BEST KID-FRIENDLY SHOPPING DESTINATION

WINNER: CROCKER PARK

If you live in Northeast Ohio, Crocker Park in Westlake is a must-stop for family and friends. This shopping destination is a mix of national and local retailers, grocery, fast casual dining, specialty stores and personal service retailers. It provides a variety of events and experiences for everyone, including a summer splash pad, farmer’s market, movies, live music and more. Also, check out the winter months for its cool weather fun. Plus, there is plenty of convenient parking for all. crockerpark.com

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AURORA FARMS PREMIUM OUTLETS

Do you have a fashionista in your household? Anyone looking for popular brands at outlet prices, it’s the place to be, especially before school starts or the turn of the seasons. This outdoor mall provides more than 50 name brands and designers to choose for everyone in your family. premiumoutlets.com/outlet/aurora-farms

PINECREST

Come to this eastside shopping destination in Orange Village. Find what you are looking for in its boutiques, apparel, home and specialty stores, fitness, dining, fresh market groceries and plenty of experiences. Enjoy events, movies, bowling and more, which provides a favorite family outing venue. discoverpinecrest.com/about-us

SOUTH PARK MALL

Don’t miss out going to this indoor mall where you can find plenty of popular brands and dining. Families can also find a wide variety of fun through the mall’s happenings. Whether you visit in spring, summer, fall or winter, check their online calendar for traditional and nontraditional experiences. shoppingsouthparkmall.com

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Orange Village Park

BEST PLAYGROUND WINNER: LAKEWOOD PARK

Lakewood Park is a 31-acre lakefront park featuring a seasonal pool, bandshell, and skatepark, plus sport courts and fields. The Park offers a multitude of activities, including: a zero-entry children’s wading pool, four tennis courts with a Flexcourt surface, three sand volleyball courts, Kids Cove Playground area, and the Lakewood Park Bandstand, which offers free concerts on Sunday evenings, and free movies for children during the summer months. lakewoodoh.gov

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Orange Village was awarded a $150,000 grant by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources in 2016 that partially funded the project. They then executed their vision of a family-friendly space in 2017 that, by design,was welcoming and inclusive to all. Two integrated swings accommodating adults-to-infants, along with two separate play structures designed for children 2-5 and 5-12 years of age round out their “something for everyone” playground experience. orangevillage.com/parks

Preston’s H.O.P.E

The playground for children of all levels of abilities and disabilities, which provides opportunities to explore, play, and learn. This extensive playground includes Imagination Village, with make-believe houses connected by a raised walkway, play theatre, a sand area, and a traditional playground area with swings, tunnels and slides that are appropriate for children from preschool through school age. Beachwood, prestonshope.com

Best Splash Pad

WINNER: BRAINARD SPRAY PARK

The Brainard Spray Park is the centerpiece in one of the beautiful community parks in the City of Lyndhurst. In season, it’s open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is a facility open to the public with passes purchased on the city’s website. The spray park attracts visitors from a wide area with its colorful water features, pavilion area and shade structures. lyndhurstohio.gov

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Crocker Park

Located in the heart of Crocker Park between Crêpes In The City and Barroco, the Lake Ridge Academy Splash Pad is the perfect spot to beat the heat. Open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, this delightful summer oasis is a family favorite for kids and parents to cool off or enjoy an evening light show while spending the day shopping and dining at Crocker Park. crockerpark.com

Aurora Splash Pad

The splash pad is at Kiwanis-Moore Park, which has other amenities such as a playground, benches, skate park, walking paths, picnic tables and more. Also check out the Aurora Snack Shack, which has ice cream, beverages, candy, and snacks. auroraoh.com

Beachwood Splash Pad

The City of Beachwood offers two splash pads within the city’s family aquatic center. The splash pads total 1,945 square feet with approximately 53,000 visits to the aquatic center during the 2022 season. A PVC membrane was added to the surface last spring for regular upkeep and improved grip. The variety of water features always makes it a fun day in the sun. beachwoodohio.com

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BEST TOWN TO RAISE A FAMILY:

WINNER: SOLON

Solon is no stranger to “Best of” lists, with Solon City Schools consistently rated as one of the top public school districts in Ohio and the nation. In addition to top-notch schools, the city offers amenities for families of all ages and interests, from special events to kid-friendly activities — especially through its Recreation Department, the Solon Center for the Arts, and the Department of Senior Services. Add a plethora of shopping and dining options, plus playgrounds, parks and golf courses, and Solon offers ample family-friendly opportunities for residents and visitors alike. solonohio.org

CLEVELAND

Located along the southern shore of Lake Erie, Cleveland is the second-largest city in Ohio. Downtown Cleveland features an array of activities to choose from – watch the Cleveland Guardians play at Progressive Field, listen to live music at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, or get immersed in live theater at Playhouse Square. Cleveland is home to the iconic Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, which documents the history of rock music and inducts new members every year. clevelandohio.gov

