Length of stay: 3 days
Visited: July 2023
Cleveland is located on the southern shores of Lake Erie. It’s the second largest city in Ohio and is considered one of the major cities in the Great Lakes region. After the completion of the Ohio and Erie Canal in 1832, Cleveland became known as an industrial and commercial center, helping transport goods and people across more regions. While the canal was later abandoned, today it is known for its museums of art, music, history and culture.
Day 1: Art
For the Canada Day long weekend, we decided to head south of the border to Cleveland. We took the Friday off of work for an extra long weekend. We left first thing in the morning in an attempt to beat the traffic, but it turns out that a bunch of other people had the same idea. It took us just over an hour to cross the border in Niagara Falls. And if that wasn’t brutal enough, we were also sent to secondary customs.
There was some confusion as to where we should actually go. The customs agent told us to wait on the first floor of the building. But when we got there, someone else directed us to the second floor. There was a huge waiting room here and nearly every bench was taken. Thankfully we didn’t wait long as another customs agent came upstairs and found us. It turns out we should have stayed on the first floor.
We were dinged when crossing the border for agriculture. We brought a cooler with some veggies, fruit, snacks, and stuff for breakfasts and lunches. While we did declare that we were bringing food with us and provided some examples, apparently we had to list every single item. The agent then searched our car and ended up confiscating our oranges and a bell pepper, along with some bird seed that we typically keep in our glove box from when we go hiking. Thankfully we didn’t receive a fine.
We were then given the green light to leave. From Niagara Falls we had just under a three and a half hour drive to get to Cleveland. We made a couple of stops along the way to pick up more groceries, grab coffee and use the restrooms. By the time we arrived in the city it was just after 4pm and most of the museums would be closing in an hour. However, the Cleveland Museum of Art has extended hours on Friday and is open until 9pm. Entrance was free, but we had to pay for parking.
The Cleveland Museum of Art features an extensive collection of paintings, furniture, pottery and other artifacts. It is particularly famous for its large collection of Asian, Egyptian and medieval art. It also features some Impressionist paintings, American art, Tiffany lamps, contemporary art, and various other styles and collections. We definitely took advantage of the extended hours. And the best part was that we mostly had the museum all to ourselves.
After we finished up we headed to our accommodations just south of the city to check in and eat dinner.
Day 2: Gardens
We spent the morning hiking in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Since the afternoon was calling for thunderstorms, we decided to head back to the city. We landed on the Cleveland Botanical Garden, which features both indoor and outdoor gardens. We had arrived just as the storm hit, so we started with the indoor section where there are two themed glasshouses. The Madagascar Glasshouse contains an exotic collection of plants while the Costa Rica Glasshouse contains a cloud forest with a viewing platform from up above the trees.
The rain was starting to let up, so we grabbed our umbrellas and headed for the outdoor gardens. There’s a series of different styles and types of gardens, including a perennial garden, rose garden, Japanese garden and woodland garden. Many of the summer flowers were in bloom and everything looked so lush and colourful. And the nice thing about the rain was that there weren’t many people around.
It was close to closing time by the time we wrapped up. We headed back to our accommodations and found a spot to eat dinner. It continued to rain throughout the evening.
Day 3: Submarines, Ships and other Sites
More rain was on the forecast for today. While it was still quite humid, at least it was slightly cooler outside. After eating breakfast in our room, we packed our bags and headed out. On our drive towards the city, we stopped to check out the A Christmas Story House. This Victorian style house was featured in the 1983 classic Christmas comedy, A Christmas Story. The house has been restored and is open for tours to learn more about the filming and history of the movie. Across the street there’s also a museum which features props and costumes from the film. We came to just see the exterior of the house though.
We hopped back in the car and drove through downtown Cleveland, parking at the Great Lakes Science Center, which didn’t open until 12pm. To kill some time we went for a stroll along the waterfront and stopped to explore Voinovich Bicentennial Park. The park provided a nice view of the Cleveland skyline and features a Cleveland Script Sign, one of six installed around the city. We didn’t see many people around given that it was still early in the morning and raining outside.
