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Where are you coming from, if you don't mind me asking? Like how long is your drive in, so I know how much time to plan for you for the day. I have no idea where you are coming from in, but here is a generic day that would be pretty fun, based upon your interests. What kind of food do you like?
Here goes, though this may be a tad overwhelming : )
8:15 AM: Brief Visit to Brandywine Falls (note, about a half hour from downtown, but a pleasant/scenic drive, in CVNP)
8:45 AM: Spend a little longer at Bedford Reservation. From what I hear, there is even a hike that takes you up the wall of the gorge and is really beautiful, plus more waterfalls in this area.
-It is about a half hour drive back from here to Downtown area as well. Along the way, consider taking a brief detour to drive along the Harvard Road exit, over to Steelyard, over to Quigley near town. I don't know if you find industrial areas appealing, per se, but I think looking at all the massive structures over there is pretty cool, and it gives you an idea of Cleveland's blue collar roots.
11 AM: This will put you close to the neighborhood of Tremont, which definitely has historic charm in droves, and interesting modern residential architecture as well. It's starting to feel very much like an (older) slice of Seattle in CLE. Once here and driving around some (perhaps past the house in which The Christmas Story House was filmed, or St. Theodosius, arguably the most impressive Russian Orthodox church in the US (major film location for the Deer Hunter), drive on to lunch at Sokolowski's University Inn. This place is a James Beard Legacy Winner restaurant, and if you enjoy Eastern European/German food, there are probably few places more "Cleveland" than this.
12 PM: Take some time now to exploring neighboring Ohio City. The West Side Market is an absolute must as long as you are here when it is open (it is on Wednesday, but I don't think Tuesday). Mitchell's Ice Cream is some of the best you will ever have, as is Rising Star (for coffee) if you are a coffee person. Several breweries should be open along the main stretch by this time, the most notable of which is Great Lakes.
1 PM: You may spend longer than that in Ohio City, there is plenty to do and see, but if you want to check out the lake, the best place to do so is Edgewater Park, and the hill overlooking it offers an absolutely spectacular view when the weather is right. You don't need to spend especially long here, but it is a serene and relaxing place. To get to the top of the hill, put in Edgewater Drive and Cliff Drive.
2 PM: At this point, spend a bit of time in the University Circle area. The Art Museum is free, and absolutely phenomenal. I recommend spending at least an hour here, taking in some of the main areas. After that, there are a number of ways to split up your next hour before heading downtown. You could head to Lakeview Cemetery, where as cited in another post, the daffodils of spring will be blooming. It is as scenic as any garden cemetery, anywhere, and features gravestones of the likes of John D. Rockefeller and James A. Garfield. You could check out both the modern and historic design at Case Western Reserve's campus. You could check out Little Italy, or Coventry, the Haight Asbury of Cleveland. Too many things, too little time (as other excellent posts above mine have noted).
4:45: Probably good to be downtown by now. The places with good craft beer selection have been laid out below in good detail already, however as a downtown restaurant recommendation, Barrio has a cool atmosphere and the tacos are absolutely excellent. You can also find plenty of great food famous from Cleveland inside the stadium as well, in the neighborhoods section.
6:00: Hopefully a Tribe win!
9:00 After the game, plenty of options. East 4th and surrounds has a decent number of spots, as does The Flats (or at least I think The Flats is still going strong again. Plus, Ohio City as well.
This is probably ambitious, but doable. I hope you have a great time in town!
Food/Drinks (lively atmosphere, great selection of craft beers, before the Indians game, happy hour)
Nightlife (a couple of spots after the baseball game for either live music or a DJ (no clubs))
Where are you coming from, if you don't mind me asking? Like how long is your drive in, so I know how much time to plan for you for the day. I have no idea where you are coming from in, but here is a generic day that would be pretty fun, based upon your interests. What kind of food do you like?
Here goes, though this may be a tad overwhelming : )
8:15 AM: Brief Visit to Brandywine Falls (note, about a half hour from downtown, but a pleasant/scenic drive, in CVNP)
8:45 AM: Spend a little longer at Bedford Reservation. From what I hear, there is even a hike that takes you up the wall of the gorge and is really beautiful, plus more waterfalls in this area.
