Our Guide to Cleveland, Ohio

Museums

Make time to explore Cleveland’s incredible museums. The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) rotates its exhibitions three times a year, showcasing some of the most important names in contemporary art, with free entry. The Cleveland Museum of Natural History features a permanent collection including “Lucy,” a T. rex replica, and “Happy,” the oldest sauropod on display, alongside rotating exhibits. The Cleveland Museum of Art, consistently ranked among the best in the US, houses over 61,000 works spanning 6,000 years, from Monet to Warhol, and is also free to enter. Families will enjoy the Children’s Museum of Cleveland, where a Victorian mansion has been transformed into Adventure City, a two-storey city-themed playground, and the Wonder Lab, a water-focused interactive science area perfect for energetic young explorers.

Music

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame charts the evolution of this cultural phenomenon through more than fifty exhibits, and part of the fun is that no group of visitors will ever agree on everything. Since opening in 1995, more than twelve million people have explored the iconic I. M. Pei building and debated which artists truly deserve a place in the hall, from unquestioned greats such as Elvis and The Beatles to more divisive choices such as Madonna or Run DMC. Cleveland’s rock credentials run deep, from DJ Alan Freed coining the term rock and roll in the city in 1951, to hosting what is considered the nation’s first official rock concert in 1952, to legendary performances at Public Hall and the influential role of WMMS-FM in launching major artists including David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, Fleetwood Mac, Chrissie Hynde and Nine Inch Nails. You can see an extraordinary collection of memorabilia, including John Lennon’s guitar and Jam Master Jay’s gold chains, along with rotating exhibitions such as tributes to The Beatles’ album Let It Be and the Hotter Than July photo retrospective of iconic R and B artists. For a change of pace, the Cleveland Orchestra offers a world-class musical experience at Severance Music Center, one of the city’s most elegant and historic venues. Built in 1931, the building’s classical exterior and richly varied interior styles, from Art Deco to Egyptian Revival, provide a stunning backdrop for performances of Romantic, Baroque, classical and modern works by one of the world’s finest orchestras.

Parks and Gardens

The Cleveland Botanical Garden is filled with plants and flowers from around the world, offering acres of outdoor gardens as well as two climate-controlled glasshouses. Established in 1930 as the Cleveland Garden Center and carved into ten acres of what was once the original Cleveland Zoo, it has long served as a peaceful urban sanctuary in University Circle. Beyond the city centre, the Cleveland Metroparks form a vast outdoor playground known locally as the Emerald Necklace, comprising eighteen parks with free entry, twenty-three thousand acres of natural space, three hundred miles of hiking trails, lakefront beaches, golf courses and the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Recent improvements at Edgewater Beach and Euclid Beach Park have created expansive sandy stretches perfect for watching Lake Erie sunsets, while Rocky River Reservation attracts cyclists and Euclid Creek Reservation offers wooded trails and small waterfalls. Each park has its own traditions, including the annual return of turkey vultures at Hinckley Reservation every March. With year-round access to the lakefront, enjoy paddle boarding and boating. The Metroparks also host a popular summer concert series at Edgewater and Euclid Beach, combining live music, craft beer, cocktails and local food trucks. For a taste of Cleveland’s culinary heritage, the historic West Side Market, operating for more than a century in its original European-style hall, remains a favourite destination for both locals and visitors thanks to its diverse selection of everyday and international foods.

American Football

For football fans, a trip to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, is essential. This recently expanded and renovated museum celebrates the legends of the game, from over 300 enshrined players, coaches, and contributors to interactive exhibits such as the AI-powered Talking Bronzed Busts of John Madden and Michael Strahan. The Hall also houses the most comprehensive collection of football memorabilia in the United States, including jerseys, game balls, historic documents, and even a piece of turf from the Browns’ rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers’. In Cleveland, football is a family tradition passed down through generations, and attending a Browns game at Huntington Bank Field is as much about community, tailgating, and city pride as it is about the game itself.

Baseball


Every summer, Progressive Field and its surrounding area become the heart of Downtown Cleveland. In recent years, the Guardians have taken fans through a historic World Series, won several Central Division championships, and in 2019 hosted their sixth MLB All-Star Game. Whether you visit in summer or autumn, Progressive Field is a great place to spend the day or evening, with thousands of young fans gathering in right field. A major draw is The District section of the stadium, featuring The Corner bar, where tickets cost just fifteen dollars for standing room and your first beer is free. Behind the centre field wall, Heritage Park offers a two-tiered landscaped area with plaques and statues celebrating Guardians legends from years past.

Basketball


If you have never been to a Cleveland Cavaliers game, make this the year. You will see a young and ambitious team take on the NBA’s finest. A game at Rocket Arena is a true bucket list experience for anyone visiting during October to April. The arena has hosted countless thrilling victories, celebrity fans and its second NBA All-Star Game in 2022 and features a remarkable 185-million-dollar renovation that includes cutting-edge technology, wider concourses, expanded hospitality areas and a striking glass exterior. Inside, you will find one of the largest HD scoreboards in any arena, known as the Humongotron, which even shoots fire. The venue also boasts a unique layout with most seating in the lower bowl. Before and after games, enjoy the lively Gateway District, where the streets around the arena and the nearby Guardians’ Progressive Field are filled with energetic bars and restaurants packed with fans as passionate as those inside Rocket Arena.