Discover a surprising underdog for healthy and fun activities: Cleveland. This historic industrial hub is home to a variety of events for extreme athletes as well as energetic families. From endurance running to sunny beaches, the Cleveland area has the bases covered. All you need is a few insider tips and you'll easily find the hidden pearls throughout the greater Cleveland area.
Municipal Parks
Watch your kids squeal with delight when they step onto eye-popping local playgrounds. Located just six miles west of downtown Cleveland, Lakewood Park is 31 acres of family fun with a 9,500-square-foot skate park, Kids' Cove playground, a lakefront walk, plenty of green space for freestyle activities and a public pool with affordable admissions. Travel 10 miles south of downtown to Liberty Playground at Independence's Elmwood Park. Friendly and colorful, this public facility offers slides, climbing, swings and attractions for physically challenged kids.
Endurance Running
Cleveland is home to a host of running trails and shorter runs for casual runners, but this North Coast locale also offers up challenging events for the staunchest running enthusiasts. The Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon has been testing runners since 1978. The event features a traditional 26-mile urban marathon as well as a half marathon and 10K run. For hardcore runners, the Burning River 100 is a staggering 100-mile two-day race that weaves throughout Northeast Ohio's most scenic terrain.
Beaches
Get away from the city heat without getting too far away from the city. Cleveland-area beaches offer hot sun and cool fun from east to west. On the west, the Cleveland Metropark's Huntington Beach has plenty of sand as well as shady picnic spots. Just minutes from downtown, Edgewater Park, part of Cleveland Lakefront State Park, offers a swimming beach with an expansive view of Lake Erie as well as the Cleveland skyline.
Yoga
Inhale pure serenity as you stretch out life's kinks at one of the area's numerous yoga studios. Choose traditional Hatha yoga at the Atma Center in Cleveland Heights, Vinyasa yoga at Cleveland Yoga in Beachwood or one of the many centers in between.
Healthy Eats
Explore Cleveland's nutritious side. The area is home to a number of health-conscious eateries that don't leave taste behind. Located in the Optimal Wellness Center on Cleveland's west side, Good 'n' Raw offers up raw fare such as fruit and nut butter shakes, organic juices and "eat to live" energy snacks. The West Side Market features a promenade of farmers' market-style fruit and vegetable stands, or amble over to nearby Johnny Mango's, which boasts meatless options such as Happy Beans and Calypso Salad as well as yogurt and soy milk shakes.
Member Comments