from
WorldWeb.com Travel Guide
| |
 |
| |
Cleveland's Historic Warehouse District
Photo Courtesy: CVB of Greater Cleveland |
Cleveland is a city
that never disappoints. From its endless musical entertainment to its stunning
location on the shores of Lake
Erie to its professional sports teams, Cleveland has it all. Once a
small frontier village, the city is now a bustling center that attracts millions
of visitors each year who are yearning to experience its vibrant atmosphere.
Besides being an excellent place to visit, Cleveland is also alive with commercial
activity, evident by its growing skyline. The manufacturing, shipping and service
industries contribute to Cleveland's success, continuing to propel the city
into one of America's premier urban centers. The city's prosperity is further
boosted by the presence of six major educational
institutions, including Cleveland
State University, that add incalculable cultural wealth to Cleveland's
happening scene.
ORIENTATION
Situated in northeastern Ohio,
Cleveland is just 147 mi (237 km) northeast of Columbus,
the state's capital. As the city borders Lake Erie and is part of the Great
Lakes Region, other lakeside centers are easily accessible, including
Toronto, Canada,
which lies just 291 mi (469 km) to the northeast. Detroit,
Michigan,
is a major American city that lies 173 mi (279 km) northwest of Cleveland.
HISTORY
Present day Cleveland is located on land that was claimed by the state of Connecticut
in colonial times. During this period, many eastern states expressed interest
and laid claim to the area called Ohio Country. In 1786, Connecticut surrendered
much of its land to the federal government in a deal that led to the creation
of the Northwest Territory and the end of the American Revolution. However,
the state held on to the northeast corner of its land and called it the Connecticut
Western Reserve, the site of present day Cleveland.
 |
Gund
Arena
Photo Courtesy: CVB of Greater Cleveland |
|
At this time, the Connecticut Western Reserve was divided into east and
west sections. The western part was known as the Fire Lands and was given to Connecticut
citizens who had lost their property in the American Revolution. In 1795, the
eastern portion was sold to the Connecticut Land Company who quickly sent General
Moses Cleaveland to appraise the property for its settlement potential. One of
the first communities that was developed in the area was named Cleaveland in honor
of the General. Cleaveland's first permanent resident was Lorenzo Carter, who
moved to the area in 1797. Years later the name of the community was shortened
to Cleveland, in order to fit on the newspaper's masthead.
The Connecticut Western Reserve did not attract many settlers, even though
it was ideally situated on the banks of Lake Erie. The problem was that the
Connecticut Land Company was overcharging for the plots, making it much too
costly for prospective settlers. After the War of 1812, the population of Cleveland
began to attract increased colonizers, but settlement continued to be sluggish
due to the lack of a proper road system that connected Cleveland to the major
cities surrounding it.
In the mid 1800s the city created an enhanced transportation system that took
advantage of Cleveland's ideal location. The Erie
Canal that links Lake Erie with the Ohio
River helped Cleveland become a major port city. Positive growth has
resulted since this time, as Cleveland continues to be a major player in the
manufacturing, shipping and service industries. The early prosperity of the
city can still be seen in many of Cleveland's historic districts that have transformed
the older warehouses into trendy nightclubs, restaurants and galleries.
| |
|
Month |
Avg.
Daily Temperature |
Average
Rainfall |
|
Min |
Max |
| Jan
|
19°F
(-7°C) |
33°F (1°C) |
63
mm |
| Feb |
21°F
(-6°C) |
36°F
(2°C) |
58
mm |
| Mar
|
29°F
(-2°C) |
46°F
(8°C) |
75
mm |
| Apr |
38°F
(3°C) |
57°F
(14°C) |
86
mm |
| May
|
48°F
(9°C) |
69°F
(21°C) |
89
mm |
| Jun
|
58°F
(14°C) |
77°F
(25°C) |
99
mm |
| Jul |
62°F
(17°C) |
81°F
(27°C) |
89
mm |
|
Aug |
61°F
(16°C) |
79°F
(26°C) |
92
mm |
|
Sep |
54°F
(12°C) |
72°F
(22°C) |
96
mm |
|
Oct |
44°F
(7°C) |
61°F
(16°C) |
70
mm |
|
Nov |
35°F
(2°C) |
49°F
(9°C) |
86
mm |
|
Dec |
25°F
(-4°C) |
37°F
(3°C) |
80
mm |
|
| |
Climate data from the
Midwest Regional Climate Center
|
CLIMATE
Cleveland experiences four distinct seasons, making it an excellent place to
visit any time of the year for the outdoor enthusiast. The city's close proximity
to Lake Erie has a profound effect on its climate, causing winters to be somewhat
milder and summers a tad cooler than other centers located further inland. Winter
in Cleveland usually consists of snowy weather accompanied by cold temperatures.
