Want to make the coldest days in Cleveland some of the coolest? Winter can be brutal here on the north coast, but you can make the most of it by getting fully immersed in arts and culture, tipping back some warm drinks, and maybe building a snowman or two.
You've never had this much fun with so little mercury in the thermometer. Bundle up, because it’s time to make The Land your winter playground.
Day 1
Breakfast
Start your morning in Tremont with some coffee and cats at affoGATO Café. One half of this local staple serves bakery items and lattes, while the other side lets you pet kittens (and even adopt them).
Morning
Sledding on a tiny plastic shield down a steep hill not really your thing? We agree. Let us recommend something exponentially better: tobogganing. We’re talking legit tobogganing down a bona fide toboggan chute. To be clear, that’s a 700-foot tobogganing chute that’ll have you going down at hill at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour (but who’s counting). It happens throughout the winter at the Chalet in the Cleveland Metroparks Mill Stream Run Reservation.
Lunch
For a quick lunch, head to The Brew Kettle before you drive down to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, about 20 miles south of Downtown. Warm up with comfort food off of their enormous menu, featuring convenient hand-helds like Buffalo Chicken Wraps, Smoked Cheese Steaks or one of their famous burgers.
Afternoon
Get your second dose of adrenaline at Boston Mills & Brandywine where you can ski, snowboard and snow tube on 18 trails. The two next-door resorts in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park feature lifts, rental equipment and lodges to warm your toes. Or, if you’re over the downhill rush, opt for the 125+ miles of nearby hiking trails for a crisp stroll through some of Ohio’s most dramatic scenery.
Dinner
LockKeepers is the dining equivalent of your favorite winter scarf that takes the bite out of winter. Open for a spacious indoor dinner or to-go, this Cleveland-area staple is a true fine-dining establishment, offering piping-hot, Italian-inspired entrees and friendly service.
Evening
Head back Downtown to take a stroll along North Coast Harbor before closing out your day. Have a mindbending adventure at the Museum of Illusions, where 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.
Day 2
Breakfast
Winter in Cleveland isn’t too bad when you’ve got a delicious, hot breakfast to start your day. Head to Betts on East 9th at the Schofield for your morning meal, where you can grab some Millennial-approved avocado toast, an AM Power Bowl, or eggs just about any way you want them. Grab-and-go at this establishment is quick, easy, and available for any item on their food menu.
Morning
Want to know why we have the prettiest grocery store ever? Or where you can find the world’s largest outdoor chandelier? Take a personalized tour from SEE CLE, during which you’ll get the inside scoop on Cleveland’s most famous buildings, residents and history from a knowledgeable, engaging guide. Pack your walking shoes – the tour is two hours long, but you’ll have plenty of opportunities along the way to sit and hear the tales of the town.
Lunch
Yours Truly sits in the heart of Downtown just steps from Playhouse Square in the historic Halle Building. You’ve got your choice of homestyle entrees, wraps, sandwiches, soups, salads, or burgers on their extensive menu – and don’t forget the sweet stuff. (We suggest a home baked apple pie for the real deal.)
Afternoon
Drive about 15 minutes east to spend some time in University Circle. They're not afraid to embrace their inner "Old Man Winter" there. Enjoy warm white lights that illuminate the Circle, and you can take a stroll along the lagoon afterward. Head to the Coffee House after for some warm-ups.
Late Afternoon
Need a little vacation from reality? Head over to the Cleveland Botanical Garden where you can spend some time walking the grounds, birdwatching and getting in your steps while surrounded by beauty. As twilight nears, take a twinkle treelight walk on select woodland paths.
Dinner
Treat yourself to one of the top restaurants in Cleveland, L’Albatros Brasserie and Bar. This upscale hot spot is located in an old carriage house on the campus of Case Western Reserve University. Gorgeous plates of French cuisine are served in a romantic setting or available for curbside pickup.