Boy wearing a Cleveland Indians uniform leans against a fence looking bored.We all love our kids and love having them around, but some things (like packing and moving) are just easier when they’re occupied with something else. Here are ten family-friendly places in Cleveland where you can send your kids with your spouse, a family member, or a baby sitter, freeing you up to focus on moving. Best of all, they’re all inexpensive or totally free.
  1. Headlands Beach State Park
If the weather is nice, pack a bag with towels and sunscreen and send your kids to Headlands Beach State Park for the afternoon. Its mile-long natural sand beach is the longest in Ohio, giving curious kiddos plenty of room to run and explore.
  1. Lake Erie Nature and Science Center
The Lake Erie Nature and Science Center draws over 180,000 visitors per year and offers over 2,300 programs, from planetarium experiences to nature hikes and wildlife encounters. Admission is free every day of the week.
  1. Cleveland Museum of Art
The Cleveland Museum of Art has a staggering collection of classic and contemporary artwork to see, as well as family-friendly special events and arts and crafts classes. The Open Studio meets for three hours every Sunday afternoon for a free, all-ages period of imagination and creation.
  1. Cleveland Children’s Museum
Admission to the amazing and imaginative Cleveland Children’s Museum is only $12 per adult or child. The museum’s wall-to-wall interactive exhibits encourage children to climb, explore, create, and pretend, releasing their inner scientist, artist, or engineer. Outside food is allowed, so send your kids with a packed lunch.
  1. Cleveland Museum of Natural History
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History isn’t just a fun place for kids – it’s a center for world-class scientific research. Your children are bound to come home a little smarter, and exhausted from looking at the museum’s collection of over five million specimens and artifacts.
  1. Edgewater State Park
The 147 acre Edgewater State Park consists of pet- and swimming-friendly beaches, a fishing pier, picnic areas, and walking and cycling trails. Kids can explore on their own or with the guidance of outdoor recreation staff. Activities include archery, boating and paddle sports, footgolf (a combination of soccer and golf), and much more.
  1. Preston’s H.O.P.E. Playground
This playground is free and open to the public, and accessible to children of all abilities. The over 60,000 square feet of playground equipment is designed to be usable for children using special equipment like crutches or wheelchairs.
  1. Memphis Kiddie Park
The Memphis Kiddie Park was founded in 1952 and has since become a Cleveland landmark of fun for kids of all ages. It costs $2.50 (the price of one ticket) for each ride, and you can save a lot of money by buying a book of 25 or even 130 tickets that never expire.
  1. Cleveland Public Library
The Cleveland Public Library is an amazing local resource. On top of a staggering collection of books for children of all ages, your kids can take part in classes and workshops to learn about computers, technology, music, and foreign languages.
  1. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is free to Cuyahoga County residents on Mondays. Along with 183 acres of exhibits, visitors can enjoy educational events and programs for children of all ages, like the Inside Tracks program that gives visitors a behind-the-scenes look at animal care, behavior, and conservation.

For more tips about family entertainment in Cleveland, contact us. We’ve been in the area for decades and can offer personalized recommendations. We can also tell you about our Cleveland moving services.