Best places to picnic in Greater Cleveland

Few things are as romantic and enjoyable as a picnic. Greater Cleveland offers a number of excellent spots where you can savor an outdoor meal while you take in the scenery. Here are a few favorites, all of which are free:

Edgewater Park in Cleveland
6700-8000 W. Memorial Shoreway in Cleveland

Cleveland's signature lakefront park has something to interest everyone. Located at the west end of the Shoreway, Edgewater Park offers dramatic views of the downtown skyline and is the best place to view the city's July 4th celebration and fireworks. Picnickers will find grills, tables and pavilions. Pavilions can be reserved by calling 866-644-6727. You can also spread your meal out on a blanket along the 900-foot, white sand beach. Edgewater Park is open from dawn to dusk.

Voinovich Bicentennial Park
800 E. Ninth St. in downtown Cleveland

Virtually unknown even among longtime Cleveland residents, Voinovich Park is the delightful green space behind the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame overlooking Lake Erie. The 4.5-acre site is home to a variety of festivals and events throughout the summer, but at other times, you'll likely have the park to yourselves. The view of the Cleveland skyline is spectacular, and you can watch the boats out on the lake. There are no picnic tables, but the park does have a series of landscape barriers where you can sit and enjoy your meal. Voinovich Bicentennial Park is open during daylight hours.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park
15610 Vaughn Road in Cleveland
330-657-2752

Ohio's only national park encompasses 33,000-square miles and extends from Valley View to Akron. Popular sites within the park include the Towpath Trail, the path of the Ohio and Erie Canal, and the collection of historic buildings that have been moved to the park. Picnic facilities abound here, as do romantic and relaxing outdoor settings. Park hours vary and some areas close at dusk.

Point Park in Ashtabula
East end of Walnut Boulevard in Ashtabula

Ashtabula's working-class roots meet Lake Erie vistas at Point Park, located at the east end of Walnut Boulevard. From the elevated site, you can view the Port of Ashtabula below as well as the historic Coast Guard station, the lift bridge and the coal conveyor. There's also a memorial to the area's merchant marines and a museum that deals with the area's maritime history (museum has a small admission fee). The park offers a variety of benches where you can enjoy your picnic.

Rocky River Reservation of Cleveland Metroparks
24000 Valley Parkway in North Olmsted
440-734-6660

Greater Cleveland's Metroparks system is one of the best-regarded, big-city park systems in the United States. Dubbed the "Emerald Necklace" for the way the interlocking parks ring the city, Cleveland Metroparks control more than 21,000 acres of land. One of the most scenic spots in the system is the Rocky River Reservation, which hugs the Rocky River between Lakewood and North Olmsted. This oasis within the city offers fishing, hiking and biking trails, and a host of picnic spots large and small. Cleveland Metroparks are open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.