Updated on Cleveland Area Activities

Explore Family-Friendly Gems in Cleveland’s East Suburbs

An adult man wearing sunglasses and six children in colorful swimsuits standing together on a flat rock ledge while water cascades over the surrounding rocks into a shallow waterfall below.

Cleveland East Side Family Activities: Discover Fun

Exploring family friendly activities in the Eastern suburbs of Cleveland promises joy and adventure all year round. Here’s a list of enchanting spots that our family loves:

Experience Farm Life at Lake Metroparks Farmpark.

https://lakemetroparks.com/parks-trails/farmpark/

Lake Metroparks Farmpark in Willoughby Hills offers a delightful mix of learning and play. As a fully operational farm, this place is a children’s paradise.

Activities and Highlights:

– Farm Animals: Horses, cows, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, rabbits, and alpacas (seasonal) offer interactive experiences.
– Demonstrations: Enjoy live displays of cow milking, sheepdog herding, and horse showcases.
– Seasonal Events: Participate in early spring maple syrup presentations and tastings.
– Play Areas: With tractors to climb and a farmyard playground, this locale never disappoints.

Our family visits often, whether it’s toddlers or tweens, everyone loves exploring and engaging with the animals, especially the little ones.

A young boy in a red shirt and blue sneakers sits smiling on the large black-and-red wheel of a play tractor at an outdoor playground with wood-chip ground, a green play barn, and trees under a clear blue sky.
A smiling young girl in a lavender jacket and purple glasses stands next to a toddler in a red-and-black plaid coat and gray hood, both in front of a brown-and-white cow eating hay inside a wooden barn.
A large brown cow stands in a metal milking stall inside a barn as a woman and a young girl reach through the rails to touch its udder, with a milking machine and clear pulsation chamber and tubing mounted in front of the cow.

Discover Nature at Penitentiary Glen Reservation

https://lakemetroparks.com/parks-trails/penitentiary-glen-reservation/

For families seeking a blend of nature and hands-on learning, Penitentiary Glen in Kirtland is a must-visit.

Things to Do:

– Nature Center: Features exhibits with turtles, toads, and snakes, plus a campsite-themed pretend play area.
– Scavenger Hunt: Obtain your checklist at the front desk to keep the kids entertained.
– Trails: Over 8.5 miles of hiking, including the kid-friendly Glen Meadow Loop.
– Nature Play Area: A sandbox, log obstacle course, tunnels, and a garden house make the perfect playground.

Pack lunch, stay for a picnic, and enjoy hours of creative outdoor fun.

Young blond boy with a backpack and striped shirt stands at the opening of a green fabric play tent indoors, holding a small plastic pet carrier and looking surprised, with a taxidermy coyote display in a glass case and a small pan on the patterned carpet nearby.
A young blonde boy in a navy T‑shirt with '04', blue patterned shorts and orange slip‑on shoes stands on a stone in front of a small beige playhouse and rustic wooden footbridge under leafy trees.
Two barn owls with heart-shaped white faces perched side by side on a branch inside a wooden enclosure behind a metal wire grid
Five children pose on a cluster of tall cut tree stumps in a grassy park with dense green trees behind them, wearing casual summer clothes (red shirt center back; gray shirt with orange helmet graphic and red shorts left; small striped shirt and khaki shorts front center; white T-shirt and shorts right-center; dark shirt and Crocs far right).

Magical Landscapes at Holden Arboretum

https://holdenfg.org

Holden Arboretum in Kirtland offers sweeping trails and breathtaking views, especially dazzling during fall.

Family Favorites:

– Canopy Walk & Emergent Tower: Marvel at the views and enjoy a unique adventure.
– Seasonal Exhibits: LEGO® sculptures, bee railroads, and artistic metal animals have delighted past visitors. Looking forward to what next year brings
– Children’s Area: A fun log obstacle course and a small stage foster imaginative play.

Visiting on cooler days enhances the experience, especially during warmer months.

Four smiling children — three boys and a girl in a purple shirt with pigtails — standing in front of a large LEGO sculpture of a bald eagle perched on a rock amid lush green foliage.
Five children role-playing on a raised octagonal wooden platform in a sunlit forest: one child sits on a rustic wooden throne wearing a cape, another kneels in a bright green cape before them, two boys animatedly act out a confrontation with a painted shield, and a small girl in a pink cape sits beside the throne.
Four smiling children — three boys and one girl — stand together holding snack bags in a sunny botanical garden with raised wooden train tracks, tree-stump supports, and a gravel path winding past flower beds.
Five children standing on a grassy path in front of a lily-pad covered pond and a tall blue wire peacock sculpture, with dense green trees and a park bench in the background.
Wooden deck railing in the foreground overlooking a broad autumn landscape of red, orange, yellow, and green trees stretching across rolling hills under a pale blue sky.
Three boys stand together on a narrow suspended footbridge above a forest of orange and yellow autumn leaves, smiling and wearing a red hoodie, a maroon hoodie with a red cap, and a gray jacket, with the metal-grate walkway and wire railings extending behind them.

