visit the GameDay Stadium Theater, a state-of-the-art turntable theater. Shot entirely in super 35mm Cinemascope and presented in a wide-screen dimension, it delivers the full force of pro football energy right into the lap of every visitor. Browse through the Museum Store which features merchandise from all 32 NFL teams, plus Hall of Fame collectibles.
QUAKER SQUARE
135 South Broadway, Akron, 44308, 1-330-253-5970. Website Open daily: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Sun.: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
The Crowne Plaza Quaker Square is, without a doubt, one of the most unique and exciting hotels and shopping/restaurant complexes in the world - all the rooms are round!. Built in the old Quaker Oats Mill and grain Storage Silos, it is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Kids of all ages will enjoy eating lunch or dinner in an authentic 1938 Broadway Limited railroad car at the Trackside Grille and Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor. It is a must for a quick sandwich, sub or salad, enjoy your favorite fresh baked pie or ice cream treat. Trackside dining room features a daily breakfast buffet, garden fresh salads and a great dinner menu including, steaks, seafood and chicken. For unique and unusual gift items, browse in over an acre of the General stores, News Stand and Mill Street General store candies featuring baked oatmeal cookies and the area's largest selection of nostalgic candies and treats. Quaker Square has a little bit for everyone to enjoy! Including great Get-Away packages available for families and friends.
Return to top
RED WAGON FARM
16081 East River Road, Columbia Station 44028, (440) 236-3007. (Rt. 252, 1 mile south of Rt. 82.) Website
A family farm growing fresh vegetables and fruit. Open July through Oct. Pumpkin festival every Sat. and Sun. in Oct. from Noon - 5 p.m. Wagon ride, hay maze, good food and all the pumpkins you can carry. Visit our website for more information.
16144 South Boone Road, Columbia Station 44028, (440) 236-5678 Pick your own strawberries in June. Call for information on strawberry picking.
RITTMAN ORCHARDS
13548 St. Rt. 94, Doylestown 44230, 1-330-925-4152. Website Hours: Tues.-Sat., 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; closed Mondays. Open all year, but with shortened hours during Nov.-May.
We are a family owned and operated fruit and vegetable farm. We have pick-your-own and pre-picked strawberries, red and black raspberries, blackberries, apples and pumpkins. We also grow peaches, plums, blueberries, sweet corn, melons, and many vegetables that we pick for our market. Please call or visit our website to find out what is currently in season. We bake pies and cookies in our market every day, and we also offer jams and jellies, honey, ice cream and many Ohio products.
ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM
1100 Rock and Roll Blvd., 751 Erieside Avenue, Cleveland, 44114. Located on the shores of Lake Erie at East Ninth Street. 1-216-781-ROCK Website For hours of operation, admission prices, special exhibits and events, group rates, directions, or membership details, call or visit our website.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum stands as a monument to the living heritage of rock and roll music. Located on the shores of Lake Erie in Cleveland, this nonprofit museum educates visitors, fans and scholars from around the world about the history and continuing significance of rock and roll music.
The Museum is truly an interactive experience with the largest single collection of rock and roll memorabilia, five theaters and multiple interactive displays. The artifacts in the collection tell the stories of rock and roll’s greatest artists and help explain the music’s impact on the political, social and historical issues of Western culture.
To capture the ever-evolving spirit of rock and roll, the collection features many new items this year. Now open is Take Me Out: Baseball Rocks!, an exhibit examining the intersection of Baseball and rock and roll, as well as celebrating both national pastimes. Open through the baseball season. Also new this summer is Mike McCartney’s Liverpool Life, a photo exhibit open until Sept. 21, 2008.
The world's only museum celebrating the soundtrack of your life. See how the Rock Hall is changing and remember how the music changed you.
ROCKY RIVER NATURE CENTER
24000 Valley Parkway, Rocky River Reservation, North Olmsted, 44070 440-734-6660. Website
The center is open daily 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
A natural habitat for birds and other wildlife, Rocky River Nature Center is a major attraction for nature lovers in Rocky River Reservation. The pet-friendly facility is one part museum and one part educational facility that combines the elements of learning and exploration in a fun, relaxed environment. Rocky River Nature Center houses live specimens of various animals in the Hideaway Hollow exhibit. Visitors can rest and rock in rocking chairs while taking in the sights of the bird viewing area. Off the deck portion of the nature center, visitors may see local fish enthusiasts fishing, and view the 90-foot high cliffs, where 350-million-year-old fish fossils have been discovered. Programs and events are held throughout the year, for young and old alike. Surrounding the center are trails, a new outdoor amphitheatre, wetlands and a wildlife habitat management area that features deer, fox, rabbits and other wildlife.