But the rain was starting to subside (for now). We took advantage of the lack of crowds to visit the sign outside the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. There’s a museum here dedicated to the history of rock music, including the artists and other important people who shaped its development. If we had more time, we would have visited the museum, but we had other priorities for the day.
We then walked to Willard Park, located next to Cleveland City Hall. The park is famous for having the world’s largest stamp. The sculpture depicts a rubber stamp with the word “FREE” on it. It was commissioned by the Standard Oil Company in 1982 for its headquarters, across from the Civil War Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument. The word “FREE” was in reference to the freedom of American slaves after the Civil War. But when the company was acquired by another firm, the stamp was sent into storage after some confusion about the meaning of the stamp’s message. The stamp was later donated to the city of Cleveland, who placed it in Willard Park where it stands today.
We strolled back to the waterfront to visit the USS Cod, a submarine that is now a National Historic Landmark that has been converted into a memorial and museum. The submarine was named for the fish and was launched in 1943 to join the fight in the South Pacific during World War II. After the war ended, the COD was recommissioned to help train NATO anti-submarine forces during the Cold War and was later used for training. It was taken out of action and headed for the scrap yard. Thanks to a campaign to save the submarine, the United States Navy allowed the COD to be restored and converted into a floating memorial.
Our visit to the COD included a self-guided tour through the different chambers in the submarine to get a better sense of what life was like for the crew onboard. Along the way there were a few audio guide buttons that provided more information on the history of the submarine and what some of the various rooms were used for.
To get inside the submarine requires walking down a steep ladder. We then navigated through the narrow chambers and tight doorways, passing through the torpedo room, forward battery, crew quarters, kitchen, mess hall, engine room, maneuvering room and another torpedo room. The submarine held up to 97 officers and enlisted men, but it felt small, stuffy and hot when it was just the two of us inside. It felt nice to breathe some fresh air when we climbed the ladder back up the deck.
We headed back to our car to drop off our umbrellas and eat an early lunch while we waited for the Great Lakes Science Center to open. As soon as the doors opened, we purchased our tickets and opted to pay a bit more to visit the Steamship William G. Mather. We decided to start with the ship to get ahead of the crowds of children that were pouring through.
The ship includes a small interactive museum that provided some fun facts and information about the Great Lakes. We then headed upstairs to begin our self-guided tour of the historic ship to get a better sense of what it was like to visit or work aboard this Great Lakes freighter. The ship was built in 1925 and is 188 metres (or 618 feet) and once transported ore, coal, stone and grain through the Great Lakes region. Part of the tour involved exploring some of the crew and guest quarters, the captain’s room, the kitchen and dining rooms, the engine room, and other spaces. There were a series of information panels along the way to learn more about the different rooms in the ship.
We then returned to the Great Lakes Science Center to check out the exhibits inside. There were a lot of interactive and educational activities for kids. There was also an exhibit on dinosaurs in the Sahara that featured fossils and skeletons, along with a NASA Glenn Visitor Center with artifacts from space, including an Apollo Command Module.
We were then ready to hit the road again and head back home. Thankfully this time we had no delays or issues at the border.
L
Sounds like a great trip. I’ve always thought Cleveland to be an under-appreciated city. The Cleveland Museum of Art is one of my favorites.
I know what you mean about how Cleveland is a bit underrated. When we told the customs agent where we were heading he was like “why would you go there?”. The city definitely exceeded our expectations. Agreed, the Cleveland Museum of Art has an exceptional collection. I still can’t get over that admission was free.
What a fun trip! Cleveland isn’t my favorite Ohio destination by a long shot but they do have some wonderful museums and some interesting things to see. I wish you had better weather but the rain has been an issue for all of Ohio this summer. It sounds like you made the best of it though!! Lol. I can’t believe they took your oranges.
Cleveland seems to get a bad reputation. I must admit, it was a bit strange how the city wasn’t very lively considering we were visiting just before the 4th of July. But hey, it didn’t bother us too much as it meant not having to worry about parking or dealing with the crowds. The weather wasn’t ideal, but we made the most of exploring some of Cleveland’s museums. We were also able to spend some time exploring Cuyahoga Valley National Park before the rain rolled in. I didn’t realize that citrus fruit cannot be brought into the US from Canada (especially since they probably came from the US). Now we know for next time!
