Cleveland Homecoming-Fall 2021 (Youngstown, Mentor, Shaker Heights: rental car, appointed, 2014)

[ferraris]

It's a little bit of a haul to get over to Wooster, but Ramseyer Farms is hands down the best outdoor option in the area in October for kids. A "barely walking baby" will be a little young for most of the games and activities, but I think you will still find enough to be worth it. Petting and feeding the animals, "swimming" in the corn pit, riding the hay ride, going down slides and jumping on the bounce pad together, and maybe trying the baby/toddler play areas.

There is even a dedicated private shed for breastfeeding and diaper changing.

I think it is worth it even with a baby, but definitely consider it when she is older. Coming from Florida, it would be a great traditional fall activity.

There is also an independent toy store just down the road called Toyrifix.

[TheProf]

Originally Posted by WRnative

The Waterfront Line is closed. So consider if you want to climb out of the Flats with a young daughter. Perhaps park there before relocating for the game.

Yes, and RTA also discontinued the C-Line trolley to the Flats, too, so there is currently zero public transp down there, so we've gotten used to hoofing it back 'n forth to Public Sq. (we've scootered over, too). One trick to circumventing most of the uphill walk is by taking the Aloft Hotel elevators 6-floors up to the hotel's front-desk lobby, but left-turning and heading down the hallway and out EW's front doors -- this cuts off 3/4s the uphill climb. I don't mind it normally, but if we're tired, full or a bit tipsy, then ...

[WRnative]

Originally Posted by TheProf

Yes, and RTA also discontinued the C-Line trolley to the Flats, too, so there is currently zero public transp down there, so we've gotten used to hoofing it back 'n forth to Public Sq. (we've scootered over, too). One trick to circumventing most of the uphill walk is by taking the Aloft Hotel elevators 6-floors up to the hotel's front-desk lobby, but left-turning and heading down the hallway and out EW's front doors -- this cuts off 3/4s the uphill climb. I don't mind it normally, but if we're tired, full or a bit tipsy, then ...

As always, can't give you more cred, but GREAT insider tip!!!

[TheProf]

Originally Posted by WRnative

As always, can't give you more cred, but GREAT insider tip!!!

-- I meant EY, btw...

[WRnative]

Originally Posted by TheProf

-- I meant EY, btw...

The Ernst Young Tower and not the Aloft Hotel? The EY Tower lobby closes at 5 p.m. weekdays and isn't open weekends. So only of benefit for weekday, afternoon visits to the Flats.

If you meant the EY Tower, have you ever checked out the Aloft Hotel to see if it has an entrance at a higher elevation which can be accessed by elevator by non-guests? I called the Aloft and the operator said the only entrance is from the Flats, so, if accurate, an uphill walk is required with the Waterfront Line closed.

[TheProf]

Originally Posted by WRnative

The Ernst Young Tower and not the Aloft Hotel? The EY Tower lobby closes at 5 p.m. weekdays and isn't open weekends. So only of benefit for weekday, afternoon visits to the Flats.

If you meant the EY Tower, have you ever checked out the Aloft Hotel to see if it has an entrance at a higher elevation which can be accessed by elevator by non-guests? I called the Aloft and the operator said the only entrance is from the Flats, so, if accurate, an uphill walk is required with the Waterfront Line closed.

The Aloft's check-in desk/lobby is on the same corridor as EY's front entrance -- 6 floors up from the Flats. If you turn left toward EY as opposed to right, which goes into the Aloft, you will go down a glass corridor past several doors to an open grassy courtyard where wedding parties and other large events are held... So long as you don't try and go up in the EY towers, you can exit their main door anytime -- the guards don't bother you, so it's no problem.

[WRnative]

Originally Posted by TheProf

The Aloft's check-in desk/lobby is on the same corridor as EY's front entrance -- 6 floors up from the Flats. If you turn left toward EY as opposed to right, which goes into the Aloft, you will go down a glass corridor past several doors to an open grassy courtyard where wedding parties and other large events are held... So long as you don't try and go up in the EY towers, you can exit their main door anytime -- the guards don't bother you, so it's no problem.

I'm confused. The Aloft operator said that they don't have an entrance at the Flats level, which did seem strange. I've never been in either building.

So, if I'm in the East Flats, where do I enter the Aloft Hotel, and where do I then go to reach the elevator. Once you reach the elevator, you take it to the 6th floor, then upon exiting head left towards the EY exit?

TIA!

[TheProf]

Originally Posted by WRnative

I'm confused. The Aloft operator said that they don't have an entrance at the Flats level, which did seem strange. I've never been in either building.

