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    Great Lakes Science Center

    4.1 (146 reviews)
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    Updated 2 months ago

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    Space exhibit
    Jessica C.

    Great place to take the kiddos for a day of activity, learning, and exploring. My nephew's favorite part was the NASA space shuttle that you could sit in and the space suit. There's something for every kid. Our daughter enjoyed building a car and drove it around the museum. The paper rocket building and launching area on the first floor was a big hit with everyone. The museum is organized very well and employees were friendly.

    Charlynn R.

    The top floor for young kids was amazing I wish we skipped the first level and just spent time in there. The astronaut stuff was cool but my kid being 3 was much happier with the interactive exhibits.

    Sherwin Williams exhibit
    Anuvi G.

    Went to the Great Lakes Science Center for the first time in February. Was able to find street parking for free which was a strong start and there was no line to get tickets. The staff was super kind in helping us get tickets for the otters movie because we forgot to get the earlier, and they helped us get a discount on them. The exhibits are really interactive and informative. Definitely a place that's good for all ages. We were there for 3-4 hours I believe. The human body exhibit which was in the basement was the star of the show, but it wasn't advertised anywhere and we didn't even realize it was there until the end! The exhibit showed so many things in the biomedical space that people have misconceptions about, such as cochlear implants. Wish they had put it in the brochure, and that exhibit is a rotating one. We were able to catch the otters movie which was showing which was really nice, and the dome theater was such a cool experience! It's just hard to see everything because the screen is so big, so get there early to find a seat you like. I understand that the museum is geared for everyone, including kids. My only issue was kids were running around a lot and we really had to be careful, which is understandable. My only other gripe was the instruments portion upstairs had some broken or missing portions, however that might have been the fault of some young kids and not the museum itself. Would definitely go again though, and would love if they had an "adults night" after hours. Would totally be willing to pay extra to see everything. Highly reccomend going no matter what age you are.

    Sharaun F.

    Amazing experience! We were here for Small Business Saturday! It was well organized. There were food trucks, vendors, live music and mobile barbers. It was amazing to see so many minority owned businesses and smiling faces. Most of the exhibits were open as well so it really was a family friendly event. Parking was free as well. The staff was so kind and helpful and welcoming.

    Delicia P.

    Today we visited the Great Lakes Science Center and although we had a blast there were quite a few things broken and honestly seemed like it hasn't been wiped down in a while. Granted we love visiting the science center and will be coming back. FYI the dogs movie in IMax was sooooo awesome! We would definitely watch again!

    Sunday, 7 April 2024 -- Free Entry on April 7th at the Great Lakes Science Center combined with the NASA Glenn Visitor Center
    Agnes I.

    I finally visited the Great Lakes Science Center on Sunday, 7 April 2024 even though I have driven past it for years since 2017. I happened to be downtown for the Total Solar Eclipse festival when admission to the science center was FREE on that Sunday so I had to venture inside. I suppose I never tried to visit the science center in the past because I thought it was mostly a children's center but I digress. TICKETS -- $19.95 per adult and $14.95 for kids ages 2-12. LOTS TO SEE -- I really enjoyed NASA Glenn Visitor's Center where there are plenty of displays about space, astronauts, and rockets. It's a great center to learn about history and other NASA projects. I suggest bringing children here because their visit will be educational. Infact, I saw many kids while I browsed the different sections. I stayed on the main floor to browse but there is a downstairs level (bathrooms and a food stall) and an upstairs level that I never browsed. I came several points during the weekend festival (just on Sunday and Monday actually) to use the bathroom downstairs in the basement or lower level. The main floor has the NASA Glenn visitor's center and the Dome Theatre. The following day, on Monday, 8 April, as part of the downtown Total Solar Eclipse event, I got to watch a free screening of the documentary "Small Town Universe" in the dome theatre which was a neat experience because the theatre is round and shaped as a dome inside. I loved my experience in the science center and next time, I'd love to bring anyone i know who is visiting Cleveland. GOAL of 150 reviews in 2024 - 24/150 total reviews in 2024 - 674 total overall Yelp reviews - Reviewed on 2 May 2024

    Amanda M.

    Tapescape review We have visited the science center many times and this time our focus was on the new temporary exhibit. The area is modeled after the international space station. Using scaffolding they have created a play area for kids that is wrapped in packing tape with lighted tunnels and slides. It was a huge it with the kids and we spent over an hour alone in the section.

    Glenda R.

    Great for kids and adults! We had a lot of fun. Parked in garage and walked right in. However there were a lot of displays that were broken and they need to replace the beat up headphones. Need some sanitizer stations too or be sure to carry wipes with you.

    Ayşe Selen Z.

