The Cleveland Metroparks

Not known for its natural beauty, Cleveland gets a little short-changed sometimes. But not only is Cleveland bound by Lake Erie on its north side, but by land it is surrounded by what is called the Emerald Necklace — The Metroparks.

The parks are large and include more than 23,000 acres and more than 300 miles of trails, eight golf courses and eight lakefront parks. There is even a zoo. The mission of the parks is dedicated to conservation, education and recreation. The trails are kept in excellent shape and connect in a network that stretches much further into Northeastern Ohio than you would expect. You can even explore the historic Erie Canal via the parks system.

The zoo is not one that is talked about much, but it is a little-known gem. It is free on Mondays if you are a resident of the county and on every other day it costs $15 for adults and $11 for children under 11. The attractions include a Rain Forest, the primate building and the African elephants. There are also educational programs for kids. More information about Metropark attractions is available through their contact page where you can even ask a naturalist any question you would like.