Beck Center for the Arts is a non-profit, performing arts and arts education organization dedicated to inspiring and enriching the quality of life for Northeastern Ohioans. We combine professional theatrical productions with comprehensive curriculum-based arts education in Creative Arts Therapies, dance, music, theater, and visual arts, serving over 60,000 annually in Cuyahoga, Lorain, Lake, Medina, and Summit Counties. Crain's Cleveland Business named Beck Center the 11th Largest Cultural Attraction in Cuyahoga County.

Cedar Point, the second oldest amusement park in the country, sits at the end of a slender strip of land, at the edge of Lake Erie. Located about an hour and a half's drive from downtown Cleveland, the park boasts the largest number of roller coasters in the world, ranging from the venerable, wooden "Blue Streak" to the 420 foot tall "Top Thrill Dragster." 

Geared for kids ages one to eight, the museum's hands-on exhibits introduce children to science, technology, and cultural diversity. 

Nothing beats watching baseball on a sunny summer's day -- for kids and adults too. Jacob's Field offers a number of activities for kids in addition to baseball. There's the fun ballpark food and Kidsland, a special area that gives kids the opportunity to play with a variety of toys and visit with the team mascot, Slider. There are even a kids' concession and kid's team shop.

The Rocky River Reservation is part of the Cleveland Metroparks System...an "Emerald Necklace" that surrounds the city with forests, parks, lakes, and meadows. Walking, biking, or rollerblading the multi-purpose trail in the morning or at dusk, you are almost guaranteed to see White-Tailed Deer, raccoons or bats. There are 2 golf courses, a Nature Center, hiking trails, bridle trails, and fishing along the river...almost anything to suit your outdoor desires.

The Cleveland Metropark Zoo is home to 84 endangered species and set upon 168 rolling acres. There is also a 2 acre rainforest exhibit where 10,000 live flowers, trees, and shrubs and more than 600 animals can be found. Every 12 minutes, a tropical rainstorm complete with rain, thunder, wind, and lightning, occurs. Zootrams offer free transportation throughout the zoo and stroller and wagon rentals are available at the Zoo’s gift shop. Picnic areas are available and there are many food concessions throughout the property. Parking is free and the MetroPark Zoo is open every day except Christmas and New Year’s Day. More information about this location can be obtained by calling (216) 661-6500. 

The Cleveland Museum of Natural History, located in Cleveland's University Circle area, is a treasure trove of over 4 million specimens. Exhibits include Dinosaur bones, natural gemstones and fossils, and a huge section on Ohio birds, plant life, insects, and archeology. A planetarium teaches kids and adults all about the moon, the stars, and the galaxy.

Offers more than 340 interactive science exhibits, a six-story-tall Omnimax theater and “The Polymer Room” which is an indoor/outdoor toddler playroom. 

The Botanical Garden's Children's Garden is a magical place. Located at University Circle, nestled behind the Rose Garden and down from the Woodland Garden, it is a variety of flower and vegetable gardens with kid-size signs, gates, and fences. Fun features include a wheelchair accessible tree house, a cave, worm bins, a watery bog, and a scrounger's garden. It's one of the few Children's Gardens in the United States. 

Get in touch with the natural world at this non-profit center in Bay Village that offers hands-on nature and science discovery, more than 100 live animals on exhibit, a planetarium and wildlife rehabilitation. Programs include parent & tot, preschool, after-school enrichment, family, scouts and school field trips. Log on to www.lensc.org for the current program schedule, including star shows for all ages and free “Meet An Animal” wildlife encounters. Open Daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed major holidays) Free admission; donor-funded! Call 440-871-2900 or email info@lensc.org. 

East of Cleveland in Lake County, gives kids the opportunity to visit a working farm, full of livestock, and see how honey, milk, butter, and other farm products are made. 

The Lakewood Family Room is committed to building early childhood atmospheres where adults and children thrive, where environments foster friendship, curiosity, self-esteem and joy; where parents are welcomed and respected; where talents of all families are fully challenged and justly rewarded; where a positive difference results for the children and families that we serve. A wonderful place for a new resident raising a young family to meet other families and learn about Lakewood.

FREE. Many options for story times and programs. "Weekend Wonders" runs Fridays (10:30 a.m., 2 p.m., 7 p.m.), Saturdays (10:30 a.m., 2 p.m., 4 p.m.) and Sundays (2 p.m.), with no pre-registration. The theme runs through each weekend with stories, songs, movements and a craft all relating to the theme. This program runs about half an hour. For the littlest listeners, the morning sessions are best because they'll be around others of similar ages. 

Also, each season, the library offers pre-registration classes -- Just Baby n' Me (9 to 24 months), Toddler Treats (2 to 3-1/2 yrs), Storylore (3-1/2 yrs on up), Shake, Rattle and Roll (2 to 6 yrs), and Pajama Party (any age). The library has two branches: one on Detroit Avenue at Arthur, and the other on Madison Avenue at the west end of Madison Park. All of the storytime programs are offered at both branches.

The NASA Glenn Research Center is a vital part of the NASA space research system. Located near the airport on Brookpark Road, the visitors' center features 6000 square feet of exhibit space, with interactive exhibits on the center's namesake, John Glenn, as well as on the Apollo Era, space flight, and the space shuttles. The center is FREE and open every day.