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Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
University
view website1 Wade Oval Drive, University Circle
Cleveland, OH 44106
877-262-4748
216-421-7340
Good-for-Kids Rating
Babies
Toddlers & Pre-KSchool-Age KidsPre-Teens & Teens
Science & Nature Museum
History Museum
Zoo
Children's Museum
Special Collection
Park
Cleveland Museum of Natural History Description
The life-size replicas of dinosaurs will enrapture kids for an hour or two, but the outdoor zoo and lower-level children's center in this kid-friendly museum offer enough options to keep them engaged all day -- listen to talks by zookeepers in the 2.2 acre outdoor exhibit, dig for fossils in the sandbox, watch the night sky at the planetarium (extra admission required), and peer through microscopes in the "please touch" children's center. Creative programs and classes like Tiny Trekkers (for kids ages 3 and 4) and the annual Creepy Camp-In each October add to the fun.
Kid Tips
Toddlers & Pre-K: Skip the standard 40-minute planetarium show if your child is afraid of the dark or likely to get restless. Planetarium programs tailored for kids are often scheduled for weekends and school holidays.
School-Age Kids: The hands-on Smead Discovery Center (on the museum's lower level), with its numerous games, puzzles, crafts, and books, is specially designed for kids younger than 10.
Pre-Teens & Teens: The planetarium is well worth a visit for most age groups, but particularly for older kids, who are encouraged to ask questions and make requests.
Planning Notes
- Days starting with T. Children 12 and younger are free after 3 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Lest they be forgotten, adults are admitted for $5 on Wednesdays after 5 p.m.
- Bring your own audio tour. Download one of the many free Natureguide audio tours to your own MP3 player prior to your visit or borrow a preloaded iPod nano at the museum's entrance for $2.
- Take the planetarium home. Stop by the gift store and pick up your own set of glow-in-the-dark stars or planets for your ceiling back home. Reasonably priced souvenirs, including masks, books, and T-shirts, abound.
Just the Facts
Hours: Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (Wed. until 10 p.m.); Sun. noon-5 p.m.
Fees: Less than $10
Recommended Time: Half day
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What's Nearby?
- Botanical Gardens 11030 East Blvd.
Cleveland, OH 44106
216-721-1600 41.511541944444446 -81.60912972222222 - Cleveland Museum of Art 11150 East Blvd.
Cleveland, OH 44106
216-421-7340 41.506805 -81.61030277777778 - Big Fun Toy Store 1814 Coventry Road
Cleveland, OH 44118
216-371-4386 41.509613888888886 -81.57997583333334
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