Destination Cleveland Announces Activities for "Be A Tourist In Your Hometown" Weekend

CLEVELAND (March 10, 2019) – Destination Cleveland today announced details for its upcoming “Be a Tourist in Your Hometown” weekend, a special event designed to encourage residents to use the activity and entertainment planning resources that are available to experience firsthand all that can be enjoyed in Northeast Ohio. The event is part of Destination Cleveland’s Visit Me in CLE campaign, which aims to engage residents in growing the travel and tourism industry.

From March 20-24, residents can enjoy special discounts and tours throughout the city as well as an East Side-West Side challenge in which locals will be incentivized to explore and learn about locations on both sides of the city. The challenge encourages them to go beyond their regular “haunts” – to try new places and begin to break down the barriers that residents told Destination Cleveland they face when trying to explore the region.

“Research conducted last year showed that locals were seeking planning tools like those we offer at Destination Cleveland, but they weren’t aware of our resources,” said David Gilbert, president and CEO, Destination Cleveland. “After introducing residents to our tools through this campaign, they can now put them to use by participating in ‘Be a Tourist in Your Hometown’ weekend to gain firsthand experience at the region’s wide variety of attractions and activities. We believe that this event will give residents the resources and experience they need to feel confident in creating authentic recommendations for visitors.”

Gilbert continued, “Residents are even encouraged to take the next step in sharing their love for their hometown by inviting family and friends to visit them in Cleveland this year – especially for Visit Me in CLE weekend during the first days of summer this June.”

Many details for the weekend are listed below. More information will be added to www.HometownTouristCLE.com in the days leading up to “Be a Tourist in Your Hometown” weekend.
 
BE A TOURIST IN YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKEND KICKOFF
Music Box Supper Club in the Flats West Bank will host a free “Be a Tourist” concert on Thursday, March 21, to begin the weekend’s festivities. Residents can hear classic rock favorites performed by the local band First Offenders. Doors will open at 5 p.m., and the concert begins at 7 p.m.

Thirsty Dog in the Flats East Bank will also host a kickoff event on Thursday, March 21. Time of the party will be published to www.HometownTouristCLE.com.

EAST SIDE – WEST SIDE CHALLENGE
Through the East Side-West Side Challenge, residents will be able to learn about and explore different tourist activities they could recommend to others on both sides of Cleveland. Locals are encouraged to go to “Be A Tourist” hub locations on the east side and the west side of the city, pick up an East Side-West Side Challenge book and use the information and itineraries provided by each neighborhood to experience new activities. Then they can visit different attractions, shops, breweries and restaurants in the neighborhood, track their progress in the book and return to a hub to redeem their prize. Locals can also get their East Side-West Side Challenge book at the “Be a Tourist in Your Hometown” weekend kickoff events and the Cleveland Visitors Center. Hub locations, which will serve as mini visitor centers throughout the weekend, are listed below:

East Side Hub Locations:

• North Coast Harbor: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Plaza, 1100 E. 9^th St.
• Playhouse Square: U.S. Bank Plaza, 1350 Euclid. Ave.
• Gateway District: Cleveland Visitors Center, 334 Euclid Ave.
• Flats East Bank: 1146 Old River Road
• University Circle: University Circle Visitors Center, 11330 Euclid Ave.
• St. Clair Superior: Asia Plaza, 2999 Payne Ave.
• Larchmere District, Shaker Heights: Loganberry Books, 13015 Larchmere Blvd.

West Side Hub Locations:

• Ohio City: TownHall, 1909 W. 25^th St.
• Detroit Shoreway: Brewnuts, 6501 Detroit Road
• Tremont: Bourbon Street Barrel Room, 2393 Professor Ave.
• Flats West Bank: Music Box Supper Club, 1148 Main Ave.
• South Flats: The Foundry | Rowing & Sailing Center – Cleveland, 1831 Columbus Road

Hub locations will be open on Friday, March 22, 4 - 8p.m.; Saturday, March 23, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.; and Sunday, March 24, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

DISCOUNTS AND SPECIAL OFFERS
Destination Cleveland is collaborating with partner organizations to offer discounts for residents to explore locations throughout Northeast Ohio. Discounts and promotions will be offered for at the following attractions and activities. Please note that additional discounts may be offered throughout the weekend and will be published to www.HometownTouristCLE.com.

• The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will open its new Class of 2019 Hall of Fame exhibit on Friday, March 22. In addition to the free admission offered to City of Cleveland residents, suburban residents who live in zip codes beginning with 440-443 will receive $5 off each general admission ticket purchased.

• The Greater Cleveland Aquarium will offer a $5 discount on general admission with the code BeATourist19 at the ticket counter from Thursday, March 21 - Sunday, March 24.
• The University Circle CirclePass is an all-in-one ticket that admits guests to the Cleveland Botanical Garden, Cleveland History Center and Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Residents can receive 10 percent off the pass by using the discount code BEATOURIST when booking online at circlepass.universitycircle.org through Sunday, March 24.