LAKEWOOD

The third-largest city in Cuyahoga County, Lakewood was established in 1889 and named for its lakefront location. Lakewood Park is one of the largest lakefront parks in Ohio and features a live concert stage, outdoor swimming pool, picnic pavilions, four-season public pavilion, kids’ playground, baseball, volleyball, and a skate park. The Lakewood Civic Auditorium, a 2,000-seat performing arts venue located on the campus of Lakewood High School, features the world’s largest free-standing ceramic sculpture. lakewoodoh.gov

Shaker Heights

Just eight miles from downtown Cleveland, Shaker Heights is known for its high-quality schools, walkable neighborhoods, beautiful parks, and vibrant commercial districts, including the popular Van Aken District. This vibrant urban hub, located in Downtown Shaker Heights, offers the best mix of retail, restaurants, and entertainment – all in support of the local economy. Known for its extravagant houses, Nature Center, and bike trails, Shaker Heights is equipped with everything you need to raise a family. shakeronline.com

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BEST MUSEUM TO VISIT WITH YOUR FAMILY:

WINNER: CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

Best Live Theater Experience For Kids

WINNER: PLAYHOUSE SQUARE

Playhouse Square, home to the largest Broadway season ticket holder community in North America, is Northeast Ohio’s destination for entertainment. Since its inception in 1998, the Playhouse Square Education Department has remained committed to including the widest possible audience through streaming initiatives, sensory-friendly performances and its social justice series. The department also oversees the Children’s Theater Series and Family Theater Day, both of which are presented by University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital It has offered thousands of events, workshops and classes, and its nationally recognized performances and arts education programming have impacted hundreds of thousands of people in Cleveland and around the world, as they enriched individuals of all backgrounds, abilities and means. playhousesquare.org

Chagrin Valley Little Theater

It has been entertaining and educating Northeast Ohio for nearly a century. It offers year-round comedy, drama, musicals, and special events, including family-friendly holiday programs each winter.

The venerable non-profit has recently rebooted its Youth Theater Summer Camp program. Whether on the stage or in the audience, it’s “just right” size and ticket prices make it a great place to give your kids their first taste of live theater. cvlt.org

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Fine Arts Association

The power of theatre is immeasurable and transformative. The community can be involved in every aspect of their theatrical experience. From onstage to backstage to being in the audience, The Fine Arts Association, located in Willoughby, provides a variety of opportunities to get involved and take part in the local theater season. It also encourages all children of all abilities to participate and try theater. fineartsassociation.org

Magical Theater Co.

Magical Theatre Company is dedicated to making memorable experiences for kids, families, and schools. The company is committed to artistic excellence, employing professional actors, designers, and directors. Public performances, student matinees, touring shows, camps, and educational programming are created to nurture the mind and spirit of young people. Magical Theatre is growing imaginations. magicaltheatre.org

Best Hospital To Have A Baby

WINNER: CLEVELAND CLINIC

When it’s time to bring your baby into the world, Cleveland Clinic is with you every step of the way. That includes providing comfortable rooms with state-ofthe-art technology to monitor and treat any problems that might arise during labor. Birthing centers provide an environment where you can comfortably give birth with low lighting, lounge chairs, birthing balls and water-birthing tubs in some centers. Multiple locations, clevelandclinic.org

RUNNERS-UP: UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS

The team at UH Cleveland’s maternity hospital is committed to helping you have a safe, memorable birthing experience that is tailored to the unique needs and preferences of you and your family, while keeping you and your baby safe. Parents-to-be will have the highest level of expertise for moms and babies onsite, along with compassionate support in a secure, nurturing environment. Multiple locations. uhhospitals.org

The Cleveland Museum of Natural History, located five miles east of downtown Cleveland in University Circle, was established in 1920 and features collections such as the Hamann-Todd Collection, which features more than 3100 human skeletons and over 900 primate skeletons. The museum has embarked on a $150 million renovation and expansion project, with the museum opening part of its transformed campus in December 2022, introducing a new Wade Oval Entrance, modernized Education Wing, and updated galleries. This opening is the latest milestone in the Museum’s transformation project, which features a LEED-certified expansion, a complete reimagining of the Museum campus and all its exhibits, and the addition of new public spaces. cmnh.org

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CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF CLEVELAND

The Children’s Museum of Cleveland embraces the wonder of childhood and the knowledge that children learn best through hands-on play. Their eight interactive exhibits are designed just for kids to promote curiosity, creativity, and discovery. Their exhibits and programs are designed with the youngest learners in mind, providing approachable experiences for children as young as a few months old all the way through grade school. cmcleveland.org

CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART

The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 63,000 artworks and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. The museum is a significant international forum for exhibitions, scholarship and performing arts and is a leader in digital innovations. It’s recognized for its award-winning Open Access program and free of charge to all, the Cleveland Museum of Art is located in the University Circle neighborhood. cma.org.

Great Lakes Science Center

Great Lakes Science Center is home to the NASA Glenn Visitor Center and makes science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) come alive for more than 300,000 visitors a year through hundreds of hands-on exhibits, temporary exhibitions, the Cleveland Clinic DOME Theater, historic Steamship William G. Mather, daily science demonstrations, seasonal camps, and more. greatscience.com