Mom, I get it. The house is FILLED to the brim with toys they’ve touched 5 times this year. And let’s not talk about the pain… and I mean PAIN of stepping on those must-have Lego pieces for the must-have set that’s somehow in the same spot, but pieces are forever found around the house. Maybe that’s just my house, but this year I’m asking for gifts of experiences. I want to take the kiddos out for a day of exploring our great state and we have SO many treasures in Northeast Ohio that just have to be explored! Check out this awesome guide and then send it to the grandparents, aunts, uncles, and neighbors so they skip the toy isles and give something more memorable!

Best Experience Gifts for Kids in Northeast Ohio!

Museums, Science Centers, and Zoos

OH WOW! The Roger and Gloria Jones Children’s Center for Science and Technology

Explore the two colorful levels of OH WOW!’s hands-on STEM EDUtaining exhibit hall. With over 60 touch points, OH WOW! provides hours of endless entertainment. Visit their InspireWorks Lab to code with robots, MAKE! projects to take home, or learn how to use everyday tools.

Located in the center of downtown Youngstown, OH WOW! offers general admission, memberships, field trips, birthday parties, and more!

Children’s Museum of Cleveland

Learn, explore, and play at the Children’s Museum of Cleveland! Their mission is to promote the power of learning through play with exhibits and programs for children 0 to 8 years old. Visit each of the 3 levels for endless hands-on activities including Making Miniatures, a area that is designed to promote the development of verbal skills.

With so much to do, the kids will love visiting time and time again! The Children’s Museum of Cleveland offers general admission, memberships, field trips, special programs and more!

Akron Zoo

Occupying over 77 acres of space, Akron zoo is the perfect place to go on an adventure, see animals, and participate in special events! This zoo is open year round with seasonal hours and endless activities. Summit county residents can enjoy Community Days with limited free admissions for four guests.

Support Akron Zoo with a membership and receive free admission, free parking, discounts in the gift shop and more!

Akron Children’s Museum

Over 7,000 square feet of interactive hands-on exhibits geared towards ages 0 to 10. Enjoy their Curtain Call exhibit area where the kids can experience Dramatic Play. Have a train enthusiast? Then they will love The Akron Express area with a toy train table and a suspended train from the ceiling!

Go on an adventure through all 18 exhibit areas for hours of fun. Akron Children’s Museum offers general admission. memberships. field trips, and more.

Akron Fossils and Science Center

This is a perfect for your future scientist with the ability to hold real fossils, take home replicas, even the ability to interact with live animal collections! Take a guided tour or explore on your own in their different areas including Ohio Fossil Fin, 200ft Zip Line, and the 2-acre Outdoor play park.

Host your next birthday celebration here for more added fun with several hands-on lessons such as Fizzy Fun, Dino Dig, party room where you can bring in your own food and cake!

Great Lakes Science Center

Dedicated to cultivating creative, innovative, and critical thinkers, the Great Lakes Science Center offers hundreds of interactive exhibits perfect for constant visits throughout the year! Visit the Cleveland Clinic Dome Theatre for an experience like no other. See what it’s like to be an astronaut, what they eat, and how they live in space in their NASA Glenn Visitor Center, which is 1 of 11 centers.

Sign the kids us for their day camps, Camp Curiosity for an immersive experience with hands-on robotics workshops, engineering through LEGOs, and spacecraft engineering. Kids will LOVE these camps and members get a discount.

Little Buckeye Children’s Museum

Ideal for children 2 – 10 years only, this hands-on, play-based museum located in Mansfield Ohio! Enjoy over 30 interactive exhibits to encourage imagination-based play, such as discovering dinosaurs, piloting planes, and racing racecars.

Little Buckeye Children’s Museum offers general admission, memberships, birthday parties, field trips and more.

Art Studios

Art, crafts, and all things creative is the perfect way to truly make something memorable with the kids. Take a specialty art class, create and paint pottery or even make candle making. These art studios throughout Northeast Ohio has so many offerings for endless fun throughout the year. Most studios offer gift cards that will make the perfect for a day experience or even a perfect place to have a birthday party!

Glazed & Amused Paint Your Own Pottery

Over 400 unfinished pieces of pottery for you to use your imagination on with different colors and styles. Offer walk-in admission and event/parties.

Location: 2193 E. Maple St., North Canton, OH 44720

Hot Pots Pottery

Not your grandma‘s old ceramic class, but a 7 days a week for creative fun and freedom. Stop in to paint pottery, glass fusion, mosaics, candle making, and 3D Laser Wood Decor!

Location: 1828 West State Street, Alliance, Ohio 44601

Akron Art Works

In-person art instruction classes, wellness workshops and splatter room! Join for kid classes, teen nights, adult classes, workshops, and more.

Location: 1684 Merriman Rd, Akron, Ohio 44313

Spirit of Clay

Creative outlet serving for over 15 years! Providing Clay, glass fusion. and bisque services.

Location: 828 Som Center Rd, Mayfield Village, Ohio 44143

All Fired Up Akron

Paint your own pottery and creative arts studio offering glass fusion, canvas painting, door decor, pallet painting, and rentals.

Location: 30 Rothrock Loop Copley, Ohio 44312

AR Workshop Hudson

Be inspired and create lasting memories with their hands-on DIY workshops! Send the kids for an unforgettable experience with their art summer camp.

Location: 85 South Main Street, Ste. B Hudson, Ohio 44236

The Kiln

Paint your own pottery and glass fusing, as well as hand building and wheel throwing pottery

Location: 7225 Fitzwater Rd, Brecksville, Ohio

Busy Bees Potter and Art Studio

Stop into paint pottery, make a mosaic or glass fusing piece, take a clay hand building or canvas painting class.

Niles Location: 5555 Youngstown Warren Rd #652 Niles, Ohio 44446

Mentor Location: 7850 Mentor Ave #554B Mentor, Ohio 44060

Wonderstruck Artisan

One-stop shop for so many amazing creative things such as wooden decor, acrylic painting, even pottery wheel workshop! Classes throughout the year covering many themes including seasonal that’ll keep the family coming back each month.

Location: 3649 Canfield Rd Ste 3 Canfield, OH 44406

Northeast Ohio Experience Gifts the Kids will LOVE!

Whether it’s a membership or a gift card for a creative day trip, this guide is just the beginning for discovering all the many things that Northeast Ohio has to offer!

Are you looking for more Cleveland and NE Ohio motherhood content? Then don’t skip over the blog links below! But before you go, make sure to stop by my maternity and family photography portfolios. Then start the conversation about capturing your family memories!

• Why You Should Choose Dr. James Leonelli | Thorough and Proactive OBGYN
• The Womb Wellness Center | Norishing For Your Birthing Experience
• Kids Birthday Party Cleveland OH | 5 Ideas for a Great Celebration
• Impacting Athletics | Quality & Affordable Athletic Experience Q&A

 

If you are ready for more Cleveland and NE Ohio motherhood content, then make sure you check out my FREE Moms of Northeast Ohio Facebook Group! While you are here, do not hesitate to start the conversation about your next photo session!