Arts & Entertainment
Patch Picks: Local Staycations for the Whole Family
From water slides to roller coasters, and even a trip to the cosmos, these great staycation ideas are perfect for the whole family.
It’s still cold outside, but these great staycations will help to keep your family’s minds off the seemingly-never-ending freezing temps and leafless trees. So gather up the fam, pile into the car and get ready for a fun-packed day or weekend!
1 IX Center Drive
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Cleveland, OH
800-795-9690
Find out what's happening in Westlakewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The IX Indoor Amusement park is an annual tradition for Cleveland families and runs this year from March 30 to May 1. Those looking for something to distract them from the anticipation of the arrival of warmer weather will find a summer-like haven at this year’s event, which features dozens of fun rides, games, a petting zoo and a Big Cat tiger show. Teens and tots alike (OK, and maybe even mom and dad) will enjoy the fun atmosphere and the taste of cotton candy and elephant ears with lots of powdered sugar. A family four-pack of admission tickets is just $59, so the whole family can get away for the day and make some memories. Discounted single admission tickets are available at Marc’s stores, too, for just $16 each.
4600 Milan Rd.
Sandusky OH
866-257-5627
Sandusky’s Great Wolf Lodge is a family-friendly indoor water park and hotel resort is just an hour west of Cleveland. While the weather isn’t yet warm enough to allow for water slides and swimming outdoors, that doesn’t mean you can’t pack up the family for some splish-splashing fun at Great Wolf Lodge. The hotel is running a special from April 10 through June 30: get a Northwoods Family Suite for just $169.99 (weekdays; weekends are $189.99). The price includes water park access for two days, and when you use the promotion code PICK at checkout, you’ll also get to pick two of these great perks: breakfast for four at Lumber Jack’s Cook Shanty, a large two-topping pizza with breadsticks and four beverages at the Gitchigoomie Grill, 100 tokens for the Northern Lights Arcade, 1 p.m. checkout or a free suite upgrade. With a value like that, your family won’t want to wait to suit up and get swimming.
Shoot for the stars at the Natural History Museum
1 Wade Oval Dr.
Cleveland, OH
216-231-4600
The planetarium at the Natural History Museum in Cleveland is a hidden gem. Patrons can pack the room and take a virtual trip into outer space in the dark while the facility’s fiber optic projector puts your family right in the middle of the cosmos with twinkling “stars” and easily-identifiable “planets” that are as close to the real thing as you’ll get. While the experience is an educational one, it’s not hard to keep the kids interested in the show. They’ll have the chance to find the North Star, identify some constellations, learn about the way the earth moves around the sun and much, much more about the outer space. Admission to the planetarium is just $4 when purchased with a museum admission.