25 Ways to Feel Like a Kid Again in Cleveland
by Paris Permenter and John Bigley

Do you think "you get what you pay for" when it comes to travel? Well, that axiom sure doesn't apply to all the free and low cost attractions available in Cleveland, activities that you just can't put a price on. Some of these activities are primarily aimed at children but they can mean a fun romantic afternoon activity for the two of you as well...what better way to bring out your inner child?

1. Heritage Park I, east side of the Flats. Check out the home of Cleveland's first permanent settler, Lorenzo Carter, with a tour of this reconstructed log cabin. It's tucked right in the middle of the metropolis but this is definitely a step back in time.

2. The Arcade, 401 Euclid Ave. (216-621-8500). Sure, you've visited shopping malls, but have you seen America's first indoor shopping mall? Built in 1890, The Arcade has the charm of a turn-of-the-century building but all the conveniences of a modern mall, including low-cost restaurants.

3. Settlers Landing Park, east bank of the Cuyahoga River near the Flats Entertainment District. Grab a picnic lunch and spend a few hours on the riverbank where explorer Moses Cleaveland (his last name was later shortened to fit on a newspaper banner) landed in 1796. Fountains here are fun, and it’s romantic to watch the boats along the river.

4. NASA John H. Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field, 21000 Brookpark Rd. (216-433-2001) You won't be "Lost in Space" after a look around this center, located next to the airport. Eight exhibit galleries are packed with everything from spacesuits to space shuttle displays.

5. Flats Entertainment District, east and west banks of Cuyahoga River. Once an industrial area, today the Flats district is meant for fun. Stroll the boardwalks and watch the cruise ships and freighters maneuver the river.

6. West Side Market, 1995 West 25th St. (216-861-5250) Get all the fixings for a picnic lunch at the oldest indoor/outdoor market in the US. Since 1912 the West Side Market has filled its bins with fresh produce, baked goods and ethnic foods that represent the many groups that founded this city.

7. Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, 2600 S. Park Blvd. (216-321-5935) Take a hike and learn more about the local foliage with a visit to this nature center.

8. Rainbow Children's Museum and TRW Early Learning Center, 10730 Euclid Ave. (216-791-7114). You don’t have to be a child to enjoy this hands-on, low-cost museum with exhibits that range from a weather studio to a giant treehouse.

9. Steamship William G. Mather Museum, 1001 East 9th St. Pier (216-574-6262). This inexpensive, floating museum once hauled iron ore on the Great Lakes. Today it's a maritime museum that invites exploration (be sure to wear tennis shoes for this stair-filled jaunt!)

10. Stern Farms, 6975 Ridge Rd., Parma (440-845-9770). This working farm takes visitors back to the days of 1919 thanks to costumed docents. The two of you can have a look in the farmhouse then meet the farm animals and visit the herb gardens.

11. International Women's Air and Space Museum, Burke Lakefront Airport, 1501 North Marginal Rd. (216-623-1111). Check out exhibits covering aviation accomplishments by women ranging from Amelia Earhart to Sally Ride.

12. Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd., University Circle (216-421-7340). This art museum is considered one of the nation's best, featuring over 34,000 works. Don’t miss the Egyptian exhibits and the displays of medieval armor.

13. Holden Arboretum, 9500 Sperry Road, Kirtland (440-946-4400). This 3100-acre garden is one of Cleveland’s most romantic parks and features plenty of picnic areas, walking trails, and thousands of fragrant blooms.

14. Edgewater State Park, 8701 Lakeshore Blvd. (216-664-2848) Go fly a kite along the shores of Lake Erie or enjoy a summer dip at this scenic park.

15. Health Museum of Cleveland, 8911 Euclid Ave. (216-231-5010). This inexpensive museum has over 150 hands-on exhibits to teach young visitors about the human body. Don't miss "Juno, the talking transparent woman" or "The Giant Tooth," a two-ton molar. No, we’re not kidding.

16. Cleveland Museum of Natural History, One Wade Oval Drive in University Circle (216-231-4600). This museum is packed with hands-on activities and exhibits about the natural world including Ohio's Ice Age animals: the Woolly Mammoth and Mastodon.

17. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and RainForest, 3900 Wildlife Way (216-661-6500). At 165 acres this is one of the country's largest urban zoos. The facility has added koalas; they join other friends from Down Under including tree kangaroos, gray kangaroos, and wallabies, part of the new Australian Adventure.

18. Hale Farm and Village, 2686 Oak Hill Road, Bath (330-666-3711). Step back to 1848 at this recreated village populated by costumed docents and craftspeople. The park is located in Bath, 30 minutes south of Cleveland.

19. Headlands Beach State Park, 9601 Headlands Road, Mentor (216- 881-8141). Grab your sand pail, it's time for some sandcastle building and a swim along this one-mile-long sand beach.

20. Lake Farmpark, 8800 Chardon Rd., Kirtland off I-90 on Route 6 (800-366-3276). This working farm has plenty of hands-on fun --meet farm animals and learn everything from how to milk a cow to planting. Who says Paris Hilton has to have all the fun?

21. Cleveland Botanical Gardens, 11030 East Blvd. (216-721-1600). A perfect place for a summer stroll hand-in-hand, these 10-acre gardens are always free.

22. League Park, Lexington and 66th St. This park was once home of Cleveland Indians baseball and Cleveland Browns football; today the cheers you'll hear are from folks playing ball, enjoying picnics, and relaxing in the scenic park.

23. Terminal Tower Observation Deck, 50 Public Square, Tower City Center (216-621-7981). This 42nd floor observation deck provides a bird's eye view of the city and Lake Erie. At the Tower City Center, visitors love the "leap frog" water fountains.

24. Gateway Sports Entertainment Complex, off Ontario St. This 28-acre park is home to the Cleveland Indian's Jacobs Field as well as Gund Arena, home of the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers. Stroll around the park, check out the public art, and grab a bite to eat at one of the area restaurants.

25. Federal Reserve Building, 1455 East Sixth St. (216-579-2000). You'll have to make a reservation for a spot on the 1 p.m. tour offered every Friday, but this is a fun way to learn more about the money you spend so much time trying to earn! (Plus, after a visit here, you'll be able to say you've seen the largest vault door in the world.)

For more on Cleveland, see www.travelcleveland.com.