ROSBY GREENHOUSE & BERRY FARM
Families throughout NE Ohio enjoy picking their own farm-fresh red raspberries. Spacious aisles separate the rows of succulent berries, adding comfort and beauty to your U-Pick experience. Kids of all ages find the berries easy to pick and delicious to eat. The typical raspberry season begins in mid-August and runs until the first hard frost (around Halloween). Always call ahead 216-661-6102, ext. 2 or check our website’s Berry Update page for current picking conditions and hours.
Discover our full-service Greenhouse & Garden Center centrally located on the Rosby Farm, tucked away in the scenic Cuyahoga Valley, yet just a few minutes from major freeways. Find a beautiful selection of seasonal annuals, perennials, herbs, hanging baskets, soils, mulch, pottery, gift items, and more. Call for hours. A detailed map and directions are provided on our website.
Return to top
SCHOENBRUNN AMPHITHEATRE
P.O. Box 450, New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663, 1-330-339-1132. (Less than 1 mile from Schoenbrunn Village. Off I-77, 1-1/2 hours from Cleveland.) Website June 13-August 23 nightly except Sundays. Play begins at 8:30 p.m. Admission: adults reserved, $15.00; child reserved (12 and under), $7.00; seniors reserved, $13.00. Monday and Tuesday: all adults $10; children, $5.00. Backstage tours: every performance evening of Trumpet in the Land and The White Savage at 6:30 p.m. actors will take you on a guided tour of the picturesque Schoenbrunn Amphitheatre. Learn the history of these two plays, and see the “behind the scenes secrets” that create the magic. Adults $3.00/Children (12 and under) $2.00.
3 Great Shows! One Great Place!
Trumpet in the Land
Ohio’s first outdoor drama, now in its 39th Season! Relive the Revolutionary War when the Ohioland was the western frontier of America.
The White Savage
The gripping story of British Indian Agent and border renegade, Simon Girty, set during the explosive period of the American Revolution.
FootLoose
When Ren and his mother move from Chicago to a small farming town, Ren is prepared for the inevitable adjustment period at his new high school. What he isn’t prepared for are the rigorous local laws, including a ban on dancing.
SCHOENBRUNN VILLAGE STATE MEMORIAL
One mile southeast of New Philadelphia on Rt. 259. It is about 4 miles southeast of Exit 81 off I-77, 1-800-752-2711 or 1 330-339 3636.
Website Memorial Day-Labor Day: Thurs.-Sat., 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. & Holidays: Noon-5 p.m. Available for large group tours and weddings, call for arrangements. Admission: adults, $7.00; seniors, $6.00; students, $3.00; children 5 and under, Free. (Additional fee will apply during special events.) Inquire about membership packages.
Come and experience the tranquility of Schoenbrunn Village. Stroll through the Village of “First” in the Ohio Territory! May 3, 1772 Reverend David Zeisberger settled the Moravian mission. Its purpose to convert the Delaware Indians to Christianity. He and a small band of Christian Indians brought to the territory the first school, church, Peace Society and the first Temperance Society organized West of the Alleghenies. Reverend Zeisberger was also the first person to write the Delaware language and write a schoolbook teaching it to the Delaware Indian children and adults. They had never seen their language written before. Spend an afternoon and see a partial reconstruction of the sixty house village. Seventeen buildings including a church, schoolhouse and log cabins were reconstructed by the Civilian Conservation Corp in 1930. The site also includes the original mission cemetery, visitor center, museum, gift shop and natural areas with picnic facilities. Owned and operated by the Ohio Historical Society.
SHAKER HISTORICAL MUSEUM
16740 South Park Boulevard, Shaker Heights, Ohio 44120, (216) 921 1201. Website Museum hours: Sun., Tues.-Fri., 2-5 p.m. Closed: Mon. & Sat. & holidays. Admission: adults, $2.00; children (6-18), $1.00; Members, free. Spirit Tree Museum Shop is open free during museum hours.
