January 2025
www.nitravelnews.com ‘script signs.’ On weekends,
families will drive here to set up picnic chairs and a BBQ, soak up the sea breeze, walk on the sand and gaze over the water to the city’s downtown skyscrapers. Darting from one attraction to another, I found Cleveland to be a city of distinct neighbourhoods, each with its own character, heritage and unique vibe. The
vibrant Ohio City
neighbourhood, for example, is a mile west of the Downtown area and features the West Side Market, one of the largest indoor/outdoor food markets in America and the place to go to check out what the locals are buying, cooking and eating.
A quick Uber ride away (Ubers are plentiful and relatively cheap) is the more bohemian Gordon Square Arts District. It was here that I stumbled upon Happy Dog, renowned for hot dogs and choice of more than 50 toppings, ranging from the usual suspects, such as onions, to the downright wacky – think Froot Loops and Cheetos. There’s also a lovely handmade jewellery store called Oceanne and across the road, the Superelectric Pinball Parlour with more than 20 vintage and modern machines – quite the contrast!
When the sun goes down, try Flats East Bank, down by the waterfront where the Cuyahoga River meets Lake Erie, with its lively bars, breweries and restaurants such as the Alley Cat Oyster Bar. Or there’s the East Fourth Street
entertainment district, a pedestrianised street strung with
lights and a popular spot with locals, thanks to eateries such as Mabel’s BBQ. Its compact, easily-walkable size makes it a big hit with visitors too, as does its branch of the Cleveland Clothing Co (perfect for souvenirs and t-shirts). My hotel,
Downtown’s landmarks,
conveniently close to was the
Kimpton Schofield hotel. Like many grand buildings in Cleveland, I quickly discovered that it too comes with an interesting story too. Built in 1902 as an office building, the seven lower floors are home to the hotel’s sumptuous and modern rooms, while the upper seven storeys house residences. On my final day of sightseeing, I took another Uber to yet another neighbourhood, University Circle, which requires at least a full morning if not a whole day. It’s a beautifully landscaped area, with lots of green spaces and open-air events (the day I visited it was Bubble Fest 2024). But it’s the museums that are the big draw here, all within a leisurely stroll of each other – the city’s Museum of Art with its Monets and Van Goghs, the Museum of Natural History, the Cleveland History Centre which tells the history of the city largely through aviation and vehicles, and the serene outdoor Botanical Garden.
Even the Downtown area has its own special style, with the Cleveland Public Square providing green open space and magnificent monuments, plus indoor spaces such as The Arcade, an elegant example of Victorian architecture which was, when it opened in 1890, America’s first indoor shopping arcade, known as Cleveland’s Crystal Palace. As the wise and wonderful Tom told
me early in my trip, if you find yourself bored in Cleveland, you only have yourself to blame!
COOL CLEVELAND | 31
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