My list of 38 fun things to do in Cleveland, Ohio this summer is the perfect list for those who still want to have fun but also stay safe during this pandemic. While Cleveland and Ohio have mandated mask-wearing in public places and still encourage social distancing, summer looks a little different this year. That doesn’t mean you still can’t have fun.
I’ve curated a summer wish list below of some of my favorite things to do around town as well as some new experiences. I know it’s hard to not enjoy summer the way we’re all used to, but I hope my list of 38 fun things to do in Cleveland, Ohio this summer gives you the inspiration to enjoy your summer to the fullest!
Update 3/27/22: This post was written during the peak of the pandemic when cases were much worse than they are today. This list of things to do can be enjoyed anytime, and as always, do what feels best for you and your family and have fun!
Enjoy Our Many Beautiful Ohio Parks
▶ Hike the ledges and find all the waterfalls at Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Check out my post on Hiking the Ledges at Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
▶ Visit the Holden Arboretum and experience the Murch Canopy Walk for breathtaking views of the treetops all the way to Lake Erie.
▶ Bike or hike through one of the 18 Cleveland Metropark Reservations.
▶ Take on the 135 steps of the Fort Hill Stairs near Rocky River Reservation’s Nature Center and be rewarded with spectacular views of the park.
▶ Drive through Lake View Cemetery and find the Haserot Angel, Elliot Ness, and other famous Clevelander’s final memorials and resting places.
▶ Enjoy a day strolling through the Cleveland Zoo to see the new, expanded Rhino exhibit.
Lake Erie Love – Fun Times By Our Mini-Ocean
▶ Hunt for beach glass and pretty stones on the shores of Lake Erie.
▶ Sit on the stairs in Voinovich Park and enjoy the Lake Erie and City views.
▶ Relax on the giant swings at Edgewater’s Beach House.
▶ Explore the Lake Erie Bluffs in Perry Township.
▶ Take a day trip out to Mentor’s Headlands Beach State Park for the largest stretch of natural sand in Ohio. This ocean-like beach also boasts life found only in the Atlantic Ocean!
▶ Try out stand-up paddleboarding on Lake Erie or one of the rivers.
▶ Fly a kite or have a picnic in the open fields of Edgewater Park.
▶ Enjoy the warm hues of a Lake Erie sunset from the Solstice Stairs in Lakewood Park.
Culture and Learning – Explore Our Many Museums
▶ Get your FREE reserved timed ticket and explore the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Read about our experience visiting the Cleveland Museum of Art during the pandemic.
▶ Expand your mind and read a book Cleveland Public Library offers a drive-up window, Cuyahoga County Library branches have a curbside pickup or you can use the Libby App and sign in with your library card to borrow digitally.
▶ Explore the beautiful Cleveland Botanical Garden with a pre-registered, timed ticket.
Check Out Local Landmarks New + Old
▶ Drive around town and get great photos of landmarks, sculptures, and cool architecture while there aren’t as many people out and about to get in your way. The Worlds Largest Outdoor Chandelier and Rubber Stamp, Guardians of Traffic, Haserot Angel, just to name a few.
▶ Visit and photograph all of the Cleveland Script Signs.
Check out my post on the Cleveland Script Signs and How To Find Them.
▶ Find all of the murals around the neighborhoods and downtown for the best photo-ops.
Check out my post on The Most Instagrammable Murals in Ohio City.
▶ Try to visit all 109 Historical Markers in Cuyahoga County and learn interesting facts about Cleveland and surrounding neighborhoods.
▶ Drive through the Cleveland Cultural Gardens and stop at your favorites to explore more.
Enjoy The Yummy Side of Cleveland
▶ Try to visit as many of Cleveland’s best ice cream shops over the summer from Mason’s Creamery, Mitchell’s, Sweet Moses, East Coast Custard, Tremont Scoops or Cathy’s Gourmet Ice Cream Sandwiches to help combat the hottest days.
▶ Get a tasty, giant donut and drink to go at Brewnuts Donuts & Beer in Gordon Square.
▶ Eat tacos at Hola Tacos at their socially distanced outdoor patio in Lakewood or get them to go.
Check out my post on our pre-pandemic visit to Hola Tacos.
▶ Try gourmet authentic Hawaiian shave ice at 808 Shave Ice at a few locations around Cleveland.
▶ Enjoy a cheese platter to go from Old Brooklyn Cheese Company, a blanket, and beverages of choice to enjoy a picnic cheese tasting.
The Inside Out
▶ Enjoy an outdoor entertainment and beer garden at the Vibe Garden by Saucy Brew Works in Hingetown that just opened and runs through November.
▶ Visit the new Lakewood Truck Park an indoor/outdoor space that hosts a changing roster of food trucks.
▶ Check out a drive-in theater to experience going out to the movies outdoors.
Or Be A Little Indoorsy (It’s OK!)
▶ Buy a bunch of plants from Urban Planting Cleveland and bring the outdoors inside.
▶ If you’re missing travel, stay in for a movie night and check out Palm Springs, an unexpected and fun movie with major desert vibes.
▶ Can’t get outside? Check out many of the virtual resources in Cleveland.
Check out my post on Virtual Cleveland Experiences.
Road Trip Worthy Destinations
▶ Take a day trip and explore the Toledo Metroparks, only a 2-hour drive from Downtown Cleveland.
Check out my post on Visiting Toledo’s Metroparks A Cleveland Day Trip.
▶ Get a cabin and drive down to Hocking Hills State Park to visit the incredibly beautiful parks.
▶ In just a couple of hours’ drive you can visit Niagara Falls, NY, and see a majestic and powerful waterfall.
Explore Ohio’s Weird and Unique Side
▶ Take a road trip and explore caverns and caves throughout Ohio from Seneca Caverns, Ohio Caverns, Perry’s Cave, and others all a couple of hours’ drive from Cleveland.
▶ Nirvana and Foo Fighter Fan? Take a road trip to visit David Grohl Alley in his hometown Warren, Ohio.
There you have it, my list of 38 fun things to do in Cleveland, Ohio this summer. Have any suggestions to add to the list? Let me know below in the comments section. Have fun, be safe, and enjoy the summer, my friends.
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