CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Thousands of baseball fans will descend on Cleveland in July, when Progressive Field plays host to Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game. But there are plenty of other reasons to put Northeast Ohio on your travel to-do list this summer, from the Tall Ships Festival to a zoo expansion and professional soccer on the Lake Erie shore.
Editor’s note: Read more about Ohio Summer Travel options in our five-part guide, organized by region:
Summer in Ohio 2019: Where to go, what to do in every corner of the state
Kings Island, Coney Island, Air Force museum and more: Summer in Southwest Ohio
Hocking Hills, the Wilds, Moonville Tunnel and more: Summer in Southeast Ohio
COSI, Ohio State Fair, the Columbus Zoo and more: Summer in Central Ohio
Cedar Point, Toledo Zoo, Kelleys Island and more: Summer in Northwest Ohio
Northeast Ohio: Botanical gardens/zoos
Akron Zoo, 505 Euclid Ave., Akron (Summit County)
The Akron Zoo, located just west of downtown, is in expansion mode. Opening in June: Pride of Africa, a new area that will be home to African lions, Speke’s gazelles, white storks and more. And next summer, visitors can look forward to the new Wild Asia area, with Sumatran tigers, red pandas and white-cheeked gibbons. Together, the two areas will make up the largest expansion in the zoo’s history.
Admission: $12, or $10 for those 62 and older, $9 for children 2 to 14
Information: akronzoo.org, 330-375-2550
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, 3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland (Cuyahoga)
Asian Highlands debuted last summer at the Cleveland Zoo, with resident snow leopards, red pandas, takins and an Amur leopard. Other favorite areas include the African Elephant Crossing, Australian Adventure and the RainForest. Returning this summer: The popular Asian Lantern Festival, June 20-July 28, featuring hundreds of illuminated lanterns, spread throughout the zoo’s 200 acres.
Regular admission: $16.95 adults, $14.95 for those 62 and older, $12.95 for children 2 to 11
Information: clevelandmetroparks.com/zoo, 216-661-6500
Cleveland Botanical Garden, 11030 East Blvd., Cleveland (Cuyahoga)
With magical spaces inside and out, this is a great destination whatever the weather. Inside: Madagascar and Costa Rican biomes within the Eleanor Armstrong Smith Glasshouse, featuring plant life and animals. And outside: the Japanese Garden, Rose Garden, Woodland Garden and Hershey Children’s Garden, with plenty of family-friendly activities.
Admission: $12, or $8 for children 3 to 12
Information: 216-721-1600, cbgarden.org
Holden Arboretum, 9550 Sperry Road, Kirtland (Lake)
Holden Arboretum is one of the nation’s largest botanical gardens, featuring 20 miles of trails spread across 3,500 acres. Recently reopened for the season: Murch Canopy Walk and Kalberer Tower, which rises 120 feet above the forest floor for spectacular views.
Admission: $12, or $8 for children 3 to 12 (canopy walk extra)
Information: holdenarb.org, 440-946-4400
Northeast Ohio: Outdoor music and drama
LaureLive, June 8-9, 7420 Fairmount Road, Russell Township (Geauga)
LaureLive, the popular outdoor musical festival on the grounds of Laurel School’s Butler Campus, returns for its fourth year, with 30 musical acts spread across two days, including headliners Hozier (June 8) and Sheryl Crow (June 9). In addition to music: food, children’s activities, arts and more.
Admission: Single-day admission is $85, or $25 for children 3 to 10.
Information: laurelive.com, 216-696-7776
Blossom Music Center, 1145 W. Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls (Summit)
For a perfect warm-weather evening, head to Blossom Music Center, summer home of the Cleveland Orchestra. The amphitheater seats 5,700, with room for another 13,500 on the lawn. The orchestra plays weekends from late June through early September. Among this season’s highlights: Rhapsody in Blue (July 5-6), Brian Wilson (Aug. 11), and live performances with “Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone” (June 29-30) and “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back” (Aug. 30-31, Sept. 1). During the week, a wide variety of popular musicians take the stage, including the Zac Brown Band (June 14), Phish (June 19) and Wiz Khalifa (July 30).
