Liberty Park and Saftey Town

LIBERTY PARK (part of Elmwood Park)

COST: Free

HOURS: Normal city park hours

How do I get there?
This is the address to the library. If you turn into the library parking lot and go to the far side of the library, you will see a road that keeps going back to your right. Turn there and you will see the houses and park.

OUR TAKE?
What an amazing hidden gem! This is such a great place! There really is play equipment for all ages...something for the young tots, and the old school age kids, and everyone in between. Tons to do and see. I love that there were so many places to sit and watch the kids, and a beautiful gazebo in the middle of the park for shade. There is a rock climbing wall, lots of swings, dinosaurs, etc.

There is also an ADORABLE little safety town lined with little houses. Town includes a working stop light and crosswalk signs, as well as real road signs to help teach children. I can't wait to go back and take their bikes so they can go on a ride through the town.

This park is GREAT for another reason...real, nice, indoor plumbing. Having young kids it is SO nice to have "facilities" available and accessible...that don't stink terribly. Everything was clean and nice and included drinking fountains inside and outside the building. I gave that part of the park 2 thumbs up!

Overall an AWESOME place to play!

West Creek Reservation

WEST CREEK RESERVATION:

From their website:

The 9-mile West Creek meanders through a valley that harbors rocky gorges, forest-draped hillsides, and floodplains that each spring burst forth a variety of wildflowers, and flows through the cities of Parma, Seven Hills, Brooklyn Heights, and Independence where it eventually connects to the Cuyahoga River.

The 278-acre West Creek Reservation is geologically unique and biologically diverse, as the West Creek tributary not only provides natural beauty, but also a home to a variety of wildlife including white-tailed deer, scarlet tanagers, nesting pair of red tailed hawks and five species of oak: white, red, pin, scarlet and swamp white oak. In the wetlands nesting wood ducks, painted turtles, green frogs, cardinal flower and pickerelweed are abundant.

How do I get there?

This is right across from the picnic grove between State and Broadview. Click the link above to see the map (since there is not an actual address)

Our Take?

We have gone here many times now--it is a great place for photography, for nature watching, for evening walks, etc.This really has something for everyone. We love to go off the beaten path and down to the little creek to skip rocks and rest in the shade. We haven't even began to venture into the entire 9 mile span, but are always excited to see what's in store for wherever we get to explore when we DO go.

Great place to walk dogs too!

Cookie Cutters

From their website:

Step into the world of Cookie Cutters, Haircuts for Kids. See what makes it special for a child to Discover How Much Fun A Haircut Can be! Take a look at some of the styles we offer, and in the near future, make your appointment for a visit to your nearest salon.

It's a place where kids not only get a great haircut, but a one-of-a-kind haircut experience!

Phone:
(440) 572-5722

Hours:
M-F: 9 am - 8 pm
Saturday: 9 am - 5pm
Sunday: 12pm - 5 pm

How do I get there?

Our take?

My daughter gets very nervous when it's time for a haircut. But she has thick, long hair and we've just gotta keep up with it. We headed to Strongsville to a place called "Cookie Cutters"--a hair place for kids. It was a child's haircut heaven! A great big playplace to use while waiting greeted us as we came in.

They had a large selection of movies to pick from, and each station was set up with a TV and VCR.
My favorite part of all, was the chairs. They were all different cars. There was a plane, horse, jeep, car, and a few other things--SOOO cute. My daughter hopped right in the pink jeep and picked Little Einstiens for her viewing pleasure.

At the end of the haircut, she got to pick a new hair clip, a sucker, and a balloon.

She was thrilled!

While this may seem like a strange thing to post on a blog about things to do in Ohio, it really seemed like so much more than a haircut. It was a really fun mommy-daughter date and such a fun experience...so I'm throwin' it on here.

TOY LIBRARY--Brooklyn Branch

FROM THEIR SITE:

The Brooklyn Branch has a toy lending library which holds over 1,700 toys. Selection is made by professional staff who consider safety, stimulation, and quality. Brooklyn offers programming for all ages including special children's programs, storytimes, and lapsit programs for babies. Our Teen department holds game days, monopoly tournaments, and baby-sitting workshops. For the adults there are programs sponsored by The Friends of the Library, as well as three growing book discussion groups. In the summer all three departments hold popular summer reading games.