    Super fun and glad we have this opportunity in our city! Definitely gets the attention from the families in the city with lots of activities and dome theatre as well as if you are a member you can visit the ship too. Parking is available with a price; it is downtown Cleveland where there are other museums and just to take a nice stroll near by the Lake Erie.

    Weight and pulley science
    EveLynne B.

    Starting off, me and my partner are both on the spectrum. We had an amazing date here. It was a surprise for him, and we had an absolute blast. The top floor was probably the most fun. I quite enjoyed the giant Spirograph thing (it was called something different, but it was very fun and I got to take the drawing home). We spent lots of time in the shadow room, it was very active to jump around and try to catch funny shadows. I know lots of other reviews loved the space exhibit but for us, it wasn't the star of the show and we spent little time there. We stayed from noon until 5pm when they closed on Sunday. We ate at spark kitchen, which is on the lower floor, I have a dairy allergy and got the terrestrial turkey wrap, no bad reaction to it, it was great, s/o got a quantum quesadilla w/ chicken. Honestly, for themed food, it was amazing. Quite delicious, it's pricey, but to be expected and not outrageous. We also packed a banana for each of us and that worked out well to finish off our meal. Staff in spark kitchen was extremely kind and service was great! On the side of sensory accessibility, I rode the train in the temporary exhibit which was exhilarating and very fun, though the horn was loud. They do offer special days where they keep general sound quieter and don't use the louder exhibits in order to accommodate, so this is a great option for anyone particularly sensitive. They also have a sensory room, which we both checked out while it was empty and I definitely give it a thumbs up overall, it's further away down a hall where family bathrooms are. I also felt great using the family bathroom, as I noticed that the toilets were not automatic flushing, but had a lever (this is great as the sound of the automatic toilet flushing can be loud and unpredictable), there also was a air dryer for hands, as well as paper towels, giving choice, (I find that the sudden loud noise of air hand dryers can also be bothersome). There also were accessible, free menstrual product dispensers inside the restroom too. I will also note changing tables, and the fact that there was a toilet seat lid. My only critique is that being that there are lots of kids and lots of exhibits that require touching handles and dials and whatnot, it would have been greatly appreciated if they had hand sanitizer dispensers. We had to go to the bathroom to wash hands or get hand sanitizer on the top floor. They *should* have hand sanitizer dispensers within eyeshot wherever you stand in the exhibits. Sanitizing wipes would be a nice touch as well, but for others I would simply note it would be a good idea to bring them themselves, I see lots of others echoing the same sentiment when it comes to cleanliness. I was going to bring some, but forgot that morning. A good amount of stations/exhibits were broken or not working as well, which is disappointing as some of them seemed not too hard of a fix and being that it's a science center, should have exhibits well-maintained. This didn't take away too much from the enjoyment of the whole day, the only one I was particularly bummed about was the drum set, as my s/o really would have loved to jam on it properly. Due to these issues, I did take off a star, and would have taken off and given 3 stars, but the overall experience was great and I can say it's the best date we've ever had. I wish we had gotten to spend more time in there, and we will definitely be back!

    Carolyn E.

    This is a fun place for all ages, they have a bunch of interactive activities. Many of which are designed to educate and my friends and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves as we meandered through the exhibits and tinkered with the displays. My phone died halfway through our time here, so I didn't get a picture of my favorite display, the vortex, but I did get a few pics while we were playing in the science of Rock and roll area, which had many interactive musical and instrumental displays. The gift shop is well organized and has a good variety of products. My friends each got a shirt. I opted for a souvenir penny, as that is one of my go to souvenir items when traveling or going somewhere new to me. Great activity for a rainy day, or as an excuse to get out of the sun for a few on a hot day!

    Exhibit Hall (2nd Floor)
    Vinay Y.

    Awesome science center in downtown Cleveland right next to the Cleveland Browns stadium and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Just avoid going during Browns home games. The center is great for kids to e plots and learn about science. They have 2 main floors of exhibits as well as an IMAX dome theater. Make sure to get tickets for one of the IMAX movies as well. They also have a beautiful walkway just outside the cafeteria along the lakefront which connects to Voinovich park. It's definitely worth walking there if the weather is good. A great place to visit for families! Make sure to ask for the parking discount/validation when buying your tickets.

    Signage for special show in the dome.

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    3 months ago

    Nice but best for kids. Didn't see the IMAX however which others have raved about. Parking quite expensive.

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    11 months ago

    Was a fun place to visit after the rock and roll hall of fame. Many learning experiences and fun experiments!!!

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    1 year ago

    An amazing place to visit for all ages. The Cleveland Clinic Theatre is on of my favorite things to do while there. Worth every penny!