Haha. It is ironic you can’t bring imported American citrus back to the states. Who knew??
It’s not that I dislike Cleveland because there are some interesting things there. It just isn’t my favorite. Maybe I’m biased because of the Clevelanders I have known personally. Hmm. This may require some thought!
I know! Now we know for next time. I know what you meant about Cleveland. It had a bit of a strange vibe and we didn’t like that we had to drive everywhere and pay for parking. But, I’m glad we went to check it out as there are some pretty awesome museums there. I don’t think we’ll be back anytime soon though.
At least you have been and will know the ropes if you choose to go back someday!
That’s very true. And there is a good chance that we’ll be back someday since it’s not too far from where we live.
Places are sometimes worth a second look. For example, people down here love Ohio’s Amish Country. I spent 2.5 days there last fall and it was two days too long. Hated the place. However, a friend and I are likely meeting there for a long weekend in December. Our expectation is to shop and eat which evidently are the best things to do there. lol. So maybe I will like it better!
For sure. It’s always neat to return somewhere, especially if it’s in a different season. Hopefully you’ll have better luck in Ohio’s Amish Country this winter. You’ll have good company at the very least!
Fingers crossed! I’m not excited about it but am hoping to be surprised.
The key is to go in with no expectations, that way you can’t be disappointed!
This is so true. I find the best stuff along the way when my expectations are low!
The same strategy can work with family functions as well!
Haha. Yes it can!!
Gorgeous botanical garden. I don’t think I have heard of that city before.
The Cleveland Botanical Garden is very lovely. I liked how there were such different variety of plants and flowers inside the glasshouses compared to outside in the gardens. Somehow the rain made everything smell even better.
Fantastic trip. I visited Cleveland once, and your post showed me tons I didn’t see 😊 thanks for another worthwhile vicarious journey. You two are expert explorers, finding the best parts of the places you travel to.
Thanks for your lovely comment. We’re taking a hiatus from camping due to all the smoky conditions from the wildfires and from some recent experiences with noisy campgrounds. We’ve traded in our hiking boots for running shoes and have been exploring some nearby cities south of the border instead. Cleveland is a bit underrated, but has a decent amount of things to do. Despite the rainy weather, we enjoyed our long weekend here.
Ok. I hope you’ll be sharing your running shoes journey 😊 looking forward 😊
You bet! It’s been quite a different summer than what we’re used to!
Great! Looking forward 😊 hope it’s a good summer nonetheless 😊😊😊
Thanks! It’s been a great excuse to explore cities and places that we’ve often overlooked. It’s also good to shake things up once in awhile! Hope you’re having a fabulous summer as well.
Too bad about the border crossing. We learned not to bring anything fresh into the States, but to stop at the first store across the border and pick it up (possibly the same exact product that would eb confiscated coming in from Canada. Your tour shows that Cleveland has so much more to offer than it gets credit for. I saw many similarities to your sub tour and ours in Aus in 2012. Thanks for sharing Linda. Happy Sunday. Allan
Between the traffic and dealing with secondary customs, it was a pretty lengthy border crossing. In retrospect it would have been easier to just buy our fresh produce south of the border. Lessons learned for next time. I was pleasantly surprised at how much there is to see and do in Cleveland. The tour of the submarine was pretty cool. I have no idea how people are able to live and work there though. It’s way too cramped and stuffy when it was just the two of us in there. I can’t even imagine what it’s like when there’s a full crew and it’s underwater. Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoyed your weekend. Linda
Cleveland seems really interesting! We might head that way in the fall, so thanks for sharing your itinerary! Too bad about your intense border crossing experience! I’m never quite sure of what we can and can’t bring over, so I never bring any fresh produce and just buy what I need on the other side of the border (I saw people once being pulled over for bringing a single banana – it served me as a lesson! 🙂
You have to drive everywhere in Cleveland, but there’s actually quite a bit to do. Plus it’s close to a national park, Cuyahoga Valley, which is always a huge bonus. That border crossing was something else. I’ve never been pulled over for secondary customs while going into the United States before. Bringing over fresh fruit and veggies is probably more of a hassle than its worth. Next time we’ll just pick up groceries there!