We have over 300 different toys to choose from (with multiples of most) arranged in the following Categories:

Active Play (includes ride-on)
Baby & Toddler Toys (6 months – 3 years)
Blocks
Games (includes board games)
Learning Skills (includes lacing, sorting)
Literacy (includes ABCs)
Math (includes numbers & telling time)
Music
Pretend Play (includes make-believe, trucks)
Puppets (includes dolls) *see below for more
Puzzles
Science & Nature (includes animals & dinosaurs)

Every toy in the Cuyahoga County Public Library Toy Collection is carefully prepared for borrowing. Each toy is examined, cleaned and disinfected between borrowers. These precautions reduce your child’s exposure to germs and safety issues resulting from damage, wear, etc.


COST:
FREE

HOURS?

Hours
Monday – Thursday, 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Friday – Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m
Open Sundays 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Labor Day to Memorial Day

HOW DO I GET THERE?

OUR TAKE?

I think the toy lending library is GENIUS! It is so fun to bring home a special toy for the kids to play with--and there is a GREAT selection! You can even request toys online to be sent to your local branch. I felt great knowing that the toys and bags they come in were all sanitized and labeled with the number of pieces your toy comes with--so there is no guessing when it's time to return it if you have them all!

HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS FREE RESOURCE!

Wallace Lake - Mills Stream Run Reservation

FROM THEIR WEBSITE:

The history: Mill Stream Run Reservation is located in Berea, Middleburg Heights, North Royalton and Strongsville. Long ago nineteenth century communities like Albion, Sanderson's Corners and Slab Hollow sprang up to take advantage of the water power from the east branch of the Rocky River and its tributaries. After the sawmills and grist mills were established, businesses like a basket factory, taverns, blacksmith shops and tailors followed. At Berea, the river cuts through Berea sandstone carving potholes in the stone. Baldwin and Wallace lakes are former quarries that produced some of the finest grindstones in the world. The settlers were not the first to visit; artifacts have been found in the reservation that indicate Native American tribes frequented this area over 8,000 years ago. The reservation includes numerous species of wildlife and plant life, including ferns and wildflowers.

HOURS:
6 a.m. - 11 p.m.

You may want to CALL first to verify all information, since it is seasonal.
The number is: 440.826.1682

COST:

Paddle boat rentals: For a 2-3 person paddle boat, it's $4.00 per half hour. For a 4-5 person paddle boat, it's $8.00 per half hour.

Swimming: FREE

HOW DO I GET THERE?
Wallace Lake is located off Valley Parkway in Mill Stream Run Reservation, south of Bagley Road in Berea.

(because there isn't an exact address, see the trail map for details.)


Our take?

We were pleasantly surprised at this little hidden gem of a place! The swimming looked so fun--it was a nice sized area and had a little beach to play on or lay on! :) We went specifically with paddle boats in mind and headed there. There is a little cafe area (The Quarry Rock Cafe) where you pay for your rental (they have several food options as well).

The actual part of the lake you can go in with your paddle boat wasn't HUGE--but we felt like it was just right for a half hour ride. The water was calm and the scenery is really nice. They have life jackets for even the smallest--my 10 month old baby even got one! :)

We would love to check out the swimming another time, but this place is GREAT--for picnics, swimming, trails, running, biking, boating, fishing...it has it all!

The Memphis Kiddie Park

From their site:

Memphis Kiddie Park has been putting smiles on children's faces since 1952. We offer 11 amusement rides for children, a concession stand, arcade, and miniature golf course. We are truly a landmark of the Cleveland area serving generations of area children. Come start your own tradition today.

HOURS:

Open daily at 10 a.m.

COST:

At Memphis Kiddie Park you pay as you go. Each ride is only one ticket and tickets never expire.

TICKET PRICES
Book of 25 Tickets $21.50
Strip of 10 Tickets $12.75
Single Tickets $1.40

PRICES FOR MINIATURE GOLF
$3.75

Children under 5 FREE with a paying adult.