-It is about a half hour drive back from here to Downtown area as well. Along the way, consider taking a brief detour to drive along the Harvard Road exit, over to Steelyard, over to Quigley near town. I don't know if you find industrial areas appealing, per se, but I think looking at all the massive structures over there is pretty cool, and it gives you an idea of Cleveland's blue collar roots.
11 AM: This will put you close to the neighborhood of Tremont, which definitely has historic charm in droves, and interesting modern residential architecture as well. It's starting to feel very much like an (older) slice of Seattle in CLE. Once here and driving around some (perhaps past the house in which The Christmas Story House was filmed, or St. Theodosius, arguably the most impressive Russian Orthodox church in the US (major film location for the Deer Hunter), drive on to lunch at Sokolowski's University Inn. This place is a James Beard Legacy Winner restaurant, and if you enjoy Eastern European/German food, there are probably few places more "Cleveland" than this.
12 PM: Take some time now to exploring neighboring Ohio City. The West Side Market is an absolute must as long as you are here when it is open (it is on Wednesday, but I don't think Tuesday). Mitchell's Ice Cream is some of the best you will ever have, as is Rising Star (for coffee) if you are a coffee person. Several breweries should be open along the main stretch by this time, the most notable of which is Great Lakes.
1 PM: You may spend longer than that in Ohio City, there is plenty to do and see, but if you want to check out the lake, the best place to do so is Edgewater Park, and the hill overlooking it offers an absolutely spectacular view when the weather is right. You don't need to spend especially long here, but it is a serene and relaxing place. To get to the top of the hill, put in Edgewater Drive and Cliff Drive.
2 PM: At this point, spend a bit of time in the University Circle area. The Art Museum is free, and absolutely phenomenal. I recommend spending at least an hour here, taking in some of the main areas. After that, there are a number of ways to split up your next hour before heading downtown. You could head to Lakeview Cemetery, where as cited in another post, the daffodils of spring will be blooming. It is as scenic as any garden cemetery, anywhere, and features gravestones of the likes of John D. Rockefeller and James A. Garfield. You could check out both the modern and historic design at Case Western Reserve's campus. You could check out Little Italy, or Coventry, the Haight Asbury of Cleveland. Too many things, too little time (as other excellent posts above mine have noted).
4:45: Probably good to be downtown by now. The places with good craft beer selection have been laid out below in good detail already, however as a downtown restaurant recommendation, Barrio has a cool atmosphere and the tacos are absolutely excellent. You can also find plenty of great food famous from Cleveland inside the stadium as well, in the neighborhoods section.
6:00: Hopefully a Tribe win!
9:00 After the game, plenty of options. East 4th and surrounds has a decent number of spots, as does The Flats (or at least I think The Flats is still going strong again. Plus, Ohio City as well.
This is probably ambitious, but doable. I hope you have a great time in town!
Food/Drinks (lively atmosphere, great selection of craft beers, before the Indians game, happy hour)
Nightlife (a couple of spots after the baseball game for either live music or a DJ (no clubs))
WOW
I appreciate your time and effort for a detailed 1-day itinerary!
Many times we ask for help on these forums and receive great responses and once in awhile, we receive responses, like yours, that puts a smile on your face because it's exactly what you were looking for.
Anyways, I will be driving from Pittsburgh and I plan to arrive around the city limits around 8am so this works perfectly.
At about 9:23pm, I will hoist a cold beer and toast to you, cavsfan137!
If you have a car, I would head first, especially on a nice weather day, to Holden Arboretum and the Kirtland Temple in Kirtland. They are much more unique experiences than Brandywine Falls and the Bedford Reservation. See Kirtland here. It's one of my favorite destinations in northeast Ohio.
If you have an interest in history, check out the James A. Garfield National Historic Site, run by the National Park Service, in nearby Mentor (see above), especially if you'll later visit the magnificent Garfield Monument (check hours) at Lake View Cemetery. Mentor Headlands Beach State Park is a great place to see Lake Erie, especially with a state nature preserve adjacent to the public beach (although it was flooded this past weekend by massive Lake Erie waves).
