It’s the first day of spring and I couldn’t be more thrilled about the warmer temps and sunshine to come here in Cleveland! The nicer weather gives me a renewed motivation to get out and see more of our beautiful city and to go on more adventures with my girlfriends! Today I am sharing 30 fun best friend date ideas to do together in Cleveland this summer.
Lunch On The Cuyahoga River
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Grab a bite to eat at Lindey’s Lake House in The Flats. This restaurant is the perfect setting on the Cuyahoga River and boasts stunning waterfront views. Enjoy the sun on the patio and sip on one of their delicious cocktails.
Picnic At Wade Lagoon
After visiting Paris, I truly believe that we need to bring back the art of the picnic! Put on a cute outfit, grab a big blanket and pack up your basket with delicious treats and drinks. Enjoy sitting in the sunshine and looking out over the beautiful Wade Lagoon with a picnic lunch.
I suggest bringing a small cooler and stopping by Heinen’s on your way to pick up some Instagrammable eats. And don’t forget a bit of bug spray to ward off any unwelcome guests. I love this article by Marie Claire entitled The Millennial Guide To Packing The Perfect Picnic if you need some Picnicking tips!
Hang Out In The Gordon Square Arts District
Stop into Luxe for an amazing brunch, or grab some delicious donuts at Brewnuts before walking around and shopping the boutiques of the Gordon Square Arts District. Oceanne Jewelry is always fun to browse and shop.
Rainy Day Blues
Living in Northeast Ohio, you know we will have some rainy summer days. Brighten up the mood with a trip to The Cleveland Museum of Art and/or The Museum of Contemporary Art which both have FREE admission!
Visit The Van Aken District
Head over to Shaker Heights and choose a place to eat in the Van Aken Market Hall. You really can’t go wrong with any of the restaurants there. Shop around the new stores of the Van Aken District and end the night with some dessert from Mitchell’s Ice Cream.
Brewella’s and Blooms
Order some coffee and crepes at Brewella’s from their new summer menu. It’s one of the prettiest little coffee shops you’ll ever visit as the decorations change with the seasons! Next, stop by Blossom Cleveland flower bar to arrange your own pretty floral bouquet to take and enjoy in your home!
Make A Custom Scented Candle
You’ll have so much fun making your own candle at The Cleveland Candle Company! They have over 200 scents and you can choose 2-4 of those to mix into your own custom scented candle! There are three locations to choose from: Coventry, Ohio City, and Mentor.
While the candle sets, walk around and have a bite to eat! My restaurant suggestions for Ohio City are Market Garden Brewery and Heck’s Cafe. For Coventry, try Tommy’s. In Mentor, eat at Noosa Bistro or see a movie at Atlas Cinemas.
Girls Just Wanna Have Sun
You can never go wrong with a classic beach day at one of our beautiful beaches! (As long as you don’t forget your sunscreen!) If you’re on the East Side, relax at Headlands Beach State Park. West Siders, head over to Edgewater Beach.
But First, BRUNCH
One of my favorite brunch spots in Cleveland is Le Petit Triangle Cafe. Sit on the patio, order some french toast and a mimosa! When you’re done eating, walk through historic Ohio city to see some beautiful century homes and all the flower boxes you can handle. You’ll eventually end up on W. 25th St. so you should definitely take a walk through the West Side Market while you’re there!
Wine Tasting
Get all of your besties together and take a tour of Ohio’s best wineries! Read up on all the best wineries and wine trails on the Ohio Wine Producers Association page here!
Get Lost In Little Italy
Visit Cleveland’s historic Little Italy for a fancy dinner together at Mia Bella’s or visit Cleveland’s Oldest Restaurant, Guarino’s – they have the cutest patio in the warmer months! After dinner, grab some dessert at Presti’s Bakery! Everything they make is delicious, but my favorites are the tiramisu and fruit tarts!