How Do I get there?

OUR TAKE?

We go here often! This is the perfect place for small children as all of the rides are tailored for the small ones! It is so much fun to watch the kids--they ALL enjoy it! You CAN ride the train around the park as a family, and they have miniature golf at a minimal cost.

I especially love that it is a smaller area and has never been very crowded when we have gone. It is nicely maintained and gives plenty to do to fill an hour or so. (which is the max my kids can handle anyway!) :)

See the rides here.

Be sure to buy a booklet of tickets since they never expire and are cheaper that way!

Shinto Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar

See Shinto on the web for full details on menu, pricing, etc.

Hours:
Sunday - Thursday:10am~10pm
Friday & Saturday: 10am~11pm

HOW DO I GET THERE?

OUR TAKE?
Our tables were really great big grills with a counter around the edges. So, our hibachi chef came and cooked up all the food right in front of us. He did all sorts of neat tricks and was SO fast working with the food! It was quite the sight!

This place IS pricier than our normal dinner budget, but I think the EXPERIENCE makes it worth a special trip. The atmosphere was really nice--modern, but relaxed and fun.

BD'S Mongolian Grill

BD's Mongolian Grill

From their Site:

bd's mongolian barbeque© is the world's number one Create Your Own Stir-Fry restaurant concept where the guests choose their own ingredients from a great variety of meats, seafood, vegetables, salads, sauces and spices. The food is then prepared by master grillers on a 600° 7-foot grill.

You can check out more information here.

HOURS:

Sun - Thurs:
11:00am - 10:00pm

Fri - Sat:
11:00am - 11:00pm

COST:
See here for detailed cost and menu


How Do I get there?

Our take?
This was a really fun way to go make your own stirfry--and even though I felt it was more Americanized than traditional Mongolian Grilling we have eaten in the past, it really was delicious and allowed many different options--and it was really fun to watch them grill it up right in front of you! :)

Swings-n-things

If you're lookin' for loads of good, family fun, Swings-n-Things in Olmsted Township is a great place to start!

Visit Swing-N-Things on the web!

HOURS?
See here for current schedule of events

COST?
Check here for a detailed list of pricing

(NOTE: In the VAL-PAK savings coupons that come in the mail, they always have coupons there and it was cheaper than their online discount price was.)


How do I get there?


Our Take?

There was really a lot to do--paintball, lazer tag, batting cages, 2 different go-cart tracks, a whole mini-golf course, and a big arcade and kids play area inside, as well as a restaurant and creamery. But it ended up being a a little disappointing that my kids are too young for most things (they are all under 4)--except the playplace. . However, if I just wanted to go to a playplace, I would choose a local McDonalds or the mall! :)

If you have school-aged kids I think this would be PERFECT! In fact, my husband and I decided this would be SO much fun for US to go to on a date. Would be a GREAT time!

Huntington Beach

A short drive from Cleveland in the Bay Village area is a great little beach along lake Erie. I couldn't find the hours online--so I am not sure if there really are any. Parking is free--just be ready to take a little walk down to the shore.

How do I get there?

Is it safe to swim today?

(please be sure to check before you go! Because storms flush everything from animal waste to lawn fertilizer into the lake, they have set up a system where it is tested each day to let people know if there is threat of bacteria. Click on the link to see the most current report!)

OUR TAKE?

This was SUCH a fun place to go. The kids had a great time! We took a little picnic lunch to eat on the beach, and aside from the swarms of seagulls trying to steal it at times, we enjoyed our lunch! You can't bring extra floaties here though--Just keep that in mind. But there is plenty of room to run and play--bring your buckets and shovels and a lot of sunscreen!

Splash Harbor

Splash Harbor (at the Comfort Inn--Bellville, Oh)
The Comfort Inn® South is home to the newly opened Splash Harbor water park, featuring a 49-foot looping water slide, dumping buckets, shooting geysers, two hot tubs (one for adults and one for families), water basketball hoops, a floating raft and kids pool area.

HOURS:
Sun-Thurs 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

PRICE:
$12.95 per person 2 and up (Free parking)

How do I get there?

OUR TAKE?

