It Is Cold Outside, Now Get Inside and Play

With the weather soooooooo cold in Cleveland, it can be difficult to find family fun activities outside of the house, where the kids can still stay warm and have some fun. Here is our staff’s list of fun “indoor” places to go with your children this winter. All are Cleveland kid tested and Cleveland mom approved.

  • Visit all of the Museums in University Circle! Children’s Museum of Cleveland, Cleveland Botanical Garden, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland (MOCA), and the Western Reserve Historical Society.  University Circle is a world-class center of education, arts & cultural institutions is located just a few minutes from anywhere in Cuyahoga County. There is so much to do and see in University Circle, it is one of our staffs’ favorite places in Cleveland. We are so fortunate to be able to expose our children to these cultural meccas!

  • Check out some of the great water parks in Sandusky, Ohio. In less than an hour your family could be at any one of the of several indoor water parks. The largest, Kalahari has big slides, a wave pool, whirlpool, lazy river, and flowrider. The parks all have hotels and are great for a quick family fun getaway.  Check out the water park listings here. 

  • The RainForest at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is my daughter’s favorite place. The diversity of animals and plants make the RainForest a fun and educational place to spend an afternoon with your family. “The RainForest showcases more than 10,000 plants and over 600 animals from the jungles of Asia, Africa, and the Americas.”  The two-acre, two-level RainForest has several must-sees, such as the 25-foot waterfall, the Discovery Center, and the tropical rainstorm exhibit.

  • Ray’s MTB. Have you heard of this place yet? Located in Cleveland, Ray’s MTB is a “mountain bike paradise!” It is a dream come true for every level of rider with a fun family atmosphere. Rental bikes are available or you can bring your own. They even offer riding lessons, birthday parties, and gift cards are available for purchase. Check Ray’s website for safety requirements, hours, waivers, photos, and pricing. What a ride!

  • ZipCity™ is a huge trampoline and zip line park. The ZipCity facility is 18,000 sq. ft. of trampolines and zip line excitement in Streetsboro (only 35 minutes from Cleveland). For hours and pricing, check out their website. An average walk-in rate is just $12.50 for an hour of fun. They also offer birthday parties and gift cards!

  • If your kids love football like mine do, try out the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Have you seen “The Hall” lately?  The recently renovated Pro Football Hall of Fame has NEW exhibits featuring all 32 teams. You may not be able to go to the Super Bowl, but you can have a fun afternoon in Canton at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. They are open daily from 9:00am – 5:00 pm and tickets for children ages 6-12 are $16.00. While tickets for children 5 and under are FREE.

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