Day away in Cleveland

Cleveland, Ohio gets a bad wrap as a dull, Midwestern city, but I’m here to tell you that this charming town has a lot to offer — and is a great place to spend a day away.

My trip

Cleveland was founded in 1796 near the mouth of the Cuyahoga River and is located on the southern shore of Lake Erie.

Locals are called Clevelanders and the city is referred to “The Forest City” — or the ‘Land if you’re Lebron James.

It was, at one time, the 6th largest city in America, but now ranks 52nd in size.

Cleveland is very walkable, but you can also rely on rideshares to get around downtown. Public transportation isn’t the best.

My recent trip to Cleveland coincided with perfect fall weather, a massive conference, and steps numbering in the 16,000s in one day. While I didn’t get to see everything I wanted, I did hit a few highlights of what this city has to offer.

If there’s a time of year to fall in love with Cleveland, Ohio, it’s the fall when the crisp mornings come at the beginning of September rather than the middle of October like they do back in Atlanta. I got there just in time for one of the first few, and reveled in wearing a sweater for the first part of the day.

Cleveland has been attracting visitors since the 19th century when Standard Oil was founded there, and thriving through a tough reputation as an industrial center that set their river on fire in the late 1960s. While it’s not as cosmopolitan as Chicago, Cleveland’s downtown area is populated with locals, office-dwellers, and tourists throughout the day.

My location

I was lucky enough to be situated right in the middle of downtown and able to walk to just about everything I had time to see in a day. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame topped my list of musts as did a walk along Lake Erie and a wander around West Side Market.

Breakfast - My hotel

The Drury Plaza Hotel is the restored 1930s Board of Education building located right in the heart of downtown Cleveland. The two-story lobby features murals painted by Cora Holden in 1931. They have a restaurant and bar in-house (The Teacher’s Lounge - ask for Anthony) and a guest pantry for snacks when you’re starved at 2 o’clock in the morning. It’s not the quietest hotel in the world in the early AM with a parking garage right near by and loud doors, but you’re paying for proximity to everything. Perhaps ask for something that’s interior-facing.

I had a delicious full breakfast (included) in the hotel and grabbed a few snacks for the road, and set out for my adventures.

Snack — Lake Erie

I love a big lake. They make me calm — unlike small lakes that make me think of 1980s slasher films as I squish into the squelchy mud. Lake Erie is a big lake — and like other cities, lakefront Cleveland has placed several of their key tourist attractions right on its banks. (more on that below). I took a snack and simply watched the waves and clouds roll by for a while. It was a perfect fall morning and it was maybe the best part of my trip. Next, I stopped by the Claes Oldenberg sculpture Free Stamp in Willard Park. It’s giant — those are trees and buildings in the background — at 28 ft x 26 ft x 49 ft.

View of Lake Erie

Coke — The Rock Hall

The Rock Hall (as the locals call it) is the destination in Cleveland. Sure, lots of people go to the baseball games at Progressive Field or stop into the Cleveland Museum of Art, but it’s the Rock Hall that everyone goes to visit when they’re a tourist in this town. Surprisingly, it wasn’t that busy when I was there. At $26, this isn’t a cheap museum visit, but if you’re any kind of music fan, you’d be hard-pressed to find something that is more in your wheelhouse. It’s all about the memorabilia and costumes of rockstars from the last six decades plus some stunning videos — the Beatles section is really quite good — and special exhibitions spread over the six floors of the I.M. Pei designed building. ps, If you don’t like heights, may I suggest using the elevators?

I did miss the chance to see all of the classic MTV VJs from the early 80s at an event the next night, but I think I had my fill of rock ‘n’ roll anyway. I did, however, leave with a Queen tee and a Rock Hall magnet from the gift shop,

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Tea — The TEa lab at 5th Street Arcades

After all that museum wandering, I needed a little pick-me-up. The Tea Lab offers a tea drinker like me a great alternative to a coffee house that also sells tea and was the perfect place to pause for a moment with a little caffeine. The day had warmed up, and I opted for something cold rather than hot, but I took home some of the Cleveland Blend tea for later.

Open: Mon - Fri 8:00 am - 3:00 pm | Sat 9:00 am-2:00 pm at the 5th Street Arcades in downtown Cleveland

Pause for Thought: Traveling as a woman

Feel free to walk around day and evening in downtown Cleveland if you’re part of a group, but take care as a woman alone since the homeless can get a little aggressive. I got hassled walking back to my hotel by a guy who wanted to walk with me and get a little cash for food. I never carry cash, so there wasn’t much I could do to help, but he also wasn’t interested in leaving me be. As always, be mindful of your surroundings and step into a busy hotel lobby (not than your own) or restaurant if your safety feels threatened.

Snack — West Side Market

Located about two miles from the heart of downtown, the West Side Market is in the Ohio City neighborhood. It’s a Cleveland landmark that’s been around since 1912 and is now home to more than 100 vendors of just about everything you can imagine. The Midwest has done better at keeping markets like this one around — and therefore hitting right in the middle of the public market and food hall movements happening around the country. It was busy when I was there with a variety of tourists and (what appeared to be) locals doing their shopping.

If you choose to visit while hungry, be prepared to drool over all the gorgeous foodstuffs at every turn. The pastries alone will fill your bag and belly, but you can also enjoyed lots of prepared foods if you want a real meal or snack.

Open: Mon, Wed: 7:00 am - 4:00 pm | Fri & Sat: 7:00 am - 6:00 pm | Sun: 10:00 am -4:00 pm

While I had to then run to the airport to catch my flight, there are dozens of amazing options to try for dinner (or supper as you might hear a Midwesterner say) around downtown Cleveland. There are even tours of local neighborhoods with a foodie focus — that is if you haven’t already walked enough.

Happy travels!