Adventure Awaits at Jordan Creek

https://lakemetroparks.com/parks-trails/jordan-creek-park/

Jordan Creek combines an adventure park with a serene nature escape, perfect for energetic family outings.

Why We Love It:

– Indoor Nature Center: Offers a retreat from the sun with educational exhibits.
– Outdoor Adventure Area: Features zip lines, ninja warrior courses, and rock climbing all in a mostly shady area.
– Creek Walk: Children can splash, find crawdads, and slide down a waterfall. Water shoes are recommended!

Several children in swimsuits sit and slide on a sunlit wet rock slope above a shallow pool, the central girl in a pink one-piece with her legs extended while others watch nearby.
Four children in swimsuits standing barefoot on a wet, layered rock ledge beside a shallow creek in a wooded area, one boy wearing glasses and a backpack resting on a log in the background.
Two boys walking through a shallow sunlit forest stream with several other children further ahead, surrounded by tall trees, exposed roots and dappled light on the rocky, leaf-strewn streambed.
Two young children balancing on a low green slackline between trees in a wooded ropes-course area, each holding an overhead cable—left child in a red patterned shirt and black shorts, right child in a blue floral long-sleeve top and pink shorts, with other people and trees in the background.
Six children sit along the top edge of a tall wooden climbing-wall structure at a playground with their legs dangling over weathered boards studded with colorful climbing holds, a cloudy sky above and wood-chip flooring below.
Young boy wearing glasses, a gray Under Armour t-shirt and blue shorts balances with arms outstretched on a slackline in a shaded forest activity area, with other children and a climbing wall visible in the background.

Endless Fun at Geneva-on-the-Lake

https://visitgenevaonthelake.com/

For a full day of excitement, Geneva-on-the-Lake is the ultimate destination.

Family Activities:

– Adventure Zone: Enjoy arcade games, mini-golf, go-karts, climbing wall and more.
– Strolling the Strip: Visit shops, arcades, and family-friendly eateries.
– Water Adventures: Engage in beaching, fishing, kayaking, or paddle boarding at Geneva State Park.

Indulge in local food at Old Firehouse Winery and Eddie’s Grill or partake in Madsen Donuts’ longstanding tradition since 1938.

Teenage boy wearing sunglasses drives a maroon-and-yellow go-kart with a focused expression, followed by a smiling man in sunglasses in a green go-kart and another child between them on an outdoor track with trees in the background.
A smiling family of two adults and three young children posing outdoors in front of a donut shop sign and a wooden storefront with American flags and a marquee sign, father wearing sunglasses and mother holding a toddler.
Man wearing sunglasses and two young boys seated in a pink Ferris wheel car as an attendant secures the safety bar at a small amusement ride with yellow gondolas and a white picket fence.

Beach Days at Fairport Harbor.

https://lakemetroparks.com/parks-trails/fairport-harbor-lakefront-park-2/

Fairport Harbor, a favorite among Lake Erie beaches, is known for its calm waters and clean sands.

Attractions:

– Accessible Parking: Convenient and close to the beach, with a $3 fee for non-locals.
– Amenities: A snack shop, restrooms, and showers ensure a comfortable visit.  Kayak and paddle board rentals are available
– Ice Cream Experience: Try unique flavors at Fairport Harbor Creamery, with mini-golf next door

Four boys standing on a miniature golf green holding colorful plastic putters, with a rocky pond, decorative white windmill, American flag and cloudy sky in the background.
Six smiling children seated around a weathered wooden picnic table outdoors, each holding small cups or cones of ice cream with colorful spoons, set against gray horizontal house siding and a window.
Five young children in swimwear sit side-by-side on a wooden bench at a sandy beach with tall grasses behind them; three boys hold cookies, a girl in a floral long-sleeve swimsuit wrapped in a striped towel sits in the center, and a toddler in a colorful rash guard sits next to her.
Two young children at a sandy beach — a smiling blond boy in a yellow rash guard and striped swim trunks leaning toward the camera while a toddler girl in a navy shirt and pink ruffled shorts kneels and scoops sand with a blue shovel into a green bucket, with other beachgoers and the ocean visible in the background.