Go Kayaking
Pick a spot and go kayaking together! I love kayaking in The Flats because you get to see so many incredible views of Cleveland. This spot was also voted Best for Urban Kayaking by USA Today in 2021! Start your journey down the Cuyahoga River at Great Lakes Watersports on the West Bank of The Flats. You can rent kayaks there or just have them help you put your own into the water.
Let’s Shellabrate
Speaking of the Flats…Y’all should definitely head on over to Alley Cat Oyster Bar for champagne and oysters this summer! Enjoy delicious seafood and bubbly while taking in the amazing view of the Cuyahoga River. This also makes for a great fancy date night too. We just did this to celebrate my husband getting a new job and it was so lovely!
East Side Fun
Explore historic Downtown Willoughby! There’s plenty of restaurants, bars, and shopping to keep you occupied all day! A few of my favorite spots are Chagrin River Diner (they have the BEST chorizo breakfast tacos!), Barrio and Fiona’s Coffee Bar & Bakery.
Go To a Baseball Game
Go to a Cleveland Guardians Game! It’s always so much fun – Cleveland fans are the best fans!
Classic Mani-Pedi Date
Schedule some self-care time at Stella & Shay Beauty Bar. Between their two locations, in Lakewood and Westlake, there’s an incredible team who all do amazing work and make you feel right at home as soon as you walk in.
Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate
Hit up your local Malley’s Chocolates and treat yo’ self to some ice cream and chocolates. You deserve it! 😉
Donut Mess With Cleveland
Donuts are ALWAYS a good idea! And no matter where you are in Cleveland, there’s always an amazing donut shop nearby! Here’s Cleveland Scene’s list of 22 local Donut shops that “absolutely crush Dunkin’.”
Spend a Day in Chagrin Falls
Chagrin Falls is the perfect spot to spend a sunny day in Cleveland! The possibilities are endless here, from a caffeine buzz at Heartwood Coffee, a meal at Bell & Flower or Lemon Falls, sweet treats at Jeni’s Splendid Ice-creams and Chagrin Falls Popcorn, to shopping at White Magnolia and Fireside Book Shop, there’s something for everyone here. Not to mention the beautiful waterfall that gives the town its name!
Plan a Movie Night
Do a little grocery shopping at Heinen’s to stock up on some rosé and snacks, and have a good old fashioned movie night…cheesy chick flick and PJ’s required!
Play Shuffleboard
Make a reservation at Forest City Shuffleboard and play a couple of rounds of the game that’s making a serious comeback in our city. They also have great food and drinks!
Get Fit!
Work out together and go for smoothies or juice after! My favorite combo lately has been Harness Cycle and Beet Jar. but here are so many great gyms around Cleveland to choose from.
Outdoor Adventures
Get out into nature for a hiking and photography adventure at, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, or Rocky River Reservation (or any of the other beautiful Cleveland Metroparks) for some fresh air and sunshine!
See a Play
Get dressed up and see a show at Playhouse Square! We saw Mama Mia last year and all of my dreams came true!
Just Girly Things
Last, but certainly not least…Stop into Kelsey Elizabeth Cakes for some macarons and admire all the beautifully decorated baked goods! Next head over to Lovely Paperie and Gifts for a little shopping, and end the day at Wine Bar Rocky River where you’ll find the most adorable outdoor patio set-up! (If you go on a Wednesday, there are deals on rosé too!)
Which Activities Will You Choose?!
I really could keep going all day because there are so many cute spots and fun things to do around every corner in Cleveland, but I’ll stop at 30 for now! So what are your favorite activities to do with your girlfriends in Cleveland? Leave me a comment and let me know!
If you do any of these activities, tag me a photo! I’d love to see you guys out there enjoying this beautiful city of Cleveland that we call home.
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Kat
I love all of these ideas! Definitely adding them to my list!
Melissa (I Crashed the Web)
Ok, now I need to start a bucket list of things to do before summer is over. I LOVE lePetit Triangle for brunch but it has been AGES since we went!