The border story is ridiculous. I’d like to ask that guy this: so who in your Department goes outside on a windy day and stops all the seeds blowing across the border?? HUH?? Anyway, great trip you had despite the border idiots and the rain…though I think I would have prioritised the rock music museum above everything. So good to experience these different places though, isn’t it.
That customs agent was on a mission to bust people. We knew immediately we were in the wrong line when we saw him walk around a few of the cars in front of us and riffle through their trunks. It could have been worse, at least we didn’t get fined. The funny thing is, is that the produce we were carrying over probably all came from the US anyway. Oh well, it makes for a great story afterwards. And we had a wonderful time seeing the sites in Cleveland.
Wonderful post. Thanks for sharing your border crossing encounter, it helps us prepare for when we go to Banff next spring (hopefully😊) from the USA side. It often seems like a good idea to visit special places either really early or really late, or in inclement weather – less crowds and more opportunity to really experience places without being shoved through by a harried line. Another thing I love about your posts, you guys seem to enjoy similar types of things as we do. It’s so awesome to read your tips and explorations.
Thanks for your kind words and lovely comment. In retrospect we should have looked more closely at what fruits and veggies we can (and can’t) take over when crossing the border. Lessons learned. At least we didn’t get a fine.
That’s exciting that you’re considering visiting Banff next spring. I couldn’t agree more about making the most of the shoulder seasons to avoid the crowds. When we were in Banff last summer at the end of June, I was shocked by the amount of people there. All the campgrounds were completely booked (thankfully I made our reservations well in advance). In addition to Banff, I’d highly recommend a visit to Jasper (even the drive along the Icefields Parkway to get there is absolutely stunning) and Yoho (which isn’t nearly as crowded and equally as scenic). And yes, great minds think alike when it comes to appreciating and spending time in nature! Happy trip planning!
We’re actually planning on spending some time in Jasper in the fall. We’re planning a road trip from Edmonton to Whitehorse and will be spending some time in Alaska too. I just booked out plane tickets a couple of days ago. On the way back to Edmonton we’re hoping to swing by Jasper for our last two days of vacation.
Hi Linda – another great trip. We took the family to Cleveland about 8 years ago and visited the Pro Football Hall of Fame (boys!) and hope to return soon to see the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. These other sites and parks look like great options too! I’m glad you persevered through the rain and humidity 🙂
It was a fun weekend getaway that wasn’t too far from home. We wish we could have stayed for one more day to see the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, along with a few other museums. But, I’d say we made the most of our long weekend and the rainy weather. We even got to spend some time in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, which isn’t too far from the city.
I might be one of the few people in N America who hasn’t seen A Christmas Story. I actually had to look it up!
A great reminder that Cleveland actually has interesting museums and other venues; it’s so often overlooked or even derided as a place to visit.
Too bad about the weather but at least no smoke! The border agents – wow. Confiscating bird seed? Whoever put that piece of legislation into play obviously knows nothing about nature!
Well now I don’t feel bad because I’ve actually never seen A Christmas Story either. Maybe we’ll watch it next Christmas now that we’ve seen the famous house.
We didn’t have high expectations for Cleveland as it seems to get a bad reputation. While the city wasn’t very lively, there’s quite a few fantastic museums, which were perfect for exploring with all the rainy weather we had (and yes, at least the air wasn’t smoky!). The Cleveland Museum of Art was my favourite.
We’ve been carrying around the bag of bird seed for awhile now as we typically take some with us while hiking in the winter. Now I know for next time!
Sounds like a great time, I didn’t know Cleveland had so much to offer! I may be biased growing up in Michigan we always referred to Ohio as the armpit of America 😉
We haven’t been on a trip in awhile, so it was nice to take advantage of the long weekend and travel somewhere new, even if it wasn’t very far. It’s funny because when we told the customs agent where we were heading, he had a similar reaction and said “why would you go there?!”. I was pleasantly surprised at how much there is to do in Cleveland. Plus it’s close to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, so it was nice to get some hiking in as well.
