Cleveland, Ohio, may not be on your radar, but it should be. Its the city where professional football began. It boasts world-renowned institutions like the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. (Its new exhibit, The Biggest Show on Turf: 55 Years of Halftime Shows, is well worth seeing.) Plus, theres plenty of culture (the Cleveland Museum of Art is home to 40,000 pieces of art and free to the public), great places to eat and drink, and plenty of great attractions for families.
Here are just a few reasons a visit is overdue.
Are you a sports enthusiast? Did you know that Cleveland is currently hosting the 86th NFL draft? Plus, it has been tapped to host many big sporting events like the 2022 NBA All-Star Game and 2024 NCAA Womens Final Four, solidifying the destination as a world-class sports hub. This summer the area is slated to host the Pro Football Hall of Fames Enshrinement Festival on August 5 to 9, in Canton, Ohio, a short drive from Cleveland. Sports fans can see and interact with their icons as more than 100 Gold Jackets (living Hall of Famers) return each year to be a part of Enshrinement Week. And, of course, you cant visit Cleveland without taking in a gameThe Browns, the Indians, and the Cavaliers all call this city home.
A must for any sports fan is taking in a Cleveland Cavaliers game. Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse recently underwent a $185 million transformationso its simply stunning. The transformation touched virtually every area of the building, bringing the latest in cutting-edge technology, innovative design and efficiency. The public art program includes everything from murals to light installations to sculptures; each piece was either created or selected to convey the spirit of sportsmanship and the power of resilience. Over 100 pieces of art are on display. There are a plethora of food and beverage offerings, too, so be sure to get to the game early.
There are more than 100 diverse ethnicities found throughout Cleveland, which means there are plenty of culinary options. Dumplings and dim sum in AsiaTown, a Polish Boy sandwich served out of a food truck, or check out one of the many new restaurants that have hit the scene. Clevelands chefs and restaurant owners source many of their ingredients from farms inside the city limits and within an hours drive of downtown.
Be sure to stop at Betts, a great new restaurant that opened in August of 2020. Their goal is simple: Create a menu featuring thoughtfully sourced ingredients; mix with a creative approach to a healthy lifestyle; add a dash of much deserved indulgence; and pepper with genuine hospitality. The result? An entirely new approach to dining in downtown Cleveland. The Schofield burger is a big fan favorite (its served with Amish sharp white cheddar, bacon jam, cornichon aioli, on a multigrain bun). Another good option is the Tucson bowl, (which is vegetarian and gluten- and dairy-free). It comes with brown rice, esquites, avocado, beans, red pepper, onion, crispy tortilla and salsa verde.
Located in the Tremont neighborhood Grumpys Café is a local favoriteand for good reason. It features fresh "feel good" ingredients in the Cleveland-style comfort food way. Breakfast favorites include omelets, eggs benedict, breakfast tacos, waffles, French toast and pancakes. Lunch specialties include meatloaf, burgers and a variety of sandwiches. While the the name is Grumpys the staff is anything but. Yummy food served up with a smile and Clevelands friendly hospitality.
Yours Truly Playhouse Square Kitchen & Bar sits in the heart of downtown Cleveland. They are known for their anytime breakfast menu which includes favorites like Belgian waffles (topped with meat or fresh strawberries and whip cream); corned beef hash and their made-to-order omelets. For lunch and dinner, popular dishes include their filet of cod; grilled salmon; and NY strip. They also are known for their burger bar (with nine different choices) and their grilled chicken breast (served eight different ways). Be sure to leave room for dessert. Their brownie hot fudge sundae and their root beer floats are just two fan favorites.
The restaurant at the The Westin Cleveland Downtown (the Urban Farmer) is a great place to meet friends for drinks or have a sit-down meal. The food is made from scratch utilizing fresh ingredients and thats apparent from the first bite. The hamburgers are some of the best in town; they are served with aged cheddar, aioli, tomato jam and a house-made English muffin. The fries are so good, dont be surprised if you request an extra order. The steak frites are another popular dish. For something lighter, the Caesar salad is a good option; its made with hydroponic romaine, kale, white anchovies and parmesan. The bar serves a nice selection of beer, wine and mixed drinks.
Trying to stay healthy? Head to
ReboL which focuses on organic, non-GMO nutritious meals, with plenty of vegan, paleo-friendly and gluten-free options. They start with fresh ingredients including grass-fed, antibiotic-free and hormone-free meats and wild tuna. The dressings and sauces are made from scratch and dont contain refined sugars but instead are olive-oil based. All the coffees are lab-tested to ensure they are free of pesticides and mycotoxins and the juices and smoothies are packed with superfood, nutrient-rich ingredients. Popular lunch dishes include the signature bols and broths and breakfast favorites include the overnight oats and breakfast sandwiches.
The 55,000 acres of parkland between the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and the regions metro park system, affectionately known as the Emerald Necklace, provide plenty of opportunities for urban outdoor adventure. For a unique experience, climb aboard the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, one of the oldest tourist excursion railways in the country, to experience a train ride through the national park. Or hike one of the amazing trails found throughout the park. (Two good ones are the Blue Hen Falls Trail and the Brandywine Gorge Trail.) If youre a biker, then head to the Cleveland Lakefront Bikeway, which spans the entire length of Clevelands 17-mile Lake Erie shoreline. It consists of both off-road paths and on-street, signed routes. Lastly, if youre looking to stop and take in the scenery, then check out Mill Creek Falls, Cuyahoga Countys tallest waterfall standing at 48 feet high.
Looking for something a little different? Visit A Christmas Story House to see the original fra-gee-lay leg lamp from the favorite holiday movie. Or take a trip to the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame, which traces the story of the city's homegrown sound from its roots in the old Slovenian neighborhoods to nationwide popularity. Lastly, take the family to the Troll Hole Museum, which is in the Guinness World Records for the largest collection of troll dolls.
Theres the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (tiger cubs are the newest addition and they are adorable!), The Cleveland Botanical Garden, the Greater Cleveland Aquarium, and plenty more. Plus, Cedar Points 150th Anniversary Season opens on May 14. It featured a daily festival in the parks Frontier Land with live music, interactive games, street entertainers, and special food and drink menus, along with a nightly multisensory parade with more than 100 performers and a dozen illuminated floats.
The Cleveland Museum of Art is one of the only nationally recognized art museums to offer free admission to its permanent collection, which features more than 45,000 pieces of art from artists like DalÃ, Monet, and Warhol. The Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland showcases an ever-changing and free-to-all collection of exhibits, ranging from photos and sculpture to audio works and video productions. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is another big draw. Its newest exhibit, The Biggest Show on Turf: 55 Years of Halftime Shows, is on display through September 2021.
Westin Cleveland Downtown has a great location just a short distance from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Great Lakes Science Center, and Cleveland Convention Center. Many of the 293 rooms have views of the city or Arcade atrium. The Drury Plaza Hotel Cleveland Downtown is an upscale 189-room property located in a historic building. The newly renovated Crowne Plaza Cleveland at Playhouse Square has thirty-six new chandelier suites, which mimic the adjacent Playhouse Square chandelier. Lastly, the Hyatt Regency Cleveland at the Arcade is housed in one of the citys most iconic landmarks, The Arcade, which opened in 1890 as the countrys first indoor mall.
