Amish Country - Hershberger Farm

HERSHBERGER FARM in Amish Country.

With small children, we were looking for a one stop shop in Amish Country, where we could experience some of everything without paying an arm and a leg. :) I feel like we definitely found that here!

The farm has a good size free petting zoo, with the option to ride ponies ($3.00 per person) and take a ride in an Amish buggy ($5.00). Also at this location was a cute little store, with loads of handmade goods and toys, and another store with bakery items, fruits, and veggies. There were lots of things to sample (which were ALL delicious) and the prices were REALLY reasonable for food items. We brought back a HUGE cantaloupe that was DELICIOUS!

There is also a place to buy lunch--they sell sandwiches, burgers, fries, etc. Some of everything. We felt that food was kind of pricey, but it was also served in good size portions. Our 3 small kids split one burger and fries and were full. (I want to say it was like $5 for a burger and fries, no drink included).

Fresh kettle corn was being made the whole time we were there, and they had yummy samples of that--(definitely pick up a bag! IT WAS SOOO GOOD!)

All in all we thought it was a great place to go to see the sights. If you have more time or aren't with kiddos, there are lots of shops and great places to stop along the way (and in Berlin, a short distance away).

How do I get there?

Address:

5452 State Route 557

Millersburg, Ohio 44654

330-674-6096

Visit Them:

Summer Monday - Saturday 8-5 Winter (Jan - March) Tues - Sat 8 - 5

---See a list of all their food item pricing here

---View their ad here

Fairview Splash Park and Kentucky Gardens

If you are loking for some FREE summer fun, splash parks are a PERFECT way to cool off and have a great time.

This particular one is in Ohio City, a neighborhood in Cleveland. This park and gardens are located within a few blocks of the Westside Market.

I don't know when it closes for the season, but I assume it's labor day--as that is when many other waterparks close. Check with the city to verify though.

For the link to see information on Kentucky Gardens click here

For instructions to the park (that also has a nice ball field, picnic tables, and a big playground) click here.

It is on the corner of Franklin and W. 38th St in Ohio City.

Squire's Castle

SQUIRE'S CASTLE: Part of Cleveland metroparks

COST: FREE

Hours: normal park hours--I can't find the times online but it seems like it's open until 10 p.m.

How do I get there?
Click here for a map of the North Chagrin Reservation
It's just south of Chardon Rd--and if you can't find it at first, follow the signs. They will take you right there. :)

Our take?

AMAZING, AMAZING, AMAZING! This place was SO cool! It has such a fascinating history and although it has been gutted and only the stone remains, it is so neat to walk through and imagine. The kids had a blast! And behind the castle are all sorts of walking trails for hiking and ejoying nature. There are also picnic tables and a few picnic shelters with grills that are available on a first come first serve basis.

Definitely worth the trip!!!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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?