Wow! It sounds like there is so much to do and see there. GOing on my list and not too far from us!
We’re taking a hiatus from camping this summer and have instead been trying to explore some nearby cities that we’ve never been too. Cleveland is a bit underrated, but we were pleasantly surprised at how much there is to do. The only thing we found annoying was we had to drive everywhere and parking isn’t free. I’d highly recommend a visit to the Cleveland Museum of Art if you end up going.
I am always so impressed by all the places you and K are able to explore and get to during your visit. I visited Cleveland in 2014 and missed all these. Haha. And we got there late and didn’t get to go into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as we had planned.
Your stop at the customs must’ve felt both frustrating and nerve wracking. I’m glad they seized your oranges and bell peppers as they sounded real nefarious and threat to homeland security!
I’m not going to lie, Cleveland wasn’t high up there on my list of places to visit. But we’re taking a break from camping and thought we’d give it a whirl to explore somewhere new and since it’s reasonably close by. Needless to say, it exceeded my expectations. Sounds like you need to make a return visit!
It was one of the worst border crossings I’ve had with the heavy traffic and dealing with secondary customs. The funny thing is, is that the oranges and bell peppers probably came from the US! Whatever, at least we didn’t get fined. We probably should have read the rules more closely around what we can (and can’t) bring in. Next time.
The border crossing sounds like a nightmare but I’m glad it was worth the delay.
I’m so glad we pulled over at a MacDonald’s to use the restrooms right before we crossed the border! You never know how long you’re going to have to wait to get through customs. Thankfully we had no issues returning.
I have always thought a visit to Cleveland would be interesting and your pictures prove that it is. .
We haven’t gone away in awhile, so it was nice to pack our bags and take a spontaneous trip to Cleveland and explore somewhere new. Despite the rainy weather, there were plenty of museums and attractions to keep us entertained and dry.
Wow! Amazing post! So beautiful and interesting city, Linda thank’s for share.
Looks so nice and cozy place. Have a wonderful week ahead, keep enjoying your Sunday!
Take care.
Elvira
Thanks for your reading and for your lovely comment. It was a fun weekend getaway and we enjoyed seeing the sights. Enjoy the rest of your week. Linda
Always a pleasure visit your blog, Linda. Thank’s for your kindness.
I can imagine, looks a great place.
Enjoy the rest of your week as well.
Elvira
You are too kind. I’m glad it’s finally Friday! Have a wonderful weekend.
Cool! Thanks for this tour of Cleveland. I’ve stopped at Cuyahoga for lunch but that’s the extent of my experiences in the city. It seems like a neat place that’s worth a visit for sure!
Also, good to know about the border crossing protocols because we’re about to cross the border ourselves.
Cleveland seems a bit underrated. Considering we went a couple days before the 4th of July, we were expecting the city to be a bit more lively. But we didn’t mind too much as it meant we didn’t have to sit through traffic, battle for parking or deal with the crowds. It’s great that it’s located so close to Cuyahoga Valley National Park. We managed to spend a bit of time there before the rain rolled in and found the trails and scenery to be pretty nice.
Safe travels to Canada. Hopefully you’ll have better luck crossing the border than we did!
We did, they hardly asked any questions in either direction and all the research I put into what food and type of bear spray we could and couldn’t bring across was completely unnecessary.
Glad to hear that you had no issues crossing the border. Hope you enjoyed your time in Canada! We’re actually heading back out west later in the summer.
Oh nice, have fun! We were just up there for a day in Waterton but it was a good trip!
Fun! I haven’t been to Waterton in years. We plan on flying into Edmonton and taking a roadtrip to Whitehorse followed by a ferry into Juneau.
Oh wow, that sounds amazing! Have fun, and I can’t wait to read about it.
Thanks! I’m counting down the days (and have actually just started packing).
What a frustrating delay in customs, but well worth a great visit to Cleveland. I’m so glad you guys covered it because we’re planning to go there in September and then branch out on an Ohio road trip. We won’t be touring the submarine, however, because I’m terrified of them. I would love to spend several hours touring the art museum and botanical gardens though. Thanks for sharing your experiences with us!
