Watch

"The Drew Carey Show" -- Carey is himself a Clevelander, a fact he made clear with his last season theme song, "Cleveland Rocks." Teens will like the wry sense of humor in this comedy set in the city. (Teens)

"A Christmas Story" -- A seasonal comedy in which young Ralphie nearly shoots his eye out with the Christmas present he's always wanted. Filmed in Cleveland, the original house has been restored into a museum highlighting the movie; the city also hosts an annual convention each Thanksgiving in honor of the film that draws thousands of fans. (School-age and up)

Happy Gilmore: Adam Sandler plays a hockey star turned golfer in this movie filmed around the city of Cleveland. (Preteens and up)

Spider-Man 3: Kids may recognize some of the buildings in and around Cleveland that were used as stand-ins for New York City. (Pre-teen and up)

Major League: Although much of this baseball flick was shot in Milwaukee, the team is thought to be based on the Cleveland Indians and some of the scenes were shot in the city. (Preteen and up)

Eat

Italian American cookie sandwiches: Prep the kids for the combination of sweet treats and Italian spirit they'll encounter during their time in Cleveland's Little Italy with these easy-to-make cookies.

Vanilla Custard Ice Cream: Popular in shops across Cleveland, this version of the treat they love is also easy to make.

Read

What's So Big About Cleveland by Sara Holbrook -- A 10-year-old girl used to traveling the world is introduced to the great things about seemingly simple Cleveland, Ohio. (Ages 9-12)

Casey at the Bat by Ernest L. Thayer -- This children's classic is an excellent primer for Cleveland Indians baseball outings. (Ages 4-8)

Shake, Rattle and Roll: The Founders of Rock and Roll by Holly George-Warren -- From Little Richard to Jerry Lee Lewis, this book will help place all those funky costumes at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame into context. (Teens)

Make

Driveway Baseball -- This fun craft introduces little ones to how the game of baseball is played.

Festive flowers -- Kids will have a new respect for the flowers at the Botanical Gardens after they've tried their hand at making their own.