There are a variety of indoor water parks in this area, and it was tough to choose! But we have small children and really wanted a place where we would not feel overwhelmed by the size of the waterpark and always feel paranoid about if we were missing a child. Plus, we weren't looking to stay the night at the time and the cost at many other places for just a day pass was SO expensive. Splash Harbor was our answer!

You can see the pics of the water area and info here. IT WAS SO FUN! There was only one other family there, so we had the whole place to roam free! I wasn't worried about where the kids were because it was JUST THE RIGHT SIZE for them. A FUN water slide, kiddie pool, a family hot tub and a separate adult hot tub, a splash/spray area, a pirate ship, basketball hoops, a floating log raft...all sorts of great things. And it was cheaper than the other places, so it made for a great outing! Best part--it was WARM! Like...middle of the SUMMER warm! We had a blast and felt like we were on a tropical little mini-vacation. I think we will be looking to stay there next winter overnight on a family getaway because we loved it so much!

The West Side Market

The West Side Market, located in the Ohio City neighbordhood of Cleveland, is TRULY a place you have to try!

HOURS:

mon : 7 - 4
wed : 7 - 4
fri : 7 - 6
sat : 7 - 6

How do I get there?

(note: there IS free parking--The main parking lot is located directly behind the Market and can be entered from Lorain Avenue. This lot is free, with a 2 hour enforced time limit. Additional parking is available by taking W. 25th to Bridge Avenue (near the tall apartment complex). This lot serves Market patrons and the other businesses along W.25th, and it is also free. Do not park at the shopping center on the south side of Lorain and W.25th. This rule is strictly enforced)


OUR TAKE?

I took my kids there on a rainy day since it is indoors and was a good way to get out of the house! A lot of the vendors have a sample of their fruits/veggies cut open so you can see before you buy, AND they let you taste things before purchasing--The kids had a great time tasting all sorts of yummies...mango, dried kiwi, cherries, raspberries, carrot chips...some of EVERYTHING.

We had a really fun time checking out all the food! A campling of what we have bought--
-bananas, cherries, raspberries, grapes, strawberries, fresh lettuce, watermelon, sweet tangerines, fresh corn on the cob, BIG IDAHO POTATOES (REAL Idaho potatoes...which I have missed dearly!), and some delicious dried strawberries, dried cantelope, bananas and dried kiwi--which are quickly going to take the place of any fruit snacks in our house. Sugar free and all natural--and they are SO yummy! Even Brandon agrees--and he is a fruit snack junkie!
BEST PART??? IT WAS SO CHEAP! Seroiusly WAY cheaper than our grocery store. I couldn't believe it!! All the vendors accept cash, obviously, but many also take the Ohio Direction card and other credit/debit cards.

The fruits, veggies, fresh flowers, and herbs were only the beginning. There was an entire other building that was full of fresh meats of every kind, bakery goods, eggs, cheese, spices, and all sorts of ethnic foods. WOW, WOW, WOW....I was in awe.

Since our first time, we have gone back about once a week to stock up! This is one of our favorite places to go!

Cleveland Botanical Gardens

Vistit them on the web: http://www.cbgarden.org/

From their site:

Our facilities include:
Ten acres of beautiful gardens, including the award-winning Hershey Children's Garden, the Elizabeth and Nona Evans Restorative Garden, the David and Paula Swetland Topiary Garden, the Western Reserve Herb Society Garden, the Japanese Garden, the Sears-Swetland Rose Garden, the Ohio Woodland, the C.K. "Pat" Patrick Perennial Border, and the public Campsey-Stauffer Gateway Garden.
The Eleanor Armstrong Smith Glasshouse, a soaring 18,000 sq. ft. conservatory housing authentic recreations of two of the earth's most fragile ecosystems - the spiny desert of Madagascar and the cloud forest of Costa Rica. Over 350 species of plants and 50 species of animals immerse visitors in a dazzling multi-sensory experience that raises awareness of environmental issues.