In retrospect we should have checked the rules more closely around what types of fruits and veggies we can bring across the border. Even though it was a long wait, at least we didn’t get fined.
Glad to hear that you’ll be heading that way in September. The submarine was pretty neat, but the tight spaces and heavy fumes not so much. We actually went to another submarine in Buffalo last weekend and I didn’t last long on the tour as I was starting to feel faint. The Cleveland Museum of Art was the highlight of our time in Cleveland. And it’s free.
Thank you for your input. We didn’t have the museum of art on our itinerary until we read your post. It’s second in line now.
Glad to hear. You will not be disappointed! I’m curious what’s first in line.
It will be the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame that is first on our list, but we’ve changed our trip to northern California and southern Oregon instead of Ohio. We were concerned about flooding and wildfire smoke. Ohio will be on next year’s itinearary, hopefully.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame seems to be the most popular attraction in Cleveland. We feel a bit silly for skipping it now, but I’m sure we’ll be back someday. The stretch along the Oregon coast is one of the most scenic drives we’ve ever taken. Enjoy planning your trip!
Thank you! We’ve put the northern California and southern Oregon trip off for two years, so this is the year to do it.
For sure!! That’s so exciting!! You’re going to have such an amazing time. Get your camera ready as it’s hard to stop taking pictures of the coastal scenery!
We will be following in some of your footsteps from earlier this year, and we’re very excited!
Looking forward to hearing about your adventures. It’s always neat to see somewhere you’ve been through someone else’s stories and pictures.
Informative post with great pics. It’s been about 20 years since my one visit to Cleveland. Thinking it is time to go back. 😊
Thanks for your lovely comment. Even though Cleveland is reasonably nearby, it was never really high up there on my list of places to visit. But when we didn’t have any plants for the Canada Day long weekend, we decided to give it a whirl. I was surprised at how much there is to do. The museums that we went to were all fantastic.
How annoying that you were stopped at customs and got the oranges and a bell pepper confiscated. I didn’t realise that there were restrictions on fresh produce between Canada and the US. I’d heard of Cleveland but knew nothing about the city but it looks to have some interesting museums and an attractive botanical garden. The giant sized rubber stamp was fun to see. A great introduction to the city Linda.
Thanks for your kind words. This was easily the worst border crossing we’ve had to get into the United States. I guess we should have looked more closely at the food restrictions. The funny thing is is that the oranges and bell peppers probably came from the US to begin with. We had a wonderful long weekend in Cleveland. Despite the rainy weather, there were plenty of museums and attractions to keep us entertained and dry. That rubber stamp was pretty massive and it was neat to learn about how it came to be.
Cleveland is not a city I know very well. So I enjoyed reading a bit more about it in your post now. Confiscated oranges and a pepper – my word 👀. It looks like there are quite a few interesting places to visit. The Cleveland Botanical Garden is beautiful – probably even more so after the rain, right? I’d like to visit that submarine (but I’m glad I don’t have to work in such a small place)! You were lucky to escape the crowd … in my book that’s always a bonus.
Thanks! I thought it was a bit silly considering the oranges and bell pepper probably came from the United States. Oh well. Lessons learned. And at least we didn’t get fined. The Cleveland Botanical Garden was very well done with the glasshouses and variety of outdoor gardens. There’s just something about the rain that brings out all the best smells when in nature. And it helps keep the crowds away! The submarine was interesting to explore. I have no idea how people are able to live in such tight spaces, especially given how stuffy it is and that there is no natural sunlight. It makes me appreciate my deck job a bit more.
You packed a lot of great sights into your trip! Beautiful art, gardens to walk through, Rock and Roll, a battleship and one of the best quotable movies ever. My dad is a retired naval officer so I have always had a soft spot for battleships and this one looks so interesting to tour. While the Christmas Story is one of my favorite movies to quote, I don’t really love to watch it because they play it for on constant repeat on tv every year. I loved following along on your visit to Cleveland! 🙂
Thanks for your lovely comment. We haven’t really gone anywhere these last couple of months so it was nice to pack our bags and take a spontaneous trip to Cleveland for the long weekend. Despite the gloomy weather, we had a wonderful time exploring the sights and a few museums. I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that I’ve actually never seen A Christmas Story. But now that we’ve seen the famous house, we’ll have to give it a whirl this Christmas.
