Cleveland Info
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 Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 2:00 am Post subject: CLEVELAND TOURISM GUIDE / TOURISM IN CLEVELAND |
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CLEVELAND TOURISM GUIDE
Lolly the Trolley (tel. 800/848-0173 or 216/771-4484; www.lollytrolley.com) is a great way to get to know the lay of the land. Excellent 1- and 2-hour narrated tours take place aboard a fleet of replica trolley cars; the 1-hour version concentrates on downtown, skipping University Circle and the Lake Erie shoreline. Tours, which leave from the Powerhouse on the west bank of the Flats, are offered daily from May to October, on Friday and Saturday only the rest of the year. The fare is $10 or $15 adults, $9 or $14 seniors, and $7 or $10 kids 2 to 17; reservations are required.
The Nautica Queen (tel. 800/837-0604 or 216/696-8888; www.nauticaqueen.com) offers lunch, brunch, and dinner cruises that also take in lake and river sights. Prices range from about $28 to $53 for adults, and $14 to $23 for kids, plus tax and gratuity. Cruises depart from the Nautica Entertainment Complex on the west bank of the Flats. Book ahead, as these hugely popular cruises regularly sell out in advance.
Those looking for a bit of culinary culture will have no shortage of choices, most of which centre around vices. For those with sweet teeth, Malley's Chocolate Factory and London Candies, the latter in North Canton, offer tours, as does the Orlando Baking Company, if the preference is baked goods instead of candy. Happy hour is available in the form of wine-and-cheese tours, with the wine at the Winery at Wolf Creek in Copley and the cheese at the Middlefield Original Cheese Shop. Those who prefer a cold frosty one will enjoy the Great Lakes Brewing Company, while Mapleside Farm in Strongsville offers a look into the making of old-fashioned cider.
Museums
Paying homage to Holocaust victims and recognising the achievements of the area's significant Jewish population will be the Milton and Tamar Maltz Jewish Heritage Museum. The nonprofit museum will include interactive exhibits and other displays when it opens in early 2005 next to the Temple-Tifereth Israel, 26000 Shaker Blvd., Beachwood, just outside the city limits.
Cleveland Museum of Art www.clevelandart.org
Even before it embarked on its current $225-million expansion and renovation, this museum was renowned for its consistently well-curated temporary exhibitions and excellent permanent collection. Among the highlights are Picasso's brilliant and little-seen La Vie, from his early Blue Period, and a massive Monet water lilies canvas. In addition to its world-class artwork, the museum now offers free wireless Internet access in designated locations, including the cafe, library, and courtyard.
Cleveland Museum of Natural History www.cmnh.org
Here's another fine University Circle museum that, in early 2002, opened the state-of-the-art, sphere-shaped Shafran Planetarium. Among the museum's other draws are an excellent gem and jewels collection; a fascinating array of fossils and geological specimens, with a special emphasis on prehistoric Ohio; and a hands-on natural sciences Discovery Center for the little ones.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame & Museum www.rockhall.org
If any one thing is most responsible for Cleveland's rebirth, this glass-and-porcelain pyramid is it. Designed by I. M. Pei, this temple to rock music is a high-concept, multimedia collection of exhibits, archives, and films that tell the story of rock from its bluesy roots through its post-grunge days. Fun for all ages, the museum offers the coolest collection of pop-culture memorabilia around. For an electrifying experience, check out the Jimi Hendrix Surround Sound Theater and Exhibit, where fans can revel in jaw-dropping videotaped performances and then peruse the legend's guitars, costumes, handwritten lyrics, and watercolour landscapes.
Parks & Gardens
In the University Circle section of the city is Rockefeller Park, a 296-acre oasis between Lake Erie and Case Western Reserve University. Take 105th Street, Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, or East Boulevard for easiest park access. In adjoining Wade Park are the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Museum of Natural History, and the Cleveland Botanical Garden.
West of downtown is Edgewater Park, 6700 Memorial Shoreway, at West Boulevard (tel. 216/881-8141), one of the city's best swimming beaches, with bathhouses, concessions, fishing piers, and more. Beach access is free.
Cleveland Botanical Garden www.cbgarden.com
In spring and summer, 7 acres of lush blossoms and greenery abound at this oasis of nature at University Circle. Year-round, visitors are drawn to the tropical ecosystems housed in the stunning new Eleanor Armstrong Smith Glasshouse and Environmental Education Center. The crystal-like conservatory is home to hundreds of species of butterflies, birds, animals, and plant life of both Madagascar and a Costa Rican cloud forest. Plan ahead to attend the gardens' Flower Show in summer 2005. The spectacular event is modeled after the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show in Great Britain.
Other Attractions
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo www.clemetzoo.com
This well-maintained and well-organized zoo is a great place to spend half a day, especially if you're traveling with the kids. The standout attraction is the multilevel Rainforest exhibit, a recent $30-million addition. Don't miss the actual rainstorm inside this simulated biosphere, which boasts more than 600 animals and insects from all seven continents.
Great Lakes Science Center www.greatscience.com
Dramatically situated on the lakefront between the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the new football stadium, this exciting $55-million museum is a kid-pleaser extraordinaire. A stunning recent addition is the 3,000-square-foot interactive Great Lakes Environment exhibition. Overall, the museum boasts more than 320 hands-on science experiments that explain through example: You'll learn about velocity by swinging a baseball bat, about momentum on a merry-go-round for one, and so on. An entire floor is dedicated to the latest technology and a state-of-the-art OMNIMAX theatre that shows larger-than-life features.
WWII Submarine USS Cod www.usscod.org
This World War II sub is credited with sinking nearly 30,000 tons of Japanese sea vessels. Completely intact and a designated National Historic Landmark, the Cod is particularly enlightening to tour because it has not been adapted for civilian access -- visitors use the same vertical ladders and hatches that were used by the wartime crew.
Cedar Point Amusement Park
Regularly named the best amusement park on the planet, lakefront Cedar Point boasts the world's biggest collection of rides (67) and more roller coasters (16) than any other park. Thrill-seekers love the new Top Thrill Dragster, which reaches speeds of 120 mph in under 4 seconds. Camp Snoopy is an all-ages playland with its own kid-friendly coaster. New in 2004 is the Splash Zone, a multistory interactive play area with more than 100 water gadgets, located inside the 18-acre Soak City water park. Also slated to open in late 2004 is Castaway Bay, a massive indoor waterpark resort that will include a wave pool and wave coaster as well as day-care and spa facilities.
Geauga Lake Family Amusement Park
Formerly Six Flags World of Adventure, this local amusement park used to include SeaWorld Cleveland. That all changed at the start of the 2004 summer season, when Cedar Fair, L.P. (the same company that operates Cedar Point) purchased the historic property and reopened it with its original name, Geauga Lake. Though the SeaWorld component is gone, the family-friendly amusement park still boasts 60 rides including 10 roller coasters. X-Flight, which soars through eight loops, spins, and spirals at 51 mph, is a far cry from Geauga's first thrill ride, a steam-powered carousel that first made waves in 1889. Hurricane Hannah's water park, open Memorial Day through Labor Day, is included in the price of admission. |
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