Attraction of the Week: Edgewater Park in Cleveland
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Since moving to a suburb of Cleveland, Mike and I have been truly impressed with the number of beautiful parks we have access to. I always knew there was a national park because we rode the Towpath trail through it on our first visit over 10 years ago, but I had know idea about the incredible park system.
Metroparks is a beautiful network of 18 parks throughout the city. With over 100 miles of trails, 8 beachfront parks, and a zoo, there are endless opportunities for recreation. In 2021, this park system was rated the National Gold Medal “Best in Nation” Award for Excellence in Parks and Recreation Management.
My favorite summer pick is Edgewater Park featuring 9000 feet of shoreline, public beaches, a dog beach, picnic areas, and fishing piers. I also love looking for seaglass at Perkins Beach – it’s one of the best of the Lake Erie beaches for finding colorful gems.
This was the first park I visited after moving here, but definitely not my last! I really love the scenery, the skyline views, and the fun script sign photo opportunities. I’ve lived in numerous cities around the country and I can say that Metroparks is by far one of the best park systems I’ve come across. No matter where you live or travel in this region, there is a fantastic park nearby. It’s nice to be able to escape the city clutter for a few hours of hiking, picnicking, beachbombing, biking, leaf peeping in the fall, or just relaxing.
The best place to exercise along Lake Erie
This is a great park for any type of fitness activity during the warm summer months. After a long winter season (it seems to stretch on forever), it’s nice to hit the beach and bike and walk while enjoying the fabulous lake scenery. On any given spring or summer day, you will see lots of people out enjoying the season. Beach goers, volleyball players, boaters, cyclists, paddleboaters, runners…there really is a positive and motivating energy here once the weather warms up.
You can’t help but want to get in a great workout with the strong fitness vibe and beautiful lake scenery. It’s the place to be on a beautiful summer day. The highlight here is a 1.4 mile long trail which is perfect for jogging, walking, or biking. I use this park all year-round since moving to the metro. I actually kind of like visiting in the winter as the vibe is so tranquil. Be aware – it can get bone chillingly cold. I am from Chicago and the winter feels much colder especially anywhere near the lake.
Out of the five Great Lakes, Lake Erie is the shallowest and the least voluminous with an average depth of only 62 feet. This means that it warms quickly in summer and freezes easily in the winter.
Lakeside summer fun: Things to do
Summertime in Cleveland is all about the lake and enjoying the outdoors after a long gloomy, cold season. This is the time of the year when everyone is out and about. All the trees are green. Fitness buffs are enjoying the mild weather via bicycle rides and long jogs. Tourists are lying out on the beaches. Every type of beach sport imaginable is in full gear.Events and concerts are nearly always on the lineup. It’s just a great time of the year to be active. I recommend turning off the TV and computer for an hour or 2 and enjoy some old-fashioned fun-in-the-sun!
You will find all your typical beachside activities. In addition to swimming, you can enjoy a game of volleyball, rent a cabana and umbrella and sunbathe, or simply enjoy the fabulous skyline scenery. If you need a cool treat, Honey Hut (this is a great local ice cream company) is there to tempt you.
For anyone who prefers to get a more active, simply hop on your bike (or walk) to your heart’s content. About a mile of the Lakefront Bikeway travels through the park, although you can continue on outside the park for about 17 miles. This is a really beautiful ride: I love the lake and skyline scenery along the route. It’s the perfect place to get in a nice weekend workout without drudging through a boring treadmill session.
Note: Bike and watersport rentals available if you don’t have your own which obviously would be the budget friendly approach.
The best skyline views
This park is easily the best place to enjoy views of the skyline, which isn’t all that impressive compared to other cities, but nonetheless a great view. This viewpoint with the lake in the background gives it a little extra something. No matter what time of the year you visit, you can take photography and enjoy the wonderful mix of nature and urban amenities. The park is especially scenic around sunset.
Seaglass hunting: Nature’s most colorful gemstones
I absolutely love collecting seaglass. I began collecting over a decade ago when I lived on a little island off the coast of Maine. To this day, I am very passionate about searching for seaglass whenever I travel, so it’s nice to have so many great beaches within an hour of my house. If you are new to the term, it’s basically former pieces of discarded glass that have had years to tumble smooth and turn into “gemstones.”
Perkins Beach (located at the western end of Edgewater Beach) is one of my favorite places along Erie for finding seaglass. I haven’t found the rare blue and purple colors I’ve found in Maine, but a nice collection nonetheless and this beach is super convenient.
The famous script sign
Most notably, this park is known for being home to one of 6 city script signs. The beautiful lake and skyline views create a beautiful backdrop for pictures anytime of the year. Note that oftentimes there can be a wait on summer weekends.
If you keep walking or biking past the sign, there are a number of grassy picnicking areas. Sometimes, Mike and I pick up bagels from Cleveland Bagel Co. and enjoy breakfast in the park (I love their creative cream cheese flavors).
Winter tranquility: The best time to avoid crowds
Don’t rule out a winter visit just yet! I actually love strolling along the waterfront, totally isolated as I take in icy views of the lake. It just looks so barren and otherworldly this time of the year. A totally different experience in my opinion.
Just be sure to bundle up as the wind can get bone chillingly cold this time of year. Be sure to check the wind chill before you head out – oftentimes, it is much too cold to even consider a walk. The scenery is so gorgeous though after a snowstorm if you can time your visit just right.
Recently, we headed over to the beach area to take some pictures of the frozen lake. We saw some people walking pretty far out on the lake – not a good idea according to experts. Here are some ice safety tips from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources if you do decide to head out.
As no ice is guaranteed 100% safe, I recommend just enjoying the views. To me, there is nothing better than enjoying a wonderful natural setting on gloomy day with no one around. It almost feels like being in Narnia!
Despite the negative reputation and constant complaining from locals, this city is actually pretty cool during the winter season. I love snow and cold gloomy weather and I had no problem finding a lot of fun things to do like cross country skiing, ice skating, and seasonal events.
Additional details
This park is located at: 6500 Cleveland Memorial Shoreway. Parking is free. There are plenty of spaces available in the massive lot.
