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The Land of Your Winter Playground

Much like everything in Cleveland, pressure creates diamonds. So when the snow starts to fall in The Land, that’s when the real party gets started.

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Kids in The Land: Winter Break

8 Things to do While the Kids are Off School

December 09, 2022 Denise Koeth, Image © Boston Mills/Brandywine Ski Resort

The holidays and winter break from school bring some much-needed family time for parents and kids. But we know the idyllic game nights and family bonding quickly can give way to arguments and choruses of “I’m bored” echoing throughout the house.

Seriously, is it time for the kids to go back to school yet??

If being cooped up with the kiddos is giving you cabin fever, we’ve got you covered. There are tons of kid-focused things to do in The Land this time of year — so much, in fact, that we bet you (like your kids) will start hoping winter break never ends.

Tobogganing at The Chalet at Mill Stream Run Reservation

Enjoy the thrills and chills of the tallest, fastest toboggan chutes in Ohio. At this Cleveland Metroparks spot, your family can spend the day laughing all the way down the twin, 700-foot refrigerated ice chutes (no snow necessary!). For a post-run warm-up, pop inside The Chalet for food and a cup of holiday cheer.

Friday, Dec. 9 through the last weekend in February.

Wild Winter Lights at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

Image © Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

See the zoo’s wild residents in a whole new light — actually, make that more than a million new lights. The zoo, transformed into a winter wonderland, will offer guests over 1.5 million lights across holiday themed areas including Candyland, Enchanted Forest, Starry Skies, Future for Wildlife Trail and Santa's Workshop, where guests can take photos with Santa. Drive- and walk-through dates are both available.

Select dates through Dec. 30.

Ice skating at an outdoor rink

Lace up your skates (rentals, too) and glide across the ice at the Cleveland Foundation Skating Rink at Public Square as part of WinterLand, or the Rink at Wade Oval in University Circle. Both rinks will be open throughout the holiday season and beyond, allowing for plenty of time to show off your figure eights, jumps and spins.

Cleveland Public Square Ice Skating is open Nov. 25 - Feb. 20.

The Rink at Wade Oval is open Dec. 9 - Feb. 26.

Twinkle in The 216 at Cleveland Botanical Garden

This annual event will transport visitors to a holiday wonderland filled with colorful plants and towering trees, bringing the most festive time of year to life for visitors.

Select dates through Dec. 31.

Play in The Garage at the Rock Hall

The Garage, the recently re-opened, hands-on exhibit at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, consists of five main areas where fans can pick up real instruments — drums, guitar, bass and keyboards — learn to play, jam with friends, brand their band with custom merch, and check out gear and instruments from the museum’s collection. From tiny tots to experienced musicians, video prompts will guide players as they learn a song or show off their freestyle skills. While you're there, why not school the kids on the classics at The Beatles: Get Back to Let It Be exhibit on display until Mar. 31.

Tickets available for purchase here. The Garage and The Beatles: Get Back to Let It Be are included with admission. 

Polar Blast Snow Tubing

Check the snow report and head to nearby Boston Mills/Brandywine Ski Resort to experience the cushy thrill of Polar Blast snow tubing, where even the tiniest tots can glide down the hill on inflatable tubes. The resort’s two conveyor lifts ensure you’ll conserve energy for hours of downhill adventure.

Boston Mills/Brandywine's seaosn opens Dec. 17; hours vary.

The RainForest

Shake off the winter chill and step into the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo’s RainForest, where it’s always a balmy 80 degrees. The unique two-acre, two-level habitat is home to more than 10,000 plants and 600 animals from the jungles of Asia, Africa and the Americas.

Open daily, with the exception of Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

 Explore the Cleveland Museum of Natural History

Whether its permanent exhibits like the Kirtland Hall of Prehistoric Life and the living galleries of the Perkins Wildlife Center, or admiring art made to raise awareness in the Andy Warhol's Endangered Species exhibit, there's more for kids to see and learn at the Museum of Natural History than ever before.

Open Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00am - 5:00pm, closed Mondays. Closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Regular operating hours offered Monday, Dec. 26 and Monday, Jan. 2.

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