Winters in Cleveland are cold and snowy and because of the weather, it may appear like it’s hard to find something to do. However, there are more things to do than you would think. Here’s some budget-friendly ways to enjoy staying around the region during winter.
Stay Overnight in Downtown Cleveland, Akron, or Canton
Book a hotel overnight in downtown Cleveland, Akron, or Canton. Visit a restaurant, go on a walking tour (If there is a food tour then you can sample the cuisine at multiple restaurants), and find kid-friendly activities nearby. Consider making a reservation at a hotel with an indoor pool, so your family can go swimming.
Ice Skating
When the outdoor ice skating rinks open or the ponds freeze, this means ice skating season is here. Head to an ice skating rink in the middle of town to ice skate while listening to Christmas music and sip hot chocolate while you rest. Or, head to a park to ice skate, but make sure the park says it is safe to skate on the ice. Some ice skating rinks even have Christmas caroling on certain days.
Sledding or Snow Tubing
Since Cleveland gets an abundance of snow, sledding and snow tubing are classic winter activities to enjoy. Explore a sledding hill in your neighborhood or check out a sledding or snow tubing hill at a park you haven’t been to so you can try something new.
Visit the Library
The local library is a great place to go during the winter. The libraries have storytimes, free programming for children (of all ages) and adults, and open play in the children’s section. The free classes for young children focus on hands-on learning through play and they do it in such a fun and engaging way.
Go to the Zoo
The zoo isn’t just for the summer. Winter is an amazing time to visit the zoo. The cold weather animals are active as well. Plus, there are no crowds and you can bring your own food inside which provides even greater savings. The zoo even has holiday light displays, holiday programs, and even Santa!
Take a Fun Class (virtually or in-person)
Review your local community’s recreation guide, the park website’s event page, or search online to find virtual or in-person classes offered during the winter season. Some summer camp programs even offer daily camps where your child can attend for one or multiple days.
Go on a Scenic Train or Trolly Ride
There are train rides that travel through the park so you can view the beautiful snow covered forests.
Visit a Museum
The museum is a great place to take children in the winter. There is so much beauty and richness of culture and history at the museums. Therefore, it will be both a fun and educational experience. Before you head to the museum, look online to find the hours, cost, special exhibits/events, and discount days. Museums may also host classes and play days.
See a Play, Musical, or Ballet
There are a number of classic plays, musicals, or ballets during the winter. If your children can handle sitting for an extended period of time, then watching a play, musical, or ballet will be a lot of fun. You can even make it into a holiday tradition.
Go to the Park
The parks aren’t just for the summer. There are plenty of activities you can do during the winter and many of these activities are free. For example, there are a variety of events for families from indoor classes, nature centers, winter sports, and winter hiking. Some parks even rent snowshoes. While walking through the park see if you can spot and identify the animal tracks.
Go to an Ice Festival
There are many fun winter festivals and ice festivals happening in Northeast Ohio. Watch ice carving competitions, winter-themed activities and more.
Be a Tourist in your Own Town
Go to the tourism website for your city or nearest big city to see what visitors would be interested in doing if they were there. Then schedule a day where you can tour your city. For many of us, we may not be aware of what exists in our city or the attractions seem common because we are used to them. Therefore, visit your city with fresh eyes and find something new.
Go to the Playground
If it’s a nicer winter day, bundle up and head to the playground. Your children can have fun playing on the equipment they thought they wouldn’t visit again until summer.
Winter Scavenger Hunt
Search “winter scavenger hunt” online to find a printable. Grab a clipboard and a pencil. Then go on the scavenger hunt and check off everything you find. Consider creating your own as a family to be even more creative. This also is a great opportunity to tie in lessons about nature and science. When you’re done, have the kids draw a picture of what they found.
Make S’mores Outside
S’mores may be a classic summer treat, but s’mores aren’t just for summer. If you have a fire pit or camp stove, then fire it up and make s’mores with the family outside. Roast hotdogs as well and have dinner outside.
Visit an Indoor Water Park
If you want to venture a little further away, then explore an indoor water park. These family friendly indoor water parks feature an indoor arcade. This is a great chance to enjoy summer activities in the winter. You can choose from a water park day pass or stay overnight in the hotel.
Make a Snowman
When it snows, head outside to make snowmen. Find old clothes and things that you don’t need anymore to dress and decorate your snowman. If your family likes competition, you can even turn the snowman creation and decoration into a contest.
Roller Skating or Bowling
Roller skating and bowling seems like a thing of the past, but it’s really fun. Before you go, check the location’s website to see if there are any discounts or specials.
Visit Indoor Play Area
There are a number of indoor play areas and trampoline parks in the region. Choose a favorite one or try a new one to attend. Join the indoor play area’s email list or look on Groupon to see if you can score discounted admission.
Have your Children Plan the Dinner Menu and Cook Together
Cooking with the family can be a lot of fun, but the twist to this is letting your children pick the menu. While it may not end up being the most nutritious, it’s fun to cook together and this helps your child feel like he/she has a say in what to eat.
Snowball Fight
On a day with snow, gather the family and do a snowball fight outside, and make some snow angels before going back inside. Once inside, drink hot chocolate as you dry off.
Bake Cookies and do a Cookie Decorating Contest
Baking holiday cookies is a lot of fun. It’s also fun to decorate them. Grab your cookie decorating supplies, gather family and friends and have a contest to see who can decorate the cookie the best.
