Clevelanders are extremely fortunate to have the Cleveland Metroparks. The sixteen reservations that make up the Metroparks consist of over 21,000 acres of hiking and biking trails, golf courses, picnic shelters, ponds, wetlands, nature centers, and much more. Commonly referred to as the "Emerald Necklace" because the reservations encircle the city of Cleveland, the Metroparks are a suburban nature lover’s dream. Check out their excellent website at www.clemetparks.com for information on all the park facilities, including directions to the parks and downloadable maps.

For a relaxing day outdoors in the park, enter the Rocky River Reservation from Detroit Avenue in Lakewood and follow the path of the Rocky River along Valley Parkway. You can stop at any parking lot along the road and take in the beauty of the valley from the paved multi-purpose path or one of the many picnic areas that border the river. At Shepard Lane, turn in to the Rocky River Nature Center in North Olmsted for a great place to take the kids for a hike. Over five miles of trails lead from the Nature Center and explore river edge, wetland forest, ponds and hilltops. The nature trails are especially rich in wildlife and provide excellent areas for bird watching. During spring and summer, wildflowers abound along the trails, which are gentle enough for young and old. When snow-covered, this would be an excellent place to bring your sled and pull your little ones around. Call 440/734-6660 for information.

Most of us west-siders are familiar with the Rocky River Reservation, but if you’ve never explored any of the other parts of the Emerald Necklace, make the effort. You won’t be sorry!

The Bedford Reservation is particularly impressive in the fall. Flowing through this park is Tinkers Creek, which drops a dramatic 220 feet over two miles and has cut a steep, walled gorge. The Tinkers Creek Gorge Scenic Overlook offers a spectacular vista; for those of you not up for a hike, the overlook is only a few yards from the parking spaces on Gorge Parkway. When the trees are in full fall color, the gorge is overwhelmingly beautiful. Follow Gorge Parkway past the overlook and stop at Bridal Veil Falls. There is a parking lot on the right; across the parkway is a short trail with stairs that lead down to the falls. The falls overwhelm visitors with a cathedral-like view of arching trees and the soft sound of water splashing over shale. A word of warning: If you have a child who likes to explore, be prepared for them to get wet. The falls are not large, but it is possible to wade into the creek bed and splash around in the shallow water. Don’t take more preschoolers than you can handle. To get to the Bedford Reservation, take 90-East downtown to I-77 South. Get on 480-East and exit at E. 98th (Transportation Blvd.). Go through the light at exit to Turney Rd. and turn right (south) on Turney. Stay on Turney to Dunham Rd. Turn right (south) on Dunham Rd. Bedford Reservation entrance is on the left.

The North Chagrin Reservation on the east side of Cleveland has a nature center, ponds, and great hiking trails through the woods (get a map at the nature center, or you could get lost). An interesting feature of the reservation is Squire's Castle. Built at the turn of the century by F.B. Squire, it was to serve as the gatehouse of his country estate, but plans for the remainder of the estate never materialized. The castle is an open structure that your kids can play in and around. Take 90-East and exit at Rt. 91. Turn left (south) on Rt. 91 and follow the signs.

Lake Erie Nature & Science Center, located in Bay Village, provides free admission seven days a week and offers quality nature, environmental and science experiences. The center, founded in 1945, houses an animal rehabilitation clinic as well as a variety of indoor and outdoor animal exhibits including a 250-gallon "Peek into the Pond"; the outdoor Deer Barn, with deer, rabbits, foxes, and other woodland creatures; the exhibit hall, where many of the Center's 100 animals may be seen; and the indoor turtle exhibit. Nimble visitors can crawl through a very long, cool, hollowed-out log. Among the special programs they offer are bird-watching hikes, fishing programs and planetarium events. The Planetarium offers public astronomy shows, including "Stellar Stars," "Backyard Astronomy," and "Twinkle Tots." Children's birthday parties can be held in the planetarium or with live animals in the nature center. The Lake Erie Nature and Science Center also sponsors summer space and rocket camps for children 3-13. Visit www.lensc.org for more information or call 440/871-2900.

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo & The RainForest is open all year and home to more than 3000 animals representing 600 species from all over the world, many residing in natural-like, open-air settings. It is best known for having the largest collection of primates in the United States and for its Rainforest exhibit, which features a thrilling simulated tropical rain storm. The Rainforest is entirely indoors and provides an excellent rainy, snowy or cold day adventure with plenty of room for little ones to burn off some of their cabin fever. Favorite exhibits in the Zoo include the African elephants, "Wolf Wilderness," and the latest addition, the "Australian Adventure." Children under 2 are free all year. Cuyahoga County residents can visit the zoo for free on Mondays by showing a state ID, driver's license, or utility bill with the person's home address. More information can be found at www.clemetzoo.com or by calling 216/661-6500.

