Cleveland Botanical Garden (CBG)551

Serious green-thumb types might prefer to visit the Cleveland Botanical Garden sans children, to make the most of all that the expansive, historic center offers horticulturists. But kids are more than welcome, and features such as the interactive Hershey Children's Garden (open April-October) offer kids the chance to get their hands dirty, play, and learn. The children's garden, located past the cafe and Rose Garden, includes numerous animal sculptures - don't forget the camera! - along with a wheelchair-accessible tree house, sandbox, and stepping stones that cross a fish pond. On a hot day, dress the kids in their bathing suits so they can dance in the fountain and play with the water features.

How can you see Costa Rica and Madagascar without leaving Cleveland? Visit the Eleanor Armstrong Smith Glasshouse! With authentic recreations of tropical landscapes filled with hundreds of beautiful butterflies, it's a spellbinding spot where kids can watch leaf-cutter ants and search for the free-roaming Radiated Tortoise and the Spiny-Tailed Iguana.

Cafe: The cafe at the garden isn't cheap (sandwiches $5-$6; beverages and snacks $1.50-$2.50), but the fare is fairly healthy and the atmosphere is clean and airy, with bright Andy Warhol prints on the wall. Kids selections (about $3) include grilled cheese, flatbread pizza, and hot dogs. There's not much to appeal to little ones in the gift shop, which features pretty, handcrafted, enviro-friendly jewelry, nifty gardening tools, and other items.

Classes & Workshops: Older kids and their parents can enjoy a variety of programs offered throughout the year, from weekly classes offered in four- to six-week sessions to half-day workshops and guest lectures. Check the website for the current schedule.