The Shaker Historical Society has a museum, library, and gift shop. The museum’s collection includes furniture, fabrics, tools, etc., designed and made by the Shakers; and materials about the history and development of Shaker Heights.
The annual Shaker Heights Twilight Benefit and Garden Tour is major fundraiser for The Shaker Heights Historical Society. Proceeds from this annual event (which is usually held in June) fund the preservation of the history, traditions and heritage of the Shakers, Shaker Heights and its immediate surrounding areas. The graceful, historic homes and beautiful gardens inspire and delight residents across Northeast Ohio.
Programs on local and regional history are offered, as are special events, lectures, membership and volunteer opportunities. Check our website for this information and more.
SPLASH LAGOON INDOOR WATER PARK RESORT
One of the largest indoor water park resorts in the USA is a year-round family destination. Located in Erie, PA at exit 24 off I-90.Water Park Office: (814) 217-1111. Reservations: 1-866-3SPLASH Website
Flowing waterfalls amidst tropical palm trees set against a panoramic backdrop of South Sea Island décor makes Splash Lagoon Indoor Water Park and Resort a year-round family destination. This tropical paradise is a constant 84 degrees. Attractions include swirling body slides, hot tubs, pools and party rooms. The Treasure Island Arcade offers over 110 games and a large prize redemption center. The family can also take in a game of LazerTag at Splash Lagoon in a 3,000 Sq. ft arena. A recent $5 million expansion adds more water fun including the Shark Attack water slide, a giant 30,000 gallon Frog Pond family hot tub, new children's activity rooms, birthday party rooms and an outdoor sun deck. Splash Lagoon is the perfect resort getaway for every season.
Splash Lagoon guests can stay and play for days at a time and have convenient access to 270 hotel rooms and suites from Residence Inn, Comfort Inn and Holiday Inn Express. The three hotels feature connecting walkways attached to the water park keeping guests comfortable in any weather. The Splash Water Taxi Shuttle picks up and delivers guests to participating hotel and restaurants in the area. Boston's Pizza and Sports Bar, also attached to the Park, features gourmet pizza, pastas, and other Italian dishes in a family-oriented sports bar environment.
Book your overnight stay at Splash Lagoon Indoor Water Park Resort through the Reservations Center at 866-3-SPLASH. Check out Splash Lagoon's website for directions and special offers.
STAN HYWET HALL AND GARDENS
714 N. Portage Path, Akron, Ohio 44303, (330) 836-5533. For details on upcoming special events, check our Website.
Apr. through Dec.: Tues.-Sun., 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Closed: Mon. Also closed, Easter, Nov. 12 & 13, Christmas Eve., Christmas Day, New Year's Eve.
Admission: adults, $12.00; children (ages 13-17), $6.00; children 12 and under and members, free.
Experience the charm and beauty of Tudor Revival architecture in the former home of Franklin A. Seiberling, co-founder of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. The mansion features 65 rooms filled with treasures from around the globe. The artfully landscaped grounds are in bloom from May to October. Stan Hywet (Old English for "stone quarry") has been open to the public since 1957 when it became a museum and cultural center. See the splendor of the mansion, take a leisurely stroll through the many beautiful gardens, or take part in any one of many public activities throughout the year. Visit our Butterflies in Flight Apr. 1 - Oct. 15. Visit our train exhibit, live butterflies and our eleven TREEmendous TREEhouses, May 12 - Oct. 31.
STEAMSHIP WILLIAM G. MATHER MUSEUM
“The Ship That Built Cleveland”
Great Lakes Science Center, 601 Erieside Avenue, Cleveland, 44114, 216-694-2000. Website: or www.greatscience.com
Jun., Jul. & Aug.: Mon. through Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. & Oct.: Fri.-Sun.: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission: adults, $6.00; seniors (65+), $5.00; youths (2-17), $4.00 Great Lakes Science Center members, Free. The historic Mather has limited handicapped accessibility.
Discover what life onboard a working Great Lakes freighter was like as you tour this restored 618-foot historic flagship. Explore the 1925-built Mather from stem to stern and see its huge cargo holds, brass and oak pilot house, elegant guest quarters, and four-story engine room. Walk the decks and marvel at the “engineering firsts” that helped transform Northeast Ohio into a great industrial center.