Nature and Adventure at Girdled Road Reservation.

https://lakemetroparks.com/parks-trails/girdled-road-reservation/

Girdled Road Reservation invites families to explore a sequence of trails leading to a suspension bridge over the river.

Activities:

– River Fun: Wade, swim, and capture minnows in pristine waters.
– Suspension Bridge: Enjoy the thrill of crossing while embracing the stunning natural vistas.

Five children stand in a line on a narrow wooden-plank suspension bridge with rope-net sides over a shallow stream, framed by rocks and dense green forest.
Five children stand and play along a pebbled riverbank beside a shallow, rock-lined stream under a wooden suspension bridge in a dense green forest.
Five smiling children stand close together with arms around each other on a shaded gravel forest trail under a green tree canopy, wearing casual summer clothes and sneakers or Crocs, one girl holding a pink water bottle.

Farm Fresh Experiences at Patterson’s Fruit Farm Market

https://pattersonfarm.com/farm-market/

Patterson’s Fruit Farm is brimming with exciting activities for kids of all ages.

Family Attractions:

– Barn Playground: Perfect for hide and seek or simple play.
– Animal Encounters: Meet chickens and observe 4-H animals around the barn.
– Market: Sip fresh cider and nibble on homemade donuts and pies while picking seasonal apples.

An older man stands by a wooden fence in front of Patterson Fruit Farm, smiling while holding two young children—one in pink and one in red—next to a wagon piled with small orange pumpkins under a cloudy sky.
An older couple wearing sunglasses sit on a sunny outdoor patio with a young girl on the woman’s lap, a large Patterson Fruit Farm “Fresh Donuts” box on the table in front of them and trees, white railing and a building visible behind them.
Young boy in a red shirt and orange shoes smiles while sitting in a large black play tunnel under a wooden playground structure, with another child facing away inside the tunnel and other children nearby on gravel.
Smiling young blond boy in an orange 'Super' shirt and jeans sits at the exit of a large black corrugated tube slide attached to a red wooden play structure in a tree-shaded playground.
Five children sit around a picnic table eating donuts and drinking an orange beverage at a gravel-surfaced playground in front of a wooden play structure with large corrugated tube slides and a climbing wall, with bare trees and an overcast sky behind them.

Scenic Adventures at Henry Church Jr. Rock Picnic Area and Quaint Chagrin Falls.

https://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/parks/visit/parks/south-chagrin-reservation/henry-church-jr-rock

https://chagrin-falls.org

Discover the beauty of Henry Church Jr. Rock Trail, with shaded paths leading to playful streams and a stunning waterfall.

Favorites:

– Trail Exploration: Climb rocks, wade in creeks, and marvel at the carved rocks. Also has a 2.4 mile loop trail if looking for some exercise
– Waterfall Fun: Cool off in its many layers, with deeper spots ideal for swimming.
– Chagrin Falls Visit: Finish the day with ice cream from Jenni’s or a coffee from Heartwood Coffee Roasters, stroll up the river and explore the rejuvenated playground and check out the beautiful Chagrin Falls falls.

A shirtless man wearing sunglasses stands with five children in colorful swimsuits on a flat rock ledge while water cascades around them over a multi-tiered waterfall.
Five children in swimsuits wade and balance on rocks in a shallow, tree-lined stream with sunlight dappled on the water and rocky shore.
Eight children and preteens stand shoulder-to-shoulder on a gravel path by a shallow river, smiling in casual summer clothes and sneakers/Crocs, with a large mossy curved tree arching over them and dense green forest behind.
Seven children play in a shallow, muddy river with a wooded, rocky bank behind them — six stand together on flat rocks near the near shore wearing swimsuits and colorful shirts while one boy wades alone farther out.

Delight in Berry Picking

Summer in NE Ohio is synonymous with fresh berries. Engage in family-friendly activities like picking your own fruit.

Seasonal Delights:

– June: pick your own Strawberries at Patterson’s farm on Mulberry Road in Chesterland
– July: pick your own Blueberries at Blue Jay Orchard in Hiram or Voytko Farms in Auburn Township
– August: pick your own Raspberries and Apples at Ransom Sage Farms in Chardon or Pattersons Fruit Farm in Chesterland

Explore these stunning and effortless family friendly activities for a memorable summer filled with smiles and laughter. Whether your family prefers adventurous treks or peaceful picnics, Cleveland’s Eastern suburbs promise endless joy and discovery.

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