Compilation of Cleveland visitor attractions and activities. (Lorain, Lakewood: rental, wedding)

[WRnative]

See post 2 in this thread for a visit in late Feb. or early March during maple sugar season:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/cleve...l#post51008848

[WRnative]

Post 11 in this thread discusses exploring Chester Ave. behind the PlayhouseSquare complex.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/cleve...l#post51052078

[WRnative]

Cleveland.com's food and drink guides:

http://www.cleveland.com/top-restaur...5_guide.html#0

Here's the Cleveland Magazine listing as selected by its readers.

https://clevelandmagazine.com/food-d...n-winners-2017

Pier W, located in Lakewood, offers Greater Cleveland's best lakefront location, best brunch, and also offers a good skyline view (ask for view seating; reservations recommended especially for Sunday brunch). It's easily reached using the Red Line rail rapid/local bus connecting the Red Line to Winton Place, where Pier W is located; check Google Transit at the RTA home page for specifics.

I greatly prefer several downtown restaurants, especially the Blue Point Grille, to Cowell & Hubbard.

The tripadvisor.com food rankings are very good IMO (although I think Slyman's and Mabel's are ranked much too high). Blue Point Grille downtown, L'Albatros in University Circle, Mia Bella in Little Italy, Sokolowski's (a Polish-American cafeteria and Cleveland's only James Beard Foundation America's Classic restaurant), and Momocho are my favorites among the top 20 ranked restaurants. All but Sokolowski's and Momocho are easily reached using RTA (check Google Transit at the RTA home page). I haven't been to Townhall, but friends greatly enjoy it.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaura...land_Ohio.html

For good food at reasonable prices downtown, check out Superior Pho (Uber or drive), Barrio Gateway (very convenient for Progressive Field and check out the Fifth Street Arcades while there, and Heinen's at East 9th and Euclid Ave. (also a top ten Cleveland attraction for its architectural magnificence; a regular supermarket is attached to the Rotunda deli and second floor beer/wine sampling area).

Hansa in the Market District and Balaton in Shaker Square are top 100 ethnic restaurants and easily reached from downtown using mass transit; check Google Transit at the RTA home page. Balaton is probably Ohio's best Hungarian restaurant and IMO offers Cleveland's best Wienerschnitzel.

Yelp has rankings by Cleveland neighborhood. For downtown, check out Gateway, Tower City, Warehouse District, Playhouse Square, and Civic Center. Ohio City, Shaker Square, Little Italy, and University Circle all are easily reached using either rail rapid transit or the Healthline bus rapid from downtown.

https://www.yelp.com/c/cleveland/restaurants

These neighborhood lists seem pretty good, but with much overlap in the downtown neighborhood listings.

Here are the mass transit connections to Ohio City, just across the Cuyahoga River from downtown.

Introducing the Ohio City Connector | Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority

EDWINS, Fire and Zanzibar are other highly regarded restaurants on Shaker Square, in addition to Balaton, and easily reached using either the Blue or Green rail rapid lines from the Tower City rail transit hub.

EDWINS not only is one of Cleveland's most highly regarded restaurants, and one of its very best French restaurants, it's also a great social endeavor rehabilitating convicts. "Knife Skills," a documentary nominated for an Academy Award, profiles EDWINS.

http://www.firstshowing.net/2018/wat...ch-restaurant/

Other favorites in Ohio City's Market District include the historic West Side Market Café, Nate's Deli (considered among the best in Cleveland), and Mitchell's Ice Cream, all very convenient for a visit to the West Side Market, where Steve's Gyros food stand has received national attention.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g...de.Market.html

[WRnative]

Check this thread for information on Cleveland breweries:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/cleve...wery-news.html

[WRnative]

This thread considers the attractions of the eastern Lake Erie basin in the U.S.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/cleve...l#post51292872

[WRnative]

Several posts in this thread discuss activities for toddlers, but most are good suggestions for older kids as well as adults.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/cleve...land-moms.html

[WRnative]

This thread discusses attractions in addition to Cedar Point and Ohio Amish Country.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/cleve...l#post51628166

[WRnative]

Moderator cut: orphaned

The Cultural Gardens have upper and lower gardens. The upper gardens are along East Blvd. Sadly, I've driven by them, but never stopped to explore them. My impression is that parking is easier along East Blvd., but it might be best to park at the Rockefeller Park Greenhouse, also a good Cleveland attraction. You could spend a better part of a day in the Cultural Gardens.

https://www.google.com/search?q=rock...veland&ie=&oe=

https://www.tripsavvy.com/rockefelle...enhouse-752549

https://www.facebook.com/pg/Rockefel...=page_internal

The cultural gardens themselves cover scores of acres.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clevel...ltural_Gardens

[WRnative]

Here's a thread discussing Cleveland hiking and walking opportunities.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/cleve...kes-walks.html

[TheProf]

WRnative, you mentioned you haven't been to Town Hall. Hopefully you can make it by there soon. It's an experience. You don't necessarily go for the food -- it's not bad; nothing fancy with a few nice items and some pretty good craft beer -- you go for the atmosphere. It's one of the more fun places to eat and drink in Cleveland. It's split between the larger sports bar/restaurant and their 'Market', which is partially self-serve.

There is a substantial outdoor section to the back towards the parking lot that fills up during summer months. TH is dead in the center of Ohio City's Market Square district; a 5 minute walk from RTA's Ohio City Red Line station and there seem to be, literally, one hundred RTA buses that pass by in front... Our fave spot when its warm is a seat right on W. 25 outdoors facing the hustle and bustle of the street (including, usually, several ambulances going to/from Lutheran Hospital 2 blocks away and the annoying tractor-trailers and dump trucks the rumble (seemingly the whole neighborhood) by... Some have mentioned petitioning city council to get a truck route to divert these oft-dusty monsters from OC's core district.

The place is always bustling and often packed (esp one WSM Saturdays and during the dinner hour -- but it remains lively well into the wee hours) and, of course, there are TV's everywhere featuring ... of course, sports. (one knowledgeable downtown barkeep told us recently that Town Hall is the most successful establishment, patronage-wise, between New York and Chicago -- can't verify this, but there's nothing my eyes have seen that refutes this claim, either)... Music is piped in and, true to most of these sports joints, the servers are all 20-something women who are all strong on the looks side (Oh the shame for Title IX and the Age Act!). The clientele is extremely diverse race/ethnic wise, and age wise, and, during the day, families are as prevalent as the swingin' singles -- the Market area of TH is particularly family/kid friendly lots of long-table and bench seating.

TH also has been the go-to spot for celebs in town, esp sports starts. The place has been white hot since the day it opened. One great thing is that it is one of Cleveland's few sit down places that's open til' 2:30a daily; and the kitchen stays open pretty late. One other major bonus: TH serves Mitchell's ice cream -- whose amazing main store is a few doors down, which is great since TH remains open long past Mitchell's. The vegan-coconut flavor is a knockout.

(note: I have no financial stake in TH... I just like the place. It's been a reliable go-to joint since it opened).