Upcoming 2008 events:
Rock and Boom: July 4, 7 p.m. Enjoy fireworks from the decks of the Mather and tour the ship before the show. Food and drinks sold onboard. Fireworks begin at dark. Event admission $10.
Air Show Deck Party: Aug. 30-Sept. 1, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thrill to the excitement of the Cleveland National Air Show as jets roar overhead. Hear commentary about the show and planes. Food and drinks sold onboard. Event admission $15, members $12.
Remember the Fitz: Nov. 8, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
This special tour tells the story of the November 1975 sinking of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald. Free admission.
STEARNS HOMESTEAD
Parma Area Historical Society
6975 Ridge Road, Parma 44129 1-440-845-9770. Just south of Parmatown Mall. Website May 18–mid-Oct. (2008 season) Museum and grounds open each Sat. & Sun. from 1-4:00 p.m. Special hours for events*. Admission free. Parking free. Picnic tables available. Group and school tours by appointment.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. An Ohio Historical Marker erected in 2001, identifies Stearns Homestead as a historic Ohio farm. Stearns Homestead, Parma’s 48-acre farm, is owned by the City of Parma and operated by the Parma Area Historical Society as an educational and historic farm. When purchased by the city of Parma, Gibbs farm (as it was then known) was the last remaining working farm in Parma. The Stearns house, built by Lyman Stearns in 1855, is now a museum which gives visitors a glimpse of pioneer life in the Western Reserve. The Gibbs House (1920) is furnished with items appropriate to the period during which the Earl C. Gibbs family lived in the home. The Country Store offers handcrafted goods, souvenirs, and light refreshments. A “Yankee-style” barn and outbuildings shelter an assortment of farm animals. Programs and farm animals will delight children and adults alike.
*Special Events include: Antiques & Collectibles Market, Sat. July 12, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Fund-raising Rummage Sale, Sat. Aug. 23, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Farm/City Days, Sat. & Sun., Sept. 13-14, 1-4 p.m.; Fall Harvest Festival, Sat. & Sun., Oct. 11 & 12, 1-4 p.m.; Christmas at the Farm, Sat. & Sun., Dec. 6 & 7, 1-4p.m.
All proceeds from events are used to maintain Sterns farm programs. Membership, “Adopt an Animal,” and volunteer opportunities available.
STRONGSVILLE HISTORIC VILLAGE
Strongsville Historical Society
13305 Pearl Road, Strongsville, Ohio 44136, Located ¼ mile north of Route 82, (440) 572-0057 Membership opportunities available. Website
Open Apr. thru Nov., Wed., Thurs., Sat., and Sun., 1-4 p.m.. Special arrangements can be made for guided tours by calling (440)572-0057.
The Village has a collection of homes and buildings that reflect significant events and activities during the development of the community of Strongsville. Buildings include: the Lathrop House, a Victorian Italianate style house built in the early 1870s; the Roe-Chapman House, a Dutch Colonial Revival house built about 1904; the Roe-Chapman Barn built in 1909 which contains a collection of tools and farm equipment used from the early 1800s through the mid 1900s; the Academy, built in 1842 features many school artifacts and also houses the Roe Millinery which displays hundreds of hats worn by women of middle America; the Bradley House, a small Greek Revival brick house built in 1832 and soon contain a doll museum; the Baldwin House, an early Western Reserve Cottage built in 1823 whose basement contains a model train exhibit by Strongsville's Society of Model Railroad Engineers; the Log Cabin, exhibiting the way of life in early times from 1816 to about 1825; and the Olds General Store which served Strongsville from 1927 to 1964 and contains the Strongsville Historical Society's Gift Shop, a great place to shop for one-of-a-kind items.
The Strongsville Historical Society also hosts several Victorian-style teas (including a children's tea), a Harvest Festival on Sept. 29 & 30, 2007, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.; "Christmas in the Village," Dec. 1 & 2 and 8 & 9, 2-5 p.m.; and several educational lectures throughout the year. Call (440)572-0057 for more information.
The Strongsville Historical Village is owned and operated by the Strongsville Historical Society, a non-profit organization.
