Places to visit

April 16, 2008 05:54 pm

— Compiled by ELLEN KOLMAN
ASHTABULA and
LAKE COUNTIES
AC & J Scenic Family Train Rides, Located at the Jefferson Depot. (440)576-6346, www.acjrscenic.net
Ashtabula Arts Center, 2928 W. 13th St., Ashtabula, 440/964-3396. Nonprofit, multi-arts facility offering a variety of classes and instruction in drama, dance, music and visual arts quarterly. Art gallery hosts a new exhibit each month. G.B. Community Theatre is open through April. Ballet Theater Spring Dance concert each May and “The Nutcracker” ballet each December. Children’s Theater productions each November and March. Private music lessons available.
Ashtabula County Metroparks - Western Reserve Greenway Trail, Between West Avenue in Ashtabula to State Route 307 in Austinburg, Dawn - Dusk; (440)992-8132.
Ashtabula Marine Museum, 1071 Walnut Blvd., Ashtabula Harbor. Year round tours available by appointment. INFO: 440-964-6847, Gift Shop available. Pictorial history of the Ashtabula Harbor, marine artifacts, boat models, actual Pilot House from the Thomas Walters, a model of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Memorial Day -Aug., Fri., Sat., & Sun., from Noon - 5 p.m. Sept., Sat. & Sun. (only), Noon - 5. Admission: Adults, $4, kids 6 - 16 $3, under age 6, FREE. Museum is handicap accessable.
Conneaut Community Center, 1025 Buffalo St., (440)593-5888. Formerly Kilipi Hall, a Finnish meeting hall built in 1898. Open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Mon. - Fri. The center offers dance classes in ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, Scottish Dance. We also offer classes in: One Stroke Painting w/certified instructor, Janet Regelmann, Wood Carving, Basket Weaving, Drawing, Creative Writing, Yoga, PM Workout, KickFit and more. Contact the Center at 440-593-5888 or visit us on the web at www.conneautartscenter.org
Geneva-On-The-Lake, Lake Road.
Jennie Munger Museum, 5685 Lake Road., hours are noon - 4 p.m., open Wed. to Sat.
Lakehouse Inn Bed & Breakfast and Winery, 5653 Lake Road.
Old Firehouse Winery, 5499 Lake Road.
The Finnish American Cultural Center, 1330 W. 8th and Joseph, PH 440-964-5790. FMI contact Pres. Jim Salo, 224-1887 or John or Linda Riddell, 964-2519. FinnFest items of caps, tote bags, cups, coins, and other items such as Happy Harbor and Elma books, written by Potti are available. Check online: www.finnfestUSA2007
Giddings Law Office, 108 N. Chestnut St., Jefferson, INFO: (440) 576- 7093.
Graham Road Covered Bridge Metropark, Graham Road, Pierpont Township.
Grand River Winery, 5750 S. Madison Road, Madison. (440)298-9838.
Harpersfield Covered Bridge Metropark, East of State Route 534, north of State Route 307, Harpersfield, Geneva.
Harpersfield Vineyard Winery, 6387 State Route 307, Geneva; (440) 466-4739.
Indian Museum, Technical Center-Building B, 25 Public Square, Willoughby. (440)951-3813
Jefferson Depot /19th Century Village, 147 East Jefferson St., Jefferson; (440)576-0496.
Lake Metroparks, including Lake Farmpark, Penitentiary Glen Nature Center and Pine Lakes Ski Lodge, INFO: www.lakemetroparks.com
Laurello Vineyards, 4573 State Route 307 East, Geneva; (440)415-0661.
Lenox Rural Museum, State Route 46 South, at Ray’s Corners. INFO: (440) 576-2681.
Markko Vineyard, 4500 South Ridge Road West, Conneaut; (440) 593-3197.
Noema Gems, 1788 Mill St., Austinburg, Mon., Wed., Sat. and Sun., (440)275-3211.
Ohio Wine Producers, 822 N. Tote Road, Austinburg, (440)466-4417.
Old Brick Historical Society, 7358 State Route 45, Orwell, by appointment; (440)437-5175.
