Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in cleveland, OH

Your Local Guide Experts!

by Naomi

March 30, 2009

Imagine my excitement when I was contacted by Gray & Company concerning their amazing books ALL about Ohio and the amazing things this state has to offer!

We have read and avidly perused these books and they are all wonderful and offer great insight into the great things this city has to offer!

Cleveland : On Foot

The fourth edition of this popular guide describes 50 hikes and walks in and around Greater Cleveland. Hike descriptions and maps have been completely updated and revised to show current trails and surroundings; three all-new hikes have been added.

The hikes, for all levels of hiking ability, explore urban, suburban, rural, and woodland areas. Ranging from an easy one-hour walk to a challenging full-day hike, they take hikers to popular local destinations and many less well known locations.

Beyond Cleveland : On Foot

These 58 hikes lead through the most interesting metroparks, state parks, nature preserves, and historic small towns of seven neighboring counties surrounding Greater Cleveland.

The hikes range from easy to strenuous and cover a variety of terrain, so there are good choices for every mood and ability. Each hike includes detailed directions, a trail map, and background notes about the many points of interest found along the way.

Ohio Road Trips

Discover the best and most unusual places to visit in all of Ohio. Longtime TV travel reporter Neil Zurcher has made a career of showing fellow Ohioans how to take delightful mini-vacations close to home. This book collects Neil's all-time favorite Ohio getaway ideas, including . . .

- A museum dedicated entirely to popcorn.

- A historic village where you can ride an authentic replica canal boat.

- Factory tours, antique malls, flea markets, and other lively shopping destinations.

- Animal preserves featuring exotic varieties like bison, lions, rhinos, miniature donkeys . . .

- An Amish hardware store that sells all non-electric appliances.

- Mysterious prehistoric mounds and creepy caverns.

- Romantic country inns, historic hotels, cozy bed-and-breakfasts . . .

- More than 500 places in all!

Great Inn Getaways 

Looking for a real change of scenery? Good news: you don't have to travel far. Try any of these 58 great destinations (all just a short drive from Cleveland) for a refreshingly unique getaway.

No boring chain hotels here, no cookie-cutter motels; these places have true character.

52 Romantic Outings in Greater Cleveland

These 52 carefully planned outings lead Clevelanders away from the tired old dinner-and-a-movie routine and into a realm of romantic discovery.

Here are plenty of options--from a simple lunch hour to a luxurious full day together, and in all price ranges, from totally free to truly decadent. They'll pique a wide range of interests: activities include a wintery sleigh ride followed with hot chocolate by a cozy fire; stargazing at an observatory; ballroom dancing; “love golf;” . . . even target shooting!

Trail Guide to Cuyahoga County

This is the complete trail guide to Ohio's popular national park, written by people who know it best—the volunteers who help build and maintain its trails. Every trail in Cuyahoga Valley National Park is described in detail, with specifics for hikers, cyclists, skiers, and horseback riders.

Featured are the historic Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath, the Buckeye Trail, and favorite destinations such as Brandywine Gorge and Blue Hen Falls. You'll find many less-traveled trails, too, leading to hidden ponds, oak-canopied brooks, and quiet glades in all corners of the park.

Bed & Breakfast Getaways

Bed & Breakfasts make great destinations for overnight and weekend trips. Here are 80 B&Bs and small inns that Clevelanders (and Cleveland visitors) should know about, because they're perfect for a quick getaway—just a short drive from home.

Visit a quaint town filled with antique stores and homey restaurants, sample the nightlife in an exciting metropolitan area, or take some time away to do . . . nothing.

Cleveland Fishing Guide

This guide leads anglers of all abilities to the best public fishing spots in Northeast Ohio. Its 55 destinations offer all varieties of sport fish and fishing available locally on the Lake Erie shoreline and in nearby inland lakes, reservoirs, ponds, rivers, and streams.

Each entry provides a detailed description of the site, tells what kind of fish can be caught there, gives bait suggestions and how-to tips, notes local regulations, and is accompanied by site maps and directions to get you to the prime fishing spots.

WANT TO WIN YOUR OWN COPY OF ONE OF THESE BOOKS? 

Simply email tracinghandprints@gmail.com no later than midnight on March 31st with:

1.  Your top two picks of books

2.  Your mailing address

3.  Your favorite spot to visit in the Cleveland area.

Winners will be chosen at random and notified directly!

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Dan Zanes - a Benefit and a Giveaway

by Naomi

February 27, 2009

Most mamas and papas have heard of Dan Zanes and if you haven't yet become a fan ... what are you waiting for?


Being Savvy Cleveland is hosting a Dan Zanes music CD giveaway, in anticipation for their upcoming show HERE in CLEVELAND!

We are a highly musical family ... sure, I sing off-key in the shower and my children often ask me to quiet down if we're out in public ... but we ALL love music.

Our music library is eclectic and funky ... I try my hardest to fill my children's musical repertoire with options that I too can listen to with glee.

One of those additions to our CD pile is definitely Dan Zanes.  His music is exciting, inspiring, uplifting, LISTEN-ABLE (is that a word?) and often makes it to our daily 5:00 dance party in our kitchen.

Dan Zanes is one of my favorites for many reasons ... one of which is his passion for not only providing great music for our listening pleasure, but also his desire to educate and provide awareness for various issues.  His latest album, The Welcome Table: Songs of Inspiration, Mystery and Good Times is a collection of old/new recordings of gospel tunes.  Prior to The Welcome Table, was Nueva York!, a fabulous compilation of "pro-immigration" songs from Puerto Rico, Mexico, Colombia, the Dominican Republic and other parts of the Spanish-speaking Americas.  

Imagine our great excitement when we heard about Dan Zanes coming to perform HERE!!

The National Autism Association - Northeast Ohio is bringing Dan Zanes and Friends to YOU Cleveland ... during an evening to benefit families dealing with autism in the Northeast Ohio area.

Friday, March 27, 2009 @ 6:30pm
Independence Middle School (6111 Archwood, Independence)

    * 5:30 - Doors Open
    * 5:30-6:30 - Raffle
    * 6:30 - Dan Zanes and Friends
 
Tickets: $32 Adults, $16 children under 12

I have five copies of the Dan Zanes cd, Nueva York! to GIVE AWAY to YOU!.

Simply (1)  leave a comment below and (2) shoot an email to tracinghandprints@gmail.com (so that I can get ahold of the winners!).  Winners will be chosen on March 6th and contacted directly.

See you at the show on March 27th?  It's fantastic and amazing music, AND supports a very worthy cause.

 

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Day Trips

by Naomi

February 25, 2009

 

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Activities, weekend of February 20-22

by Naomi

February 19, 2009

Looking for some free activities this weekend?

Rocky River Library - Make It & Take It Crafternoon

Saturday, February 21st

2:00 - 4:00 pm

Participants should bring a plain, white t-shirt to decorate.  Wear old clothes, as things can get messy!  Advance registration not required.

Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library - Zobapago

A local musical group, Zobapago, offers amazing entertainment and information on topics that your children deal with every day.  Arrive 30 minutes prior to show time to obtain a "Spike Pass"

Saturday, February 21st

3:00 PM

Punderson  State Park - Dog Sled Classic

Visitors can watch dog sled racers mush their teams through challenging race courses!  

Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage - Family Day "Worm Your Way In"

Free with paid admission, visitors can celebrate the Jewish Holiday of Tu B'Shevat and learn about practical ways to "go green"

 

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Savvy guide to visiting a museum WITH children

by Naomi

January 11, 2009

Prior to hosting a Rock-n-Tot event at the Museum of Contemporary Art, I have to admit that I was a bit hesitant about taking my littles to a museum, unless it had the word "Children" in its name. However, with a little bit of planning and preparation, I think it can be done, AND be a huge sucess!! 1. Research and talk with your children about what they might see at the museum. This can be as  Read more...

SANDstruction is here!

by Naomi

December 13, 2008

Grab your hard hats and head to the Children's Museum of Cleveland for the annual SANDstruction exhibit that opens today! Over 70 tons of sand will transform the Pinzone Pavilion into a giant kid-friendly construction site. Kids will create their own sand sculptures, construct their own buildings, examine blueprints, "drive" dump trucks, or excavate sand with a digger.  Read more...