Editor’s note: At a recent meeting, the Black Girl team was issued a challenge. If you had a friend coming to visit for 72 hours, where would you tell them to go? What should they do? This series will feature our answer to the question and we will revisit it as the seasons change.
by Laylah Allen
Whether you’re a curious Cleveland native or visiting Cleveland just for the weekend, I have curated a list of family-friendly sites for a good time. As a millennial wife and parent of an 8-year-old girl and 4-year-old boy, seeking out places to bond and enjoy each other’s company is important.
Mindful Pockets
Hear me out. The term weekend getaway tends to ring thoughts of moving from one place to the next and exploring as many major attractions as possible. I love to partake in the rat race too. However, I’ve developed a refreshing appreciation for walking in nature. Whether on pavement, gravel, grass, or dirt–nothing beats taking in the beauty of gazing at moving water, finding a turtle laying eggs, or listening to the symphony of undisturbed nature. Enjoy a mindful pocket at the top of the morning to get your day started or after dinner to burn calories before your next stop.
One of my favorite mindful pockets is the Rocky River Reservation. Long and narrow, this trail was the first land purchased for Cleveland Metroparks in 1919. It has a staircase with an elevation of over 50 feet. The walk up was a little scary for me, but the breathtaking view at the top makes it all worthwhile. This is a great location for skipping rocks with the little ones as well.
Explore The Canalway Center trail located on East 49th near Canal Road. The center offers a great opportunity to soak in nature and learn about local history. Canal Way Center is perfect for birdwatching and they frequently offer craft activities for children. Last year, we built bird feeders for our home.
If you want to focus on your breathing and physical wellbeing, this next mindful pocket will soon become a new favorite of yours too. The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes was established to prevent highway development from destroying the greenspace. It has two areas, one has elevated wooden trails over shallow water. The other trail has a combination of pavement and dirt trails, random staircases, and small bodies of water. I love the variation and scenery.
Good Eats
Transparency moment guys: I’m much of an out-to-eat kind of girl, but I have a few suggestions from personal experience and family. My mom loves Lucky’s Cafe. Their food is made from scratch and locally grown. This 2021 Silver Spoon Award-winning restaurant has been featured on Food Network highlighting their biscuits and gravy, baked mac and cheese, and lamb burgers and sweet corn griddle cakes.
I accidentally crashed a high school reunion last weekend and gravitated towards the big black food truck of CJ’S Famous Angus. I ordered the burger combo and polish boy combo for myself and my two kids to share. The portion size for 10 bucks was huge. I especially loved caramelized onions.
Interested in locally grown produce? Visit and support some of my community partners’ local community gardens. Shirley Bell-Wheeler at Revolutionary Love Garden (corner of 123rd and Imperial), Erika Ervin at Gardening in the District Community Garden, and Ebonie Joiner at Shalom & Tranquility Garden (3789 West 39th St). All locations have produce that is free and/or reasonably priced.
Family Fun
Ain’t no fun if the kids don’t have none! University Circle is home to various museums and Cleveland Cultural Gardens. My kids love the Museum of Natural History. It has outdoors, a living gallery of owls, porcupines, otters, catfish, eagles, coyotes, bobcats, and more. Indoors, you can stop by the cafe for a snack and visit one of the permanent or rotation exhibits.
About 10 minutes away, there is the Children’s Museum in Midtown. I had the pleasure of attending the soft opening a couple of years back. If you have toddlers, this is a good fit for fun and exploration. Be sure to visit the tiny house exhibits on the upper level. Cleveland’s west side has some family fun too!
Founded by a Cleveland native in 1952, the Memphis Kiddie Park theme park has a roller coaster, mini-golf, and rides for kids. While you’re on the west side, visit Stearns Homestead Farm to walk near the pond and feed horses, goats, ducks, and birds. Self-guided tours are encouraged.
Cleveland is the City
Despite the pandemic, the city is still finding ways to keep residents and visitors safe and entertained. So many things have changed, but one thing remains: Cleveland is the city that rocks!