There are a handful of live animals to see—turtles and the like—along with a bevy of stuffed and mounted animals in a diorama-like woodland scene. And strategically placed rocking chairs (both large and small for adults and children) allow visitors to cool their heels and watch the many birds than come to the center’s feeders. I could sit watching through the big picture windows for hours, but the boys never seem to want to let me sit still. But on one of our last visits, I saw a Baltimore oriole (my first, outside of the baseball team), which was quite amazing. A nice chart even shows what birds you’re likely to see which months of the year.

The center held a great daylong event, “Salute to Snakes,” in August, which my kids got a kick out of. They got to look at snakes, hold snakes, even hear a lecture about all the snakes that are native to Ohio. (Surprised that they sat through the almost-hourlong presentation, but they did well.)

Other favorite activities at the Rocky River Nature Center—for my boys, at least—are climbing in and around the plastic hollowed-out tree (complete with stuffed animals in various cubbyholes), pushing all the buttons on the 3-D relief map of the Rocky River watershed and looking in the gift shop.

Heck, even the walk to the nature center from the parking lot of a treat. A large swampy area with several overlooks is a great place to see turtles and frogs. Rare is the summer day that we DON’T see one or the other.

Check out the center when you’re on the west side; it’s just a few minutes from the bustle of Great Northern Mall, but it really does feel like a world away.

And one did look interesting. Just a couple miles west of the Avon Commons shopping area, off Route 611, is Northgate Park. While there’s nothing that particularly unique about this little park, it’s a delightful neighborhood reserve that’s worth a stop if you’re in the area.

We brought our dinner—Mmmmm, Costco pizza—to the park and ate in the very well-maintained pavilion. Then the boys tackles the playground, which had a few more activities than most parks of its size. It was a beautiful, warm Sunday evening, but we had the park mostly to ourselves for our whole visit.

Northgate has a good-sized (I’d guess three acres or so) fishing pond, complete with grass carp, snapping turtles, a fountain in the middle, even a little island. On the other side of the lake from the playground is a pretty formidable sledding hill, which also has a nice view of the entire lake and the cute neighborhood that wraps around the north of the park.

There were also some very friendly … uh, almost too friendly … ducks that patrolled the area near the pavilion. They’ve obviously been fed a lot by people and pretty much aren’t scared of humans. Both boys were very amused by them, but it did make me a tad nervous for a few minutes during dinnertime.

I didn’t realize it at first, but there is also a fitness track that wraps around the lake, and a couple of soccer fields way in the back (west) part of the park. And there is ample green space to just run around in—or it would be a great open area to play frisbee, too.

We did bring our fishing poles, but about 30-minutes of fishing didn’t result in even a nibble for the three of us. There are quite a few benches arranged around the lake (all facing it), so we picked one and that made for a nice place to sit while holding our poles. Saved us the trouble of lugging out folding chairs from the car!

The more I think about the vast swaths of green space, the more I think that we’ll be back to this park soon, but with some frisbees in the trunk.

July 17: ZooBlooms at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
July 17: 2nd Annual Joe Thomas Fishing Derby in Westlake
July 18: Family Fun Day at the Cuyahoga Valley National Park
July 23: Space Sleepover at the Great Lakes Science Center
July 24-25: Lake County Heritage Festival at the Lake County Historical Society
August 7: Cleveland Dragon Boat Festival in the Flats
August 9-15: Cuyahoga County Fair in Berea
August 12: Perseids Meteor Party 2010 at the Lake Erie Nature & Science Center
August 13-15: The 36th annual Corn Fest in North Ridgeville
August 14: Creature Comforts at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
August 23-29: Lorain County Fair in Wellington
September 4-6: Cleveland National Air Show at Burke Lakefront Airport
September 11: Discover the Cosmos at the Lake Erie Nature & Science Center
September 25: Teddy Bear Day at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
October 21-24 & 28-31: Boo at the Zoo at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

What events are you and your family most looking forward to this summer? Let us know!

But my first time there, probably 6 or 7 years ago, was a real eye-opener for me. I forget what even prompted me to try it out. I’m so glad I did—it’s now one of my favorite places in the Cleveland area, and both of my boys just love it.

