There is so much to do and see in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. From all of the museums at University Circle to the diverse ethnic neighborhoods, artisans, the unique Emerald Necklace park system, Cedar Point and more! Go to www.positivelycleveland.com for more ideas and information. Here are some ideas:

DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND:
The old Terminal Tower is home to Tower City shopping. Much of the art deco architecture from the old train station remains in tact and there is a cool fountain in the middle of the mall.

Cleveland Sightseeing Tours (Lolly the Trolley): Lolly the Trolley Tours are fully narrated, informative and fun! The one-hour tour is a brief overview of Cleveland featuring the Flats, Downtown, North Coast Harbor, the Warehouse District, Ohio City, and Progressive Field (this is a non-stop tour).

Steamship William G. Mather Museum: The 618 foot long Mather, a restored 1925 bulk freighter, is a floating maritime museum.

East 4th Street Entertainment District: Quickly becoming a nightlife destination of choice, this narrow brick street is packed with upscale eateries and entertainment. Home to nationally known restaurants such as Lola (Michael Symon), the Greenhouse Tavern, and Chinato. Not to mention the House of Blues, Pickwick & Frolic for comedy shows, a host of other bars, restaurants, and some great al fresco dining.

Playhouse Square Theater District: The highlight of Cleveland’s Theater District is Playhouse Square, the second largest performing arts center in the country. Four theaters were originally built in 1921-22 and have been lovingly restored It draws over one million visitors annually.

NEAR WEST SIDE:
Ohio City: Just across the Cuyahoga River and west of downtown Cleveland, Ohio City is home to the West Side Market. In addition to a number of incredible ethnic eateries, Ohio City has many lovely renovated Victorian era homes. Also the Christmas Story House and Museum is the house in the movie.

West Side Market (West 25th St. & Lorain Ave, Cleveland) westsidemarket.org: The market has long symbolized Cleveland’s diversity through its multitude of flavors. When the Market opened in 1912, it was a unique building but it was not a new idea in marketing. The idea of merchants gathering in one location so that customers would have the opportunity of choosing their foods from several merchants was common practice at that time. There are more than one hundred merchants and thousands of products. There are two buildings housing produce and one housing meats, cheeses, fish, pasta, and all sorts of other items.

Lorain Avenue: Love antiques? There is a whole row of antique shops here.

Tremont (between West 7th and West 14th Streets): Historic Tremont has a reputation as one of Cleveland’s hidden hotspots for entertainment, art, and dining. A blue collar neighborhood with a rich cultural heritage, Tremont’s residents are a mixture of blue collar, urban professionals, and artists. St. Theodosius Russian Orthodox Cathedral (733 Starkweather) is a magnificent onion-domed church that was featured in the movie, The Deer Hunter.

LAKE ERIE AND CUYAHOGA RIVER CRUISES:
The Goodtime III offers Lake and Cuyahoga River cruises, with a range of themes: lunch cruises, rush hour cruises, dinner dances, and Sunday brunch. The 1,000 person capacity ship departs from the heart of Cleveland at East 9th Street Pier.

UNIVERSITY CIRCLE:
No tour is complete without a visit to University Circle. Four major museums all within walking distance, some great restaurants, Case Western Reserve University all “live” together in this urban setting.
Cleveland Botanical Garden: A paradise in the city awaits you year-round! Glass house features Costa Rica rainforest exotic plants, birds, butterflies on one side; Madagascar desert plants on the other. Amazing. 10 acres of beautiful gardens outside, unique shopping, and Garden Café.

Cleveland Museum of Natural History: From dinosaurs to diamonds, the museum is a beautiful blend of traditional and interactive galleries related to history, art, and the natural world.

Cleveland Museum of Art: At Cleveland’s most highly attended museum and of America’s top five art museums, you’ll see admired masterpieces from ancient times to today. The museum is undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation and expansion. New galleries are open and magnificent.

Western Reserve Historical Society and Crawford Auto Museum: Explore the history of Northeast Ohio Special site collections include the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum, Chisholm Halle Costume Wing, and the Archives/ Library. If you are interested in genealogy, the librarians are most happy to help and have a wealth of information at hand.

Severance Hall: While this is not a museum, it is home to the Cleveland Orchestra. If you love classical music, this is a wonderful venue to hear a superb orchestra. Built in 1930, the art deco interior has amazing acoustics regardless where you sit.

Hale Farm & Village: affiliated with the Western Reserve Historical Museum, this outdoor living history museum features life and crafts from the period and historic houses. Take a walk back in time. The interpreters/workers are dressed in period costumes and love to share their knowledge, answer your questions.

NEIGHBORHOODS:
Every city has neighborhoods worth visiting and so does Cleveland. Here are a few:

Little Italy (Mayfield & Murray Hill Rds.): littleitalycleveland.com The city’s most charming enclave is perfect for a summer evening stroll through the many galleries and boutiques, watch a game of bocce ball, then grab a bite at one of the many delicious eateries. From pizza, cannoli and espresso to a scrumptious piece of cassata cake to a sit down meal.

Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights, Lakewood: Want to see lots of beautiful century homes and tree-lined streets? Drive down Fairmount Blvd. in Cleveland Heights, Edgewater and Lake in Lakewood, and down Shaker Blvd. in Shaker Heights to see homes built in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Gracious homes, landscaping ideas. Spend some time in Shaker Square, Larchmere, Coventry, Cedar-Lee, Detroit areas for interesting shops and restaurants.

Hunting Valley: Drive further east away from the city to see “old money” estates and horse farms. It’s amazing that you can drive 20 miles and feel like you are in the country!

EMERALD NECKLACE PARK SYSTEM clemetparks.com
Over 20,000 acres, 14 reservations surrounding Cleveland. Walking, hiking trails, outdoor education facilities, golf courses, swimming area, and picnic areas. Visit the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Squire’s Castle, towpaths, and more.

CEDAR POINT, LAKE ERIE ISLANDS www.shoresandislands.com:
Go west towards Sandusky. Cedar Point is a wonderful amusement park with some of the greatest roller coasters in the world. Bass Island, Kelley’s Island, Put-in-Bay Island have lots of fun things to do.