9 Awesome Outdoor Adventures For Your Cleveland Summer Bucket List
By Nikki Rhoades|Published May 08, 2018
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Nikki Rhoades
Author
Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is — she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
Summer is finally beginning to arrive in and around Cleveland, and locals are feeling particularly chipper. The sun is shining, our landscape is overflowing with blooms, and life is feeling great. We certainly can’t complain, but there is only one thing that could make the season better: spending the day in the great outdoors. There’s so much to explore around here that it can be easy to forget some of the most amazing adventures, so here’s a list of nine that should definitely be added to your summer bucket list:
1. Take a walking tour of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens.
The Cultural Gardens are a collection of perfectly manicured man-made tributes to the diversity of cultures that call Cleveland home. Hidden in the stunning environment of Rockefeller Park, these gorgeous gardens are distributed across 276 acres in the dreamiest park downtown. The oldest ones date back to the early 1900s, and the lovely landscape continues to evolve to this day as additional gardens are integrated into the park.
2. Go Ape! in the treetop canopy of the Cleveland Metroparks.
Mill Stream Run Reservation in Strongsville is located in the southern portion of Valley Parkway, but boy is it worth the drive. This incredible treetop adventure features 42 unique canopy crossings, ranging from zip lines to Tarzan swings. The entire experience will take 2-3 hours, and you'll truly never forget your unique adventure. For tickets and additional information, check out the Go Ape! website here.
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3. Explore the lovely landscape of Lake View Cemetery.
This cemetery has a reputation for being an outdoor museum, and it is certainly deserving of such privilege. More than 100,000 Clevelanders have made this pretty place their forever home, and many of them feature names and stories that you may recognize. As you take a walk back through local history, you may encounter the final resting place of our 20th President, as well as a chapel with an interior that was flawlessly crafted by Louis Comfort Tiffany.
The Cleveland Metroparks, affectionately known as The Emerald Necklace, are a much-needed escape from the urban jungle of Northeast Ohio. Far from the bustling streets, these natural spaces are endlessly beautiful. Fortunately for golfers, hidden across their parks and reservations are eight splendid golf courses. As you may imagine, the experience is one of great beauty. For more information on the courses, check out the Cleveland Metroparks website here.
Cleveland Cycle Tours allow you and 14 of your friends to experience the City of Cleveland like never before. Armed with a 15-person bike and awesome pre-planned outings, this company knows exactly how to make a tour of our city truly unforgettable. For more information, check out their routes here.
6. Embark on a paddleboarding adventure off Cleveland's coast.
SUP Cleveland brings incredible adventures to the shores of The Land. Here, you can find yourself doing yoga on a stand-up paddleboard, immersing your senses in the beauty of Cleveland's natural landscape. To reserve a spot in an upcoming class, check out their website here.
41° North Kayak Adventures equips you with the skills and the equipment to experience the splendor of Cleveland in an unforgettable way. On a single tour, you may enjoy incredible sunsets, stunning cliffs, and other beautiful features of our pretty city. For upcoming tours, head over to their website here.
8. Take a weekend tour of Northeast Ohio's loveliest waterfalls.
There are gorgeous waterfalls all over Northeast Ohio. Fortunately, many of them are in the Greater Cleveland area and our local waterworks are absolutely enchanting. If you want to see the best-of-the-best, check out our past article with an entire waterfall weekend itinerary!
In the heart of University Circle is a large sapphire pool surrounded by gorgeous landscaping and statuesque residents. This gorgeous little slice of paradise is surrounded by some of Cleveland's finest institutions and the Cleveland Museum of Art's collection in the Wade Park Fine Arts Garden will leave you speechless.
If you’re a nature lover, there are no shortage of ways to make this summer in Cleveland the most memorable one yet. The real question is where you’ll start! Don’t forget to snap a few photos on your adventures to share on our Ohio Nature Lovers Facebook group for a chance to see your photos featured!
If you can’t get enough of the great outdoors, adding this dreamy arboretum to your bucket list is a must!
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