What makes cleveland great

Or maybe just go back to this Lakewood and Cleveland Heights eatery again. And again. Cedar Point. Roller Coaster Capital of the World is only about an hour away. Nothing like a close, quick, fun getaway.

Memphis Kiddie Park. How many circa parks for tykes are there left in America? A handful, but none more vintage than this one. Amish country. Need to slow down? Head south for a good meal, pleasant stroll and a quiet getaway.

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. One of the gems of the Metroparks, there's always a new program among the dozens of exhibits.

Boutique shopping. Ingenuity fest. A fun, unique marriage of art and technology. Parade the Circle. Creative, colorful University Circle event is an annual family draw. It's not just one style around town. Old Arcade. Our Victorian lady, one of the first malls in America, glass-domed and shining in brass. Free July 4th concerts. Fireworks and the Cleveland Orchestra under the stars downtown. Wonderful sights and sounds for free. Higher ed. Not just good schools, but good in different areas.

Try Case Western Reserve University. Plastics and polymers? University of Akron. John Carroll University. How about a known liberal-arts tradition? Oberlin College. Want to teach? Baldwin-Wallace College.

Like liquid crystals, fashion or journalism? Head to Kent State University. Want to learn about urban affairs? Check out accessible Cleveland State University. Art walks. A summer weekend without an art walk seems pretty rare. Yes, we still have them. Rockefeller Park. Green space across the city with ethnic gardens, handsome stone bridges and separate north and south bike paths.

Phoenix Coffee. Roasted coffee beans are not a bad scent to smell as you walk downtown. Hot dogs. Stadium mustard. Mouth-watering requirement for those dogs. Bacon and eggs and nighthawks! The diner scene has eats and personality with the Little Polish Diner, Diner on East 55th, Diner on Clifton and a heaping plate of other spots.

Velvet Tango Room. Classic cocktails might be the rage, but this nationally acclaimed West Side snazz-pad started the trend. For some cities it's nothing more than a trendy old-school throwback. For us, it never left. Zack Bruell's homage to French food can make you say, Oui, oui. Bruell also knows his way around seafood. Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens.

The Seiberlings' estate in Akron is a rich historical lesson and step back in time every time you visit. People with and without Slovenian ancestry turn out for the annual Cleveland Kurentovanje , a Slovenian version of Mardi Gras that's meant to chase away the blahs of winter and usher in spring. Highlights include a parade down St. Clair Avenue, traditional music, Slovenian food and drink, and the Kurents, furry monsters with beaks and long red tongues whose job it is to scare the wits out of winter.

Cleveland has more than 30 breweries and Greater Cleveland has about 70, making it the fourth largest in the country in number of breweries. Playhouse Square's outdoor foot-tall, 8,pound chandelier signals the way to opera, ballet, concerts, Broadway Series and other shows — Photo courtesy of Destination Cleveland. With a massive outdoor chandelier serving as a beacon, Playhouse Square has 10 performance spaces, including five stages restored to their original 's grandeur.

Hamilton was born in Cleveland in and grew up performing in the city. You may also recognize the name Jesse Owens, the Olympic gold medalist who first gained recognition while a high school track student here in Cleveland, or James Abram Garfield, the 20th President of the United States, who was born and raised in Greater Cleveland.

And, of course, the city is also home to you and me, proving that Cleveland produces some unique and driven personalities! Intercultural exchange is evident everywhere one looks, from the architecture to our cuisine. Cleveland is a city that loves to celebrate its roots, which have been immortalized in the Cultural Gardens of Rockefeller Park.

There is so much love, in fact, that the first Sweetest Day was celebrated here in During that celebration, the biggest celebrities of the day handed out candy to locals. Today, the holiday has more of a romantic connotation and is celebrated throughout the Midwest. It's undeniable. We have a bit of everything here in Cleveland, and we truly adore our hometown. Cleveland In Your Inbox spinner. If you'd like to become a member of our guest blog community, all you have to do is share your idea with us!

Send us an email at [email protected] and we'll provide you with more details! Brought to you by. What has me so enamored of this city? The best and the worst sports teams When I moved back to Ohio in , the Indians were yet another mediocre baseball team and the Cavs were just glad to have LeBron back.

Unbeatable housing costs When I lived in Washington, D. So much nature! World-class health care When I cracked my head open in New Hampshire, there was just one hospital nearby.

A diverse population New Hampshire, where I once lived, is the third least diverse state in the U. In Cleveland, by contrast, estimates say communities here represent as many as nationalities, evident in neighborhoods such as Slavic Village, Little Italy, and the heavily Polish Tremont.