Wow the gardens and parks are lovely!!!
Even though the weather was overcast and gloomy, I’m glad we managed to check out some of the green spaces and hiking trails before the rain rolled in.
The Cleveland Museum of Art looks quite impressive, even more so because its collection spans millennia. But if I ever go to Cleveland, I think I will not want to miss the Science Center because of the Apollo Command Module, which I think is one of the most emblematic artifacts from the 20th century.
If I could only recommend one thing to do in Cleveland, it would be to visit the Cleveland Museum of Art. I was impressed at how extensive their collection is and it’s neat how they have a wide range of items on display beyond just paintings. The space exhibit at the Great Lakes Science Centre was pretty cool. We actually watched the movie Apollo 13 not that long ago.
Thanks for giving me a deeper understanding of Cleveland, guys. Quite illuminating on several fronts. Art… greenery…. movie history… Cleveland certainly has plenty of strings to its bow. The sub tour looks fascinating and reminds us of a similar (though smaller) tour we took in Tivat, Montenegro where we got to explore ‘Hero’, a former secret of The Yugoslav Army. The customs nonsense sounds very annoying.
Cleveland is very underrated and has a reputation for being a bit of a boring city. I wasn’t a fan of having to drive everywhere (and to then pay for parking), but there’s quite a lot to see and explore. The museums that we visited were all very impressive, especially the Cleveland Museum of Art. It was fun to explore the submarine, especially since we were the only people there. I can’t imagine what it would be like to live in such tight quarters though. Thankfully we had no issues getting across the border back into Canada! Next time we’ll just buy our fresh fruit and veggies there.
The Cleveland museum has nice display of pottery. A Christmas story is such a cute looking thing. Great adventure you had in Cleveland!
The Cleveland Museum of Art was one of the highlights of our time in the city and has an impressive display of pottery and other artifacts. I still can’t get over that admission is free. Despite some delays at the border, we had a wonderful time in Cleveland.
What a fun trip! Except for the customs business…. That was a hassle. Love seeing the gardens, museums, Hall of fame and the ship tour! Always wanted to see the Christmas story house too!!
No kidding. I’m so glad we stopped at a MacDonald’s to use the restrooms just before we crossed the border. Traffic was awful and we then had to deal with secondary customs. Thankfully we didn’t have any issues when we were returning back home to Canada. I was surprised at how much there is to see and do in Cleveland. I must admit though, I’ve never actually seen A Christmas Story. I’ll have to watch it this Christmas now that I’ve seen the house where it was filmed.
This post makes me want to visit Ohio. I am impressed with the nice variety of museums that are there, wow!!! The botanical garden also looks very delightful!
Thanks for your lovely comment. Given the gloomy weather, we sure made use of the various museums in Cleveland. The botanical gardens were pretty impressive, including the glasshouses and various outdoor gardens. The nice thing about the rain, is that we had the place nearly all to ourselves.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a write up on Cleveland before so I found this interesting. The submarine in particular looks like a cool experience.
I’m not going lie, Cleveland wasn’t high up there on my travel bucket list, but it’s reasonably close to where we live so we decided to give it a whirl over a long weekend. I was impressed at how much there is to see and explore. The submarine was pretty neat but it was also super stuffy. I can’t even imagine how much worse it is when it’s underwater with a full crew!
Having met some Ohio residents on a trip to Guatemala, they didn’t know what to suggest I visit in their state. If you look hard enough, you’ll always find something, as you’ve done so well. Thanks for the tour.
Wow, just look at all the fun things you can do in Cleveland. Don’t you just love visiting cities which have a wealth of great natural parks and reservations to explore as well as thriving arts and cultural scenes with vibrant museums, theatres and grass-roots performance venues? As someone who’s always been passionate about visiting museums, this place would be right up my alley, especially the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. I had to google to see what they have on display – who wouldn’t want to see up close and personal tyrannosauri skeleton and moon rocks? Thanks for sharing and take care 🙂 Aiva xx
Our trip to Cleveland was rather spontaneous. While it wasn’t high up there on my travel bucket list, it’s reasonably close to home so we decided to give it a whirl. Needless to say, it exceeded my expectations. There was no shortage of museums and other attractions to keep us entertained. We planned to visit the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, but had to cut it from our itinerary due to the lengthy wait to cross the border. I guess this means we’ll just have to return sometime! Thanks for reading Aiva. Hope all is well. Linda
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While Cleveland wasn’t initially on our radar, it was a fun weekend getaway. Thanks for reading.
Lovely gardens! Great pictures!
Thanks for your kind words. Even though I’m not a fan of the rain, in some ways it worked out well as it tends to bring out all the fresh smells from the flowers and plants. Plus we had the place practically all to ourselves.
Sounds like you had a good trip! I think the Apollo Command Module would be my favourite from it.
It was a bit of a last minute trip, but we were pleasantly surprised at how much there is to see in Cleveland. The Cleveland Museum of Art was such a highlight. It’s also nice how Cuyahoga Valley National Park is nearby so we could also spend time in nature. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. Linda
A stunning post!! The citizens of Cleveland should be proud of their city. Here’s a link to a great “coffee stop” in Ashtabula, between Cleveland and Erie and on the lake. https://goo.gl/maps/Yw3bdLHjKyJC7b1BA
Thanks for your kind words. I don’t understand why Cleveland gets such a bad rap as we had a wonderful time exploring many of the museums around the city. It didn’t seem very lively though, especially considering we were there a few days before the 4th of July, but I’ll take that over having to elbow my way through the crowds. Thanks for the suggestion about the coffeehouse. I’ll have to add it to the list for the next time we’re in the area. If the weather was nicer we would have liked to stop in Erie, but we’ll just have to save that for another time.
Hi Linda, looks like you had a fantastic trip, and it seems like there are many things to do in Cleveland.
For sure. We’ve driven through Ohio before, but haven’t really stopped to explore many of the sights. I was pleasantly surprised at how many museums there are in Cleveland. The only downside was that we had to drive everywhere, but at least traffic wasn’t bad.
I almost feel like apologizing for your treatment at the border. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame would be high on my list. I suppose that dates me!
The traffic combined with then having to deal with secondary customs made this one of the most unpleasant border crossings we’ve ever experienced. All I can say is that I’m so glad we used the restrooms just before crossing the border! If we had more time we would have loved to visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but we’ll just have to save that for another time!
Whoa!! You went inside of a submarine ?! The photos are so neat !!! I am terrified of submarines but I have to admit, the way it’s decorated does help it look more homey. That must been so neat even though crampt. I was in Erie with my friend a few summers ago. I loved it. We stayed at an air BNB. It was so chill. It really gave me a hunger for living with Matt. It’s funny because where he and I live has the same calm vibe 🙂 . Great photos !!!
Thanks! It was pretty neat to explore the submarine. I can’t imagine what it would be like to live there given the tight quarters, lack of sunlight, and poor air quality though. I had a hard enough time as is when it was just the two of us down there and we weren’t even underwater! We were hoping to spend some time in Erie on the drive back home, but the weather was awful and it pretty much rained all day. We’ll just have to return someday. There’s always something so calming and relaxing about being by the water.
How coincidental that you visited my birthplace hometown which I feel is one of the most underappreciated cities in America.
I don’t understand why Cleveland is so underrated. When we were crossing the border and said we were heading to Cleveland, the customs agent’s reaction was like “why would you want to go there”!? I was pleasantly surprised at how much there is to see and explore. And the museums themselves were top notch, especially the Cleveland Museum of Art. Plus it’s also close to Cuyahoga Valley National Park, which was also a huge bonus. Needless to say, we enjoyed our time in your hometown.
Looks like there is a lot to do in cleveland. Think I’ll make a stop whenever I get to hiking that way
For sure. One of the main reasons we decided to visit Cleveland was to also explore Cuyahoga Valley National Park, which is located nearby. There is surprisingly a lot to see and do in the city. I would highly recommend a visit to the Cleveland Museum of Art. The only downside is that it’s not very walkable and you have to drive to get to many of the museums (and then pay for parking).