But, Mom (or Dad, or Grandma, or Grandpa) . . . there’s nothing to do!!!
If you are raising or otherwise taking care of children, you’ve heard that phrase, probably more times than you’d like. Fortunately, we live in an area where there are wonderful places to visit with children to enjoy some family fun.
Cleveland.About.com
Cleveland.About.com has multiple pages where they list kid-friendly places to visit – and we’ll highlight two from their list: the Children’s Museum of Cleveland and the Great Lakes Science Center. (Because of the still unpredictable weather, we’ve chosen to spotlight indoor options. Watch this blog for outdoor recommendations when it’s a bit warmer!)
Children’s Museum of Cleveland
Find plenty of opportunities for interactive fun for children ages 1 to 8 years of age at this museum, ranging from Splish! Splash! that introduces water transportation in an exciting way to Bridges to the Community where children can pump their own “gas,” go grocery shopping with their own carts and more while learning about the city’s rich diversity.
If you can visit by April 12, 2015, you can travel back in time to Ancient Egypt where you can write your names in hieroglyphics, fish in the Nile and build a pyramid. It’s worth a trip all by itself!
Here is the current location of the museum, plus admittance fees and hours:
Children’s Museum of Cleveland
10730 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44106-2200
216-791-7114 (KIDS)
The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., with admission being $8 per person (under 11 months free). Please note that Cleveland.About.com has old admission prices listed; check the museum’s website itself for updates.
Now, here’s a bonus! This is the FUTURE home of the museum, which is an historic Millionaire’s Row mansion. What a building!
Great Lakes Science Center
With an astonishing 165,000-square-feet-plus of exhibit space, the science center features approximately 400 hands-on exhibits for people of all ages. Exhibits focus on technology, the environment, anatomy, the Great Lakes and more. Kids will also love the OMNIMAX theater adjacent to the museum, a six-story domed building with 11,600 watts of surround sound. Check the website for current offerings as they change regularly.
One popular exhibit (one that inspires giggles!) is the Bridge of Fire that creates 200,000 volts of electric current that causes hair to stand up on end. Younger kids (ages 7 and under) can enjoy the Polymer Funhouse where they jump around as they stretch the polymer (that’s “stretchy, slimy, squishy, slippery, sticky and bouncy”) inside the funhouse.
And, if you have a budding astronomer or astronaut, you’ll have to take advantage of Space Saturdays, a monthly program featuring space-themed programming. These programs are free with paid admission to the museum and take place in the NASA Glenn Visitor Center. Be sure to check the website before you go. No reservations are required but these events only happen one Saturday per month, with rotating themes.
Here is the science center’s location, plus information about admission fees and hours.
Great Lakes Science Center
601 Erieside Ave (at North Coast Harbor)
Cleveland, OH 44114
216 694-2000
Winter hours for the museum are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. through 5 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. They are also open on select Mondays, including Monday, March 30, 2015 and April 6, 2015. Be sure to check the website before you go to confirm.
There is a wide variety of pricing structures and membership options. Some commonly used options include:
- General admission, including the NASA Glenn Visitor Center: $14 for adults and $12 for children ages 2 through 17
- OMNIMAX only: $11 for adults and $9 for children ages 2 through 17
- General admission and OMNIMAX: $19 for adults and $17 for children ages 2 through 17
Whichever you choose, have fun! Don't forget to watch this blog for outdoor recommendations when it’s a bit warmer!
If you’re looking for year-round educational and enrichment opportunities for your children, contact the Horizon Education Centers. We provide affordable quality child care in the following Northeast Ohio locations.