You could spend a full day sight-seeing and hiking in Kirtland and Mentor.
From Kirtland/Mentor, you could head to Lake View Cemetery, having a late lunch in Little Italy, before visiting the art museum and walking around University Circle. See points of interest under "Visit" here:
Of course, you could visit Kirtland/Mentor attractions on your return drive, if you were staying overnight (the Red Roof Inn in Willoughby is adjacent to Kirtland and a great value pick for visitors to Greater Cleveland).
There are breakfast restaurants such as Bob Evans and Cracker Barrel just north of the I-90/Route 306 interchange, and a short drive from Kirtland.
Candidly, you easily could fill one day, or even 2-3 days, with just University Circle, Lake View, Little Italy, downtown, and Ohio City (check the days the West Side Market is open), especially as you're attending an Indians game. I take it you're not staying overnight? The Wade Lagoon and Fine Arts Garden adjacent to the Cleveland Museum of Art is an excellent urban hike.
A downtown hike might include Public Square (Soldiers & Sailors Monument) to the large mall (Fountain of Eternal Light), to Voinovich Bicentennial Park on Cleveland's Inner Harbor (walking past the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum), returning down East 9th St. and walking through the Arcade between Superior and Euclid Avenues. For the first link, click on the Mall (Cleveland) at the top of the article if the link doesn't take you directly to the Mall article.
Downtown Cleveland's free bus trolleys offer a cheap way to see the city, and to facilitate walking tours. You also could take the Waterfront Line from the Rock Hall to the East Flats, which has a riverwalk along the Cuyahoga River (you might have to ask the operator where you should stop because reportedly some East Flats stops are routinely skipped).
If you're a AAA member, or know one, pick up a copy of the Northeast Ohio map, which has the best AAA map of downtown, University Circle, and the Market District and Tremont on its back.
If you have a car, I would head first, especially on a nice weather day, to Holden Arboretum and the Kirtland Temple in Kirtland. They are much more unique experiences than Brandywine Falls and the Bedford Reservation. See Kirtland here. It's one of my favorite destinations in northeast Ohio.
If you have an interest in history, check out the James A. Garfield National Historic Site, run by the National Park Service, in nearby Mentor (see above), especially if you'll later visit the magnificent Garfield Monument (check hours) at Lake View Cemetery. Mentor Headlands Beach State Park is a great place to see Lake Erie, especially with a state nature preserve adjacent to the public beach (although it was flooded this past weekend by massive Lake Erie waves).
You could spend a full day sight-seeing and hiking in Kirtland and Mentor.
From Kirtland/Mentor, you could head to Lake View Cemetery, having a late lunch in Little Italy, before visiting the art museum and walking around University Circle. See points of interest under "Visit" here:
Of course, you could visit Kirtland/Mentor attractions on your return drive, if you were staying overnight (the Red Roof Inn in Willoughby is adjacent to Kirtland and a great value pick for visitors to Greater Cleveland).
There are breakfast restaurants such as Bob Evans and Cracker Barrel just north of the I-90/Route 306 interchange, and a short drive from Kirtland.
Candidly, you easily could fill one day, or even 2-3 days, with just University Circle, Lake View, Little Italy, downtown, and Ohio City (check the days the West Side Market is open), especially as you're attending an Indians game. I take it you're not staying overnight? The Wade Lagoon and Fine Arts Garden adjacent to the Cleveland Museum of Art is an excellent urban hike.
A downtown hike might include Public Square (Soldiers & Sailors Monument) to the large mall (Fountain of Eternal Light), to Voinovich Bicentennial Park on Cleveland's Inner Harbor (walking past the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum), returning down East 9th St. and walking through the Arcade between Superior and Euclid Avenues. For the first link, click on the Mall (Cleveland) at the top of the article if the link doesn't take you directly to the Mall article.
Downtown Cleveland's free bus trolleys offer a cheap way to see the city, and to facilitate walking tours. You also could take the Waterfront Line from the Rock Hall to the East Flats, which has a riverwalk along the Cuyahoga River (you might have to ask the operator where you should stop because reportedly some East Flats stops are routinely skipped).
