Grab & Go Kids Planner

We've assembled a weekly calendar of kid-friendly activities and new places to try out with children.

Each week, we'll give you the info on the five best family activities or events for the week.

 You're time-pressed enough, so we're happy to do the research and find the best things to do and places to go, both locally and within reasonable striking distance.

Look for the kids’ planner each Wednesday, and help us build the planner with your own suggestions and tips — just add them to the comment box. We want to hear from you!

Family Movie Night – Spiders

Where/When: Cleveland Metroparks North Chagrin Reservation Nature Center, 7:30-9 p.m. Friday
Why Go: Watch the silk spinners from the Life in the Undergrowth movie series and a chance to meet a couple of arachnids up close
Price: Free

Shipwrecks Day 2011: Ride the Wave Around the World

Where/When: Cuyahoga County Public Library Gates Mills Branch, 1491 Chagrin River Road, 1-4 p.m. Friday
Why Go: Teen explorers ages 11-14 can enjoy hands-on activities about storms, ships and wrecks, pirates, robots and navigation
Price: Free – to register, click here

Families Explore: Insects Investigation

Where/When: Cleveland Metroparks North Chagrin Reservation Nature Center, 1-2:30 p.m. Saturday
Why Go: Investigate the meadows to see what insects call them home – nets will be provided to catch and observe them up close
Price: Free

Home Depot Kids Craft

Where/When: Community Unity Days Festival, Mayfield Heights City Park, 6300 Marsol Road, 3-4 p.m. Saturday
Why Go: Kids can build a wood craft – while supplies last
Price: Free

End of Summer Campfire

Where/When: Cleveland Metroparks North Chagrin Reservation Nature Center, 7:30-9 p.m. Saturday
Why Go: Enjoy the sounds of summer on a 1.5-mile hike and enjoy s'mores by a campfire
Price: Free