Family-Friendly Spots

Open today: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Cost Included with admission
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Planning a destination vacation for the entire family can be challenging. Especially when you have kids of all ages. But at the Cleveland Botanical Garden, it’s easy to immerse yourself in a whole new world—without leaving Northeast Ohio! With plant-packed glasshouses and sensory play areas, there are so many exciting, educational, and interactive adventures for you and your little ones.

To encourage a lifetime love of nature, we’ve compiled a list of the most family-friendly spots at Cleveland Botanical Garden. And parents, there’s plenty of opportunities for you to explore (and relax), too.

Take a Trip to Madagascar

Talk about immersive! At the Madagascar Glasshouse, you’ll explore endangered plants and exotic animals—like lizards, tortoises, and a free roaming chameleon—in one safe, warm place. It’ll feel like you’re in another hemisphere—without the plane rides and passports.

Since our glasshouses are enclosed, they’re the perfect way to spend a rainy day. And we’re open year ‘round, no matter the weather, so there’s always an opportunity for you and the family to make the journey to Earth’s “eighth continent.”

Learn About Fruits in Costa Rica

For the foodie families out there, you can find beautiful fruit-bearing trees, including avocado, papaya, and chocolate at the Costa Rica Glasshouse. Your kids might just develop a love for trips to the grocery store and may even help in the kitchen after learning where the natural foods they love come from.

Along with exotic plants, butterflies also frequent this glasshouse. Just be aware: they might land on your face, so be ready to snap a pic at any second!

Get Active Outside

Botanical Garden fan-favorite: Hershey Children’s Garden. Here, they can explore our newly built treehouse, spot frogs and fish in the pond, and meet friends in the sandbox.

Kids can also learn about their favorite veggies and herbs, and how to care for plants with our unique water pump.

Imagination tip

Have your kids write down the names of the veggies and herbs they find in the garden. As a family, come up with a recipe that involves some of these fresh foods. But please buy them from the grocery store. Taking plants or foods from Cleveland Botanical Gardens is not permitted.

Inspire a New Hobby

Imagination is all around at The Ron and Lydia Harrington Perennial Playspace. It’s a must-stop for families with kids of all ages to get active, come face-to-face with exotic animals, make art and music, and engage with many sensory play areas. Some stations include:

Organic Orchestra: Your little rockstars can come up with their own band name and make music using bamboo, gourds, and more natural instruments.

Light Table: Future scientists can observe natural plant materials up close and personal.

Collaboration Tree: The only thing better than making art, is making art as a community! Your junior artists can create their own plant-inspired craft and display it on the collaborative tree sculpture once their work is complete.
Sensory Play/Observation Station: Kids can put their hands in dirt or other plant materials and learn about the natural world through touch. They can pretend to be plant scientists, reporting back to you on all they discover. How’s that for hands-on!?
Beehive Climber: Kids can play in this larger-than-life honeycomb structure, pretending to buzz around like a bee—and learning new facts about them in the process.

These activities only scratch the surface of all the fun there is to explore at the Perennial Playspace.

If your family has trouble deciding which sensory station to try first, let your kids pick by birth order—oldest OR youngest first!

Don’t forget the grub

Aside from spending time outside, one of the best ways a family can bond is by sharing a meal together.

After your adventures in the glasshouses and playspaces, take turns going around the table at the Garden Café sharing what everyone’s favorite part of the day was.

You can also enjoy all our hand-crafted snacks on-the-go, so feel free to have a picturesque picnic around the Garden.

All are Wecome

The Glasshouse (as well as most of our 9.5 acres of outdoor garden space) is wheelchair and stroller accessible. Both scooters and wheelchairs are available for those who may need them.

We look forward to seeing all the adventures you have at Cleveland Botanical Garden. If you can’t make every stop in one day, make sure to come back another time! We’re open all year.

FAQs for Families at Cleveland Botanical Garden

Where can I access a map of Cleveland Botanical Garden?

Botanical Garden maps can be found at the welcome desk or on our website.

Can I bring my pet?

Only working service animals are allowed at the Botanical Garden.

Is Cleveland Botanical Garden accessible for wheelchairs or strollers?

Yes! There are a number of ways we’re working to make our grounds accessible to our guests who may find special adaptations useful. More information is available on our Accessibility page.

Do I need a reservation to visit Cleveland Botanical Garden?

While reservations are not required, the easiest and most convenient way to visit starts with purchasing your ticket online. Click here to buy your tickets.