As the weather heats up, nothing is as refreshing as a dip in cool water – but maybe your preschooler isn’t yet comfortable with swimming – or maybe he or she is overly confident, pushing the boundaries of safe play. In that case, a wonderful option is spray parks, where water is safely sprayed out of fountains and your child can put on a bathing suit and frolic as the water squirts out. Because there is seldom any standing water, this is an ideal warm-weather option for young children who don’t know how to swim – and even for those that do!
Northeast Ohio Family Fun offers a listing of spraygrounds in the following counties: Ashland, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Stark, Summit and Wayne. You can click on a link for the county you prefer to see available options – and, better yet, some are free!
Here are two gardens in Northern Ohio with activities especially for children:
The Cleveland Zoo is a 183-acre adventure land for families with one of the largest collections of primates in North America, located at 3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland in Cuyahoga County (216-661-6500). Part of the Cleveland Metroparks System, there are multiple areas to explore, including Australian Adventure, African Savanna, Northern Trek, The Primate, Cat & Aquatics Building, The RainForest and Waterfowl Lake. A limited-time exhibit is Penguin Shores, located in Northern Trek.
Although prices are subject to change, at the time of writing, they are:
You can save $1 per ticket by purchasing in advance online and you can add the following upgrades:
Or pay $5.75 per person for unlimited train rides, carousel rides and lorikeet feedings. On Mondays, the zoo – not counting the RainForest – is free for residents of Cuyahoga County and Hinckley Township from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
It’s also crucial to choose the right summer program for your child and we’d love to talk to you about your needs.