Summer is here! Are you ready to break out the pool and sprinkler, fire up the grill and enjoy all the fun that the sunshine and warm weather brings? If you’re looking for family friendly places to go and things to do in Northeast Ohio this is the list for you!
100 Things to Do in Northeast Ohio this Summer
Majestic Meadows Alpacas & Boutique
Fun for all ages! Come pet, feed and interact with all the animals on the farm!
Majestic Meadows Alpacas is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the beauty of the outdoors.
The 20-acre property includes open pastures for you to roam in which gives you a truly unique interactive experience that gets you up close and personal with all the animals on the farm as you walk through the fields.
The farm is home to over 75 alpacas, llamas, miniature highland cows, miniature donkeys and horses, sheep, goats, kangaroos, wallabies, miniature potbellied pigs, camels, turkeys, tortoises, capybaras, and NEW IN 2024 – prehensile tailed porcupines and Asian small clawed otters!
Open daily. Make reservations to experience the farm today!
Mohican Adventures
Your Adventure Starts with Us!
Mohican Adventures Campground & Cabins has over 40 acres of primitive and electric tent camping, as well full hookup RV sites with 30/50 amp electric, water, and sewer. Our full-service cabin rentals vary from rustic log cabins to deluxe vacation homes.
Across the street at Mohican Adventures River Trips & Fun Center, take a trip on the river with us in a canoe, kayak, raft, or tube! Challenge your friends to a round of miniature golf, or take a spin on our go-kart tracks. Our Aerial Adventure Park takes your adventure to a whole new level!
Located in Loudonville, OH, just a mile north of Mohican State Park.
Cleveland State University Summer Programs
There are so many great programs for kids (and adults) this summer, including:
STEM, film, e-sports, tennis, basketball, soccer, swim lessons and more!
See what CSU can offer you this summer!
Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) Summer Camps
Ready for summer? Tri-C Summer Camps are ready for you!
Whether your child is a young performer or a budding engineer, Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) Summer Camps will help them realize their full potential.
Choose from more than 30 camps for ages 4-18, featuring:
- Creative Arts Academy: Offering dance, photography, vocal arts, strings and JazzFest Academy.
- Nuts and Bolts Academy: Providing an opportunity to design and create objects using state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment and build your own drone.
- Recreation: Presenting co-ed basketball and volleyball at our Western Campus.
- Black Rocket Camps: Focusing on coding, game design and programming to inspire your child’s creativity.
Virtual and in-person camps are available.
Visit tri-c.edu/summercamps for descriptions and registration.
Kids Bowl FREE all Summer Long!
That’s right, free fun all summer!
Kids Bowl Free is a nationwide program that provides FREE games of bowling for kids all summer long. There are 17 bowling alley’s in Northeast Ohio offering free bowling and some start May 1!
Step 1 – Find a participating bowling alley near you.
Step 2 – Complete the form to register your kids for two free games each day all summer long.
Step 3 – Have fun bowling!
Plus, you can also purchase a family pass that allows you to bowl with your kids!
Splash pads offer a fun interactive way for children to beat the heat during the summer. And what makes them even better is that they are often FREE or low cost.
Calling all City of Cleveland residents! Enjoy these FREE swimming pools in Cleveland. Be prepared to show your ID upon arrival.
Pack a picnic lunch, grab your towel and sunscreen and enjoy these fun outdoor water parks.
Stay safe while at the pool this summer. Sign your kids up for swimming lessons and follow water safety tips.
Plan a day trip to visit one of the many beaches in Ohio
Beat the heat, by enjoying a movie in the comfort of an air conditioned theater. Many local theaters offer special dollar movies during the summer months.
Of course you can also enjoy a movie under the stars at one of the FREE outdoor movies. Remember your lawn chairs and blankets!
Take the family to enjoy a drive-in movie.
Stroll through a blooming lavender field and pick lavender bundles to take home to enjoy.
Go see a live theatrical or musical performance at a local theater.
Let your kids burn off some energy at one of these amazing local playgrounds.
Whether you have a little engineer or you’re the train junkie, you’ll want to check out the best train rides in Ohio.
Take your dog to one of the area dog parks
Get out your bikes and take a Family Bike Ride On the Towpath Trail. Don’t have a bike or a way to get your bikes to the trail? Consider renting bicycles instead.
Or, let your kids ride around one of these mini cities: Kiddy City in Wooster | Safety Village in Stow
Go down the HUGE slide at Secrest Arboretum, tour Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens or visit one of the many other botanical gardens in Northeast Ohio
Go for an adventure to the canopy walk and tower at the Holden Arboretum
Sign your kids up for one of the area outdoor adventure or sports themed clubs for kids.
Did you know there are castles in Ohio? Plan a trip to check out one of more this summer!
Visit one (or more) of the best waterfalls in Ohio
Relax at the park on a warm summer evening and enjoy the music at one of the free summer outdoor concerts
Watch the Goodyear Blimp take off from the hanger across the lake at Wingfoot Lake Park
Support local farmers and get some delicious food at a local farmers market
Head out to go strawberry picking
Take a trip to a petting zoo and get up close with farm animals, meet the farmers and learn about what it takes to be a farmer.
See the Animals at either the Cleveland Zoo or Akron Zoo
Ride on a canal boat pulled by a horse
Or go on a horseback riding adventure with trails rides or lessons. There are many places to go horseback riding.
Find a treasure at one of the top Flea markets in Ohio
Eat a funnel cake at one of the Summer Festivals or county fairs in Ohio
Make a stop at one (or two, or three) of these delicious Ohio ice cream Shops.
Ride coasters, bumper cars, go karts or vintage kiddie rides at one of the amusement parks in Ohio.
