Headlands Beach State Park is located east of Cleveland near Fairport Harbor. Headlands Beach has the longest natural sand beach in the state and offers picnicking and swimming opportunities. The adjacent state nature preserve, Headlands Dunes, is one of the last and finest examples of Lake Erie beach and dune communities remaining in Ohio, with rare plant species normally found only on the Atlantic coast.

Just south of Headlands Beach is Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve, a national natural landmark. The 644-acre marsh-swamp forest contains unique plant and animal life. East of Cleveland off S.R. 174 is Hach-Otis State Nature Preserve, a remnant mature forest in the Chagrin River Valley. Punderson State Park in Geauga County is a resort park offering a lodge, cabins, campground, golf course and winter recreation area.