Cleveland on the Shores of Lake Erie

Cleveland, a major city in Ohio sits on the shores of Lake Erie.

The Cleveland Museum of Art is among the city’s top attractions. It is housed in a lovely neo-Classical building built with white Georgian marble. You can see over 30,000 artworks from ancient Egypt to world-renowned masterpieces from Europe, Asia, and Africa. The museum also hosts special exhibitions, lectures, films, and musical programs. There are also community-based programs and performing arts series.

The museum also features the Fine Arts Garden.

The West Side Market is the city’s oldest market with more than 100 producers, artisans, and vendors. The market stalls are full of all kinds of products from food to flowers, and spices.

It is a wonderful place to explore with scents of fresh baked goods and ready-to-eat meals.

The Cleveland Cultural Gardens are a living monument to the rich history of 20th-century America. There are 29 gardens that have been designed to show the stories of major conflicts including wars. Among the highlights are the Albanian Cultural Garden, the Armenian Garden, the Polish Garden, the Slovenian Garden, and the Czech Garden. You can get guided tours.

The Greater Cleveland Aquarium opened its doors in 2012. It features a 230,000-gallon tank with a unique walk-through acrylic shark tunnel. Among the exhibitions are Lakes and Rivers of the World, the Indonesian Pacific Zone, Discovery Zone, Coastal, and Coral Reef. Educational programs are offered about the animals and their care.

The International Women’s Air & Space Museum celebrates women in the fields of aviation and space exploration. It is located in the terminal building of Burke Lakefront Airport. There are a lot of memorabilia and historical artifacts that have been collected by the Ninety-Nines, an international organization of women pilots formed in 1929. Guided tours are available and there are both permanent and temporary exhibitions.

Museum of Contemporary Art is the region’s only contemporary art museum which is dedicated to showcasing modern and contemporary art. Here you can see artworks by more than 2,000 artists through both permanent and traveling exhibitions, as well as artists’ first solo shows.

Little Italy offers you a look into Italy right in the heart of Cleveland. It was established by Italian sculptor Joseph Carrabelli in the 1880s when he began sculpting granite and marble artworks at the top of Mayfield Road Hill. Italian families came to settle down in the neighborhood. Here you can enjoy art galleries, restaurants, cafes, and delis. It is great for nighttime entertainment. Different festivals are hosted there as well as the city’s famous Art Walks, bocce tournaments, and wonderful summer nights.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum honors the greatest rock and roll performers and contributors. It was designed by world-renowned architect I.M. Pei and sits on the shores of Lake Erie. There are impressive collections, exhibitions, and displays. The museum has a great library and archives and offers educational programs. Among the featured exhibits are The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll.

At Lake View Cemetery you’ll find the James A. Garfield Monument that honors the 20th President of the U.S. The monument stands 180 feet tall and has the architectural elements of Romanesque, Gothic, and Byzantine styles with five terracotta panels.

Marble, granite, and gold mosaics with stained glass windows represent the original 13 colonies and War and Peace decorate the Memorial Hall. The statue of the President stands on the main floor of the memorial. From the upper outdoor balcony, you can see fantastic views of Lake Erie which inspired the name of the cemetery.

Playhouse Square is the country’s second-largest performing arts center offering a range of entertainment, performances, shows, and events. There are also educational classes, workshops, and programs. You’ll want to see the world’s largest outdoor chandelier, the GE Chandelier with 4,200 crystal pendants and LED fixtures.

North Chagrin Reservation is a 1,700-acre wildlife reservation located in Mayfield Village, Willoughby Hills, and Gates Mills. There are outdoor recreation areas, walking trails, picnic spots, and wildlife reserves. Sanctuary Marsh and Sunset Pond are great to watch birds The turn-of-the-century Squire’s Castle is impressive. It is home to a nature center and nature educational building with community-based programs, classes, and workshops. At Willoughby Hills, you’ll find the Manakiki Golf Course.

The Ohio and Erie Canal was constructed in the early 19th century and carried freight traffic across the state of Ohio for more than 40 years until the railroad came along. Later on, it served as a source of water for industries and towns. Today the canal offers recreational activities like birding, hiking, biking, or horseback riding. Some parts of the canal like the Ohio and Erie Historic District are designated National Heritage Areas.

Progressive Field is a state-of-the-art urban ballpark and home to the Major League Baseball team the Cleveland Indians. Visitors can get a guided tour and you can also visit the Heritage Park Indians Hall of Fame where you can learn about the team’s history and successes.

The Christmas Story House is a 19th-century Victorian house known for being the residence of Ralphie Parker in the 1983 movie “A Christmas Story”. The museum features a wide range of memorabilia, costumes, and original props from the movie. You can see Randy’s snowsuit, the toys from Higbee’s window, and the family car. There are rare photos and you can shop at the museum gift shop.

The Cleveland Museum of Natural History has a collection of more than four million specimens. It is located in University Circle and is a fun place to visit. You can see things like a small tyrannosaur dinosaur, mastodon and mammoth skeletons, and the remains of the famous sled dog Balto.

The steamship William G. Mather was built in 1925 and nicknamed “The Ship That Built Cleveland” because of her frequent voyages through the Great Lakes heading for the steel mills of Cleveland. Today you can have a guided tour of the ship. You’ll see the huge cargo holds, four-story engine room, and more. There are Great Lakes Story exhibits with interactive displays.

The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo was founded in 1892. It is divided into sections including the African Savannah, Northern Trek, Australian Adventure, and the Rainforest. The Cat & Aquatics Building is home to one of North America's largest collections of primate species including gorillas, lemurs, monkeys, and aye-ayes. The Wolf Wilderness shows the life of wolves in a northern temperate forest. You can explore on foot or take one of two zoo trams.