From December through March, the daytime maximums range from 33ºF to 46ºF (1ºC
to 8ºC), while the average minimum temperatures range from 19ºF to 29ºF (-7ºC
to -2ºC). Cleveland's redeeming grace is that spring and summer temperatures
are much warmer and humid, with June, July and August being the hottest months.
During these months, daytime maximums range from 77ºF to 81ºF (25ºC to 27ºC).
TRANSPORTATION
Traveling to and from Cleveland is an easy task. The Cleveland
Hopkins International Airport connects the area to domestic and international
destinations. A variety of airlines service the airport, including Air
Canada Jazz, American,
Continental and Delta.
Greyhound Lines provides motorcoach services from Cleveland to local
and faraway destinations throughout the United
States and Canada. Daily bus service to Detroit and Toronto are offered,
as well as numerous daily trips to Columbus, Ohio, and Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania.
Amtrak Passenger Rail Service also provides regular train service
from Cleveland to many national destinations, including daily service to and
from Chicago,
Illinois, and Washington,
D.C.
Driving to and from Cleveland is simple, as the city is located at the intersection
of three Interstate highways. Interstate-90 (I-90) provides a direct link from
the city to surrounding destinations to the east and west, including Chicago
and Buffalo, New
York. Those traveling from southern states, such as West
Virginia and Georgia,
often travel on Interstate-77 (I-77). Interstate-71 (I-71) provides a direct
link to Columbus and Cincinnati,
Ohio.
Traveling within Cleveland proves to be easy, since The
Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority provides regular bus and
rapid rail services throughout the city. Taxi
and limousine
services are also offered by a number of companies in Cleveland. For those
wishing to explore the area freely, a rental car is highly recommended.
 |
Flats
Entertainment District
Photo Courtesy: CVB of Greater Cleveland |
|
FEATURED ATTRACTIONS
Entertainment Districts
Cleveland is full of exciting and diverse entertainment districts that offer
a stunning array of museums, galleries, restaurants, nightclubs, live music
venues and historical attractions.
Flats Entertainment District
Once serving as the industrial center of Cleveland, the Flats
Entertainment District has now been transformed into a trendy hangout
for those wishing to stroll along the boardwalk while taking in a striking view
of the Cleveland skyline. Situated along the east and west banks of the Cuyahoga
River, the Flats area boasts a number of waterfront restaurants, including
the Riverwalk
Cafe. The
Improv Comedy Club is also a popular venue in this district, as nationally
and internationally-renowned comics perform at the club Tuesday through Sunday.
The Flats Entertainment District is also an excellent place to embark on a boat
cruise since many companies offer tours along the river. The Nautica
Queen Dinner Cruise is an extremely popular tour that allows visitors
to explore Cleveland's historic attractions from the water.
| |
 |
| |
Cleveland's Warehouse
District
Photo Courtesy: CVB of Greater Cleveland |
Historic Warehouse District
The
Historic
Warehouse District is registered as a National Historic District and is
a favorite spot for visitors since its streets are lined with eclectic shops,
countless restaurants, happening nightclubs and live music venues. This district
encompasses West 6th, West 9th and West St. Clair Streets and is the ideal place
for those wishing to engage in Cleveland's nightlife. Upscale clubs such as
Spy,
Velvet
Dog,
Liquid
and
Fusion
are found in this area and are frequented by many visitors and locals alike. The
area is also full of historic attractions since it is Cleveland's first neighborhood
and oldest commercial center. The district features dazzling Victorian buildings
that once served as warehouses, but now act as commercial buildings and condominiums.
