Cleveland, Ohio is the kind of vibrant, clean and beautiful city that makes for a great family vacation destination. Explore this midwestern gem with kids and enjoy beautiful gardens, an expansive zoo and the unique thrills of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Children will love all that Cleveland has to offer and parents can get a head start on planning with our itinerary.
Please note that this is not an itinerary submitted by an actual family. This day was planned by one of our travel experts as a recommendation for a family of children with ages 4 through late teens, based on knowledge of the city. Factors such as time, cost and distance have been considered to make this a great day to get a sense of the city and keep the children and teens interested and engaged.
Address: 1100 E 9th St, Cleveland, OH 44114
Phone: 216-781-7625
Hours: 10:00 am – 5:30 pm, open Wednesdays until 9:00 pm, open Saturdays until 9:00 pm from Memorial Day through Labor Day
Website: http://www.rockhall.com/
Admission: Adults – $ 22, Children – $13
It’s time to rock at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! This non-profit organization educates visitors and fans from all corners of the world about the history and continuing importance of rock and roll music. The Rock and Roll hall of fame is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the most influential artists and producers who have impacted the music industry in recent history. The museum’s main gallery is housed on the ground floor and features exhibits on the roots of rock and roll and several cities that have had a major impact on the genre. This gallery also highlights on individual artists, including the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix. The actual Hall of Fame section of the museum is housed on the third floor. Here you will find all the inductees’ signatures, a theater that features filmed highlights from the hall of famers and a display of artifacts. You don’t need to be a rock and roll fan to enjoy this unique museum.
Address: 11030 East Boulevard Cleveland, OH 44106
Phone: 216-721-1600
Hours: Tues, Thurs, Fri & Sat – 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Wed – 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sun – 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Website: http://www.cbgarden.org/
Admission: Adults – $11, Children – $6
Escape the city and experience beautiful wildlife at Cleveland Botanical Gardens. Founded in 1930, the center is comprised 10 acres of gardens, an 18,000 square foot glasshouse, an art gallery, a garden shop and a cafe. The Perennial Garden is always bursting with color and textures, providing plenty of take-home inspiration for visitors. Relax in the calming Restorative Garden, where you can listen to trickling water, touch soft moss and smell lavender, mint and geranium. Stroll over a bridge and through a tea garden at the spiritual Japanese Garden, landscaped with a classic composition of rocks, evergreen azaleas and weathered beach stones. A wooden boardwalk winds through the Woodland Garden, where you will find butterflies, song birds, wild flowers and over 30 species of trees. Children will love splashing in a cooling fountain, exploring small structures and viewing plants and creatures at the Children’s Garden.
Address: 3900 Wildlife Way Cleveland OH 44109
Phone: 216-661-6500
Hours: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Website: http://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/Zoo/Zoo.aspx
Admission: Adults – $12.25, Children – $8.25
Visitors of all ages will have a wild time at this 183-acre zoo. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is divided into several themed areas housing animals from different habitats around the world. With over two acres of floor space in a two-story building, the Rainforest exhibit is one of the largest indoor tropical environments in the world. The exhibit features over 10,000 plants and more than 600 animals from the tropical regions of Asia, Africa and the Americas. Observe African lions, elephants, zebras, giraffes, rhinos and more in the African Savanna exhibit. The Australian Adventure area is a replica of the Australian outback and is home to kangaroos, wallabies and koalas. See Siberian tigers, reindeer, grizzly bears, wolves, polar bears and other cold climate animals in the Northern Trek area. The zoo is large, so if you do not wish to walk, you may ride the tram which brings you to different areas of the park.