Cleveland night skyline © Convention & Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland - Louie Anderson
Why? Once viewed as an unattractive industrial
metropolis, Cleveland has re-invented itself during the past few
decades and now ranks as a world class city. A holiday in Cleveland
now offers a plethora of recreational options and cultural
resources. Travel to Cleveland for excellent museums, superb
cultural events, exciting sport, thrilling amusement parks,
marvellous malls, lively nightlife, tasty restaurants and the great
outdoors in the form of parks and Lake Erie.
When? The best time of year to holiday in Cleveland is
during summer, when temperatures are warm and all the city's
attractions and events are in full swing. Autumn is also a popular
season to travel to Cleveland when the air is crisp and cool and
the autumn foliage makes the city's parks particularly colourful.
Winters are very cold and snowy, and spring tends to be wet.
Who for? A holiday in Cleveland is for anyone and everyone,
no matter what age or interest. The city has become a favoured
conference destination, as well as being one of the country's most
popular tourist cities.
More Info: Plan ahead to ensure you get the most out of your
Cleveland holiday by using our comprehensive Cleveland travel
guide. The guide contains basic information for travelling to
Cleveland and details, regularly updated, of attractions and
events.
Overview
Founded in 1796, Cleveland became an industrial town with the
opening of the Erie-Ohio Canal that linked the Ohio River to Lake
Erie, and the city’s vast iron and coal supplies made it one
of the most important steel and shipbuilding centres in the
country, a sprawling mass of oil refineries, mills and warehouses
along the shores of Lake Erie. Industrial success poured money into
the city and wealthy tycoons built the downtown area that today has
outgrown its ‘steel town’ image and is a bustling
place, a city of green parklands and lively neighbourhoods with a
vibrant atmosphere. Once the heavily polluted victim of much
mockery, its industrial character has moved beyond the city limits
and the downtown warehouses and factories now house trendy clubs
and restaurants, while museums, and sporting and cultural events
attract many visitors to the city.
Located on the southern shore of Lake Erie at the mouth of the
Cuyahoga River, Cleveland has a growing cultural presence that has
been enhanced by newly added attractions such as the Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame and Museum, the enormous Great Lakes Science Center
and six-storey OMNIMAX Theatre, and the professional sports arenas
and stadiums of the Gateway District that host major sporting
events as well as live entertainment. These are welcome additions
to a city already boasting a world-class orchestra, a celebrated
art museum, lively theatre district and the restored lakefront
area. Neighbourhoods buzz with restaurants and shops, and the
Flats, once the industrial heart of the city occupying both banks
of the Cuyahoga River, is now the booming entertainment and
nightlife district of Cleveland. The historic Warehouse District is
downtown’s oldest commercial quarter and is a national
Historic Landmark with over 70 fine examples of Victorian
architecture. Once housing merchants’ and
manufacturers’ goods, the old warehouses are now home to
music clubs, galleries and trendy dining spots.
Some miles out of the city centre are two theme parks with some
of the world’s tallest and fastest roller coaster rides at
the Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, and the Six Flags
Worlds of Adventure in Aurora.
