9 Outdoor Date Ideas Around Cleveland
If you’re anything like me, you’d rather go on a fun date outside than go to some fancy place for dinner. And luckily Cleveland has a variety of ideas for outdoor dates. Whether you just want to spend some time outside, or if you want to wander around in the woods or on a river, or even if you’re not outdoorsy but don’t want to sit inside all day; there’s something for you here.
1. Go for a Hike on one of the many trails
Nothing sounds like a better date than a nice hike! Luckily Cleveland isn’t short on parks; our Emerald Necklace is widely known. Not too far from downtown is a National Park and who wouldn’t want to hike there?
Cuyahoga Valley National Park: The only national park in Ohio, located between Cleveland and Akron. You can explore tons of trails that go along the Cuyahoga River or a waterfall. You can also rent bikes at Century Cycles and ride along the towpath trail. Check out my Cuyahoga Valley Hiking Guide.
Cleveland Metroparks: The Emerald Necklace of Cleveland will not disappoint, there’s a reservation all around Cleveland that offers many opportunities; including a few beaches, tons of trails, waterfalls, and more. Read my Cleveland Metroparks Hiking Guide.
The Holden Arboretum: A bit farther from downtown Cleveland, but worth the drive. Stroll the grounds in the woods or along a pond, hike up the emergent tower, or go on the canopy walk. Read about Visiting the Cleveland Gardens.
2. Explore a City
The cities surrounding Cleveland have so much to offer, from the food options to the entertainment and more. Outdoorsy dates don’t necessarily mean being out in nature, so go out and explore our awesome city!
Ohio City: Best known for the food options, the West Side Market, and the murals.
Downtown Cleveland: East 4th street is packed with food and entertainment, plus there’s Public Square to explore as well.
University Circle: One of the most popular date ideas is the Art Museum (it’s free!) and the Botanical Garden, or you can take a stroll around Wade Lagoon or check out the other museums there.
3. Ride the Scenic Railroad
Take a trip through Cuyahoga Valley National Park on this gorgeous train ride. It has three boarding locations, Rockside, Akron, and Peninsula (more boarding locations if you’re doing the Bike Aboard). The train has many events throughout the year worth checking out as well. Plus you could also go hiking before or after riding the train to make for an even better date!
4. Go to the Zoo
Who doesn’t love the zoo? The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is a great way to spend the day; walking around seeing all the animals, buying souvenirs, and more.
5. Catch A Sunset
Nothing sounds more romantic than a trip to the beach for a sunset, and luckily Cleveland has many beaches along Lake Erie, along with numerous other spots that provide stunning views.
Beaches: Huntington, Edgewater, Mentor Headlands, or Euclid
Overlooks: Chapin Forest, Virginia Kendall Ledges, Tinker’s Creek Gorge, Rocky River
6. Go for a bike ride
Rent bikes at Century Cycles (or bring your own) and ride along the Towpath trail in our beautiful National Park, and enjoy the views of the river, the old canal locks, and more. There’s also bike riding in the local metro parks worth checking out.
7. Kayak along the river or lake
Kayak along the Cuyahoga River or on the coast of Lake Erie. Access points for the river are at the Boston Store Visitor Center, Station Road Bridge Trailhead, and Red Lock in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. As for the beaches, there’s the West Bank of the Flats, Huntington Beach, Whiskey Island, North Coast Harbor and then there’s Hinckley Lake for more kayaking.
*Note parts of the river aren’t in the best shape and it’s paddle at your own risk due to the rapids and debris.
8. Go Camping & Stargazing
Cleveland is very urban so stargazing can be hard, but there are some spots that allow for some pretty decent views, especially in the National Park. Some of the parks surrounding Cleveland offer camping, including Lake Metroparks, Heritage Farms, and CVNP. But if you’re willing to drive a bit further out, there’s Mohican State Park which isn’t surrounded by too many big cities and lots of forest areas.
9. Enjoy a Beach Day
The beach is always a good idea; it’s romantic and fun. Cleveland is home to many beaches, both on the east and west side. As stated above for sunsets, Huntington, Edgewater, Mentor Headlands, or Euclid Beaches are the best beaches to explore. Better yet, bring a blanket and a picnic basket to make it even more romantic.