By Sandy Mitchell
Things to Do in Cleveland
Cleveland, located on the shores of Lake Erie midway between
New York City and
Chicago, combines the friendliness of the Midwest with the arts and ethnic diversity of the East Coast. The city is not only the home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but boasts one of the best orchestras in the nation, an award-winning library system and an art museum where visitors can view some of the world's greatest works for free.
Visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, opened in 1995, sits along Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland. The museum's 150,000-square feet of exhibit space is devoted to all aspects of Rock and Roll music. You'll see original stage costumes, hand-written lyrics, album covers and, of course, there are plenty of listening stations to sample new artists and hear old favorites.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
1100 Rock and Roll Boulevard
E 9th St and Lake Erie
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 781-ROCK
Enjoy an Ethnic Food Market
Cleveland's ethnic diversity makes it a great place for food lovers. Sample pirogi and potato pancakes at Seven Roses Deli on Fleet Avenue in Slavic Village. Try a cannoli at Corbo's on Mayfield Road in Little Italy. Or spend the morning shopping for fresh vegetables, ethnic foods and meat at the West Side Market in Ohio City.
Listen to the Cleveland Orchestra
The Cleveland Orchestra, founded in 1918, is consistently ranked among the top orchestras in the world. They play from October through May at Severance Hall in Cleveland's University Circle cultural district. During the summer months, the Orchestra moves to Blossom Music Center, located between Cleveland and Akron. They also offer periodic free public concerts, including the annual July 4th concert at Public Square in downtown Cleveland.
Severance Hall
11001 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44106
(216) 231-1111
Check out the Library
Cleveland's library system is among the best in the United States. Founded in 1869, the system consists of the main branch at Superior Avenue and Third Street in downtown as well as 28 branch locations. The library also participates in sharing books and materials with 31 regional library systems through the CLEVNET system. At the main branch, you'll find the special collections room, a section on local history and a charming outdoor reading oasis.
Relax in the Cleveland Metroparks
The Cleveland Metroparks System, dubbed the "Emerald Necklace" because of the way the parks make a ring around the city, began in 1917. Today, the park system consists of more than 20,000 acres of park land. You can golf, visit the Cleveland Metroparks zoo, have a picnic, fish, ride horses and even ride the toboggan chutes in the winter.
Tour the Cleveland Museum of Art
The Cleveland Museum of Art, located in Cleveland's University Circle cultural district, is the most important museum in the United States to still offer free admission to its permanent collection. The museum is known for its extensive collection of Asian art, its French Impressionist collection and its new wing devoted to Cleveland artists.
Cleveland Museum of Art
11150 East Blvd.
Cleveland, OH 44106
(216) 421-7350
About the Author:
Sandy is a Northeast Ohio-based writer, blogger, and editor. Among other projects, she writes and edits the Cleveland pages for About.com. Before devoting herself full-time to writing, Sandy was a travel agent and cruise school instructor for 18 years. Sandy holds a Bachelor's degree from Bowling Green State University.
Photo Credits:
(S. Mitchell)