Admission: prices vary; children under age 18 are admitted free to the orchestra (two free lawn passes with one paying adult).
Information: clevelandorchestra.com, livenation.com
“Trumpet in the Land,” Schoenbrunn Amphitheatre, 1600 Trumpet Drive NE, New Philadelphia (Tuscarawas)
Celebrating its 50th season, “Trumpet in the Land” is set in the same Ohio hills where the story unfolded more than two centuries ago. Paul Green’s play tells the story of Moravian missionary David Zeisberger and his Christian Indian followers as they struggle to maintain their settlement in the years leading up to the Revolutionary War. The show runs June 14 through Aug. 17. Also on stage at the Schoenbrunn Amphitheatre this summer: “The Wizard of Oz,” “Love Letters” and “8-Track: The Sounds of the ’70s.”
Admission: $20, or $18 for those 60 and older and children 13 to 17, $10 for children 3 to 12
Information: trumpetintheland.com, 330-339-1132
Northeast Ohio: Museums
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 1100 E. Ninth St., Cleveland (Cuyahoga)
Downtown Cleveland’s best-known tourist attraction continues to evolve, like the music it celebrates. New exhibits this summer include “Woodstock at 50,” “Stay Tuned: Rock on TV” and a display featuring memorabilia from 2019 inductees The Cure, Def Leppard, Janet Jackson, Stevie Nicks, Radiohead, Roxy Music and the Zombies. Also: a full summer of shows, including a 25th anniversary concert to celebrate the Vans Warped Tour (June 8), with a related exhibition.
Admission: $26, or $24 for those 65 and older, $16 for children 6 to 12
Information: rockhall.com, 216-781-7625
Pro Football Hall of Fame, 2121 George Halas Drive NW, Canton (Stark)
Highlights here include the Hall of Fame Gallery, where more than 300 bronze busts of the sport’s greatest players, coaches and contributors are on display. There also is the Lamar Hunt Super Bowl Gallery and “A Game for Life,” featuring Joe Namath and other greats in hologram form. Every August, Canton hosts the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement, when former players and league contributors are inducted into the museum. This year, the event runs Aug. 1-4, with the Hall of Fame Game (Denver Broncos vs. Atlanta Falcons) on Aug. 1; the Enshrinement Ceremony on Aug. 3; and Concert for Legends, featuring Imagine Dragons, on Aug. 4.
Admission: $26, or $22 for those 65 and older, $19 for children 6 to 12
Information: profootballhof.com, 330-456-8207
Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd., Cleveland (Cuyahoga)
Cleveland’s venerable art museum is hosting another blockbuster special exhibit this summer, “Shinto: Discovery of the Divine in Japanese Art,” which examines religious tradition in Japan through more than 100 objects, including garments, calligraphy, paintings and masks. This is the only stop for this special exhibit, which runs through June 30. The museum, considered among the finest in the world, is located east of downtown in Cleveland’s cultural mecca, University Circle.
Admission: free; $10 for “Shinto” or $8 for seniors and students, $5 for children 6 to 17
Information: 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org
Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland, 11400 Euclid Ave., Cleveland (Cuyahoga)
Cleveland’s modern art museum, around the corner from the better-known Cleveland Museum of Art, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year with a birthday gift to all — free admission. The museum is hosting several anniversary exhibits, including “Lee Mingwei: You Are Not a Stranger,” and “Abe Frajndlich: Portraits of Our Early Years.”
Admission: free
Information: mocacleveland.org, 216-421-8671
The Butler Institute of American Art, 524 Wick Ave., Youngstown (Mahoning)
The Butler, the first museum in the world to focus exclusively on American art, celebrates its centennial this year. Special exhibits include “A Century of Fashion by Pete Ballard” and “Mark Perrot: Ancient Ink.” The permanent collection includes such iconic pieces as “Snap the Whip” by Winslow Homer, “Pennsylvania Coal Town” by Edward Hopper and “Lincoln the Railsplitter” by Norman Rockwell.
