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.

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!

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!