So, if I'm in the East Flats, where do I enter the Aloft Hotel, and where do I then go to reach the elevator. Once you reach the elevator, you take it to the 6th floor, then upon exiting head left towards the EY exit?

TIA!

You enter the Aloft at the valet entrance next to Lago restaurant, here:

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.5003...8i8192!5m1!1e2

The hotel lobby is not on this level -- it is just an entrance. You must take the lobby 6 floors up (from the Flats) to get to the hotel lobby level -- this is similar to the Ritz-Carlton's setup at Tower City where the lobby is on an elevated level... and, again, exit the EY lobby at that level -- EY and Aloft are connected by the aforementioned corridor.

Whatever they are telling you on the phone: don't listen to them if they are saying you cannot do this. We use this uphill route back to downtown (West 9th Street) level all the time, and at all hours - even when Flats restaurant and clubs are closing.

Side note:

When the 'new' Flats East Bank was being developed, I had hoped some innovator would have built an escalator between the Flats and downtown levels -- it's a stiff uphill walk if you are not up to it. Other cities would have done this because they would treasure the Flats -- the new Flats are a hit. Instead, here in Cleveland, we make it tougher to access our treasure rather than making it easier. After COVID eased up a bit, the Flats East Bank morphed back into the huge hit it was becoming prior to COVID. But now there is no Waterfront Line Rapid service; not for 2 years... at least -- and even before the current bridge crisis, RTA was choking off Waterfront Line service -- cutting it off at 7p even on popular, crowded weekend nights.

But RTA steered everyone to their 'free' Trolley (C-Line) to/from the Flats, even though Trolleys stopped at 11p (well before many restaurants and most clubs closed) and the Trolleys would often get stuck in traffic.

Now, RTA isn't even running the Trolleys... why? On top of that, they now have traffic cops on weekend nights directing traffic so you cannot come up through downtown; you are now forced to drive over to the West Side to get out by car ... The only alternative? walk.

I love Cleveland but, time and again, we prove ourselves to be not ready for Prime Time ... at least from an entertainment and tourist standpoint. In fact, I still hear Cleveland make snide remarks about tourists -- the typical circle-your-wagons, Cleveland is for Clevelanders mentality... It's very frustrating.

[bjimmy24]

Originally Posted by TheProf

You enter the Aloft at the valet entrance next to Lago restaurant, here:

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.5003...8i8192!5m1!1e2

The hotel lobby is not on this level -- it is just an entrance. You must take the lobby 6 floors up (from the Flats) to get to the hotel lobby level -- this is similar to the Ritz-Carlton's setup at Tower City where the lobby is on an elevated level... and, again, exit the EY lobby at that level -- EY and Aloft are connected by the aforementioned corridor.

Whatever they are telling you on the phone: don't listen to them if they are saying you cannot do this. We use this uphill route back to downtown (West 9th Street) level all the time, and at all hours - even when Flats restaurant and clubs are closing.

Side note:

When the 'new' Flats East Bank was being developed, I had hoped some innovator would have built an escalator between the Flats and downtown levels -- it's a stiff uphill walk if you are not up to it. Other cities would have done this because they would treasure the Flats -- the new Flats are a hit. Instead, here in Cleveland, we make it tougher to access our treasure rather than making it easier. After COVID eased up a bit, the Flats East Bank morphed back into the huge hit it was becoming prior to COVID. But now there is no Waterfront Line Rapid service; not for 2 years... at least -- and even before the current bridge crisis, RTA was choking off Waterfront Line service -- cutting it off at 7p even on popular, crowded weekend nights.

But RTA steered everyone to their 'free' Trolley (C-Line) to/from the Flats, even though Trolleys stopped at 11p (well before many restaurants and most clubs closed) and the Trolleys would often get stuck in traffic.

Now, RTA isn't even running the Trolleys... why? On top of that, they now have traffic cops on weekend nights directing traffic so you cannot come up through downtown; you are now forced to drive over to the West Side to get out by car ... The only alternative? walk.

I love Cleveland but, time and again, we prove ourselves to be not ready for Prime Time ... at least from an entertainment and tourist standpoint. In fact, I still hear Cleveland make snide remarks about tourists -- the typical circle-your-wagons, Cleveland is for Clevelanders mentality... It's very frustrating.

For many cities, "Covid" is just "austerity" by a different name. A socially acceptable reason to cut public access to everything. It is despicable, I agree.

[theurbanfiles]

That connection through Aloft does sound useful if I end up heading that way-so I appreciate that!!