LAND OF THE FREE

IN CLE, FUN DOESN’T HAVE TO COST A THING.

BY LESLIE BASALLAMCCAFFERTY

CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART This University Circle mainstay has been free to the public since it first opened in 1916. It houses some 45,000 art pieces spanning 6,000 years, along with a breathtaking central atrium and the interactive ArtLense Gallery.

MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART (MOCA) Meet the Cleveland Museum of Art’s edgier cousin— pushing boundaries with often-interactive work by contemporary artists from around the globe. The building itself is a work of art in itself, aptly resembling a multi-faceted gem.

CITY MURALS Celebrated artists from all walks of life have left their colorful imprint on CLE through initiatives such as Cleveland Walls (which brought new murals to 20 MidTown buildings) and #VoicesofCLE (elevating impactful work by artists of color).

CLEVELAND PUBLIC LIBRARY Designed to look like it sprang fully-formed from the 19th-century Main Branch Library, the 163-foot, 10-story Louis Stokes Wing houses special exhibits and docent tours. After exploring, picnic among an array of public art in the urban Reading Garden.

Cleveland Museum of Art

ROCKEFELLER PARK GREENHOUSE Need an urban oasis? This peaceful botanical garden and greenhouse marks the spot—blooming brightly with an array of specialty plant collections and gardens (including a renovated Japanese garden and a “talking garden” for the blind).

CUYAHOGA VALLEY NATIONAL PARK Nestled along the Cuyahoga River between Akron and Cleveland is Ohio’s sole national park—where groups can bike, hike and explore the day away. Recreation meets education on the 87-mile Towpath Trail, located on the historic Ohio & Erie Canal.

SOLDIERS’ & SAILORS’ MONUMENT Military history buffs will appreciate this massive Civil War monument. Admire the Goddess of Freedom statue outside before heading into the Memorial Room to view bronze tributes to the end of slavery, Ohio veterans and more.

WOMEN’S AIR & SPACE MUSEUM Fly girls, indeed: Cleveland is home to the world’s only museum dedicated to the history of women in aviation and space, and groups can visit it for free at Burke Lakefront Airport.