16 Tips for Your Essential Cleveland Staycation

By Scene Staff on Fri, Aug 4, 2017 at 12:04 pm

Staycations are a great way to rediscover your city while saving some money. Cross some activities off your bucket list and treat yourself to all that Cleveland has to offer. We know that you already know about many of Cleveland's popular destinations and hidden gems, but here are some of our ideas for what to do on your next staycation.

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Ride the RTA

1240 W. 6th St., 216-621-9500
Sometimes taking the RTA isn't convenient due to time contraints. But on a staycation with nowhere to be you can ride the RTA to several different neighborhoods like Ohio City, Shaker Square, and the Flats. Be sure to buy an all day pass which is only $5.50.

Photo via Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority/Facebook

Visit one of Cleveland's many musuems

Cleveland Museum of Art pictured above.
Cleveland has a lot of different musuems to visit ranging from art (Cleveland Musuem of Art and the Museum of Contemporary Art) to science (Great Lakes Science Center) to music (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame). Admission to the CMA is always free but prices vary at other musuems.

Photo via clevelandmuseumofart/Instagram

Spend a night at the Cleveland Hostel

2090 W. 25th St., 216-394-0616
If you want to become more acquanted with Ohio City, spend a night in the newly opened Cleveland Hostel. It's the only hostel in the city and offers shared and private rooms. There's a roof deck on top to hangout on and a top notch cafe called Passengers (open to the public) located below.

Photo via Cleveland Hostel/Facebook

Get to know your plants at the Botanical Gardens

11030 East Blvd., 216-721-1600
If you'd like to step into another world and forget you're in Cleveland for a few hours, visit the Botanical Gardens. Their Glasshouse is like stepping through a portal into "two other-worldly landscapes," Madagascar and Costa Rica. The 11 different gardens, including a Japanese garden, are also a nice way to spend an afternoon outside in the sun.

Photo via thereal_mab/Instagram

Take a trip to the beach

Headlands Beach State Park pictured above
Northeast Ohio some great beach destinations besides Edgewater. Make the drive to Mentor and spend an afternoon at Headlands Beach State Park, which feels like a legit remote beach. Other amazing beach spots can be found here.

Photo via dawn_d_s/Instagram

Visit the Holden Arboretum

9550 Sperry Rd., Willoughby, 440-946-4400
The Holden Arboretum has gardens like the Cleveland Botincal Gardens but what seperates the two, and makes it worth the drive, is the Canopy Walk & Emergent Tower. "The Kalberer Emergent Tower will take guests above the trees to a height of 120 feet where on a clear day you can see all the way to Lake Erie" and it's only $10.

Photo via paul_smalls/Instagram

Spend a day at the Metroparks Zoo

3900 Wildlife Way, 216-661-6500
The Metropark Zoo offers a wide array of attractions that will take you the whole day to explore. The zoo is divied up into eight areas, Australian Adventure; African Savanna; Northern Trek; The Primate, Cat & Aquatics Building; The Rain Forest; and Waterfowl Lake, providing plenty of options of animals to see.

Photo via Cleveland Metroparks Zoo/Facebook

Take a daytrip to a small town

Greenville, Ohio pictured above.
Ohio has a bunch of small towns that are worth visiting and easily accessible. Drive to Geneva on the Lake or Put In Bay if you're looking for a summer beach town vibe. Wooster is also a great spot for foodies.

Photo via michaelless/Instagram

Take a ride on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad

1630 W. Mill St., Peninsula, 800-468-4070
Taking the train is one way to take in Cuyahoga County at a faster pace. Enjoy views of Cuyahoga Valley National Park landscape from the comfort of a train with multiple boarding stations such as Rockside, Brecksville, Peninsula, and Akron Northside.

Photo via Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad/Facebook

Spend a day at Cedar Point

1 Cedar Point Dr., Sandusky, 419-627-2350
Cedar Point is only a 90 minute drive and you can spend the entire day at the self proclaimed Roller Coaster Capitol of the World. If roller coasters aren't your thing bring your swimsuit and head over to their Shores Waterpark.

Photo via Cedar Point/Facebook