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	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.