Cleveland Rocks!

By Robert Painter

That's right - Cleveland.  As in Ohio.  It may not be the first place that comes to mind for your vacation, but it may very well turn out to be one of the best vacations you could have imagined.  To begin with it's an easy destination to reach, being served by a number of airlines and by Amtrak. And, once you get there it's easy to get around.  You won't need a car.  Hop on the train from the airport to the center of the city.  The train is fast and cheap and there are plenty of hotels nearby.  I stayed in a gigantic suite at the Embassy Suites.  I asked at the desk if they issued roller skates to get from one end of my suite to the other.  With a great view of the lake from my room, a balcony and two large flat screen television sets, I could have just stayed there for four days.

It turned out, though, that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame was within easy walking distance.  For all you baby boomers out there this is a place you don't want to miss.  This beautiful glass pyramid is much larger on the inside than it appears from the outside.  Numerous levels and great exhibits.  Music stations abound.  Just put on the headphones and listen to your favorites to your heart's content.  The displays will give you a great trip down memory lane as you read about your favorite rock star.  From rockabilly Jerry Lee Lewis to Elvis to the Beatles to heavy metal bands - it's all there.  View videos of Alan Freed and watch the beginnings of rock & roll unfold before your eyes.  Watch Jimmy Swaggart and others rail about the evils of rock & roll.

You'll find your day has slipped away as you watch countless videos, listen to innumerable album tracks and walk around admiring the Jerry Garcia guitars, the Elvis jumpsuit, the Rolling Stones wardrobe and hundreds of other exhibits.  Don't miss it - this one is worth the trip all on it's own.  You may be surprised at all your life's memories that come flooding back as you wander through the exhibits and listen to the sounds of your life.

If you can tear yourself away from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, be sure and go right next door and visit the Great Lakes Science Center.  If you take your kids along, plan to spend the better part of a day here.  With over 400 interactive science stations they will be enthralled by it all.  And, so will you.  I only had a couple of hours, but could have easily spent an entire day here - especially if you throw in the Omnimax productions.  I saw the one on Hurricane Katrina - didn't have time for the Dinosaurs, but maybe I'll get back again for that one.  It's a fabulous theatre and the films were first rate.

Maybe I'm getting a bit ahead of myself.  You might want to begin your trip on Lolly the Trolley for a city tour that will help you get oriented.  Once you get to University Circle you'll want to get off and see the museums.  The Natural History Museum is jammed full of great exhibits.  If you miss the Dinosaur film at the Science Center, you can see the real thing (fossilized, of course) here.

I didn't have time to get into the Crawford Auto & Aviation museum, but I heard great reports - another "next time" adventure for me, I guess.  The Cleveland Museum of Art was featuring photographers in an exhibit titled "Icons of American Photography."  The Alfred Stieglitz prints of Georgia O'Keeffe alone were worth the visit.  Of course, Ansel Adams, Gordon Parks and others you might recognize were represented as well. The Children's Museum of Cleveland is nearby and the Cleveland Botanical Garden and other gardens are in the neighborhood.

But don't worry, if you're not a "museum" fan there is plenty more to do in the city that rocks.

For one thing there's baseball.  As in Cleveland Indians.  The Boston Red Sox were in town while I was there and what a crowd.  It seemed like everyone was going to the game. Of course, I went, too.  Ball park hot dogs, a large drink and a great souvenir T shirt. The Indians lost, but it was a beautiful evening.  Plus, following the game there was the opportunity to visit the House of Blues.  What more could you want for a full evening's entertainment?

If you're a railroad fan you might want to take a nostalgic trip on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.  It's a bit out of Cleveland proper, but well worth the trip.  You can get on the train at Independence and ride to Akron where you can visit the beautiful new Akron Art Museum.  Or you could stay on the train all the way to Canton and maybe take in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  Yet another possibility, especially if you're the outdoors and active type, would be to bike part of the route and then take you bike aboard when you're ready for a break.  They have a special bargain for cyclists - only $2 for you and your bike.  Get some exercise and save some bucks - can't beat that deal.

But, let's get back to the city.  Did you know that Cleveland has one of the finest symphony orchestras in the world?  If you can catch a concert don't miss the opportunity.  If your schedule doesn't coincide with the Cleveland Orchestra schedule, at least stop by Severance Hall to see the facility.  It is an outstanding venue for this extraordinary orchestra.

If you can fit it in be sure and visit the West Side Market.  Cross the Hope Memorial Bridge (named for Bob Hope, whose father actually worked on the bridge as a stonemason) and watch for the eight 43' tall Art Deco sculptures - "Guardians of Traffic." The market is an historical site and you'll find it almost impossible to pass up all the baked goods.  Get a loaf of bread, some rolls or a special treat for the ride home.  Your fellow plane passengers will be very jealous, so eat it discreetly!

You may want to spend your last evening in Cleveland as I did.  Dinner at the Cyrus restaurant by the waterfront followed by a sunset cruise.  You'll depart while it is still light and then you can watch the moon  rise above the city.  As the sky grows dark and the city lights come on you'll see the beautiful city of Cleveland from an entirely new perspective.  I know you'll enjoy your visit to this great lakes city as much as I did. There is much more I could tell you about, but I'm out of space and I'll leave some of the discoveries to you.

Keep on traveling.

When You Go:

www.travelcleveland.com.  Request a Walking Guide (even if you're driving). This great little guide includes an easy to read map that includes all the main attractions in the city and some of the bus loops and the rapid transit lines.

www.universitycircle.org.  A fine little map here and lots of information about the museums, art and culture of Cleveland.

www.rockhall.com. Everything you need to know to plan your visit to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

www.GreatScience.com. You have to see this.

www.cvsr.com.  For all you railroad buffs, the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.  Schedule and ticket prices.

http://www.embassysuites.com/en/es/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=CLEESES.

Story and by Robert Painter ( rpainter2006@comcast.net )