And what’s not to love? It’s hardly ever crowded, it’s free (though donations are accepted and encouraged), there are animals inside and out, and it’s very educational. The animals are surprisingly varied. Inside, you’ll find an assortment of turtles (both land and water), tortoises, snakes, bees, coral reef fish, Lake Erie fish, iguanas, and more. Outside, there is another interesting menagerie: Ducks, foxes, a bald eagle, raccoons, several types of owls, a cooper’s hawk, rabbits, turkeys, white tailed deer, skunks, mink, and I’m sure I’m missing a few. Oh yes, and turkey vultures, Josh’s favorites. (He loves their red heads and seems fascinated by the random bones they always leave scattered at the bottom of their cage after a meal.)

One of the main thrusts of the center is rehabilitating wildlife. In fact, if you find an injured animal that you can safely transport to the center during normal business hours, they will take the animal and try to nurse it back to health. Many of the animals at the center—particularly the outside ones—are animals on the way to rehabilitation or animals that they have helped, but for some reason cannot safely re-release into the wild.

The center also has a very nice planetarium (albeit with limited hours, so please check the schedule at the center website) and a lovely Wild Birds Unlimited gift shop that has an educational bent. There is a nice play area near some of the (inside) aquatic exhibits, with plenty of space for parents or grandparents to sit and just take a load off. Kids can play with books, a Little Tykes-type playhouse, plastic dinosaurs and myriad other toys.

As an added benefit, the center lies at the southern end of the Cleveland Metroparks Huntington Reservation. So, about  two-minute drive north of the center puts you at Huntington Beach, one of the best Lake Erie beaches in the area. Which makes me think, that would make a great blog post one of these days …

We picked a great Saturday in late May to take the 1-hr. ride (from Cleveland’s western suburbs) to the park. It’s a gorgeous ride on a sunny day across the Edison bridge that spans Sandusky Bay. Really, we have to get out to the islands area more often this summer. I forget how scenic and quaint it all is.

My concern was that I’d be depressed once inside the park, worried that the animals would look unhealthy or that the park in general would be of a low quality level. I was pleasantly surprised by the adventure, particularly driving through the park. The animals looked healthy and well-treated. There seemed to be a conservation/educational aspect to things. And the animals were a blast to see and feed.

For admission of about $18/person (there are multiple rates based on age, time of year and what coupons you have—there are plenty out there), you can drive through the park as many times as you wish. The first time through, you get a small plastic cup of food for the animals. Any additional cups you want, or any carrots, you have to buy. Once through was enough for us (well, me).

After a drive through, you can park your car outside the animal gates near the visitor center. To get in to the rest of the attractions, you have to pass through the main building, which was like a gift shop on steroids. Candy, goofy toys, stuffed animals galore, ice cream, etc. There’s also a small restaurant on premises, but we didn’t check that out.

The other attractions feel like a throwback to the 1950′s. They are very quaint and a bit dated, but I guess that’s part of their charm. There are pig races (the names are hysterical), an assortment of wild animals in enclosures, and free pony and camel rides. (Technically, the first ride is free, subsequent rides cost a few bucks.)

Random notes … if you’re a member of the Cleveland Zoo (and it’s hard not to be with little kids!), you’re entitled to a 1/2 price discount on the entrance fees, a pretty good deal. No outside animal food is allowed, but I’m not sure if that means you can’t bring your own carrots. Probably not. And, surprisingly, no giraffes were there on our visit. I don’t know if they’re gone permanently or were just elsewhere that day. But photos of giraffes are all over the park’s website and advertisements, so I’d think this has to be a temporary thing.

Cheesehaven, a great throwback kind of store, is located just a few minutes from the park, at 2920 East Harbor Road. I took the boys there, even though they didn’t sound too thrilled with the prospect. But once inside, they ooh-ed and aah-ed over the extensive supply of candy (bulk and otherwise), including some old-time treats that you’re more likely to find in Amish country. The selection of cheeses—reportedly the largest in Ohio—is impressive, and you’ll find samples being given out, a nice bonus for the parents.