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    1 year ago

    You don't have to be a kid to have fun here. I loved it as a kid, took my nephew and he loved it too. I go with friends just for fun.

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    Well worth the stop. There's a lot to see. It is mostly naval. Not much nature type stuff, so have appropriate expectations.

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    Review Highlights - Great Lakes Science Center

    Had an awesome experience here at the OMNIMAX for the Robot movie, and HAD to see Star Wars in 70mm.

    Mentioned in 9 reviews

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    Children's Museum of Cleveland

    Children's Museum of Cleveland

    4.0
    (81 reviews)
    1.9 mi

    I wish they stayed open past nap time (1:30pm)!! But we had an amazing time…read more My toddler enjoyed every bit of the lower section. The jungle gym was wide and sturdy. Parents could go up and down the structure. The bubble: water room was our favorite. We worked on our engineering skills to keep the balls moving as well enjoyed seeing them fly high in the air. The bubbles room was not bubbling for us. But nonetheless the soapy water had bubbles. Kids imaginations are able to thrive in the Theatre and on Lego Tables! There is a make believe Farmers Market for kids. Oh and a "mechanic" section where they can build and alter two vehicles.

    Highly recommend getting a year pass to this place if you have small children! There are several…read morethings to do for children to keep them busy and their minds engaged. There is a toddler/baby room for those little ones who can't quite enjoy everything this place to offer. For this area, you need to take your shoes off and only wear socks. Sometimes there are shoe covers available, but I wouldn't count on it. I continued to renew my pass because as my child got older, he loved this place even more. He always has so much energy so I needed to find a place that would keep him busy indoors, especially during our winter months. The bubble room is definitely our favorite room because we get to play with bubbles together. There are areas for water play as well. This truly engages their creativity so they would need to build things within the water to have it travel farther along with balls being shot up in the air. There is an area for those kids who just want to enjoy books in a little cubby and those who want to play pretend theater. Sometimes we go into the one area where the pretend store and kitchen is and my son will go grocery shopping and cook something for me. It's truly a great place to keep your kids active and engaged.

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    Air Tunnels
    Air Tunnels
    Children's Museum of Cleveland
    Children's Museum of Cleveland

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    Cleveland Museum of Natural History

    Cleveland Museum of Natural History

    4.0
    (139 reviews)
    4.3 mi

    I've been to Cleveland a few times now and I usually stop by the nearby Museum of Art, but I…read moreFINALLY decided to check out this spot today and I had so much more fun! I've been to my fair share of natural history museums, and while this one is compact, it is very modern and packs a punch! When you enter, you're immediately greeted by a giant dinosaur and that set the tone for the whole visit, I felt like I kept seeing dinosaur bones everywhere! It took me a moment to orient myself to the museum layout, but looking back it's pretty compact and I could've easily wandered and enjoyed most of the museum in a couple hours. I especially enjoyed how interactive the earth section was, and this is silly but sit on those rock-looking cushions - they are SO comfortable! The little planetarium area was also very cool, and I would consider seeing a show in there next time! The dioramas are by far the most beautiful/engaging I've seen, and with between the fish video cave and the outdoor animal area, I felt like I also got a mini trip to the aquarium and the zoo. Overall I had an amazing time and this spot is super baby/toddler friendly! Note: If you have ASTC membership, admission is included! As a non museum member, I'd recommend street parking. It's much cheaper than the flat rate garage fare.

    WOW... I might be almost 30 but this was a FUN day! my boyfriend took me here on my birthday since…read moreit's been on my list for a while and we ended up being here for 4-5 hours!! There are SO MANY rooms and interactive things to do & keep busy! Ohio animals/bugs, planets, body system, fish, birds, coyotes, otters, etc!!!!! They have a movie theater that shows different short movies (~ 30-45 mins) & a planetarium - sadly we missed the shows for the planetarium... BUT we will be back!! We watched a T-Rex film that I will say, I thought was going to be dumb.... But again was actually so cool! Do not underestimate this museum! Plus Cuyahoga county residents get in for free on the weekends & according to their events page.. they hold SO many fun activities for kids and adults - like yoga! I cannot wait to come back & explore this place again (especially the planetarium) & participate in some of there events! Thank you for the sweetest staff & a great day!

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    Exhibit
    Exhibit
    Beetle display
    Beetle display
    Check out Cleveland Museum of Natural History's brand new Visitor Hall!

