See The Kelley’s Island Glacial Grooves

Did you know that there was a National Natural Landmark about an hour's drive (and a ferry ride) from downtown Cleveland? The Glacial Grooves of Kelley’s Island are 400 feet long, 35 feet wide, and up to 15 feet deep. They were created by the slow movement of the massive glacier that created the Great Lakes and Lake Erie Islands and are a site to see!

Take a Tour on the Goodtime III

You can brush it off as lame if you want (it's not), but you're hard-pressed to find a better daylong tour of some of the city's finest sights. And while it may not be the most gourmet meal in town, it’s good enough to kill a few hours with the whole family. Tickets start at $15 for kids ages 5-12, $30 for 13+ and free under 5.

Kayaking the River

There are few better ways to enjoy the sights of Cleveland than traveling through its main waterway in a kayak. The mighty Cuyahoga winds through Northeast Ohio carrying gigantic ore ships and weekend travelers, but it also affords you, the novice outdoorsman, the chance to kayak alongside them. Whether you're looking for a quick two-mile jaunt or a five-mile marathon down the river (which is very much clean these days, thank you very much), there's an option for you. Check out 41 Degrees North, River Cruiser Kayaking or Great Lakes Watersports for an awesome adventure.

Lake Metroparks Farmpark

8800 Euclid Chardon Rd., Kirtland

The Lake Metroparks Farmpark is one of the best outdoor kids spots in town. Ride a wagon ride or horse drawn tractor, learn about beekeeping, help milk cows, see chickens and alpacas and goats and feel like you’re livin’ down on the farm.

Memphis Kiddie Park

10340 Memphis Ave., Cleveland

There’s a reason this junior amusement park has been open for over 70 years. It’s affordable, very walkable, there’s rides for all ages of kids and most importantly, it's fun as heck. There’s 8 rides, mini-golf, an arcade and much more, making it one of the most fun kids’ activities in town. Admission is free and rides are $3 for individual tickets or a pack of 10 tickets for $28.

Do Something in the Metroparks

The Emerald Necklace is one of Northeast Ohio's most treasured assets and the envy of tons of other big cities. There's something for everyone. Walk, hike, bike, rollerblade, skip, jump, bird watch, sleep, picnic, lounge, golf — whatever. It's nature, and it's magnificent.

Catch A Minor League Game

Check out the future stars of the Cleveland Guardians for a fraction of the ticket and concession prices at the corner of Carnegie and Ontario by heading down to Akron for a Rubber Ducks game (cheapest ticket: $5) or Lake County for the Captains ($8). Not only will you sit up close and personal to the action, both teams’ schedules are filled with promotional nights and giveaways sure to make even the most disinterested baseball fan have fun

Check Out a Petting Zoo

Northeast Ohio has a ton of rural areas surrounding the suburbs. With rural areas come animals and with animals come petting zoos. Within an hour driving distance of Cleveland there’s alpaca farms, goat farms, an early American farm (Hale Farm) and a bunch of other awesome, affordable farms to hit up with the fam.

Go for a Picnic

Nothing like an old fashioned picnic to get you and your loved ones out of the house. Pickup some food from a local restaurant or grocery, grab some local brews, and you’re all set.

Hit up some Playgrounds

Cleveland has some truly awesome playgrounds around town. There’s Preston’s Hope in Beachwood, a fully-accessible playground, Fairview Park with a mini-waterpark, Every-Child’s Playground in Avon with a zip line and rock wall, the rocket ship playground in Berea, the hedra climbing system at Marquardt Park in Berea and an awesome playground in Lakewood. And those are just a few of the unique and awesome playgrounds around.