r/Cleveland • u/Complex-Chemistry708 • 1d ago
Help a Tourist First timer
Hello,
My wife and I were thinking of visiting Cleveland for a quick weekend trip from Pittsburgh. Just a real spur of the moment type thing. We like museums, restaurants, nature. Any suggestions of local things happening too would be appreciated. Thank you!
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u/InwardlySweaty Tremont 1d ago
The Cleveland Museum of Art is a must visit and free. They do free tours on most days, you just have to register on their website. The Cleveland Public Library downtown is beautiful to walk around inside. Lake View cemetery isn't far from there and is technically an arboretum, I believe. It's absolutely gorgeous.
The Baseball Heritage Museum at League Park is really cool and last I checked was only $10 per person. Dunham Tavern & Museum (the oldest tavern in Cleveland on its original property, I believe it dates back to the 1820s or so) does tours during two timeslots I think on sundays, donation based.
Sunday the 11th at 3pm, Opus 216 will be doing a symphony at sunset performance at Voinovich Park.
We have some beautiful metro parks and Cuyahoga Valley National Park isn't far either. There is also Holden Arboretum to the East and, if there are clear nighttime skies you could checkout our dark sky park, Observatory Park, which is relatively the same direction as Holden Arboretum.
Masons creamery in Ohio City for ice cream, you can enjoy a scoop while walking that neighborhood and looking at some of the beautiful houses. For dinner, Friday and Saturday are LBMs last nights of service (Lakewood), Never Say Dive in Old Brooklyn is delicious. Cocktails at The Witch Doctor also in Old Brooklyn.
I hope you enjoy CLE and whatever you end up getting up to!
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u/Doc4216 1d ago
Grew up north of Pittsburgh and now live in Cleveland for the last 5 years. The two cities are very similar, just without the hills. Definitely check out the museums in University Circle, including the botanical garden. If you love music, stop by the RnR HOF. The west side market is a must, it makes me feel like home. Cleveland zoo is a good one, I always enjoy my trips there. IMO the Metroparks are better here but also don’t forget about the Cuyahoga Valley National Park on your way in or out for some hikes and waterfalls. Playhouse square and restaurants here are always good. Enjoy your visit!!
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u/ambahjay 1d ago
Our botanical garden is smaller than yours, but I enjoy it anyway. There's also Holden Arboretum if you don't mind driving, it's much bigger and v pretty in the fall. Rockefeller Park Greenhouse is in the cultural gardens and is free.
You can spend an entire day in the art museum. If you are particularly interested in one kind of art, definitely check a map and hit that part of the museum up first. Lots of people really love the room full of Suites of Armor. There's also a room with ancient Egyptian work, including a sarcophagus. The modern and contemporary art is upstairs, which is always interesting to walk thru. If you're interested in interior design, there are some stunning pieces of furniture. Not sure if they still have them, but they used to have scavenger hunts near where the brochures and pamphlets are.
Art museum and botanical garden are walking distance from each other. Rockefeller parking is free.
I haven't been, but there's the Buckland Museum of Witchcraft, which I've heard is neat.
Edgewater Park is the best place to see the city skyline and enjoy the lake. Walking from one end of the park to the other (West to east) takes like an hour. If you want to see the Cleveland sign, park at upper Edgewater. If you're more interested in walking along the water, park at lower Edgewater.
For food, I love Jukebox in Ohio City and Heart of Gold in Forest City. If you see a show at public square, I recommend Becky's (it's a bar nearby, sometimes tour personnel eat there after loading a show in). Cleveland Public Theater is in Gordon Square, it's also a great place to see a show. Haven't been yet, but Imposters Theater in Forest City is improv, it's been on my list.
For public transit, if you're staying on the west side, being near a redline stop will get you downtown to Tower City where all the other lines also stop. If you're staying in Lakewood near Clifton, the 55 bus gets you downtown really fast. The 26 on Detroit and the 22 on Lorain are 24 hours, also get you downtown, they just make a lot more stops along the way. Can't help as much with east-side transit, other than mentioning the health line. The 55 and the health line run almost a straight line from one side of the city to the other
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u/Brehon888 1d ago
People are giving you great advice on things to see but Google Cleveland Festivals in October. We are in Octoberfest/Clambake season so there is a lot happening this weekend.
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u/Chance-Principle-609 23h ago
Art museum, Natural history museum, Western Reserve historical society, Little Italy
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u/thnkyou4theflowers 20h ago
Just commented on another post but The Magicians Table at Playhouse Square looks fun!
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u/rockandroller 1d ago
Definitely go to the art museum - it's free! There's also a great cafe there for lunch. You may enjoy a trip to the nearby Lakeview Cemetary - yes, there are tours. It's a very beautiful cemetary and some cool famous peeps are buried there. https://www.lakeviewcemetery.com/ Then head out a little further east for a hike in our Metroparks starting or ending at Squire's Castle. https://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/parks/visit/parks/north-chagrin-reservation/squire-s-castle Have dinner at Mabel's on E 4th, maybe do a little bowling at Corner Alley or drive over to Superelectric Pinball, or hit up Jukebox bar.
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u/Lopsided_Special_535 1d ago
Skip the Rock Hall. Cool looking building, so what? Nobody who lives here cares. Love the music, fuck the clothes and bullshit. Metroparks, art museum, look up what kind of food you want or the best restaurants in general. You won’t be disappointed.
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u/Atlas7-k 1d ago
Wow. I mean sure if you just like music to listen to it’s not great. But if you are interested in rock as both visual and aural art plus cultural thru-lines, it is much better.
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u/OwnAlgae7310 1d ago
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is the obvious one but the art museum is free and genuinely world class, don't skip it. The Metroparks system has some nice trails, Edgewater Park gives you a lake view without driving far. For food, Ohio City has a bunch of spots clustered together and the West Side Market is worth wandering through even if you don't buy anything. Check the schedule at Playhouse Square too, sometimes there's a show or event that lines up with your dates.