I love Wade Park Lagoon! Located in University Circle on The Cleveland Museum of Art's campus, its…read morenamed for Jeptha Wade, the American industrialist. If you catch Cleveland on a lovely day, the Wade Park Lagoon should absolutely be a stop on your visit. Have a picnic there! It's a serene oasis right off CMA (literally) that includes the infamous Auguste Rodin "The Thinker" statue. In the spring, it's a stunning sight to see the water reflect CMA and the surrounding greenery. There's several areas to roll out a blanket on the grass and read, picnic or take photographs. I've also come here twice as part of a bridal party to take wedding photos and they always turn out magical. I do believe there's a walking path and you'll find awesome sculptures scattered throughout. It makes me so happy to see so many trees in such an urban environment like University Circle. This lagoon is a treat for both this area and Cleveland, and uplifts the environment with its mix of lush landscaping and serene setting.

Best time of the year. Peak cherry blossom viewing. The park is serene and picturesque with a…read morevariety of seating areas and grassy spaces for a picnic or photo op. Right now the spring flowers are beginning to bloom including the cherry blossoms. Pick a sunny day and take a Stroll with your morning coffee or pack a snack midday. Enjoy the glassy lagoon and maybe even see a Koi fish if they are out we saw two though it's still a bit cold and early. Sit on the terrace leading up to the art museum and read a book. So many great voided as you walk around the water from Severance hall to the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Beautiful park on the lake. Parking does over flow and then…read morethe yacht club takes a lot of the parking. They have sand volleyball leagues playing too.

Beautiful place to paddle, beach, fish or just watch. Nice that Whiskey Island Distillery is close…read morefor a bite or some weekend tunes

Beautiful park. Lots of hills that go down and meet up with CVNP. It's one of my favorite spots to…read morebring a lunch and eat. They have a nature center, stables, fields and woods to choose from.

Brecksville Reservation is considered to be the largest urban park (3,026-acre) in Ohio. We're so…read morelucky to have this nature's treasure in our city. This park is an ideal destination for easy hiking, wildflower and butterfly sightseeing, workshops, and nature education for kids. I visited this park for Birch Bark Basket Workshop , and LOVED it. I also wandered in the park, visited the nature center, and checked out the prairie. All highly recommended experiences. Park: GPS'ing "9000 Chippewa Rd, Brecksville" will direct you right to the large parking lot by the Harriet Keeler Memorial Picnic Area. The picnic area has a lodge covered gazebo and a very lively playground. Take the path to your right to discover Brecksville Nature Center and Trailside Program Center. Both buildings are newly updated and clearly labeled. The Nature Center offers a sensory inclusive location for all ages. Inside the nature center you'll find creatures (frogs, bugs, and snakes), a cozy bird watching window, a kids play area, and scavenger hunts for the kids. There is a scenic Tallgrass Prairie with tall grass, plants, and beautiful wildflowers. I did not wander deep into the park, but noticed that hiking paths are flat, and easy to navigate. Park maps are available online and right by the parking lot. You can also find a folded map in the Nature Center. While the park is vast, I didn't have any issues with navigation. That's coming from someone who can get lost anywhere. Service: I interacted with a few park employees and volunteers over the phone and during my visit. Everyone was very friendly, patient with me during registration, and workshop. It's definitely the friendliest Metropark! Workshops/Events: Brecksville Reservation (and other Metroparks) host really fun nature-related programs for all ages. I'm surprised that more people haven't yet discovered these programs. Some programs are free, others have low cost. Look for programs online or grab flyers at the Nature Center. The next most anticipated event at the Brecksville Reservation is FallFest: 18th Century Festival. It's a free event with folk music, American Revolution flair, cider, and more! My recent visit was to partake in the Birch Bark Basket Workshop at the Trailside Program Center. The center is very minimalistic and is used for programming. It's spacious and comfortable to craft in. All attendees had so much fun! We made our own baskets from birch bark, learned about the many uses and types of birch, and interacted with each other. I loved my experience and plan to make more birch tree crafts at home! I highly recommend visiting the Brecksville Reservation. You'll love the vastness if you're a hiker. You'll enjoy the easy hiking trails and the predominance of wildflowers if you're a wanderer. Your kids will enjoy the playground, the Nature Center, and being in nature. The park feels suitable for all to enjoy. I can't wait until my next visit in the fall to watch gorgeous foliage.

