The Drew Carey Show theme song was right. Cleveland does indeed rock! Unfortunately, most people are completely in the dark about just how wonderful this great Midwestern city really is. As far as US Travel goes, Ohio doesn’t typically show up on anyone’s radar. Sure, Cincinnati and Columbus have a few fans out there, but Cleveland hardly ever gets the respect that it deserves.
Over the years, it’s developed a bit of a less-than-flattering reputation. Some people think of it as being a dirty city, while others question the safety of many of its neighborhoods. But, in recent years, Cleveland has been experiencing a renaissance of sorts. Even locals will tell you that Cleveland these days is very different place than it was even a decade or so ago.
We’re here to tell you that the Cleveland of today is pretty flippin’ cool. Even those neighborhoods that used to be a bit on the rougher side decades ago are now packed full of excellent restaurants, galleries, boutique shops, and cafes, and the city’s architecture which at one point was in a state of neglect, has now been revitalized and frankly has never looked better. Cleveland’s come a long way, and throughout its transformation, it’s done its best to avoid gentrification.
If you ask a local Clevelander today what they think of their city and looking for the best things to do in Cleveland, they’ll likely tell you that they are extremely proud of their hometown. After watching this video and seeing all of the amazing sights to see and best things to do in Cleveland, we’re willing to bet that you’ll also start thinking about this Northeastern Ohio metropolis in a very different light.
Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame
While New York City was once in the running to host this phenomenal museum and venue, ultimately, that honor bestowed upon Cleveland. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is without a doubt, one of – if not – the most popular attraction in the city. Ever since it opened its doors in 1995, more than 9 million guests, musicians, and stars have passed through its doors.
The museum features several permanent and temporary exhibitions as well as special collections and memorabilia from some of the most influential eras of Rock ‘n Roll music. If you’re a fan of classic rock bands like The Beatles, Cream, AC-DC, Metallica, or The Rolling Stones, you’ll find it easy to get lost in the museum’s well-curated collections.
The museum also hosts lectures, film screenings, panel discussions, and live rock music performances fairly regularly, so it’s recommended to consult their event schedule before planning your visit. The most famous event held here, however, is the annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony which is held in April.
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Cleveland Metroparks
Cleveland’s massive metropolitan park system is comprised of 21,000 acres of nature preserves. Throughout the greater Cleveland area, 18 parks and reservations offer visitors a variety of outdoor activities like hiking, biking, fishing, boating, and horseback riding.
Guests can also expand their knowledge about the reservations at any of the park system’s ten visitor centers or participate in group programs such as animal tracking and nature exploration. The Metroparks are also great places to have a picnic, read a book, or escape the heat of summer in the shadow of a shady tree.
West Side Market
Cleveland’s oldest publicly owned open-air market was established back in 1840. Initially, it was essentially just a swap meet on an unassuming plot of land, but over the years, it has undergone extensive renovation and expansion.
After closing down briefly, the West Side Market reopened to the public in 1912 with the addition of its indoor yellow brick marketplace and its eye-catching 137-foot-tall clock tower. Throughout the decades, the market has continued to grow and develop. Today more than 100 vendors converge to sell items from all over the world.
Visitors can find items for sale like fresh produce, animal products like meats and cheeses, baked goods, and even flowers. But it’s not all just about food and flora either. Handmade goods, jewelry, crafts, and artwork can also be purchased here.
And while you’re shopping, you’ll probably work up a bit of an appetite. Fortunately, the market also has a variety of food vendors that serve up ready-to-eat items. And even if you’re not the sort of person that is obsessed with shopping just for the sake of shopping, the architecture of this historic market alone is well worth a visit.
Cleveland Museum Of Art
While Cleveland’s art museum isn’t that big, it still stacks up with some of the best art museums out there. Every year, more than 500,000 visitors from all over the globe make a stop here. It was opened back in 1913, and today it houses more than 61,000 pieces of artwork spanning 6,000 years of human creativity.
The exhibits are organized chronologically and include photos, paintings, sculptures, and art installations from some of the world’s most celebrated artists, including Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, Vincent Van Gogh, and Salvador Dali. The museum also hosts special temporary exhibits and events like the Solstice Summer Music Festival.
Cleveland Botanical Garden
This natural oasis can be found right in the middle of Cleveland’s urban concrete jungle. The Botanical Gardens opened in 1930, and the property is made up of 10 acres of outdoor gardens in addition to an 18,000 square-foot Glasshouse arboretum.
You can easily spend an entire day meandering through 11 different themed gardens, such as the Inspiration Garden and the Japanese Garden.