• The Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland (moCa) will host “Get to Know Us Donuts and Coffee at moCa” on Saturday, March 23. Residents can enjoy free donuts, coffee and admission to the museum and meet moCa’s curatorial team.
• The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and The RainForest will offer “buy one, get one” tickets from Wednesday, March 20 - Sunday, March 24.
• On Wednesday, March 20 and Thursday, March 21, the first 50 guests to mention ‘DESTINATION CLEVELAND’ and book 9 holes at any Cleveland Metroparks Golf Course, will get 9 holes free for their partner the same day. This offer requires the purchase of a cart and is weather permitting. Residents can call to redeem and secure their tee time or purchase on site. This is limited to 50 guests per course, per day.
• The City Club of Cleveland will offer nonmembers a 20 percent discount to attend its “More Green, Less White: Diversity in the Environmental Movement” program on Friday, March 22. Nonmembers can use the code VISITCLE to receive the 20 percent discount.
• From Friday, March 22 - Sunday, March 24, Wine & Design in Tremont will offer $5 wine tastings and 10 percent off of CLE, Cleveland and Tremont wine glasses when the “Be a Tourist” discount is mentioned.
• Intro Boutique will offer 20 percent off of clothing and shoe purchases from Wednesday, March 20 – Sunday, March 24. If locals spend $150, they will receive a free skyline coin purse.
• Rocket Fizz will offer a free small bag of taffy with a $25 purchase from Friday, March 22 –
  Sunday, March 24.
• The Cleveland Orchestra will offer $25 orchestra seats for performances of “Strauss’s A Hero’s Life,” on Thursday, March 21 and Saturday, March 23. Locals can use the promo code CLEORCH when purchasing online at www.clevelandorchestra.com. Anyone attending these concerts will receive a 20 percent off promo e-mail for a forthcoming concert (“Debussy and Scriabin” 4/25, 4/26, 4/27).
• City Brew Tours Cleveland will offer a 10 percent discount on tours from Wednesday, March 20 -Sunday, March 24. Residents can enter CLEHometown10 when booking online at www.citybrewtours.com/cleveland.
• A Christmas Story House will offer “buy one, get one” admission for residents from Wednesday, March 20 - Sunday, March 24. The gift shop will also offer 20 percent off of select products, as well as a raffle to spend the night at A Christmas Story House.
• Margaritaville will offer “buy any entrée and receive a 2^nd entrée free” for residents from Wednesday, March 20 - Sunday, March 24. Locals can use the code DCLEVEBOGO (one per table per transaction).
• Eye Ready Charters LLC will offer $50 off fishing charters when residents book before March 31. Locals can call 440.759.6150 for this offer.
• Locals can enter the discount code HOMETOWNCLE when using Lyft and receive 15 percent off of four rides up to $5. The discount code is valid from Thursday, March 21 - Sunday, March 24.
• Platinum Parking will offer $4 parking at select lots near Playhouse Square during the following dates and times. Residents must enter code 4004 at the pay machines to receive the discount. Parking lots include: 2239 E. 14^th St.; 1734 E. 17^th St.; 2160 E. 18^th St.; 1600 Payne Ave. (corner of E. 17^th and Walnut)
  • Thursday, March 21, 7 - 10 p.m.; Friday, March 22, 4 - 8 p.m.;
    Saturday, March 23, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Sunday, March 24, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Shaia’s Parking, Inc. will offer $4 parking at select lots near the Flats East Bank and Playhouse Square during the following dates and times. Residents must present the coupon that will be available at www.HometownTouristCLE.com. Parking lots include: 1055 Old River Road, 1155 W. 11^th St. and 1325 Chester Ave.
  • Thursday, March 21, 7 - 10 p.m.; Friday, March 22, 4 - 8 p.m.;
    Saturday, March 23, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Sunday, March 24, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Cleveland also has many attractions that are always free to residents. From museums like the Cleveland Museum of Art, Baseball Heritage Museum and Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland – Learning Center & Money Museum to outdoor activities like the Cleveland Metroparks, Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Lake View Cemetery, residents can enjoy Northeast Ohio experiences that don’t cost a thing. Residents can view some of Cleveland’s free attractions, as well as suggested itineraries at www.HometownTouristCLE.com.

DOWNTOWN TOURS
Tours are another way that residents can explore the city and its billions of dollars in recent developments during Be A Tourist weekend. The following tours will be available:

• Trolley Tours of Cleveland (Lolly the Trolley) will offer reduced rates for tours on Friday, March 22 - Sunday, March 24. Residents can take the one-hour tour for $10 or the 2.5 hour-tour for $15. Residents must call 216.771.4484 for reservations.
• Walking Tours of Downtown Cleveland will offer a $5 discount on tours from Wednesday March 20 -Sunday, March 24. Residents can use the discount code BEATOURIST19 when booking online at toursofcleveland.com.
• Playhouse Square will offer free tours of its theaters on Saturday, March 23 from 10 - 11:30 a.m. (last tour departs at 11:30 a.m.). Residents must register at www.HometownTouristCLE.com.
• Severance Hall will offer free tours for residents. Tours will be offered on Wednesday, March 20 from
  4 - 5 p.m.; Thursday, March 21, 1 - 2 p.m. and Friday, March 22, 2 - 3 p.m. Tour space is limited (20 people each tour), and locals must reserve a spot in advance by calling 216.231.7493.
• Two free Cleveland Historic Hotels Experiential Take a Hike! tours will take place on Saturday, March 23 and Sunday, March 24. The first tour will include stops at Drury Plaza Hotel Downtown Cleveland, The Hyatt Regency at the Arcade, Holiday Inn Express and The Metropolitan at the 9. The second tour includes the Kimpton Schofield Hotel, The Residence Inn by Marriott in the 5^th Street Arcades and the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel. Reservations are required. Part one reservations can be made here and part 2 can be accessed here.

To learn more about “Be a Tourist in Your Hometown” weekend and stay up-to-date on additional opportunities, please visit www.HometownTouristCLE.com. Residents are also encouraged to follow Destination Cleveland on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, share their adventures throughout the weekend and encourage family and friends to come to Cleveland by tagging pictures of the places they want them to see with #VisitMeInCLE on social media. ABOUT DESTINATION CLEVELAND: Destination Cleveland is Cleveland’s destination marketing and management organization. This private, non-profit organization’s mission is to drive economic impact and stimulate community vitality for Greater Cleveland through leisure and business travel. Cleveland welcomes 18.5 million visitors annually. For more information, visit www.thisiscleveland.com.