Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about what NOT to do when you plan a Cleveland vacation. While many travel blogs will tell you the best things to see in Cleveland, we want to be sure you know about the things you should NOT do on your trip to Cleveland, Ohio.
Don’t Call It the Mistake on the Lake
Cleveland has gotten a bad rap and the moniker “Mistake on the Lake,” but it’s actually a really cool city. Our entire family agrees that we could totally live in Cleveland. There’s great architecture, tons of museums, plus lots of cool little neighborhoods to explore. Also, the mistake on the lake was meant to mean the stadium, not the city.
Don’t Miss Cleveland Museums
Cleveland has a lot of cultural attractions, including some especially great museums. Cleveland is probably better known for sports teams and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but you can really soak up some culture at some of these Cleveland destinations:
- The Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA)
- Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland
- The Great Lakes Science Center
- Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Don’t Forget Your Long Underwear in the Winter!
Summer is the best time to visit Cleveland, by far! Most parts of Ohio get a fair amount of snow, but Cleveland gets that extra “lake effect” snow. It can get really cold if you visit Cleveland in the winter, so be prepared with some serious winter layers.
Don’t Miss the Amusement Parks
You might think Florida has the best amusement parks, but roller coaster enthusiasts know that Ohio has some of the best in the world. Just an hour from Cleveland, Sandusky is known as the Roller Coaster Capital of the World. Cedar Point has some of the craziest roller coasters and every year they try to outdo themselves with bigger, faster coasters.
Don’t Miss Cleveland Cuisine
Cleveland has a fantastic food and beer scene. We were seriously impressed with the food we had in Cleveland. And it’s not just the downtown area that has good restaurants; we found great food throughout the city.
Don’t Skip Out on the West Side Market
The West Side Market is an awesome place to grab lunch or a snack. Cleveland’s oldest public market has over 100 vendors selling all kinds of amazing food. There’s also a lot of Eastern European food in Cleveland, so that’s also great to try. If you’ve traveled in Eastern Europe, this will bring you right back!
Simply Jocelyn Shares the Best Things to Eat in Ohio
Don’t Miss The “A Christmas Story” House
This 1980s Christmas movie was set in Indiana, but the house is actually in Cleveland. If you are a fan of the movie, you can’t miss visiting the house. They have a huge gift shop, a little museum of memorabilia, and you can tour the house. You can even rent the house to stay overnight! Find out here how to book a stay.
Tips for spending the night at “A Christmas Story House”
- Book well in advance, especially for the Christmas season
- You can also stay at the Bumpas house across the street
- Take the tour before your overnight stay
- Don’t expect privacy during the day; the house still has tours, even if you’ve rented it overnight
- There’s a more modern apartment upstairs
- You can sleep in Ralphie’s bed, but make sure you tell them so they have fresh sheets
- Don’t Miss Rowley Inn across the street; they have great food!
Don’t Miss the Chance to Chat with Locals
Cleveland locals are awesome. Like a lot of Midwest cities, they take a lot of pride in their hometown and love talking it up to visitors. If you want local travel tips for Cleveland, just ask! Everyone we met was super friendly and helpful; and they love to help travelers explore the city and will gladly tell you all the fun things to do in Cleveland.
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Don’t Forget About Public Transportation
There’s actually a pretty good public transit system in Cleveland. The RTA Rapid Transit goes to a lot of places, including the airport, the West Side Market, plus a lot of other spots. Downtown Cleveland has a trolley system that also makes it easy to get around.
Don’t Forget Your Hiking Shoes
Cleveland is not just a big city with culture and cuisine; it’s also known as the forest city. There are a ton of great parks in Cleveland. If you drive less than an hour south, you can visit Ohio’s only National Park, Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The park has hiking trails, biking trails, waterfalls and a scenic railroad tour.
Grab Some Wolters World Travel Gear!
Don’t be surprised if you fall in love with Cleveland! Between the food, the people, the architecture and the nature, it’s a great city to visit! We were pleasantly surprised by how much we loved our Cleveland vacation. Want more Midwest US travel tips? Check out some of our other blog posts: