Jason and I moved here almost 18 years ago and I’m proud to call it home. There is more than the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and LeBron James, although both of those are hot tickets to be sure. I think most people are surprised to find that it’s a very international feeling city. Someone from Iowa told me that he heard it was the New York City of Ohio. I don’t know about that, but having grown up around and attended college in Columbus, I’d pick CLE any day of the week.
- Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Most people are familiar that this is the place to come in Cleveland and it’s worth a visit. It sits on Lake Erie and is next door to the world class Science Center. - Sporting Event – I’d stick with the Cavs or the Indians for now, but we’ll see if the Browns can finally win a game this year. We do have two great pro sports teams with excellent homes.
- Playhouse Square is the largest performing arts center outside of NYC with over 1,000 yearly events. The old theaters are gorgeous.
- Lake View Cemetery
This is still one of my favorite places. I’ve written two posts about it here and here. President Garfield and his family’s caskets lay in full view, and the likes of John D Rockefeller and Eliot Ness are buried here. Also has a great view of the city. - Cleveland Museum of Art + Botanical Garden, two of my favorite places to spend a day and they’re right next to each other.
- Great Lakes Brewery for a meal and tour. No pics for this one but the restaurant is great and the free brewery tour is impressive with samples to be had.
- Spend a night at the 9 and have a drink or two at the Vault in the basement. The hotel is very sexy and the they left the original bank vaults in the basement and made a very cool place to hang out and grab a drink.
- East 4th. If you are going to be downtown in the evening or before a game, this is the place to be! This is where Michael Symon’s restaurant Lola is located.
- Cleveland does have some beach, but if that’s not your thing grab a ride on the Goodtime boat to take you on a two hour tour of the city.
- Chagrin Falls
So, if you have a car or a friend to take you a bit outside the city, I’d recommend the charming village of Chagrin Falls. This is a photo from Glow Night, the night before the hot air balloon races.
What on your favorite list of the city you live in?
Stacy's Books 
Great list! If we ever get out your way…. We are supposedly “in” Chicago but of course are in a suburb over 2 hours out! So we don’t go “downtown” much because we would almost have to stay overnight. And as for what there is to do in our little one-stop-light community, well, not much! :–) But there is a good place for carryout Chinese food….
I love Chinese food! My first job was working at the fast food Chinese place in the mall. First generation Chinese and the chef didn’t even speak English, lol. Lovely people who I’m sad I lost touch with when they sold the place.
These all definitely sound interesting.
One day you could visit! Everyone from California wants to visit the Rust Belt 🙂
Cleveland sounds lovely. People ask us for Great Lakes beer all the time but, unfortunately, they don’t make it down our way.
The Great Lakes brewery is impressive and they are expanding. I don’t care for beer, but the tour and the food I can handle. Always someplace we take newbies to Cleveland.
I visited Cleveland about 30 years ago. No doubt it’s far different today than then. I liked the small neighborhoods and got a thrill going over the bridge. Cheap thrills, that’s me. 🙂
The old bridge is cool 🙂 I visited in college in the 90’s and it is a whole knew city for sure.
I live on the shores of Lake Erie, so Cleveland, Buffalo, and Pittsburgh are all about equal distance from me. We’ve found Cleveland to be a really great place to visit. Less than two hours away, nice city to explore, and lots to do. My son and his girlfriend spent a day at the botanical gardens and their photos make me want to get there this summer. We’ve gone to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Great Lakes Science Center with our kids when they were younger. Great theme!
We’re about 25 minutes outside of downtown and love it. LOVE the botanical gardens. It’s one of my favorite hang outs with my son and he’s doing a week of camp there again this summer. That means I get to spend a week at the art museum 🙂
I think the Browns are finally headed in the right direction.
Some big names in the cemetery.
I think that every year about the Browns 🙂
Amber’s going to Oberlin in the fall, so I’m sure we’ll get to spend some time in Cleveland over the next few years. I’ll add these to my list. We’ve done the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Art Museum and the Botanical Garden (based on your recommendation) already.
Congrats to Amber! Oberlin is great. The director of our library just moved there and thinks it’s worth the 50 minute commute 🙂 There’s a bar around here that encourages board game play. I’ll have to find it and let you know 🙂
Good to know. Thanks!!
I live in a rural/suburb town but we do have a great sandwich place with amazing sweet potato fries.
But Salt Lake City has some great spots. I should do a top ten list for Utah sometime soon on my blog. Great ideas. I’d love to visit out your way someday!