Historic Gateway District
The Gund
Arena and Jacobs
Field Ballpark draw numerous sports fans to the Historic
Gateway District to take in professional hockey, baseball and basketball
games. Besides being a major sporting center, this district is also known for
its live music venues, unique shops and restaurants. Since Cleveland is one
of the world's major jazz centers, it is not surprising that the city attracts
fine musicians to its numerous clubs. Fat
Fish Blue is a popular nightspot that features a mixture of live jazz,
zydeco, funk and soul musicians six nights a week. The House
of Blues is another popular jazz venue that showcases renowned musical
acts throughout the year.
 |
Jacob's
Field
Photo Courtesy: CVB of Greater Cleveland |
|
Spectator Sports
Cleveland is the place to be for those who are avid sports fans since the city
boasts four professional sports teams. The
Cleveland
Browns score touchdowns in front of ecstatic crowds at
Cleveland
Browns Stadium. Playing in the National Football League (NFL), this team's
regular season runs from August through January. The
Cleveland
Cavaliers are a basketball team that plays in the National Basketball
Association (NBA) and has a season that runs from October through April. Basketball
fans enjoy watching their team slam dunk the ball as they attend games in Cleveland's
Gund Arena. Hockey fans are not disappointed when visiting Cleveland since the
city is home to the
Cleveland
Barons, a team that plays in the American Hockey League (AHL). Games run
from October through April and are also played at the Gund Arena. Fans pack the
stands when the
Cleveland
Indians play at Jacobs Field. This Major League Baseball team (MLB) provides
entertainment from March through October.
Specialty Attractions
A visit to Cleveland would not be complete without a trip to the Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame. The building that houses the museum is a sight
in itself, as it consists of a triangular geometric glass structure that overlooks
the shores of Lake Erie. Designed by renowned architect, I. M. Pei, the Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame building was meant to demonstrate the immense energy of
rock and roll. Once inside this landmark building, visitors encounter a stunning
array of rock and roll memorabilia, interactive exhibits, videos and artifacts
that relate the history of rock in America and beyond. The highlight of the
museum is viewing the priceless, rare artifacts that once belonged to the most
celebrated rockers of all time. Stars such as John Lennon, Eric Clapton and
Aretha Franklin are celebrated in the hall of fame.
Families enjoy visiting the Cleveland
Metroparks Zoo, which is home to the largest collection of primate species
in North America. The zoo features over 3000 animals that represent over 600
species, including gorillas, warthogs, otters, giraffes, rhinos and zebras.
A must see area of the zoo is The RainForest, a two-acre indoor center that
houses more than 600 animals made up of 118 different species. Turtles, pythons,
Asian porcupines, anteaters and leopards are a few examples of the creatures
found in the zoo's RainForest. Over 10,000 live trees, flowers and shrubs native
to rainforests in Asia, Africa and South America are also found in the RainForest
building, making visitors feel as if they have stepped into a faraway tropical
rainforest.
| |
 |
| |
Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame
Photo Courtesy: CVB of Greater Cleveland |
For those who are fans of fine art, look no further than the
Cleveland
Museum of Art. Over 40,000 pieces from around the world are showcased
in this museum, representing the past 5,000 years of human creativity. African
carvings, ancient Egyptian artifacts and Asian sculptures are just a few of the
objects found in the museum's extensive permanent collection. A number of special
exhibitions are held throughout the year that often highlight certain artifacts
found in the permanent collection, but also feature specially selected artists,
regions or mediums.
Cleveland Events
Every April the city of Cleveland is abuzz during the 11-day Tri-C
JazzFest, which features renowned local and international jazz musicians
in concert. The festival takes place at venues throughout the city and Northeastern
Ohio and is considered one of America's premier educational jazz festivals,
as plenty of free workshops and clinics are offered.
The annual Taste
of Cleveland festival is a four-day culinary extravaganza that occurs
at the Tower City Amphitheater every September long weekend. The festival features
bite-sized international cuisine that ranges from sushi to soul food to dishes
from the North Coast of Ohio. During the festival, over 25 specialty restaurants
compete for the Best of the Fest award, as well as the People's Choice award.
Celebrity chefs are highlighted during the weekend event and major musical acts
accompany the festival, making it a popular event for the entire family.
