# Weekend getaways from Cleveland with kids Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/cleveland/weekend-getaways/ > The best trip within about five hours of Cleveland for each of the next 6 weekends, chosen for kids under 6. Every event links to the official page we checked it on. Last checked: 2026-10-18. ## Weekend of Oct 23–25: Pittsburgh (about 2 hr 15 min) Daytime ZooBoo on Saturday and Sunday from 10 to 3, the Alice in Wonderland flower show at Phipps, and costume activities at Phipps on Friday evening. Most of it fits between breakfast and nap. - **ZooBoo**, Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium. See the zoo's ticket page. Daytime trick-or-treating, last weekend of the season. A Halloween parade starts at 11:30 a.m. Official page: https://www.pittsburghzoo.org/event/zooboo/ - **Halloween Happenings at Phipps**, Fri Oct 23, 5–8 p.m., Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Free with regular admission. Kids can come in costume for festive activities. Official page: https://www.phipps.conservatory.org/calendar - **Fall Flower Show: Alice's Adventures in Autumn**, Fri Oct 23, Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25, Conservatory hours, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Included with admission. Chrysanthemum displays inspired by Alice in Wonderland. Ends Nov. 1. Official page: https://www.phipps.conservatory.org/calendar - **Jack O'Lantern Extravaganza**, Fri Oct 23, Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25, 6–11 p.m., Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium. See the zoo's ticket page. Runs nightly through Nov. 1. Official page: https://www.pittsburghzoo.org/experiences/events/ Also within reach: Cincinnati (about 4 hr 15 min): HallZOOween is daytime trick-or-treating, noon to 5 on Saturday and Sunday, included with a regular zoo ticket. Kings Island's no-scares Tricks and Treats runs 11 to 5 the same days. Detroit (about 2 hr 45 min): The last Zoo Boo weekend, 3 to 8:30 p.m. ## Weekend of Oct 30–Nov 1: Pittsburgh (about 2 hr 15 min) The last weekend for both the Alice flower show at Phipps, which is warm and indoors, and the zoo's Jack O'Lantern Extravaganza, which starts at 6 if you want one late night. - **Fall Flower Show: Alice's Adventures in Autumn**, Fri Oct 30, Sat Oct 31, Sun Nov 1, Conservatory hours, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Included with admission. Chrysanthemum displays inspired by Alice in Wonderland. Ends Nov. 1. Official page: https://www.phipps.conservatory.org/calendar - **Jack O'Lantern Extravaganza**, Fri Oct 30, Sat Oct 31, Sun Nov 1, 6–11 p.m., Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium. See the zoo's ticket page. Runs nightly through Nov. 1. Official page: https://www.pittsburghzoo.org/experiences/events/ Also within reach: Cincinnati (about 4 hr 15 min): HallZOOween's last weekend, noon to 5. ## Weekend of Nov 6–8: Buffalo (about 3 hr 15 min) DinoFEST takes over the Buffalo Museum of Science both days: fossil digs, an oobleck pit, a giant foam dig pit, T. Rex films and a dinosaur stage show on Sunday afternoon. - **DinoFEST: Roar & Explore Weekend**, Sat Nov 7, Sun Nov 8, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Buffalo Museum of Science. $29; members $5; sluice bags and some crafts extra. A whole weekend of dinosaurs: fossil digs, an oobleck pit, a giant foam dig pit, T. Rex film showings, meet-the-scientists on Saturday and a dino stage show on Sunday. Official page: https://www.sciencebuff.org/event/dinofest-roar-explore-weekend/ Also within reach: Dayton (about 3 hr 30 min): The 50th Original Dayton Train Show fills the fairgrounds with more than 20 running layouts, LEGO trains included, and kids 12 and under get in free with a paying adult. Kings Island's Bonus Weekend of rides is in Mason if you want to add a second stop. Detroit (about 2 hr 45 min): Sesame Street Live at the Fox Theatre on Sunday. ## Weekend of Nov 13–15 Staycation is your best option: Cleveland is the regional pick this weekend. The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad's North Pole Adventure starts Friday. Book the 5 p.m. train and you're back by 6:30. If you'd rather go somewhere: Cincinnati (about 4 hr 15 min): Holiday Junction opens Friday at Union Terminal: the Duke Energy holiday trains, included with museum admission and entirely indoors. Toledo (about 2 hr 15 min): The Blade Holiday Parade and Santa’s debut, Saturday at 10. ## Weekend of Nov 20–22: Columbus (about 2 hr 30 min) Wildlights opens Friday, and your daytime zoo ticket covers the lights. Arrive at noon, nap in the car and stay until dark. - **Wildlights**, Fri Nov 20, Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22, 12–10 p.m. Fri–Sat; 12–9 p.m. Sun, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Included with zoo admission. Your daytime ticket covers the lights, so you can arrive at noon and stay for dark. Official page: https://www.columbuszoo.org/wildlights Also within reach: Detroit (about 2 hr 45 min): Wild Lights' opening weekend: more than 500 animal and nature displays, and Santa every night. Pittsburgh (about 2 hr 15 min): Phipps Holiday Magic opens Friday, and Light Up Night is Saturday. ## Weekend of Nov 27–29: Pittsburgh (about 2 hr 15 min) The zoo's drive-thru lights open Friday at $45 a car, and Phipps Holiday Magic is warm and indoors. - **Phipps Holiday Magic**, Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, See Phipps for hours, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. See Phipps for tickets. Opens Friday, Nov. 20. Official page: https://www.phipps.conservatory.org/calendar/detail/holiday-magic - **Zoo Lights Drive-Thru**, Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, 5–10 p.m., Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium. $45 per vehicle ($40 members). Select nights. You stay in your car the whole way, and one price covers everyone in it. Official page: https://www.pittsburghzoo.org/event/zoo-lights/ Also within reach: Cincinnati (about 4 hr 15 min): Thanksgiving weekend has the most going on here: the zoo's Festival of Lights, Holiday Junction (Santa arrives Friday) and WinterFest opening at Kings Island. Columbus (about 2 hr 30 min): Wildlights, covered by your daytime zoo ticket. ## FAQ **Where can we go for a weekend from Cleveland with little kids?** Over the next 6 weekends our picks from Cleveland are Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Columbus. Each one is chosen for what's on that weekend, with the dates, times and prices checked on the official pages. **Which cities are within an easy drive of Cleveland?** Pittsburgh (about 2 hr 15 min), Toledo (about 2 hr 15 min), Columbus (about 2 hr 30 min), Detroit (about 2 hr 45 min), Buffalo (about 3 hr 15 min), Dayton (about 3 hr 30 min). Times are normal driving times without traffic. **Why is the same city picked more than once?** Sometimes one city really does have the most going on two weekends in a row, like a holiday lights opening followed by a show. We don't rotate cities just for variety. **Are the times and prices current?** They're what each official page showed on Oct 18, 2026. Tap through to the official page before you go.