Go To The Beach

Hit the beach and better than that, hit all of them. Edgewater is a gem, Euclid Beach is beckoning, Huntington Beach is pristine, and Mentor Headlands is just a short drive out east with gorgeous views and the added bonus of putting you close to Scooter’s Dog House and all the glorious footlong dogs and pounds of golden fries you could dream of and the best tacos in Northeast Ohio at La Casita in Painesville. Looking for something outside of the usual rotation? Refer to Scene’s handy guide to 19 low-key beaches within driving distance of Cleveland at clevescene.com/beaches.

Kids Bowl Free Program

Check out KidsBowlFree.com and you’ll find a list of about 20 Northeast Ohio bowling alleys participating in a free bowling for kids program that lasts all summer long. You may still have to pay for shoe rental, but the free lanes make for a pretty affordable afternoon out knockin some pins down. Fuck it, man, let’s go bowling.

Hit up the Children’s Museum

3813 Euclid Ave., Cleveland
The Children’s Museum is definitely one of the best ways to spend a day with the kiddos. It’s interactive, they can run around and get their energy out, and best of all, it’s just $15 per child.

Eat Some Local Ice Cream

We've come a long way since Pierre's was founded in 1932. Now we can slurp up gourmet creations from Mitchell's all across town — and at the grocery store. Or maybe you're looking forward to Churned in Tremont. Or maybe you've got a taste for a perfect milkshake served up with a side of nostalgia at Sweet Moses. It's all sugary bliss, so try them all.

Take Your Dog To A Dog Park

If you don’t have one, adopt one. There are a ton of awesome dog parks around Northeast Ohio.

Go See a Drive-In Movie

Seeing a movie from the car sounds to us like a perfect activity for the hot weather. With five theaters around Northeast Ohio, you're sure to find one close to you. Just make sure you crank the AC up.

Edgewater Park

4101 Fulton Parkway., Cleveland

The Cleveland Metroparks’s Edgewater Park is great for those beautiful summer nights. You can pack up the whole fam, grab some food and beer at the Edgewater Beach House and enjoy a wonderful night making memories with the kiddos.

Go to a Farmer’s Market

What better way to teach your kids about supporting local farmers than hitting up a local farmers’ market? And there's' plenty around Northeast Ohio. There’s the Sunset Market at Van Aken, Tremont Farmers’ Market, Chagrin Falls Farmers’ Market, the Shaker Square Market, Kamm’s Corner Market, Old Brooklyn Farmers Market and many more.

Hit Up A Festival

Cleveland loves a festival, and once again, there are about 578 to enjoy this year. While many charge for admission, many more are absolutely free to enter (people watching is always the best part anyway), and many of those are totally free. Ohiofestivals.net has a pretty comprehensive list of all the Northeast Ohio gatherings on the calendar for 2023.

Start Planning Your Summer Garden With Seeds From A Local Gardening Shop

If you’ve had it in your head to start your own garden for a while, there's really no time like the present. There’s a plethora of local gardening shops in town and surely one close to your house. No time like the present.