Walnut Beach Nature Trail, Walnut Beach, Ashtabula Harbor. Enjoy a stroll through the grasslands that also includes observation decks.
CLEVELAND
Cleveland Museum of Natural History, 1 Wade Oval Drive in University Circle, Cleveland, 800/317-9155. Opened Mon., Tuesday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Offers Planetarium programs to gems and jewels, interactive computers where you can learn about earth and space and live animal shows.
Visitors can catch a show in the Shafran Planetarium for families with children.
ADMISSION: $7 for adults 19 years and older, $5 for seniors, college students with ID and ages 7 - 18, $4 ages 3 - 6 and free for ages 2 and under. Tickets to the Shafran Planetarium shows are $3 per person.
“Planet e,” visitors can activate controls and “fly” around planets in the solar system, feel the vibrations of an earthquake and walk through a simulated underground cave. Open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday; noon - 5 p.m. Sunday; until 10 p.m. Wednesdays.
Video Theater, Continuous live film footage on a large screen from NASA, including tests, readying and launches of shuttles.
Live Animal Shows, Saturdays and Sundays, 1 p.m. in the front lobby; and 3:30 p.m., at the Murch Auditorium in the Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center and Woods Garden.
Cleveland Health Museum, East 89th Street and Euclid Avenue, across from Cleveland Clinic, University Circle, Cleveland, 216/231-5010. Admission: $4.50, adults; $3, students and seniors; free for children 3 and under. www.healthmuseum.org.
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, 3900 Wildlife Way (from I-71 or I-90, exit at W. 25th Street), Cleveland, 216/661-6500. Located on 168 wooded acres, the zoo is home to 3,000 animals, representing more than 600 species, many of which are endangered. INFO: clemetzoo.com or (216)635-3366. ADMISSION: $6, adults; $4, children; two and under are free; 216/661-6500.
Great Lakes Science Center, 601 Erieside Ave., Cleveland, 216/694-2000.
Ninth largest interactive science museum, featuring 300 hands-on exhibits, OMNIMAX films, demonstrations and exciting educational programming to explain interdependency of science, environment and technology, particularly in Great Lakes region. Open 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. daily.
Admission: $7.75, adults; $6.75, seniors; $5.25, youths.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, One Key Plaza, East Ninth Street, North Coast Harbor, Cleveland, 216/781-7625. Using artifacts from the lives of the artists, original films and videos, the latest technology and , of course, music, the museum offers a comprehensive retrospective on rock ‘n’ roll’s origins, development, legends and impact on global culture. Open 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Monday - Sunday; until 9 p.m. Wednesdays. Closed Christmas.
Admission: $20, adults; $14, seniors (60+); $11, age 9-12; children under eight, free.
A Christmas Story House, 3159 W. 11th St., Cleveland. Visit the house and street where the famous 1980s movie was shot, museum across the street. www.achristmasstoryhouse.com or 216-298-4919
The Children’s Museum of Cleveland, 10730 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, (216)791-KIDS. Permanent exhibits include Splish! Splash!, Bridges to Our Community and Big Red Barn. The museum also offers a variety of programs, camps and activities year-round for children, from infants to age 8. www.clevelandchildrensmuseum.org
Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage, 2929 Richmond Road, Beachwood. 216-593-0575 or www.MaltzJewishMuseum.org
ERIE
Splash Lagoon, indoor water park resort, 8091 Peach St., Erie, Pa., 814/866-2773. Family park with over an acre of whirlpools, lazy river, 80,000 gallon activity pool, lily pad rope, 8 water basketball hoops, Monkey Shines Island, Treasure Island arcade, Splash Blast and Hula Hopper all set in tropical Polynesian setting. The park is open from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. daily.
There’s also a Laguna Grill, Oasis bar, Polynesian party room, surf shop and tanning booths.
Rates vary between hotels, for more information go to www.splashlagoon.com or call 814/868-9530.
Erie Zoo, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily, located at W. 38th St., Erie, Pa. Discover the animals, gardens, children’s zoo, education and conservation. Admission: $6.50 ages 12 and over, $5.50 seniors, $3.75 kids 2 - 11, train ride $2. For more information call 814-864-4091 or www.eriezoo.org