George V. Voinovich Bicentennial Park…read more This park is an absolute gem in Cleveland--peaceful, beautiful, and full of character. Voinovich Bicentennial Park sits right along Lake Erie, offering stunning panoramic views of the water. On a clear day, you're actually facing Canada, which lies just across the lake--how cool is that? Out in the water, there's a long rock barrier (part of the harbor breakwall system) that adds a coastal, serene feel to the entire landscape. When I visited, there was a live opera performance happening right in the park, which made the experience feel even more special. You can sit on the grass or along the cement steps, which makes it a great spot for a picnic, sunset-watching, or just relaxing near the water. There are often events held here, so it's worth checking the schedule if you're visiting--though honestly, just showing up might surprise you with something fun. The atmosphere is open and vibrant, but still calm and clean. You'll also find: * Boat rentals nearby if you want to get on the water * Restaurants right along the shore * Hotels with waterfront views, all within walking distance The park itself is well-maintained, clean, and has lots of visual interest, including ships docked nearby and big open views of the lake and sky. I visited in the evening, and the sunset over the water was absolutely breathtaking--a perfect end to the day. I can't wait to come back and spend more time here. Whether you're a local or just visiting, this is one of those spots that makes you stop, take a deep breath, and just enjoy where you are.

I'll give this the benefit of the doubt and an extra star because of the weather. This was a short…read morewalk from the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. Street parking was free on a Saturday morning. There are restaurants nearby.

Very good nature center with lots of history of the marsh and the surrounding area! Overall 8/10…read more(4.0 stars) it's just a little small. (My review of the nature center from Google Maps)

Here is a nice little place to hike some trails in a marsh. It basically is a combination of marsh…read moreand woods within a preserve. Mentor Marsh is located close to Headlands Beach so you can get here easily from there. Around here it's much quieter than at the beach. This attracts mosquitos so use bug spray. Entrance is hard to find. It has a parking lot next to the nature center, which is an old house. There's a few trails to choose from. Kerven Trail takes you around the marsh area. There's a large open area once you get out of the woods. If it has rained recently, this place is pretty damp. There also will be lots of mosquitos. It's a marsh after all. The trails are kept pretty clean and clear. It overall is a nice place when you want to get away from the beach. It's larger than it looks. The trails will also take you to the beach if you feel like going all that way.

Great birding spot saw a lot of lifers and nice dock with built in blind so they can't see you.read more

Another county park in the fabulous Geauga Parks District system, it has the well-groomed trails…read moreand smart amenities this park system is known for. Burton Wetlands is just that - copious amounts of water-logged lands in the rural township of Burton. This park features 2 human walk paths amongst these swampy features. The shorter Glacier Trail is a 0.5-mile stretech of "civilized" gravel walkway that winds you through the forest to Lake Kelso - a completely natural glacial lake formed by none other than the monsterous glacier that once sat on this area carving lakes and depositing silt as it expanded and contracted over thousands of years. At the end of the short walk is a canoe launch and a boardwalk to a dual observation deck. Further penetration around the lake is stopped by the boggy brush but the observation deck allows you to watch for jumping fish, eagles, herons, turtles, and all the other swampy critters who make this place home. Because of the natural preservation status of Lake Kelso, park officials only occasionally grant lake access for park-sponsored canoe programs but no other on-lake access is allowed to the public. The nearby house is home to the county's senior naturalist on staff. This whole gorgeous area surrounding the lake used to be someone's personal property - can you imagine that?! The second trail is longer, more natural, and is a loop trail. Except for the immediate entry, gravel doesn't layer this footing so expect far more mud and slosh than its sister trail. It first takes you across a grassy meadow before heading into a muddy forest next to swampy ponds. Expect to see lots of beaver dams, gnawings, and the occasional beaver him/herself. There's a little more up/down with this path but absolutely nothing strenuous or climby about it. Wetlands, as they all do, breed mosquitoes and deer flies - and the ones here are quite voracious during the above-70-deg-F season - so protect yourself accordingly (long sleeves, repellent, hat, etc.). A well-preserved natural area under the guise of good stewardship plus its quiet remoteness makes it one of our favorite parks.

Beautiful area. Got to see a buck crossing the stream. Then walk on the beach…read more It wasn't busy on a cool fall day but I can see this being super busy in the summer.

Beautiful park area with access to "the beach" for warmer days. Nice and well kept! I would come…read morehere for picnics and strolling if I lived in the area. Love that Cleveland has beautiful Metro Parks with public access!

I am a BIG fan of the entire Northeast Ohio Metro Parks system... BIG, BIG FAN…read more The only thing I have seen that is comparable is the "Nature Center at Shaker Lakes". This location is beautiful. The folks that manage it are committed to returning it to it's original wild beauty. They are in the midst of a large project to remove all the invasive species and replant with everything native to the area. So far they have done a marvelous job. I can't even imagine the cost involved. They are taking donations if you want to help. There is a large marsh area you can walk through on raised walkways and see all the work going on. There is another very large wooded area with nicely marked and maintained trails you can stroll through and just enjoy the beauty of the natural habitat. The main lodge is a very nice facility with plenty of room for children to play and classrooms for education. I highly recommend you take a sunny day and visit the "Nature Center at Shaker Lakes". See for yourself. It's a worthwhile project.

What a lovely green oasis! The free nature center itself is small, but it is surrounded by a…read moreterrific network of trails, bridges and boardwalks. It's a great place for kids as well as adults of all ages to explore. The Rise Foundation Gazebo is stunning.