Cleveland's Rockefeller Park Greenhouse, located just off of Martin Luther King Blvd. near University Circle, is a wonderful collection of exotic and native plants. The Greenhouse consists of outdoor and indoor gardens with an extensive orchid and tropical plant exhibit. Highlights include a formal Japanese Garden, planted in the 1960s; a desert-like Latin American garden; a tropical garden; and the outdoor Peace garden. In addition to regular exhibits, the Rockefeller Greenhouse hosts seasonal displays. The most popular of these is the elaborate and festive plant display in December, with its rows of poinsettias and other holiday plants. Admission to the greenhouse is free. For additional information call 216/664-3103 or visit www.rockefellergreenhouse.org.

Can't face another day in the house? Head to the Cleveland Botanical Gardens and you'll feel as though you're outdoors when you step inside. And not just Cleveland outdoors: magnificent, lush Costa Rica, or exotic Madagascar. Located in the city's University Circle neighborhood, the Botanical Garden is a combination of indoor exhibits, housed in a magnificent glasshouse and acres of diverse outdoor gardens. The Glasshouse includes the Costa Rica Rainforest and the Madagascar Spiny Desert. These two diverse displays contain over 350 different species of plants which visitors may wander through at their leisure. The glasshouse also contains the 19,000-volume Eleanor Squire library, which contains books dating back to the 16th century, considered one of the finest garden libraries in the country. Among the ten acres of outdoor display gardens is the Hershey Children's Garden, a fabulous interactive kid-friendly place, complete with a cave, a (wheelchair accessible) treehouse, a watery bog, dwarf forests, and a worm bin. The outdoor displays also include a serene Japanese garden, a magnificent rose garden, an herb garden that includes over 4000 plants, and a shady woodland garden, whose wooden boardwalks make it wheelchair accessible. The Cleveland Botanical Garden offers lectures, learning opportunities, a spring orchid show, and the December holiday WinterShow with holiday trees, gingerbread houses, and other festive plants. For more information visit www.cbgarden.org or call 216/721-1600.

The Holden Arboretum, located east of Cleveland in Kirtland, is a 3000+ acre showplace for indigenous Ohio plants, flowers, trees, and wildlife. Specialty gardens include the Ohio wildflower garden, the hedge collection and a butterfly garden. Twenty acres of rhododendrons, azaleas and mountain laurel provide a dazzling display of color from April through July, peaking in early June. The complex also boasts a crabapple tree collection, several ponds, and miles of hiking trails, suitable for all skill levels. Most of the main trails are stroller-friendly, although this place is so enchanting, you may find yourself pushing the stroller onto terrain it’s never seen before. Holden offers picnic sites, guided tours, educational opportunities and special events. Admission is free for children 5 and under. Call 440/946-4400 or visit www.holdenarb.org for more information.

The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes in Shaker Heights offers a variety of trails that illustrate six natural habitats --lake, stream, marsh, field, ravine, and forest -- as well as a nature center with exhibits about the Northeast Ohio landscape. The Nature Center also hosts a summer camp series for kids as well as a schedule of special events daily. Among these are nature walks, a photography club, and brown bag lunches. The Center offers b'earth'day packages for children's parties that include room rental, dessert, and an hour long program led by a naturalist. For more information call 216/321-5935 or visit www.shakerlakes.org.

Visiting a cemetery may seem a little morbid, but I guarantee you and your children will find something interesting at Lake View Cemetery, Cleveland's Outdoor Museum. Founded in 1869 on 285 acres of land, Lake View Cemetery was modeled after the great garden cemeteries of Victorian England and France. A hilly terrain filled with beautiful monuments, majestic old trees and rare plants, Lake View makes a great place for a picnic or just a stroll on a beautiful day. The annual blossoming of Daffodil Hill, a collection of over 100,000 bulbs, an ongoing project since the 1940's, is one of their most popular attractions. Many of the cemetery’s trees date back to the founding of the City of Cleveland over 200 years ago. The elaborate stone monuments kept a generation of Italian stonecutters in business. If you’re interested in Cleveland history, this cemetery is full of well-known names from the past, including James A. Garfield, John D. Rockefeller and Eliot Ness. Take a tour of the Garfield Monument, which honors the 20th President of the United States, and don’t miss Wade Chapel, an architectural gem dedicated in 1901 -- the interior was designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany. Grounds are open every day of the year from 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. and until dusk during summer months. Lake View Cemetery is located at 12316 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, with entrances from Euclid Avenue and Mayfield and Kenilworth. For more information visit www.lakeviewcemetery.com or call 216/421-2665.

The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad journeys through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, chugs along the Cuyahoga River and the historic Ohio & Erie Canalway between Cleveland and Akron, and on to Canton. Riders can choose from a variety of different excursions and special events available throughout the year. Prior to the winter holidays there are many holiday-themed trains rolling out the stations, including the extremely popular Polar Express. In the summer and fall, older kids might appreciate lessons imparted through special Underground Railroad programs that combine a short train ride with activities designed to give a taste of the times. For more information call 1-800-468-4070 or visit www.cvsr.com.