Sweet Summer Fun
Entertain Family & Friends at these Hot Spots
By Estelle Rodis-Brown
We’re in the sweet spot.
It’s that wonderful time of year when the fear of frost is finally over, the sweltering heat of midsummer is still off in the distance, and out-of-town family and friends are descending on us for graduations, weddings, family reunions, or just because.
So, now that the weather is kind, where should you take your guests to enjoy the best that Northeast Ohio has to offer?
We’ve compiled a short list of fun options that should be crowd-pleasers as spring segues into summer:
Beaches
Nothing says summer like a day at the lake. Pack a picnic, throw on your bathing suits, lather on the sunscreen and let loose. Along with sunbathing and swimming, you can go kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding or otherwise floating on Lake Erie from several prime beaches.
Everyone knows about Cedar Point but have you ever spent a day at Cedar Point Beach, Lakeside, Catawba Island State Park, Kelleys Island State Park Beach, North Bass Island State Park, South Bass Island State Park, Marblehead’s East Harbor State Park Beach, or Magee Marsh Wildlife Beach in Oak Harbor? See shoresandislands.com for more information.
Closer to home, Cleveland Metroparks offers swimming at six life-guarded beaches, including Edgewater Beach, Wallace Lake, Villa Angela in Euclid Creek Reservation, and Huntington Beach during posted dates and times at clevelandmetroparks.com/parks/visit/activities/activity-types/swimming. (Hinckley Lake Spillway and Ledge Pool are temporarily closed.)
Bike Trails
Did you know that Ohio is recognized for having the most U.S. Bicycle Route miles in America? And since May is National Bike Month, there’s no better time to explore the state’s bike trails.
Ride along the 18-mile Richland B&O Trail in Northeast Ohio or explore options in your neighborhood at ohio.org/things-to-do/cycling-bike-paths. You can check out the state’s network of bike trails on a detailed map at transportation.ohio.gov.
Botanical Gardens
One of the largest botanical gardens in the nation is Holden Arboretum in Kirtland. It boasts more than 3,600 acres of gardens and wooded areas to be explored, with over 9,400 different kinds of plants.
There’s also Cleveland Botanical Garden with its Japanese Garden, Costa Rica Glasshouse, and Hershey’s Children’s Garden. See holdenfg.org to learn more about each location.
Cruises (Sightseeing/Dining)
See Cleveland from a new vantage point. Climb aboard the GOODTIME III, the largest quadruple-deck, 1,000-passenger luxury ship on the Great Lakes for a two-hour narrated cruise along the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie. You’ll get an in-depth look into Cleveland’s history and enjoy singular views of downtown Cleveland, the Flats and surrounding areas.
Reservations are recommended and can be made on the day of the cruise, based on availability. Call (216) 861-5110 or visit goodtimeiii.com/sightseeing-cruise/.
You may also enjoy brunch, lunch or dinner cruises on Lady Caroline, which offers “a relaxing opportunity to experience Cleveland and our local waterways. Every passenger will see our city, river and lake in a whole new light while enjoying the sounds of our onboard DJ entertainment.” Call (216) 696-8888 or visit ladycaroline.com.
From the West Bank of the Flats, the Nautica Queen offers dining cruises along Cleveland’s north shore. Glide under historic bridges along Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River while enjoying an unlimited buffet meal and DJ entertainment. Call (216) 696-8888 or visit nauticaqueen.com for details.
Guided Walking Tours
Tours of Cleveland, LLC offers year-round educational walking tours of beautiful and historic downtown Cleveland, featuring Downtown Highlights, Cleveland From the Inside, Downtown Public Art and the VIP Experience. Reservations required; book at toursofcleveland.com.
Our National Park
Between the cities of Cleveland and Akron, we have a national treasure: Cuyahoga Valley National Park. A refuge for native plants and wildlife, the park features the restored Cuyahoga River, deep forests, rolling hills and open farmlands.
Walk or ride the Towpath Trail to follow the historic route of the Ohio & Erie Canal, take a train ride along the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, or check the calendar for daily events. See nps.gov/cuva/index.htm for all the details.
Stargazing
If nighttime is your vibe, view the stars at Observatory Park in Montville’s Geauga Park District. When the park opened in 2011, it was awarded a Silver Tier Dark Sky Park distinction, making it one of the only Dark Sky Parks in the country. Go to geaugaparkdistrict.org/park/observatory-park/ for details.
Or head to Bay Village for Lake Erie Nature & Science Center’s Planetarium. The full-dome planetarium theater offers comfortable seating for 54 and is wheelchair accessible. Its star projector and digital projector provide an immersive learning experience through high-resolution, 360-degree images and a realistic display of over 3,000 stars. See lensc.org/visit/planetarium/ for scheduling details.
LIVE EVENTS
June Through September
Rock The Block community days, which celebrate Pride, Juneteenth, Black Music Month and Hispanic Heritage Month and other free concerts return to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Union Home Mortgage Plaza this summer.
Book FREE RSVP (if necessary) for the events and get details at rockhall.com.
June 13, 7 p.m. Juneteenth: Black Music Now
June 16, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. – MX Juneteenth
June 29, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. – Fam Jam
July 5, noon-2 p.m. Revolutionary Women: Solo Sets
Aug.10, noon-4 p.m. – Cleveland Cultural Fest
Aug. 30, 6:30 p.m. – Believe in CLE Yoga
Sept. 28, noon – 4 p.m. – Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration
June 7-July 26 (Every FRIDAY Evening)
LakewoodAlive—celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year—features family-friendly, community-building, diverse events including the Front Porch Concert Series, which kicks off on the first Friday in June.
With a total of eight free, open-air shows taking place every Friday evening in June and July, the first six will be on the front steps of the Lakewood Public Library, and the last two will be hosted at Madison Park Pavilion. Bring your family, friends, snacks, blankets and chairs for a memorable summer evening.
For details, see lakewoodalive.org/event/2024-front-porch-concert-series-2/.
July 10, 17 & 31 (Wednesdays)
City Stages is the Cleveland Museum of Art’s (CMA) free summer concert series, with global music at Transformer Station in Ohio City’s Hingetown neighborhood. Musical groups this summer are Mexico-based Pahua (July 10), Haiti- and Canada-based Wesli (July 17) and Brazil-based Bia Ferreira (July 31) Concerts start at 7:30 p.m.
There’s so much to do and see as summer bursts onto the Northeast Ohio scene. Savor the sweet spot while it lasts. Go to NortheastOhioBoomer.com for updated event listings.
