Cleveland, Ohio's second largest city, offers a wealth of interesting, healthy and affordable attractions and activities for visitors and residents alike. The city offers the wonders of Lake Erie, one of the best park systems in the United States and a number of world-class cultural institutions, like the Cleveland Orchestra, Cleveland Museum of Art (which is free) and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Parks and Gardens
Cleveland's Metroparks system, dubbed the "Emerald Necklace," rings the Greater Cleveland area with interconnecting "reservations." From Bay Village to Chagrin Falls, the parks offer golf, tobogganing, hiking and biking trails, horse stables and excellent walleye and perch fishing.
In addition, the city has several gardens that are ideal for combining an afternoon walk with a little history. On the east side, the Cleveland Cultural Gardens are a series of 24 pocket gardens, each depicting one of the ethnic groups that combined to create Cleveland culture. Downtown, Voinovich Bicentennial Park, located behind the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, offers an uncrowded place to stroll, with spectacular views of Lake Erie and the downtown Cleveland skyline.
Beaches
Cleveland and northeast Ohio's Lake Erie shoreline offers a wealth of beaches and outdoor activities. Just west of downtown sits the 419-acre Edgewater Park, with its dramatic view of downtown Cleveland, swimming beach, picnic pavilions and fishing pier. Outside of town, you'll find Headlands Beach Park, home of the longest sand beach in Ohio as well as an historic lighthouse.
Healthy Markets
The iconic Byzantine-designed West Side Market, located just west of downtown, offers fresh produce, Amish chickens, hand-made pasta, cheese right from the farm and other unprocessed foods year-round. Even if you don't buy anything, the mixture of sights and smells is enticing and a good window on Cleveland's ethnic cultures.
During the summer months, a plethora of small farmers' markets spring up around town. Some of the best ones are the Saturday morning market at Shaker Square, the Wednesday morning market off of Detroit Avenue in Lakewood and the Thursday market in Painesville, east of town. Produce at these markets comes same-day from area farms. You'll also see home-canned sauces and jams, cheeses and flowers.
Culture and Musuems
Cleveland is home to a number of top cultural institutions. Among these are the Cleveland Museum of Art (which offers free admission to its permanent collection), located in the city's University Circle cultural district; nearby Severance Hall, home to the Cleveland Orchestra; and the iconic (and fun) Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, located at the downtown harborfront.
For a little Cleveland culture, combine a hike with some history by strolling through one of the city's historic neighborhoods, such as Little Italy on the city's east side, Slavic Village, south of downtown, or the brick townhouses of Ohio City, on the near west side.
Sports
Cleveland is a sports town. Major league teams include the Cleveland Browns football team, the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team and the Cleveland Indians baseball team. The city also supports several minor league franchises, such as the Cleveland City Stars (soccer team) and the Lake Erie Monsters (hockey team).
But, you don't have to just watch. Northeast Ohio is home to dozens for challenging golf courses, including the Cleveland Metroparks' Big Met and Little Met public courses, as well as several ski areas, including Boston Mills and Brandywine Ski Areas just south of town.
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