5 Great Reasons To Visit Cleveland, Ohio

5 Great Reasons To Visit Cleveland, Ohio
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If you love music, sports, and great food--not to mention very friendly people--add Cleveland, Ohio to your vacation radar.

(Photo: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame)

1) MUSIC - HEART & SOUL

Cleveland's famed radio disc jockey, Alan Freed, is credited with inventing the term, "Rock and Roll." Today, you can hear great rock or jazz in music clubs around town or enjoy the world-famous Cleveland Orchestra. Don't miss:

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (1100 East 9th St.; www.rockhall.com) - For any true music fan, it's mind-blowing to see the outfits, instruments, tour posters, hand-written lyrics, and other cool memorabilia from the most famous bands in rock history. Plus, there are concerts and special, music-related events.

Nighttown Jazz Club (12387 Cedar Rd; www.nighttowncleveland.com) - The only jazz club in Ohio to be named one of the best in the world by Downbeat Magazine. On any given night, hear greats such as the Count Basie Orchestra, John Legend, Wynton Marsalis, Stevie Wonder or fab local musicians on the rise.

(Photo: Cleveland Cavaliers/Melo Designs)

2) SPORTS - IT'S GAME TIME!

Sports fans, what are you waiting for? Head to Cleveland:

Cleveland Cavaliers (www.nba.com/cavaliers) - The King, Lebron James, brings the sizzle, but the Cavs are always a great team to watch for any true basketball fan.

Cleveland Indians (www.mlb.com/indians) - Clevelanders are also major baseball fans. The Indians have the second-longest MLB unbeaten streak by games.

Cleveland Browns (www.clevelandbrowns.com) - Well, two out of three ain't bad! While not the best team in the NFL, for their loyal fans, there's always hope.

East 4th Street (Photo: Lola Bistro)

3) DINING - FOODIES FLOCK TO TOWN

A handful of top-notch, local chefs started the current, hot restaurant scene. Locals love Lola Bistro (www.lolabistro.com) by Iron Chef and James Beard Award-winner Michael Symon. Clevelanders flock to The Greenhouse Tavern (www.thegreenhousetavern.com) one of James Beard Award-winner Jonathon Sawyer's eateries. And, one of the latest dining spots by chef/restaurateur Zack Bruell is in the Flats East Bank entertainment district with great views of the Cuyahoga River, Alley Cat Oyster Bar (www.alleycatoysterbar.com).

There's also lots of great ethnic meals to be had such as Polish, Lebanese, and Italian. To discover even more great places to dine, request a Cleveland Dining Guide or view it online.

CLE Beer Week in Oct (Photo: Cleveland Beer Week)

4) DRINKS - 100 BOTTLES OF BEER ON THE WALL

There are more than 30 breweries in the greater Cleveland area and each one prides itself on offering a unique take on the craft beer experience (i.e., Great Lakes Brewing Company, Collision Bend Brewery, Forest City Brewery). Head out on your own or hop on the Cleveland Brew Bus.

Kayaking (Photo: TourismOhio)

5) NATURE - THE GREAT OUTDOORS IN THE CITY

In addition to lots of urban green spaces, Cleveland is right on Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River, so you don't have to go far for some outdoor sports. Cleveland has six lakefront parks referred to as the “Emerald Necklace.” The Cleveland Metroparks provide hundreds of miles for walking, hiking, cycling, climbing, horseback riding, and golfing.

Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River offer a range of watersports' adventures such as canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding, sailing and power boating.

Making Your Trip Easier: CLE App - Download this essential visitor's tool for iPhones & Android. Cleveland is also a treasure trove of marvelous museums and other cultural venues--be sure to visit them all!

The Arcade, the first indoor shopping center in America, opened in 1890 (Photo: Hyatt, The Arcade)

Where To Stay: A number of new hotels have opened up Downtown in cool, historic buildings, to name a few: Drury Plaza Hotel Cleveland; Kimpton Schofield Hotel; Hyatt Regency Cleveland at The Arcade. For something thoroughly modern, try the Hilton Cleveland Downtown. Or, discover Cleveland's many cool neighborhoods through Airbnb. Stay with a local poet in Shaker Square or rent a place from famed chef Michael Symon in Tremont.

Getting There: Major carriers such as American, Delta, and United all have non-stop flights to Cleveland. Starting May 2018, Icelandair and WOW Air will fly to Cleveland from 20 European cities, connecting through Reykjavik, Iceland.

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