Here in Cleveland, we know a thing or two about snow boots, parkas, rainjackets and umbrellas. And, while some of us love to boo-hoo over less-than-perfect weather, the rest of us just pile on the layers and keep busy at many of Cleveland’s indoor attractions. Flip Mother Nature the bird at these inside locations …
Stay Inside and Play
Designed for novices and speed demons alike, BOSS PRO-Karting in Brookpark lets drivers go full Cole Trickle at the area’s only high-speed indoor/outdoor karting facility. Even better, there’s live timing to keep your bragging rights in check.
Think of Adrenaline Monkey in Warrensville Heights as a pumped-up “Choose Your Own Adventure” book, offering ninja-style and Parkour courses, climbing walls, and aerial ropes. (And if you’d rather monkey around playing video games, the on-site arcade is pretty rad, too.)
Embrace the impossible at the Museum of Illusions right in Downtown Cleveland. Here, you can defy gravity in the Reversed Room, hang from a skyscraper, explore interactive exhibits like the Walk-in Kaleidoscope and Vortex Tunnel and more.
At this “fun, no-attitude, indoor bicycle park,” check your ‘tude at the door and let your inner badass do the biking. (The helmet hair is totally worth it.) Ray’s Indoor Bike Park offers MTB and BMX courses geared at all levels of difficulty, not to mention deals for first-timers.
Talk about a day-to-night glowup. The Corner Alley starts off the day as a family-friendly, 16-lane bowling alley with elevated Americana fare, and ends it as a slick, bourbon-soaked downtown nightlife destination. HD-TVs and local craft brews take this East 4th Street sportsbar to another level.
The entire crew can get in on the action with tons of games (and beer, wine and cocktails to boot) at this newer giant Ohio City fun center (that’s kid-friendly until 8 p.m.). Enjoy the exciting vibes and take a shot at bocce, duckpin, classic pinball, foosball and arcade games. Be sure to reserve your lane for duckpin bowling. We dig the totally Instagrammable Hulk Hogan drink, garnished with a festive red, white and blue popsicle. Sign me up!
Instead of the usual, hit up a bowling alley and restaurant/bar combo that channels actual classy vibes. Head to Pinecrest for Pinstripes and rent a lane for bowling or bocce while enjoying pretty cocktails and house-made Italian-American eats like decadent Lobster Mac & Cheese, juicy Cowboy Burgers or seasonal gelato on two floors of fun, patios and firepits. This spot slings the best pizzas and flatbreads from a wood-burning oven and has both indoor and outdoor seating. Pro tip: Don’t sleep on the tenderloin sliders.
Bars That’ll Warm You Up
What started as an idea on a patio in Bordeaux has become a hip new wine shop and bar in Detroit Shoreway’s Gordon Square Arts District. Flight Cleveland offers 29 wines on tap, local draft beers and a 400-bottle shop for vino-on-the-go.
Grab a book and a beer at the fittingly named Bookhouse Brewing in Ohio City. Their beer has been voted some of the best in town, and the ambience is just as great. The over-a-century-old building was a brewery back in 1866. Talk about carrying on a tradition.
No, we're not short on bars or breweries in The Land. CLICK HERE for more.
Explore History and Nature
No trip to Cleveland is complete without a journey to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Walk through seven levels of exhibits and gawk at artifacts and memorabilia from generations of rock legends. Check out rotating exhibits, including the latest class of inductees, and peruse the well-stocked gift shop for the perfect souvenir.
Containing arguably one of the most renowned art collections in the world, the Cleveland Museum of Art is a must for any visitor’s itinerary. Sure, you can lay eyes on one of the largest Egyption relic collections in the world, but make time to also check out the works of the greatest artists of all time while you're there. There's Monet's Water Lilies, Picasso's La Vie, Warhol's Marilyn x 100, Caravaggio’s The Crucifixion of Saint Andrew, Auguste Rodin’s The Thinker, and about 45,000 other mind-blowing pieces. Did we mention admission is free?
Be honest — how much do you really remember from your class field trip to the natural history museum? There is no time like your vacay in Cleveland to see what you missed — or forgot — that first time around, now that your brain is fully formed. You’ll see rotating temporary exhibits all year long and a permanent collection that includes a cast of “Lucy,” our 3.2 million-year-old human ancestor, a full-sized replica of a T-Rex and the 70-foot-long, 14-foot-tall skeleton of “Happy,” the oldest sauropod on display in the world.