SWINGS-N-THINGS FAMILY FUN PARK
8501 Stearns Road, Olmsted Twp., Ohio 44138 (1 ½ mi. south of I 480, Stearns Road Exit, 300' south of Bagley Road), (440) 235-4420 for information tape and additional questions. Website
Open year-round. See website for hours. Available for birthday parties, group outings, etc. No admission charge. Pay as you go, or purchase an UNLIMITED PLAY ALL DAY PASS. Some height and weight restrictions apply. All pricing available online. Purchase online and SAVE!
Outside attractions include: 2 mini-golf courses, 2 go-kart tracks, batting cages, bumper boats and paintball. Inside attractions include: Gameroom, Ground Zero - The Laser Shootout, AMF Mini Bowling, Kids Korner play area and a homemade gourmet Ice Cream Shoppe.
Return to top
THE TEMPLE-TIFERETH ISRAEL
The Temple Museum of Religious Art is located at University Circle. Business offices are at 26000 Shaker Boulevard, Beachwood, OH 44122, phone (216) 831-3233. Website
Admission, group tours and lectures are free. Tours of The Temple Museum of Religious Art are available by appointment.
The Temple-Tifereth Israel houses The Temple Museum of Religious Art. The Museum's permanent collection includes: antique silver Torah ornaments, other Jewish ceremonial objects, folk art objects, historic documents, manuscripts, sculptures, paintings and various arts and crafts collections. Other exhibits and smaller special shows are displayed in the loggia of The Temple in Beachwood.
THISTLEDOWN RACECOURSE
21501 Emery Road, North Randall, Ohio. Located at the corners of Emery/Northfield and Emery/Warrensville Center Road. Call (216) 662-8600 for reservations and information on group packages and special events. Website
Open through October 25 for live Thoroughbred racing. Live racing days are Thurs. - Mon. (check calendar for exceptions). Post time: 1:15 p.m. Open for full-card simulcasting year round, seven days a week. Doors open daily at 11:30 a.m. Parking and admission are free.
Silks Restaurant and Lounge is located on the sixth level. Guests can enjoy a panoramic view of the track and live racing while enjoying a variety of menu items including soups, salads, sandwiches and hot entrees. On special race days, Silks features a Brunch Buffet Package offering a delicious selection of salads, fruits, pasties and breads, hot entrée items, breakfast foods, pasta and desserts. Reservations and pre-purchased tickets are required. Call 216-662-8600, ext. 275 for details.
Thistledown is home to Ohio's richest and most prestigious horse racing event, the $300,000 (G2) Ohio Derby on May 31. Ohio Derby Day festivities include live music entertainment, outdoor grilling, kids' activities, live radio remotes, contests, giveaways and more.
TOWER CITY CENTER
At the heart of downtown shopping is the $400 million dollar development known as “Tower City Center,” located in the Terminal Tower on Public Square. The Terminal’s lower level was an old train depot, renovated in 1989 to become a retail center and an updated Rapid Transit station with a connection to the airport.
Tower City Center is a complex of unique shopping, dining and entertainment venues. Tower City features specialty boutiques as well as some of the best-known names in retailing: American Greetings, Bath & Body Works, Brooks Brothers, Charlotte Russe, Johnston & Murphy, Lane Bryant, MAC Cosmetics, Nine West, The Children’s Place, The Shoe Dept. and Victoria’s Secret. The restaurants include: World renowned Bice Ristorante, the famous Hard Rock Cafe, the popular Houlihan’s, Morton’s The Steakhouse, nationally recognized for its Prime Beef and Fresh Seafood, and Cleveland’s newest sports bar Tower 230 Bar & Grille.
The eleven-screen cinema for viewing entertainment, Tower City Cinemas, is home to the Cleveland International Film Festival. Free self-parking for Tower City Cinemas patrons (up to 5 hours) is available at Tower City’s self-park lot located off of Huron Road. Simply have your parking ticket validated at the box office when you go to the movies.
Tower City also offers Wifi, FREE wireless internet access. For more information call 216.771.0033 or visit our website.
USS COD SUBMARINE
This 312-foot long World War II submarine is docked on North Marginal Rd. in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, between East 9th St., and the western edge of Burke Lakefront Airport (about one block east of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame). (216) 566-8770. Website
Open daily from May 1 to Sept. 30, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For information on admission prices, group rates, reservations, links to other submarines open to the public, a virtual reality tour of the submarine and more, check our website.
