Sun-Soaked Cleveland Family Fun

Take in an Indians baseball game at Progressive Field (Corner of E. 9th St. and Carnegie Ave., 216/420-4487, www.indians.com). To snag player autographs, arrive up to 45 minutes before first pitch and head to sections 125–134 or 169–175.

Hop aboard the Goodtime III (E. 9th St. Pier, 216/861-5110, www.goodtimeIII.com) for a narrated cruise on Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River. Bring a camera to capture the amazing skyline.

What child doesn’t love monkeys? Go bananas at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (3900 Wildlife Way, 216/661-6500, www.clemetzoo.com, Daily 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Memorial Day through Labor Day until 7 p.m. Sat., Sun., and holidays, Apr.–Oct. $10 adult, $6 child, Nov–Apr. $7 adult, $5 child), with its gorillas, chimps, lemurs, and baboons.

Rainy Day in Cleveland? No Problem

Space freaks will love the interactive exhibits at NASA Glenn Research Center (21000 Brookpark Rd., 216/433-2000, www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/home, Mon.–Fri. 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Sat. 10 p.m.–3 p.m., Sun. 1–5 p.m., closed holidays, Free). Extended tours are offered the first Saturday of the month (Apr.–Oct.).

The Museum of Natural History (1 Wade Oval Dr., 800/317-9155, www.cmnh.org, Mon.–Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Wed. 10 a.m.–10 p.m., Sun. noon–5 p.m., closed major holidays, $9 adult, $7 child and senior, planetarium tickets $4 with general admission) is loaded with cool stuff: a Foucault pendulum, Tyrannosaurus and stegosaurus skeletons, and a planetarium, to name a few.

Take the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (800/468-4070, www.cvsr.com) through the scenic forests, wetlands, and prairies of the lush Cuyahoga Valley National Park.