Cleveland: Education, History and Rock 'n Roll
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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.
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| Gund
Arena Photo Courtesy: CVB of Greater Cleveland |
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.
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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.
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| Flats
Entertainment District Photo Courtesy: CVB of Greater Cleveland |
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.
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| Cleveland's Warehouse
District Photo Courtesy: CVB of Greater Cleveland |
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.
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| Jacob's
Field Photo Courtesy: CVB of Greater Cleveland |
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.
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| Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame Photo Courtesy: CVB of Greater Cleveland |
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.
