Togetherness is what everyone’s looking for on a family getaway trip. Look to Lake County to come together. Pick from a wealth of fun, inexpensive, family-friendly activities bound to create lasting memories.
Learn what it was like to grow up on a farm at Lake Metroparks Farmpark, 235 acres of bucolic bliss. This working farm is home to dairy cows, sheep, pigs, rabbits and even alpacas. You’ll also find impressive farm machinery, of course, and horse- and tractor-drawn wagons to take you around the farm. See how to milk a cow and then learn how cheese is made from the milk. See first-hand where your food comes from, including the impressive greenhouse filled with growing vegetables. Like pancakes? Come for maple sugaring in the spring. Like warm wool sweaters? Visit during sheep shearing weekends. Farmpark has dozens of special events throughout the year, so see what’s happening when you’re in town for your visit.
Explore one of the largest arboretums in the nation in Lake County. Holden Arboretum’s grounds extend for over 3,500 acres, and you can see every last one of them from atop the 12-story-high Kalberer Emergent Tower. The thrilling Murch Canopy Walk, 500 feet of suspension bridges, lets you walk from tree to tree, 65 feet above the forest floor. Back on earth, traverse the 200+ acres of cultivated gardens, hike along miles of woodland trails and admire more than 21,000 varieties of plants. Kids will love catching sight of turtles and frogs in the bog at Bud’s Adventure Woods, where they can also build with logs and tackle the obstacle course.
Take the family out to the ballgame with the Lake County Captains, a High-A Affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The games are designed to be family friendly with dollar (hot) dog nights, bobblehead giveaways and post-game fireworks every Friday and Saturday night. Get a photo with the big fuzzy lovable green mascot, Skipper, who wanders through the stands to greet the smallest of baseball fans. Be sure to watch the field, too, for budding talent as over 100 former Captains players have made it to the Major Leagues!
Catch a glimpse of the next Shane Beiber, who pitched for the Captains during the 2017 season before moving up to the major league.
Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve contains three miles of nature trails and protected wetland lagoons. Rent a kayak and paddle around, keeping a close eye out for birds — more than 260 species have been recorded here. Pack a picnic to enjoy on the beach at Fairport Harbor Lakefront Park with 21 acres that boast paved trails, picnic areas and shelters, lake swimming, and a playground for the adventurous little ones. Speaking of adventure, the Lake Metroparks Geo(caching) Trail is a literal treasure hunt for dozens of containers hidden around the Metroparks’ property. Grab a GPS-enabled device and download a map for a truly memorable adventure.
Ice cream that requires an ID? Yep, Fairport Harbor Creamery offers boozy ice cream options including chocolate ice cream infused with peanut butter whiskey and mint infused with whiskey and crème de menthe. Of course, there are lots of flavors for the kids and teetotalers here, too, and it’s all homemade. Before dessert, though, stop at Scooter’s World Famous Dawg House, a former auto service shop that’s been filling up beachgoers for decades. Choose from dozens of dogs in three sizes, and be sure to order the crispy fries, enough to fill up four diners.
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