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    Check out Cleveland Museum of Natural History's brand new Visitor Hall!
    Castle Noel

    Castle Noel

    4.4
    (183 reviews)
    27.0 mi

    Castle Noel, came on a recommendation from a fellow Ohioan at Cleveland Zoo back in December 2022…read more After hearing about Castle Noel, and being someone with being a December birthday, Christmas, love of Christmas movies this was a must. The tour itself was 2 hours, the tour guides on my date August 31, 2025: last tour of the day 2pm, were informative, interactive, and made me feel like I was in Christmas heaven. The tour in my opinion is geared toward for kids 6 and up, and everyone else after that. All of our tour guides, hilighted there areas well. If you ever find you have to reschedule your tour, the staff are more then eager to help with that. Check in through the black doors, at gift shop ; be sure to browse and take home a piece of christmas or other souvenir. Everything about the tour epic, loved it all from Santa squeeze, to Grand Ball room to room with all the toys, restoration room, the slide from Christmas Story, Lord & Taylor clock at the start of the tour, all the Christmas windows. Look forward to returning and seeing all the new additions in future. Cheers to 10 years !!

    Stop everything and take the tour here! It's 100% worth every penny. My friend and I purchased…read moretickets for a Friday mid-morning tour not knowing exactly what to expect and were more than pleasantly surprised. The tour lasted about 2 hours, was very informative, and contained a lot of vintage memorabilia, donated items, restored items, friendly faces, and tunes to put you right in the holiday spirit. I thought the gift shop lacked a little, but it really just helps to put the focus on the tour/museum aspect of the building.

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    Castle Noel
    Dinner
    Dinner
    Clark Griswold's chain saw

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    Clark Griswold's chain saw
    Cleveland Botanical Garden

    Cleveland Botanical Garden

    4.3
    (190 reviews)
    4.5 mi

    I feel so blessed to live in Cleveland! We have the most amazing cultural opportunities. I…read morehaven't been to the botanical graces for years. (Even though my husband and I are Members). ‍ A friend of mine sent me a note that the botanical gardens have free admission in June for a anyone with Rose in their name. Whoohoo. I brought my aunt Rose and godmother for a day out. She just turned 80, what a nice way to get out. Even on a 95 degree day, the gardens were beautiful. Sun, shade and the inside garden with the butterfly release. They also had educational tables set up. I think there are a handful of volunteers that do a wonderful job. Julie checked us in and was very helpful. This is a great place to walk wonderfully curated gardens. There is beauty in every corner. I'm definitely coming back to use my membership and enjoy the beauty here. (Just maybe not on a 95 degree day again). Hahaha.

    On a perfect weather day, I joined a friend to marvel at the beauty provided at the Cleveland…read moreBotanical Garden. Inside, we wished the 50-year-old tortoise a happy birthday. Then a mallard duck welcomed us as we ventured outside to the green vistas amidst the numerous bubbling fountains. Flora of every hue dotted our paths. My favorites on this trip included the red bridge in the Japanese garden and the Narnia-infused view that I call the STONE TABLE. Find your own magical journey at this wondrous place!

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    Sheltered play area
    Sheltered play area
    Hallway
    Hallway
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    Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

    Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

    4.1
    (1.3k reviews)
    0.1 mi

    This was surprisingly my first time viewing the entire Rock and Roll Hall of Fame…read more Ive been for performances before and outdoor festivals and always had a good time. I had family in town and their only request was to see the Rock Hall, so I made it happen. They are currently doing construction and we had to enter in a different entrance. The staff was so nice. The exhibits were informative and there was so much to see and learn. The interactive sound lab was a hit for young and old alike. I will be back, especially after the 2026 induction occurs and the exhibits change again. The gift shop was so fun also.

    Everyone said the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was a must-see during my road trip, so of course I had…read moreto go. It's an interesting place, they did a nice job packing it full of relevant exhibits across many diverse corners of rock, covering decades across the six floors of the museum. They also have interactive sections, including a "garage" where you can play instruments to your heart's content. The layout was a bit odd, there was never a clear flow that people followed within each section. People were bumping into each other and moving in opposite directions pretty frequently. I was also frustrated by the lighting and displays; it was way too challenging to get a clear picture of certain displays because of bright lights nearby (or wandering bystanders jumping in front of you at random). Cool experience if you like rock/music, but don't expect to build a whole day around it. It's a quick 1-2 hour stop that won't make or break your time in Cleveland overall.

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    It's your turn to play in The Garage
    It's your turn to play in The Garage
    Step inside the world's only hall of fame and museum dedicated to Rock & Roll
    Step inside the world's only hall of fame and museum dedicated to Rock & Roll
    Dive into each Hall of Fame Inductee's video and album highlights on level 3

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    Dive into each Hall of Fame Inductee's video and album highlights on level 3

    Great Lakes Science Center - childrensmuseums - Updated July 2026

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