Inside the greenhouse, you’ll find a butterfly-filled rainforest exhibit modeled after Costa Rica and a desert environment that features succulents and plant life from Madagascar. Over 350 species of exotic and beautiful plants and 50 species of amphibians, reptiles and birds are also showcased here.
If you’re visiting with children, the Hershey Children’s Garden, which features a fountain and treehouse, is sure to entertain them for quite some time. The gardens also offer plenty of activities well suited for adults and families, such as arts and crafts, butterfly releases, and even yoga.
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Over at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, you and your family can learn all about the natural world and millions of years of its history while exploring a variety of permanent and rotating exhibits. There is something for everyone here. You can expand your knowledge of dinosaurs from different prehistoric eras, meet Balto the Alaskan sled dog, or catch a stellar show at Ohio’s very first planetarium.
After spending the day experiencing what it feels like to experience a 5.5 magnitude earthquake and digging up faux dinosaur bones, make sure you visit the Smead Discovery Center, Perkins Wildlife Center, and Shafran Planetarium & Mueller Observatory. All three of these facilities can be found on the same property as the natural history museum.
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
This 183-acre zoo is divided into several distinct areas such as The African Savanna, The Rainforest, Waterfowl Lake, and Australian Adventure. The zoo also features the largest collection of primates in North America. Founded in 1882, the zoo is one of the most popular year-round attractions in the region. Over 3,000 animals representing 600 different species call Cleveland Metroparks Zoo their home.
The Zoo features all the standard zoo amenities such as animal viewing, gift shops, and dining, but they also offer more educational experiences as well. Visitors can participate in several hands-on activities such as giraffe feeding, camel rides, and overnight programs that give animal lovers the opportunity to spend the night at the zoo in safari tents while going on behind-the-scenes tours and night hikes.
Progressive Field
Home of Major League Baseball’s Cleveland Guardians – formerly the Indians – a visit to Progressive Field is sure to be a hit with sports fans whether you’re attending an actual game or just taking a tour. If you do happen to be in town when the Guardians are playing, you should seriously consider getting tickets, as this will be the most authentic way to experience Progressive Field in all of its glory.
There really isn’t a bad seat in the house, and concessions are reasonably priced. Plus, if you’re on a budget, seats in the stadium’s upper reserve sections are only $9 regardless of who the Guardians are up against.
A Christmas Story House
This 19th-century Victorian house located in Cleveland’s Tremont neighborhood was used for the exterior and some of the interior shots in the 1983 holiday film A Christmas Story. Today, Ralphie Parker’s house has been restored and renovated and is part of a museum made up of four buildings devoted to celebrating the film’s enduring legacy.
The museum features costumes, props, and memorabilia from director Bob Clark’s film. There’s even a gift shop if you want to take some of the movie magic back home with you. But unfortunately, they don’t sell Red Ryder BB guns, presumably because we’d probably shoot our eye out if they did.
Even if you’ve never seen the film before, you’ll leave as a certifiable ‘A Christmas Story’ fan. Visitors are immersed in behind-the-scenes details and exclusive filming trivia. You might even learn a few secrets about the film that you never knew before. If you are planning to pay a visit to the museum, we recommend watching the film before taking the tour. And if you can coordinate your visit around Christmastime, the museum naturally feels especially festive during that time of year.
USS Cod Submarine Memorial
Right next door to The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is this must-see National Historic Landmark. Under the leadership of Commander James Dempsey, this World War II submarine was placed in commission on June 21, 1943. It’s particularly notable from a historical perspective for performing the only international sub-to-sub rescue in history. And after all of these years, it still looks exactly the same as it did decades ago during wartime.
You can either take a self-guided tour or have an informed guide show you around the sub. Even if you hadn’t planned on visiting this destination, after spending the day exploring the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, make sure you at least make a brief pit stop by the memorial to pay your respects to the 4,000 men and women who lost their lives aboard American submarines.
It should be noted, however, that the entrance and exit are through the original hatchway. This means that some of the hallways are fairly narrow, and the ladders can be steep. As such, it might not be the best place for those that are handicapped, claustrophobic, elderly, or for families with small children.
So, did we change your mind about Cleveland? Hopefully after seeing all of the exciting and intriguing sights and attractions that can be found here, you have a newfound respect and appreciation for ‘the forest city’.
Have you been to any of the attractions that we covered in this video? Or maybe you know of a few that we didn’t discuss that you think the world needs to know about. Either way, let us know in the comments section below.
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