Stay overnight at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
If you’re looking for a wild time, pack your bag and invite 15 of your closest friends to the zoo. During its adult overnight stays, you’ll be led on a safari through the African Elephant Crossing where night-vision binoculars may help you see animals such as lions, elephants and zebras. After you settle into your tent, feast on a barbecue and roast marshmallows over a bonfire — don’t worry, there’s a cash bar for those creatures of comfort. The best part is listening to the sounds of the wild — the lions’ roars have been known to wake guests up at night. 3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland, 216-635-3391, clevelandmetroparks.com
Browse the Cleveland Public Library Special Collections
A Shangri-La for both bookworms and history buffs, the library’s third floor special collections room holds 100,000 books, prints, chess sets and artifacts. You’ll want to bring your magnifying glass, because for the 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s death, the library is exhibiting a strand of the 16th president’s hair through May 30. ϑ Bonus ϑ Leaf through a collection of Harvey Pekar’s American Splendor in its original, comic book form. 325 Superior Ave., Cleveland, 216-623-2818, cpl.org
Sit courtside during a Cavs game
You may get to high-five Johnny Manziel and Joe Haden after that sick LeBron James dunk. But sitting courtside at The Q has more perks than potential celebrity run-ins. You’ll be so close to the action you can hear the coaches yell, breathe in LeBron’s chalk toss or channel your inner Spike Lee to give opposing players a piece of your mind. With playoffs on the horizon, you’d better start saving — home opener prices reached more than $3,900. 1 Center Court, Cleveland, 800-820-2287, cavs.com
Show off your star power at Playhouse Square
Let your adoring fans know where you are by taking a selfie under the 20-foot-tall, 8,500-pound dazzling GE Chandelier, the world’s largest outdoor chandelier.
To fully experience its strong cast of shows, from The Book of Mormon to Amy Schumer, nab a plush, ground-floor center seat in one of the performing arts center’s nine theaters.
Go behind the scenes with one of the monthly tour groups and get onto the State Theatre’s massive stage — large enough to fit a full high school gymnasium, bleachers and all. playhousesquare.org
Go to the Rock Hall
From Michael Jackson’s iconic sequined glove to the guitar John Lennon played on The Ed Sullivan Show, a tour of the museum’s permanent collection is a guaranteed hit.
Get as close to the stage as possible and watch the sunset over Lake Erie during the Rock Hall’s Sonic Sessions concert series as some of the hottest national and regional bands perform live on the museum’s plaza.
It only happens in Cleveland every three years, so snag tickets to the Induction Ceremony where you can see iconic and eclectic combos of artists such as Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder and members of the Doors perform together onstage. 1100 Rock & Roll Blvd., Cleveland, 216-781-7625, rockhall.com
Spend the weekend at the Louis Penfield House
One of only eight Frank Lloyd Wright houses that welcome overnight guests, the Penfield House offers a chance to experience the iconic architect’s vision for the modern American home. For $300 a night, you can appreciate the 1,800-square-foot Willoughby Hills home’s open floor plan, warm earthy tones and floor-to-ceiling living room windows that let in pleny of natural light while providing unobstructed views of the surrounding tranquil woods. But book early — reservations for coveted weekend stays fill up more than six months out. Bonus: Buy the 1955-built house and two other cottages on the nearly 19 acres for $1.7 million. penfieldhouse.com
Surf Lake Erie
It isn’t quite what the Beach Boys had in mind when they talked about “Surfin’ USA,” but it’s possible to catch a wave on Lake Erie. When summer ends, surf season begins. Cold fronts, storms and 50-degree weather make the lake spin and sputter. You’ll find other daredevils braving the elements at popular spots such as Edgewater Beach. So don a wetsuit, grab a board and try to take a ride on a Great Lakes’ whitecap.
Get married at Squire’s Castle
Impress your guests with your grasp of Cleveland’s great outdoors and its hidden treasures. Fit for a king and queen’s nuptials, the medieval-looking tower, windows and stone walls of Squire’s Castle — actually an unfinished gatehouse built in the 1890s — serve as a backdrop for about 100 ceremonies a year ($100 gets you the necessary permit for a two-hour ceremony). But with room for just 60 people, only your most loyal knights and maidens make the cut. Cleveland Metroparks North Chagrin Reservation, clevelandmetroparks.com
Order the Pig’s Head at Greenhouse Tavern
At Ohio’s first certified green restaurant, chef Jonathon Sawyer is all about sustainability from the tables reclaimed from John Carroll University to the uber-cool energy-efficient toilets. But it’s his nose-to-tail approach to food that we really dig — especially the Pig’s Head ($52). Added to the menu with simultaneous ooohs and ewwws, a whole head comes roasted on a platter with barbecue sauce, fresh slaw, lettuce, brioche buns and lime wedges, plus a hefty steak knife and a pair of kitchen tongs for those who want to go all ham on this foodie adventure. 2038 E. Fourth St., Cleveland, 216-443-0511, thegreenhousetavern.com
Take in an Indians Game from the Dugout Suites
It’s as close as you’ll ever get to the action at Progressive Field without a major league contract. Reserved by corporate all-stars such as Pepsi and Medical Mutual, the 10 dugout suites offer amenities fit for a pro. From an indoor suite that feels like your own clubhouse, it’s just 10 steps up to field level, where something akin to high-grade chicken wire is the only thing separating you from home plate, a manicured green and our Cleveland nine. It’s enough to make Ray Kinsella jealous. 2401 Ontario St., Cleveland, 216-420-4487, clevelandindians.com
