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Fact: Cleveland rocks. It’s true, and it’s why they built the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum here on the eastern shore of Lake Erie. The city that gave us Arsenio Hall, Drew Carey, and Superman has a grand tradition of theater, music, folk festivals, and culture. Here’s our guide to help you make the most of your time here. Fun FactsCleveland’s elevation ranges from 600 to 1,100 feet above sea level.
The average winter temperature in Cleveland is 25 degrees Fahrenheit.
Annual rainfall in Cleveland is 37 inches. | Your Itinerary If you have two hours
Larchmere Boulevard is home to Cleveland’s arts and antiques district. The four-block stretch of unique galleries, boutiques, and shops is a treasure hunter’s dream. Find contemporary crafts, folk art, gorgeous yarns, hand-knit fashions, limited-edition clothing, rare books, estate jewelry, and fine porcelain. And you won’t go hungry or thirsty — there’s also a fine selection of restaurants, cafés, and watering holes. Merchants host an annual Holiday Stroll November 28–30 that features horse and carriage rides, special sales, and plenty of good cheer. 216.421.2100; larchmere.com
If you have two days
You get much more than a place to sleep with the Ritz-Carlton’s Fresh Market Package. A Friday night stay at the luxury downtown hotel starts with an in-room selection of Ohio wine and cheese. On Saturday morning, you’ll meet Tim Maxin, chef de cuisine of Muse, the hotel’s on-site restaurant. After breakfast, he’ll be your guide on a shopping trip to the West Side Market, just five minutes away. It’s a bustling bazaar of good things to eat from around the world, and one of the oldest municipal food arcades in the country. You’ll help select the ingredients that the chef uses to make your gourmet lunch. 216.902.5255; ritzcarlton.com
If you have a long weekend
Indulge yourself at Ohio’s only five-diamond resort. Romantic, restful, and elegant, Inn Walden offers luxury suites, 24-hour concierge service, fine dining, and 1,000 acres of beauty and tranquility in Aurora, just 35 minutes from Cleveland Hopkins Airport. Get scrubbed, wrapped, and rubbed at the spa, play golf, ride horses, and explore the biking, hiking and running trails. Or just sit back and enjoy the views of a picture-perfect country landscape. 888.808.5003; yourwalden.com | Convention & Visitor's BureauConvention & Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland
“Positively Cleveland”
Higbee Building
100 Public Square,
Suite 100
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
Phone: 216-875-6600
positivelycleveland.com |
Local FlavorThe wine bar and tapas restaurant Downtown 140 offers trendy small-plate dining and some fine sips in the historic town of Hudson, south of Cleveland. Seafood is done exceptionally well, and the roasted dates stuffed with chorizo sausage are must-haves. The intimate basement dining room is all urban chic, with brick walls, subdued lighting, red couches, and a little bar tucked in the front corner. 140 N. Main St., 330.655.2940; downtown140.com
After an almost 50-year as a members-only dining room, the restaurant at the Cleveland Playhouse has been renovated, reinvented, and renamed. Stages is now open to the public and is worth a visit even if you’re not going to the theater. The menu is an international mix of classics and creative, contemporary preparations, with selections like herbed pappardelle pasta, duck rellenos, turkey potstickers, and an outstanding Coquilles St. Jacques. 8501 Carnegie Ave., 216.795.1111; stagesrestaurant.com
At Savannah Blues and Supper Club you get a side of live blues, classic rock, and Motown-inspired music seven nights a week along with palate-pleasing, forget-your-diet dishes like wings, potato skins, and outrageously good fried pickles. For entrées, choose from big burgers, Cajun catfish, and pasta primavera, among others. The bands play and the kitchen cooks until late. 30676 Detroit Road, Westlake, 440.892.2266; thesavannah.com
— Laura Taxel
Photographs: Courtesy of the Ritz-Carlton; © Mitt Nathwani/Alamy (top of building) |
