Looking for one of downtown Cleveland’s hangout spots? This small, pedestrian street is lined with restaurants, bars and entertainment venues. Head for dinner at Zocalo’s, then enjoy a Hilarities comedy show. Don’t forget to check out the East 4th St. Arcade!Based on Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele mall, The East 4th Arcade definitely deserves a walkthrough on any trip to downtown Cleveland!
Back in the 80’s, the Cleveland Flats was THE PLACE TO BE. It was wall to wall people partying and hanging out at all the bars and singing to the music of the dueling pianos. After quite a lull, the Flats is back in action with new venues such as Jimmy Buffets Margaritaville, Inferno and punch bowl social. Situated on both sides of the Cuyahoga River, the Flats is an entertainment zone encompassing restaurants, bars, dance clubs, The Cleveland Aquarium and a comedy club.
The Westside Market is Cleveland’s oldest indoor/outdoor marketplace. Today, 100 vendors sell meats, fresh vegetables, and fresh seafood as well as baked goods, dairy and cheese products. There are also booths that sell ready-to-eat foods, herbs, candy and nuts. Many visitors come here looking for the experiences portrayed by The Travel Channel or The Food Network.
Try your hand at lady luck! Long gone are the days of retail being the center of activity in downtown Cleveland. Higbee’s, once the epitome of shopping downtown right on the square, is now the Jack Casino. Occupying several floors of The Higbee Building, the Jack has table games, slot machines, electronic games and a sports deck.
Restaurant, lounge and Night Club
Night club and bar.
Interested in a little rock and roll history? Then, you need to visit the museum dedicated to just that. Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum opened in 1995 dedicated to those who made music history in the past as well as those making it now. It features rock and roll artifacts from musicians that inspire us. Its education programs, both in-person and virtual, rival that of any fine arts collection in the nation.
Constructed in 1928, the Terminal Tower was the tallest building outside of the Manhattan skyscrapers at the time. Take a tour up to the 42nd floor (out of 52) for a view surrounding miles on a clear day. It’s $5.00 per person and you’re limited to a 15-minute tour. Time(s) slot must be reserve by following this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/terminal-tower-observation-deck-self-guided-tour-tickets-33127241471?aff=eac2
The moCa focuses on contemporary art and, therefore, has rotating exhibits that keep the space fresh and current – and it’s free!
Who would have thought Cleveland would have one of the wealthiest art museums in the US and one of the most visited art museums in the world? This jewel sits prominently in University Circle and contains over 60,000 artifacts. Admission to everyday exhibits is free. However, special traveling exhibits require a charge and a reservation time.
The Transformer Station is one of the unique places to visit in Cleveland. The historic building hosts a small collection of artworks created by contemporary artists from the region. The exhibits constantly change – plus, it is one of the free museums in Cleveland
Elijah Ma’at and Ezra’s favorite place in the city! Full of games and a café. Perfect for an afternoon with the kiddos!
The Zoo is comprised of 7 different areas: Australian Adventure African Savanna Northern Wilderness Trek, Primate, Cat & Aquatics Building Waterfowl Lake The RainForest (currently closed for improvement projects) Asian Highlands Cleveland Zoo is open 365 days a year and is a great adventure for all ages. Two trams operate around the park in case you need a break from walking. Plus, there are carousel rides, lorikeet feedings and an Australian outback train ride.
Script Cleveland Signs You’ve seen the script signs, right? No visit is complete without taking your picture at least by one of them! Currently, there are 6 Cleveland Script signs around town. Find them at : Cleveland’s airport Edgewater Park East 9th Street Pier at Voinovich Park The Foundry Tremont Euclid Beach
Taking a walk through Willard Park to see the gigantic Free Stamp is one of the favorite Downtown Cleveland things to do. Designed by Pop Art creators, Oldenburg and van Bruggen, the 49-foot-long stamp is the ‘world’s largest office stamp.’ The artwork celebrates the freeing of American slaves after the Civil War.
Tackling part of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail is one of the top things to do in Cleveland when the weather is nice. The 87-mile trail follows the route once used by mules to pull canal boats – and today, it serves as one of the best recreational opportunities in the city. In fact, visitors can walk south along the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail to the nearby Tremont neighborhood. The district’s main street is lined with boutique shops and award-winning restaurants.
Located within Rockefeller Park, the Cleveland Cultural Gardens are dedicated to the many immigrants that have helped to shape the United States and Cleveland, more specifically. Consisting of 33 unique gardens and statues along Martin Luther King Jr Drive, the gardens honor the heritage of Cleveland’s diverse community. Visitors are free to walk the gardens
Yes – Cleveland has beaches! Quite a few of them, in fact. If you want to stay close to downtown, pop on over to Edgewater Park in the Cleveland Metroparks for a quick visit. Hey, there’s even a script Cleveland sign here!
Did you know that Cleveland has the only National Park in Ohio? The Cuyahoga Valley National Park stretches 32,000 acres across the southeastern part of the city connecting to the city of Akron. One of the most spectacular hikes and waterfalls is in Sagamore Hills at Brandywine Falls. This 60-foot waterfall is most impressive after heavy rain. Take the boardwalk down to the falls and continue hiking around the Brandywine Gorge Trail for a moderate 1.5-mile loop.
Bring a bike on board and ride the rails one way while biking the return. Or, take a leisurely trip from the Rockside Station and get off in Peninsula for lunch and shopping. Special, limited-time train rides are available such as beer or wine tastings, murder mystery rides and family programs such as Cleveland’s Polar Express. This is a great way to see the area while leaving the driving to someone else!
Hands down, one of the fun things to do in Cleveland, Ohio is to visit Ohio City. The district is well-known among foodies for the abundance of locally-owned restaurants and amazing craft breweries. That said, the neighborhood is also home to a few attractions that you will want to put on your Cleveland sightseeing list! Regardless of what you do in the afternoon, circle back around to Ohio City in the evening for food, drinks and fun. Spending an evening in this neighborhood is highly rated as one of the goto places to be in the city!
Little Italy is one our favorite places to visit in Cleveland, Ohio! The enclave was settled by Italian immigrants in the early 1900s and today Italian flags still fly over the main thoroughfare, Mayfield Road. Shopping and eating are the district’s main draws, but there are a few sights to see, as well – so we are highlighting the best things to do in Little Italy Cleveland (which can all be reached on foot).
The Tremont neighborhoods Main Street is lined with boutique shops and award-winning restaurants. Ambitious walkers can continue walking south of Tremont’s district center to see the famed A Christmas Story house.
Mall
Outdoor Shopping Center
Outdoor Shopping Center