Admission: free
Information: butlerart.com, 330-743-1107
Northeast Ohio: Sporting events
Cleveland Indians Progressive Field, 2401 Ontario St., Cleveland (Cuyahoga)
For the sixth time — more than any other city — Cleveland will play host to Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game this summer. The game gets under way July 9, but there will be nearly a week’s worth of fun leading up the first pitch, including the interactive Play Ball Park, July 5-9, at Huntington Convention Center. For a roster of events: www.mlb.com/all-star.
Or, if you would rather just watch the Indians play a game in Cleveland, check out upcoming series, vs. the New York Yankees, June 7-9; Cincinnati Reds, June 11-12; and Detroit Tigers, June 21-23.
Admission: starts at $15.
Information: mlb.com/indians, 216-420-4487
Akron RubberDucks The Indians’ Class AA affiliate plays at downtown Akron’s Canal Park, 300 S. Main St., Akron (Summit County), with seating for 7,600.
Information: akronrubberducks.com, 330-253-5151
Lake County Captains This Class A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians plays in Classic Park, 35300 Vine St., Eastlake (Lake County)
Information: captainsbaseball.com, 440-975-8085
CONCACAF Gold Cup, June 22, FirstEnergy Stadium, 100 Alfred Lerner Way, Cleveland (Cuyahoga)
Soccer takes over the home of the Cleveland Browns for one day in June, with a doubleheader that pairs the U.S. men’s national team against Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana versus Panama. Cleveland is one of 15 U.S. venues to host matches in the Gold Cup, the biennial tournament of the North, Central American and Caribbean region.
Admission: $35 and up
Information: goldcup.org
Cleveland Browns FirstEnergy Stadium, 100 Alfred Lerner Way, Cleveland (Cuyahoga)
Speaking of the Browns … anticipation of football season in Cleveland hasn’t been this high since, well, since anyone can remember. Even the preseason games are likely to draw a crowd: The Washington Redskins play in Cleveland on Aug. 8; the Detroit Lions come to town Aug. 29. The regular season starts Sept. 8 against the Tennessee Titans.
Tickets and information: clevelandbrowns.com
Bridgestone Senior Players Championship, July 10-14, Firestone Country Club, 452 E. Warner Road, Akron (Summit)
This is the first of four years the Senior Players Championship will be played at Firestone, a replacement for the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational that moved to Memphis, Tennessee, starting this year. Among those likely to compete at Firestone: Vijay Singh, Fred Couples and Tom Watson. Look for food trucks, live music and other non-golf fun at the event, too.
Tickets: $20 and up; 18 and younger are free with a ticketed adult
Information: bridgestoneseniorplayers.com
Northeast Ohio: Festivals and fairs
Duck Tape Festival, June 13-15, Veterans Memorial Park, 3701 Veterans Memorial Parkway, Avon (Lorain)
Celebrate the miracle of duct tape in the hometown of Duck Brand. Activities include a duct tape fashion show, duct tape arts and crafts, a parade, entertainment and more.
Admission: free
Information: ducktapefestival.com
Cuyahoga 50, June 19-23, Various locations in Cleveland (Cuyahoga)
Fifty years ago on June 22, the Cuyahoga River caught fire, igniting an environmental movement. Commemorate the anniversary week with dozens of events and activities in and around downtown Cleveland, including a lighted boat parade, stand-up paddleboard and kayak races, art exhibits, bike tours, kids activities and lectures.
Information: cuyahoga50.org
Tall Ships Festival, July 11-14, North Coast Harbor, Cleveland (Cuyahoga)
At least 10 replica and restored Tall Ships will sail into Cleveland’s North Coast Harbor this summer for the first time since 2013. Activities include an opening day Parade of Sail, tours, sailings, food, music and historical exhibits.
Admission: $15 in advance, or $13 for those 65 and over, veterans and active military, and $10 for children ages 5 to 14
Information: tallshipscle.com, 844-253-8255
Twins Days Festival, Aug. 2-4, Twinsburg (Summit)
Popular events include look-alike (and least-alike) contests, talent shows and more. It’s the largest gathering of twins (and other multiples) in the world, drawing thousands of twins — plus thousands of non-twins — every year. (Friday is for registered twins only.)