Think laser tag, inflatables, trampoline parks and more at one of the local Indoor Play Centers. Bonus: You can play in the comfort of air conditioning!
Take the kids skating at these local Roller Rinks.
Sign the kids up for the Kids Bowl FREE Program and let them bowl free all summer long and many local bowling alleys. Note: Shoe Rental Fees may apply
Or you can register for the Kids Skate FREE program offered at local roller rinks. Note: Skate Rental Fees may apply
Play miniature golf or put-put indoors at one of the glow in the dark indoor mini golf courses.
Learn how to fish, enjoy a friendly competition and compete for prizes in one of the local Youth Fishing Derbies.
Watch a FREE Water Ski Show at Emerald Lake in Norton
Rent a Canoe or Kayak and enjoy a ride down the river.
Book an overnight stay in one of these unique treehouse rentals in Ohio or enjoy a stay at one of these cabin rentals in Ohio (family and date night options!)
Sign the kids up to attend an area Summer Camp (day camps and overnight camp options included)
Keep the kids learning this summer! Try hands on science fun at Great Lakes Science Center, or visit one of the many other museums in Ohio
Do Science Experiments at Home
See the Historic Planes at MAPS Air Museum
Learn to build at a Home Depot Kids Workshop or Lowe’s Build and Grow Clinics
Sit in the driver seat of trucks and tractors at a local Touch a Truck Events Bonus: Most are FREE
Get some great deals on gently used children’s clothing at an area Kid’s Spring/Summer Consignment Sale
Take the kids to a parade or fireworks show being held to celebrate Memorial Day or the 4th of July
Treat dad to a special Father’s Day Activity
Plan a staycation and take a day (or more) to explore the fun cities in Northeast Ohio. We’ve got you covered with the top things to do in Cleveland, things to do in Canton, things to do in Akron and things to do in Youngstown
Or maybe you are looking for a road trip to explore other Ohio destinations. Check out the best things to do in Columbus or head a little further south for fun things to do in Cincinnati or things to do in Dayton.
You could go a little further and check out the fun things to do in Lousiville, KY head to the Smoky Mountains and experience the amazing things to do in Gatlinburg, TN or take family trip and enjoy the things to do in Indianapolis
Does your child have a birthday party during the summer months? Use the Birthday Party Planning Guide to help make planning a breeze.
Enjoy a free kid’s meal at one of the restaurants that offer Kid’s Eat Free
Get a sitter for the kids and enjoy time away at one of these amazing romantic getaways in Ohio
Or go on a Factory Tour of Harry London’s Chocolates. FREE Samples included. Yum! Check out these other local Factory Tours too
Only interested in the free events? Check out the list of FREE Things to do in Northeast Ohio for ideas and inspiration
You may also be interested in:
- Ultimate List of things to do in Ohio
You have a great list here but I’m looking for things to do as a family with teenagers. Some of the things on your list will work but do you have any other suggestions for keeping 16 year olds entertained? Thanks so much!
You should make this a list so we can print out and cross out as we complete these things 🙂
On Target is a great place for fishing and educational fun outdoor experiences..
Love using this website to find out what to do in the summer!! Thank you for this list!
Add Extreme Air trampoline park in Niles, Oh
Perhaps I missed it, but I did not see the Heinz poll dance festival listed. Free professional ballets at outdoor venues in Akron. They even have a program at the beginning where children can come up on stage and learn some moves!
I agree, it should be listed. A bunch of us moms take our daughters every summer. Info is here https://www.facebook.com/DanceFestival/info/
Thanks for the recommendation and for sending the link. Just added it to the listing.
Danielle
Be sure to include Lynn drive-in in strasburg on your list
http://www.lynndrivein.com/t
need things in lorain county and west
Racing from April till November, every Saturday night. Great family fun!
We also like The Jump Yard in North Royalton and Kids Play Indoor Fun in Avon Lake.
Thanks for the recommendations! I’ll add those to the list as too.
The jump yard is one of our favorites! If you go on Groupon ahead of time there are discounts for the all day plays. The 2 child all day play says $16 but when you pay for it for some reason it only charges $6. I mentioned it to them but they have never fixed it. So purchase away!
You need to add Wagon Trails in Vienna, Ohio
Thanks Debbie! I’ll get it added.
Wagon Tails on Youngstown-Kingsville Road in Vienna, Ohio. You feel like you are on a safari. Super friendly, family owned business!
You’re the second person to mention it today. 🙂 Just added it to the list. Thanks!
Danielle
Don’t forget Secrest Arboretum in Wooster! We have the Katsura Fortress, embankment slide, pavilions, gardens and summer events. All FREE!
Biblewalk wax museum in Mansfield Ohio is a must see- perfect for all ages,beautiful flower garden and gazebo for relaxation and meditation. Picnic area and dinner theater offered. One of Ohio’s many “secret gems”
Thanks for sharing! I had never heard of the museum before. Here is the link to their website for anyone who wants to find out more: http://livingbiblemuseum.org/index.html
You have a very informative site. I know where to get my information when I’m going to Ohio 🙂
You’ve got a great website, very helpful. I just stumbled across it today when searching for an area touch-a-truck event for my son. Thanks!
Jared,
Thanks for the compliment. I’m glad you find the site useful. Have fun at the touch-a-truck event, my kids always enjoy them.
Danielle
The Arms Family Museum in Youngstown.
Leann,
Thanks for sharing the museum looks like a great place to visit. Throughout the summer they even have a free hands-on-history program for children on Wednesdays. Here is the link for those interested: http://www.mahoninghistory.org/armhome.htm
Danielle