(SEE PICS HERE)

HOURS:
Summer Hours
April 1 - October 31
Open Monday - Saturday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Open Sunday: Noon - 5 p.m.
Open until 9:00 p.m. every Wednesday evening (Hershey Children's Garden closes at dusk)

Winter Hours
November 1 - March 31
Open Tuesday - Saturday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Open Sunday: Noon - 5 p.m.
Open until 9:00 p.m. every Wednesday evening
Closed Mondays
Hershey Children's Garden closes for the winter on November 1
All other gardens remain open throughout the winter

Admission
Member: Free
Adult: $7.50 ($5.00 after 5 p.m. on Wednesday)
Children (3-12): $3
Children under 3: Free
Groups: (15 or more): $5.50
Seniors: (60+): $5.50 (Tuesdays only)
We accept American Express, MasterCard and Visa
Above admission rates not applicable for special events


Onsite Parking
Onsite parking is available on a first-come basis in the Garden's attached parking garage. Rates are a $5.00 minimum, $1.00 each additional half hour after 2 1/2 hours, with a maximum daily rate of $10.00 and $3.00 flat rate after 5 p.m. VISITORS TO THE GARDEN ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A SPECIAL $5.00 DISCOUNTED ONSITE PARKING RATE.

How do I get there?

The fancy McDonalds

Where would you expect to see beauty like this??

Beautiful chandelier, staircase, fancy casings, etc....

Take a guess...

Theater? Expensive Restaurant? Hotel?

Nope--try, the GOLDEN ARCHES....yep! This is our fancy McDonalds located in Independence, Ohio. It is really beautiful...and no, the food is not more expensive! :)

You've gotta go at least once--just for the experience!

How do I get there?

Nope--try, the GOLDEN ARCHES....yep! This is our fancy McDonalds. It is really beautiful...and no, the food is not more expensive! :)

The Farm Park

The Farmpark--located in Kirtland, Ohio

From the site:

Farmpark is a family oriented science and cultural center devoted to agriculture, farming, and country life.
-Come and experience this award-winning park where you can
-milk a cow
-take a wagon ride
-discover over 50 breeds of farm animals up close.
-marvel at the Border collie at work.
-explore solar and wind power
-learn about plant life at The Great Tomato Works and themed gardens

Read more here!

Our take?

First off, just the DRIVE to get there was AMAZING! Totally worth the trip! The Farmpark itself had all kinds of farm animals and things to do. They teach how to make cheese and show cows being milked, as well as letting the kids hand milk a cow (we missed that by a few minutes). There are also pony rides, for a couple dollars. They show basically how a farm runs, but in ways that kids can really get a hands on understanding. It was really neat! There is a schedule of what to do, so be sure to grab that and plan your day!

Admission Rates
Farmpark admission applies to daily activities and Farmpark special events.

General admission: $6
Ages 60 and older: $5
Ages 2 - 11: $4
Children younger than 2: Free
Farmpark members: Free


HOURS: 9 a.m.- 6 p.m. daily (see website for more details)

How do I get there?

Preston's Hope Playground

The Preston's Hope Playground, located in Beachwood, Ohio, is the largest fully handicap accessible playground in NE Ohio. You can take a virtual tour by clicking here--and I HIGHLY recommend it! It is SO amazing-- The whole park is set up as a little "village" of houses, a bank, fire station, beauty salon, town hall, offices, etc. And there are interactive things throughout. From slides and swings to a dinosaur dig area, a castle wall, and a million more things...this place had it all!!! I still can't get over the fact that it's FREE. WOW....

The Preston's hope playground is truly one of the best places we have been to! While it was built as a handicap accessible playground, this playground has it ALL and is SO easy to get through as a mom with a stroller! :) It also has a few wonderful picnic shelters--and while you can't barbecue here, it is a PERFECT spot for a sack lunch and a full afternoon of play!

Read more about this great park!

How do I get there?

Hours

North Royalton Memorial Park

Now THIS is a park where children's dreams are made! WE LOVED playing here in this sprawling castle-like play place! There was definitely plenty to do--a sand area, lots of nooks and crannies to hide and play in, swings of all different sizes, a child's "basketball" area, etc. The park in general is beautiful, and has a nice path to walk, sports fields, and even a nice library sharing the property.

How do I get there?