Things to Do in and Around Cleveland, Ohio and Northeast Ohio.

Want to visit Mike’s Plant Farm in Perry, Ohio?

Make it a vacation!

Mike’s Plant Farm is located in the far northeastern corner of Ohio, about one mile from beautiful Lake Erie.  If you plan on visiting this area there are a ton of things to do and see around here and my goal with this article is to help you.

Let’s start with attractions that are west of our nursery.

Mike’s Plant Farm is located at 4850 North Ridge Road (U.S. Rt. 20), Perry, Ohio 44081.  We are approximately 30 miles east of downtown Cleveland.  Cleveland is located right on the shores of Lake Erie with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame pretty much sitting on the edge of the lake, right at East 9th Street.

While you are in the downtown area check out the West Side Market with over 100 farmers, vendors and you name it.

Swings-n-Things is just a bit south and west of Cleveland and a great place to entertain the kids with go-karts, mini golf, arcade games batting cages, paint ball and all kinds of other fun things.  Located on Olmsted, Township.

Swings-n-Things 31 Second Video

The Cleveland Aquarium, also located right near downtown Cleveland and Lake Erie.

The Professional Football Hall of Fame.  Located in Canton, Ohio which is a tad east and south of downtown Cleveland.

Cedar Point Amusement Park, the roller coast capital of the world!  Located in Sandusky, Ohio right on the shores of beautiful Lake Erie.   Sandusky is about 90 minutes west of downtown Cleveland, at least that’s my guess, you need to check me on that.

Cedar Point has been around forever, voted #1 Amusement Park in the world many times.
This is actually a pretty good Cedar Point Video;

There are a ton of other things to see and do in the Sandusky Area.  Check out this list!

Visit Amish Country!

In this part of Ohio we have two Amish Communities that are fun to visit.  Holmes County is the bigger of the two and about 90 minutes south of Cleveland.  Middlefield, Ohio is also very much Amish Country and is only about 55 minutes south of Mike’s Plant Farm here in Perry, Ohio.

The Shores of Lake Erie are spectacular in the summer time!

There are all kinds of places where you can access the beaches of Lake Erie.  In Cleveland, there is Edgwater Park.  A bit too Urban for me, I’m too much of country boy for a city beach.  But if you head about 15 minutes east of Cleveland where you’ll find Headlands State Park which is a huge, sandy beach, very quite, serene setting.

If you are looking for a place to stay in the area there are a number of nice hotels right up the road from Headlands State Park.  Headlands State Park is located at the very end of state route 44, just north of state Rt. 2.  Right on the other side of Rt. 2 is Heisely Road and Diamond Center Drive.  In that area you’ll find;

The Holiday Inn Express

The Hampton Inn and Suites

Residence Inn of Mentor

Woodspring Suites of Mentor

This is probably the best place to stay if you are visiting Mike’s Plant Farm and coming from the west.

More Beaches!

Just east of Mentor is the quaint little town of Fairport Harbor, Ohio.  Fairport has a really Nice Beach that is managed by our local metro park system.  They do charge a small fee for parking, but you get to park right on the edge of the beach, close to the water.

The Bluffs at Lake Erie

The Bluffs at Lake Erie is one of the newer parks in the area, managed by the meto parks.  There is beach access, walking trails and a really cool observation deck.  Great place for bird watching!

Perry Township Park

Perry Township Park is located just up the road (west) of Mike’s Plant Farm and is a nice little park with swing sets etc. for the kids, a really nice view of the lake without having to go up or down any hills.   If you want to get to the waters edge, you’ll have to do the hill.  The park also has a nice concession stand run by awesome friends of mine!  The park also has a small campgrounds and a boat launch.

Lake Shore Reservation

Lake Shore Reservation is really close to, just north of Mike’s Plant Farm, and a really nice park.  There is beach access but there are steps.  53 of them if I remember correctly, if you do the steps at the east end of the park.  At the west end there are more like 95 steps down to the beach!  So if you want to get down to the water turn right when you enter the park and park at the east end.

This park also have some very scenic walking trails and I almost always see deer when I walk or ride by bike in the park.  Not to mention some huge rock art/sculptures.  This park is also a favorite of bird watchers.

Geneva-on-the-Lake, Ohio

Geneva on the Lake is fun for all ages.  Lots of things to do for the kids, bumper boats, go carts, mini golf and lots of fun food to eat!  Geneva on the lake is our little tourist trap here in northeast Ohio but it’s fun and affordable.  Right on the lake there are small hotels, cottages, the lodge at geneva on the lake.

There is a marina with boat launches and all kinds of walking and biking areas and trails.  And of course beach access.

Niagara Falls!

Mike’s Plant Farm is only about three, maybe 3 and half hours from beautiful Niagara Falls.  Niagara Falls is an amazing site to see if you’ve never been there before and there are all kinds of touristy things to do.  You can see the falls just fine from the American side, but there is a ton of stuff on the Canadian side as well.  But these days you need a passport to visit the Canadian side so get your passports ahead of time.

Niagara on the Lake

Niagara on the Lake is about 20 minutes north of Niagara Falls on the Canadian side.  Pam and I like the laid back feel and small shops of Niagara on the Lake.

Jamestown, New York and Lake Chautauqua

Jamestown and Lake Chautauqua are about 2 hours from Mike’s Plant Farm.  Lake Chautauqua is absolutely beautiful and Jamestown, New York is the hometown of Lucille Ball!  If you are a Lucy fan, you’ll love the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum.

If that can’t keep you busy for a week or more maybe you just need to come to the farm and Chill with Finnegan and Fergus.
Questions, comments, mean things to say?  Post them below I’ll do my best to answer for you.