USS Cod is maintained and operated as a memorial to the more than 3,900 submariners who lost their lives during the 108-year history of the United States Navy Submarine Force. Cod is one of the finest restored submarines on display and has not had stairways and doors cut into her pressure hull for public access.* Visitors to this proud ship use the same vertical ladders and hatches that were used by her crew. The U.S. Department of the Interior designated Cod a National Historic Landmark.
Below the deck: your tour of Cod includes her two torpedo rooms, officers’ quarters, control room, galley, crew’s quarters, and her two engine rooms housing her five massive Cleveland-built diesel generators.
* Please note: the USS Cod has not been altered from her wartime configuration. Visitors must enter & exit through original hatchways and climb up and down ladders.
Return to top
WARTHER CARVINGS
331 Karl Avenue, Dover 44622, 1-330-343-7513. (1 ½ hours from Cleveland) Website
Mar.-Nov.: Open daily; hours, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Closed: New Year's Day, Christmas Day, Easter and Thanksgiving.
December: Open daily; hours, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Jan.-Feb.: Mon.-Sat. hours, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Admission: adults, $9.50; children (7-17), $5.50; children 6 & under, free.
Home to over 64 model trains all carved to exacting detail, Ernest Warther combined history and artistry with motion by making the locomotives run authentically. Many of Warther's carvings are moving, working models. His precision and sense of detail on the wood and ivory carvings reflect his amazing skills and passion for wood. He has also carved: canes for Presidents and dignitaries, a working replica of a steel mill where he once worked, and the famous Pliers Tree of 511 interconnected working pliers. In addition to viewing and learning about the life of Ernest Warther, visitors will see Freida Warther's 100,000 button collection which she has collected for over 73 years. Among her button collection: hand-painted ceramic buttons, Goodyear rubber buttons, pearl buttons, brass military buttons, celluloid buttons, calico buttons and even a button from Mrs. Lincoln's Inaugural Dress. Visit a working knife shop, Swiss-style gardens or purchase a set of Warther's famous kitchen knives.
WEST SIDE MARKET
1979 West 25 Street (West 25th & Lorain Avenue), Cleveland 44113, (216) 664-3387. Website
Mon. and Wed.: 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Fri. and Sat.: 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.
One of the largest old-world style indoor markets in the U.S. with over 108 tenants representing more than 20 ethnic groups. Walk around and see the different foods. Buy a loaf of fresh bread, some fresh lunch meat and eat your lunch on the balcony overlooking the market.
WESTERN RESERVE HISTORICAL SOCIETY HISTORY MUSEUM
10825 East Blvd. Cleveland, 44106 (216) 721-5722 Website Admission: $8.50/adults $7.50/seniors $5/children (ages 3-12), tours available, groups welcome.
The Western Reserve Historical Society (WRHS) was founded in 1867, making it the oldest cultural institution in Northeast Ohio. The Society’s headquarters on East Boulevard (in University Circle) houses and curates an extraordinary group of nine related but separate distinguished collections including The Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum, The Halle Costume Wing, The Archives/Library and The Hay-McKinney Mansion.
Family activities and public programs available through the year. Check our website for details.
ZOAR VILLAGE STATE MEMORIAL
Located on State Rt. 212, Zoar, Ohio 44697, 1-800-262-6195 or 1-330-874-3011. (Exit 93 off I-77, 60 miles south of Cleveland.) Website Dates open: Weekends only in April-May. Memorial Day thru Labor Day: Wed.-Sat., 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun. and Holidays, Noon-5 p.m. Available for large group tours and weddings, call for arrangements. Admission: adults, $8.00; seniors, $7.00; students, $4.00; children 5 and under, free. (Additional fee will apply during special events.) Inquire about membership packages.
Come and explore the buildings of Zoar Village! Zoar was the vacation spot of the early 19th century. Settled in 1817, it was to be the quiet settlement of a Separatists Commune, but became a beautiful vacation spot for Canal Boat Travelers and other vacationers trying to get away from the big city life. It was even visited by a President who stayed in the Zoar Hotel. Zoar is known for its hospitality, hotel, and beautiful gardens. Come step back in time and walk the streets as so many other visitors have done throughout the centuries. Shop in the original Zoar Store and buy bread in the original Zoar Bakery. Become a part of history!
Owned and operated by the Ohio Historical Society.
Return to top