Cleveland, Ohio

Guide to Cleveland: how to get there and where to stay, what to see and where to go in the evening. The best things to do in Cleveland: fresh reviews and photos, places to see, branded entertainment and shopping.

According to toppharmacyschools, Cleveland is the second largest city in Ohio and one of the most famous. It stands on the shores of one of the Great Lakes – Erie, and the boundaries of the city are so blurred that it’s hard to really say how many people live in it. What can be said for sure is that in this half-millionaire (at least) there is something to do.

Almost a must-see for any true music lover and fan of the 50s era. considered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame was opened in the late 80s, and then a mind-blowingly brilliant galaxy of names was admitted to the club: Elvis, Chuck Berry, Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis, James Brown.

How to get to Cleveland

Cleveland is served by Johns Hopkins International Airport, the largest in the state. In addition, you can get to the city by train from Washington, Chicago, New York or Boston.

A bit of history

The exact date of the founding of Cleveland is 1796, and the city got its name from the name of the founder, general and independence fighter Moses Cleveland. Later, one letter disappeared from the name, but this did not affect the pronunciation. Standing on the lake, Cleveland developed rapidly: the laying of a railway line contributed to the growth of heavy industry and, accordingly, the number of millionaire townspeople. In the first half of the 20th century, the city even ranked fifth in terms of population in the country. However, the Great Depression and the decline of the industry led to a crisis, after which both the economic well-being and the population of the city began to decline.

Entertainment and attractions in Cleveland

Cleveland is divided into two parts by a river with the old Native American name Cuyahoga. Accordingly, it is customary to divide the districts of the city into eastern and western. In addition, there is a second division according to the cardinal points, depending on whether the quarter is located close to the lake shore.

The historical center of the city is Public Square, near which you can see the three main city skyscrapers. On the same square, the most attractive buildings from a tourist point of view are located: an ancient old stone church and a war memorial to soldiers of land and sea military forces. The central quarter, the so-called Civic Center, is located north of Public Square: it is there that the City Hall and other administrative institutions are located. In addition, the Civic Center is distinguished by an abundance of greenery and a vast park area. The popular city park Cleveland Mall is so large that it is conditionally divided into three parts: A, B, C.

Going a little further north, visitors to the city find themselves in the Northern Coastal Region. The main attraction here, apart from the huge city stadium, is the Great Lakes Museum and Science Center. Another interesting museum in the same area of ​​the city is the huge beautiful steamship “William J. Mather”, which is permanently laid up in the harbor. Moored nearby is the USS Cod submarine, one of the combat submarines of World War II.

3 things to do in Cleveland:

  1. See a huge red monument seal, which is called “Free Stamp”.
  2. Visit one of the most touching museums in the city – the Victorian Christmas Story Museum, opened in 2004 and dedicated to Ralph Parker’s 1983 film of the same name.
  3. Spend at least a few hours visiting the original ethnic areas of the city – Little Italy, Slavic Village and Tremont.

Those who are not accustomed to associate the name of Cleveland with art will be surprised by the abundance of world-class cultural institutions in the city. For example, here in the Theater District there is a huge theater complex “Playhouse Square Center”, the second largest in the country.

For fans of classical music culture in Cleveland, it will be interesting to get into Severance Hall, which is in the University District, a concert venue where the city’s famous symphony orchestra is based. It was created in 1918 and today is one of the “Great Five” symphony orchestras in the country (along with New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and Boston).

Cleveland seriously claims to be called the birthplace and capital of rock and roll, citing the fact that it was here that the notorious radio station WMMS began its broadcast. And also by the fact that Alan Fried, a disc jockey, worked on it, who, in fact, came up with the very phrase “rock and roll”.

Almost a must-see for any true music lover and fan of the 50s era. considered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This is both a museum and a concert venue, which occupies a futuristic-looking multi-tiered building designed by the famous Chinese architect Yeo Ming Pei. The Hall of Fame was opened in the late 80s, and then a mind-blowingly brilliant galaxy of names was admitted to the club: Elvis, Chuck Berry, Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis, James Brown. Since then, the club has been replenished with new names every year: one of the conditions for getting here is the following rule: at least a quarter of a century must have passed since the release of the first single of the artist. And now it doesn’t even matter how close the style of a particular team or artist is to true rock and roll. So, in 2014, Nirvana was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Alas, Cleveland cannot be called a safe city. Of course, it is far from the criminal capital of the United States, but in the ratings in terms of crime, the city is consistently in the top ten. One of the reasons (or consequences?) can be called a clear division into “whites” and “blacks” and a confrontation between them. By the way, according to the population censuses, there are more “blacks” in the city.

Cleveland cuisine

On the one hand, it is difficult to consider Cleveland the gastronomic capital of the United States. On the other hand, the city is actively fighting for this title. Celebrity chef Michael Simon and food reporter Michael Ruleman live and work here. And in 2008, the Chicago Tribune touted Cleveland as “a hot new lunch city.”

Moreover, an explosive cocktail of cultures and nationalities has led to the formation of several isolated and colorful culinary enclaves here. For example, in “Little Italy”, in the University District, ethnic Latins live, and this area, for obvious reasons, is considered the most “delicious” in the city. Be sure to visit the Prestis Bakery on the corner of Mayfield and Coltman (by the way, there are also many art galleries and boutiques here). It competes with the “Slavic Village”, founded by immigrants from central Europe, in the area of ​​​​Fleet Avenue and Broadway. Mostly Czechs and Poles settled there, so here you can heartily eat dumplings and baked goods familiar to Russian people (and at the same time admire the amazing Catholic Church of St. Stanislav).

The city can also boast of several special products and dishes.

In particular, it is Cleveland that is considered the main city in terms of corned beef: Esquire magazine named the local beef the best in the United States in 2008.

Another quintessentially Cleveland dish is the Polish Boy sandwich, which is made with Polish sausage stuffed into a bun, topped with french fries and cabbage.

Neighborhoods of Cleveland

Cleveland is quite large, and it’s hard to tell where the city itself ends and its surroundings begin. In particular, the so-called University District – the location of most of Cleveland’s medical, academic and educational institutions – is located about five miles from the city. It is primarily interesting in the Museum of Natural History, founded in 1920 as a base for scientific research. Museum visitors can admire a number of truly impressive exhibits, from a 1:1 scale model of a stegosaurus to a huge collection of human and ape skeletons. Near the museum there is a planetarium where you can see ancient astronomical devices.

Also in the University District is the Museum of Art, one of the most upscale in North America. Moreover, you can view the permanent exhibition of the museum for free. It includes collections of pre-colonial North American art, as well as European Middle Ages and art from the once-colonial countries of India and Asia. In addition, the city’s botanical garden is located on the territory of the University District, in the greenhouse of which the rainforest of Costa Rica is recreated.

And for a break from the beautiful, you should look at the West Side Market. Don’t miss this landmark 25th Street tower building, built in 1840 and listed on the National Historic Places list. Tourists from all over the United States flock inside: organized tours are held in the old market. And, of course, you can buy excellent farm products and national dishes here: in 2010, the Food Network magazine declared the Cleveland covered market “Best for food lovers.”

Cleveland, Ohio