You may be familiar with the phrase "Cleveland Rocks" made popular by the Drew Carey Show, and not only are Cleveland natives proud of their busy city, but as the home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland actually does rock. The Greater Cleveland area extends 100 miles along the Lake Erie shoreline, and the Cleveland/Akron metro area consists of nearly 3 million residents.
Ask anyone from Cleveland where they live, and they may begin by differentiating the east side from the west side. Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights and Chagrin Falls are east side neighborhoods, while Westlake, Bay Village and Lakewood are on the west side.
The waterfront area, about 30 miles from downtown is considered Lakeside Cleveland, and features Ohio's nicest beach, Headlands Beach State Park. Also in this area are several other beaches at Cleveland Lakefront, including Wildwood and Euclid Beach. Lakeside events are available ten months out of the year, from jazz festivals and summer concerts to wine events and arts fairs.
Cleveland has several museums, popular shopping malls, and distinctive cultural options for theater, music and dance. Browns football and Indians baseball have cult followings and draw thousands of travelers each year to see a home game. Some of the city’s best nightlife and entertainment options are found in the historic Warehouse District and on Cleveland’s E. 4th Street. In each area there are numerous bars, pubs, and clubs, and a wide selection of dining options. Award winning restaurants can be found in both districts, including Chef Michael Symon’s Lola and Chef Jonathan Sawyer’s The Greenhouse tavern and Noodle Cat. The Flats of Cleveland was once a thriving entertainment district but is currently under redevelopment. You can find a few popular bars around the Flats and attractions like the Greater Cleveland Aquarium. Watersport rentals are offered in this district during the summer for access along the Cuyahoga River, and there are river and lake cruises that begin here.
Wherever you stay in the greater area, you'll run into at least one of the Cleveland Metroparks. With 14 sites located throughout the greater Cleveland area, the parks have over 20,000 acres of hiking and biking trails, swimming, golf, and nature centers, and are nice spots for families with varied interests.
I-80, I-90 and I-480 run east/west and I-71, I-77 and I-271 run north/south through the city. Cleveland is 140 northeast of Columbus and only 40 miles north of Akron. To learn more about Cleveland attractions, hotels, and activities, explore the links to the left.