If you're a AAA member, or know one, pick up a copy of the Northeast Ohio map, which has the best AAA map of downtown, University Circle, and the Market District and Tremont on its back.
Much props to you too, WRnative!
Thanks for you time & effort and your points of interests.
Head is spinning but that's a good sign. Just shows you there is much to see and experience in Cleveland.
Where are you coming from, if you don't mind me asking? Like how long is your drive in, so I know how much time to plan for you for the day. I have no idea where you are coming from in, but here is a generic day that would be pretty fun, based upon your interests. What kind of food do you like?
Here goes, though this may be a tad overwhelming : )
8:15 AM: Brief Visit to Brandywine Falls (note, about a half hour from downtown, but a pleasant/scenic drive, in CVNP)
8:45 AM: Spend a little longer at Bedford Reservation. From what I hear, there is even a hike that takes you up the wall of the gorge and is really beautiful, plus more waterfalls in this area.
-It is about a half hour drive back from here to Downtown area as well. Along the way, consider taking a brief detour to drive along the Harvard Road exit, over to Steelyard, over to Quigley near town. I don't know if you find industrial areas appealing, per se, but I think looking at all the massive structures over there is pretty cool, and it gives you an idea of Cleveland's blue collar roots.
11 AM: This will put you close to the neighborhood of Tremont, which definitely has historic charm in droves, and interesting modern residential architecture as well. It's starting to feel very much like an (older) slice of Seattle in CLE. Once here and driving around some (perhaps past the house in which The Christmas Story House was filmed, or St. Theodosius, arguably the most impressive Russian Orthodox church in the US (major film location for the Deer Hunter), drive on to lunch at Sokolowski's University Inn. This place is a James Beard Legacy Winner restaurant, and if you enjoy Eastern European/German food, there are probably few places more "Cleveland" than this.
12 PM: Take some time now to exploring neighboring Ohio City. The West Side Market is an absolute must as long as you are here when it is open (it is on Wednesday, but I don't think Tuesday). Mitchell's Ice Cream is some of the best you will ever have, as is Rising Star (for coffee) if you are a coffee person. Several breweries should be open along the main stretch by this time, the most notable of which is Great Lakes.
1 PM: You may spend longer than that in Ohio City, there is plenty to do and see, but if you want to check out the lake, the best place to do so is Edgewater Park, and the hill overlooking it offers an absolutely spectacular view when the weather is right. You don't need to spend especially long here, but it is a serene and relaxing place. To get to the top of the hill, put in Edgewater Drive and Cliff Drive.
2 PM: At this point, spend a bit of time in the University Circle area. The Art Museum is free, and absolutely phenomenal. I recommend spending at least an hour here, taking in some of the main areas. After that, there are a number of ways to split up your next hour before heading downtown. You could head to Lakeview Cemetery, where as cited in another post, the daffodils of spring will be blooming. It is as scenic as any garden cemetery, anywhere, and features gravestones of the likes of John D. Rockefeller and James A. Garfield. You could check out both the modern and historic design at Case Western Reserve's campus. You could check out Little Italy, or Coventry, the Haight Asbury of Cleveland. Too many things, too little time (as other excellent posts above mine have noted).
4:45: Probably good to be downtown by now. The places with good craft beer selection have been laid out below in good detail already, however as a downtown restaurant recommendation, Barrio has a cool atmosphere and the tacos are absolutely excellent. You can also find plenty of great food famous from Cleveland inside the stadium as well, in the neighborhoods section.
6:00: Hopefully a Tribe win!
9:00 After the game, plenty of options. East 4th and surrounds has a decent number of spots, as does The Flats (or at least I think The Flats is still going strong again. Plus, Ohio City as well.
This is probably ambitious, but doable. I hope you have a great time in town!
Food/Drinks (lively atmosphere, great selection of craft beers, before the Indians game, happy hour)
Nightlife (a couple of spots after the baseball game for either live music or a DJ (no clubs))
This is so spot on for me also, as I am a coffee person, beer person, ice cream person, German food person (lived there), and The Deer Hunter movie person (it was my favorite movie for many years). Thanks for all of this, great info!
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Much props to you too, WRnative!
