Free Things to Do in Cleveland

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Cuyahoga County residents can see them and more for free each Monday at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

Residents should bring a driver's license, state ID, or utility bill with their address. Offer applies to the zoo only, not the Rain Forest, but there's plenty to see at the zoo, including the "Australian Adventure" and the "Wolf Wilderness" exhibits. Parking is always free at the zoo.

The view of the sunset from Cleveland's Edgewater State Park, on the city's near west side, is one of the loveliest in town. Bring a picnic dinner and dine as you watch the sun sink unobstructed into the horizon. Or, walk along the beach and enjoy the view.

The Cleveland Public Library system has over 10 million books, tapes, DVDs, and CDs available to loan to Cleveland area residents. Visit the historic main library on Superior Avenue, between E 3rd and E 6th Sts.

If you rather, you can request your selections online and have them delivered to your local branch. DVDs and CDs can be checked out for seven days and are renewable unless someone else has requested them.

Cleveland's Lake View Cemetery, opened in 1869, is the final resting place for important Clevelanders, such as John D. Rockefeller, President James A. Garfield, Jeptha Wade (the cemetery's first president), and Carl B. Stokes (Cleveland's first black mayor).

The elaborate stone monuments kept a generation of Italian stonecutters in business. Make sure to see the Garfield Monument and the Wade Chapel with its Tiffany window.

Lake Erie isn't known for its beaches, but one notable exception is the beach at Mentor Headlands Park, east of Cleveland in Lake County. This long stretch of white sand is ideal for getting lost in a good novel, watching the waves lap up at the shore, or combing for seashells. There's even a picturesque lighthouse. The park has ample free parking, just off the beach.

The Cleveland Arcade is an architectural gem. Built in 1890 to resemble the shopping arcades of Milan Italy, the arcade is just off of Public Square, between Euclid and Superior Avenues.

The structure has a tower at both ends with a five-story sky-lighted atrium between them. The arcade boasts elaborate metalwork and intricate brass gargoyles look down from the top level. Chairs are offered on the balconies for passersby to rest and marvel at the view.

Cleveland has some interesting and diverse antique districts -- and it doesn't cost anything to browse. Try Lorain Avenue (between W.35th and W.45th Sts.) on Cleveland's west side for architectural antiques, such as leaded glass windows and old wooden doors. Stroll along Larchmere Avenue (pictured at left), near Shaker Square on the east side, for higher end china and glass items as well as furniture.

The Cleveland Museum of Art is the last of America's important art museums to offer free admission to its permanent collection. Take advantage of this wonderful chance to see the museum's extensive holdings of Impressionist paintings, Asian art, and medieval religious and secular art.

Spend an afternoon studying one room or section. Since it's free, you don't have to rush through the museum. You can come back another day. (The free, permanent collection is currently closed for construction -- until mid-2008.)

The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, founded in 1966, is a peaceful green space nestled among the gracious houses of Shaker Heights, just each of Cleveland. The facility features a variety of trails that illustrate six natural habitats, as well as a nature center with exhibits about the Northeast Ohio landscape. Best of all, admission is free.