Admission: $4; $20-$25 per registered set of twins (only registered twins eligible to participate in events)
Information: twinsdays.org, 330-425-3652
D-Day Conneaut, Aug. 15-17, Conneaut Township Park, 480 Lake Road (Ashtabula)
Re-enactors will storm the Lake Erie beach in far northeast Ashtabula County during this annual event, the largest D-Day re-enactment in the United States. Activities this year, the 75th anniversary of D-Day, include mock battles, living history displays, demonstrations, seminars and more.
Admission: free
Information: ddayohio.us
Northeast Ohio: Breweries/wineries
Northeast Ohio wine tours, 4888 N. Broadway, Geneva-on-the-Lake (Ashtabula)
The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake, in the heart of Northeast Ohio’s wine region, recently introduced a new winery tour, the Signature Immersion Tour, offered every Saturday. The five-hour tour includes tastings, tours and food pairings at three local wineries. Price is $75 per person, reservations required.
The lodge also offers a popular Deluxe Winery Shuttle, available several times daily, stopping at three or four wineries, priced at $35-$45.
Information: thelodgeatgeneva.com/play/wineshuttle, 440-466-7100
Gervasi Vineyards, 1700 55th St. NE, Canton (Stark)
This Tuscan-themed property offers an elegant wine-themed getaway, with high-end hotel rooms, upscale restaurants, cooking classes, wine tours and more. New this summer: The Casa, with 24 suites, featuring fireplaces, heated floors, covered patios and more. All this and wine too, including 20-plus varieties made here.
Information: gervasivineyard.com, 330-497-1000
Saucy Brew Works, 2885 Detroit Ave., Cleveland (Cuyahoga)
Saucy Brew Works, on Cleveland’s west side, is a relative newcomer to the exploding craft beer scene in Northeast Ohio. It didn’t take long to establish itself, winning the title “Northeast Ohio’s Best Brewery” in a recent poll by Cleveland.com. In addition to some terrific beers, the brewery offers a full dinner menu, plus brewery tours on Friday and Saturday.
Information: saucybrewworks.com, 216-666-2568
Also in the neighborhood
Saucy is located in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood, a short walk to numerous other breweries, including patriarch Great Lakes Brewing Co., a 30-year veteran of the city (2516 Market Ave., Cleveland; 216-771-4404, greatlakesbrewing.com).
Northeast Ohio: Outdoor adventures
Cuyahoga Valley National Park, 1550 Boston Mills Road, Peninsula (Summit)
Among the many popular activities here: biking along the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail, hiking some of the park’s 100-plus miles of trails and hopping aboard the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (for a cost), which travels straight through the park.
Ohio’s only national park encompasses 33,000 acres between Akron and Cleveland, with numerous opportunities for outdoor fun. Coming later this year: the new Boston Mill Visitor Center, located on the southeast corner of Riverview and Boston Mills roads.
Admission: free
Information: nps.gov/cuva, 330-657-2752
Mohican State Park, 3116 Ohio 3, Loudonville (Ashland, Holmes)
The area around Mohican has become an outdoor adventurer’s dream, with scenic hiking, mountain bike trails, horseback riding and canoeing along the Mohican River and its tributaries.
Information: parks.ohiodnr.gov/mohican, 419-994-5125
Tree Frog Canopy Tours, 21899 Wally Road, Glenmont (Holmes)
This adventurer’s paradise comes with seven ziplines and two sky bridges that crisscross the forest.
Admission: starts at $75 for adults for a three-hour tour
Information: treefrogcanopytours.com, 740-599-2662
Other Northeast Ohio zipline courses include Common Ground Canopy Tours in Oberlin (commongroundcenter.org/canopytours) and Lake Erie Canopy Tours at Geneva State Park in Geneva-on-the-Lake (lakeeriecanopytours.com).