CLEVELAND (Oct. 17, 2019) – Fall is officially here, and Northeast Ohio’s beautifully colored leaves are the perfect backdrop to discover some hidden gems close to home. From uncovering unique attractions and off-the-beaten path dining options to exploring the great outdoors, Destination Cleveland recommends locals be tourists in their hometown and scour Northeast Ohio to determine the best part of The Land.
UNIQUE EXPERIENCES
Glass Bubble Project
Residents can channel Cleveland’s creative energy through
the Glass Bubble Project and create one-of-a-kind art pieces. Guests have the option to take metal sculpture or glass blowing classes and learn the basics of these art mediums. Cleveland’s budding artists choose the project and work one-on-one with the instructor to create their own masterpiece. In addition to glassblowing and art welding classes, the Glass Bubble Project studio is home to a full art gallery and Morty the Rooster.
- 2421 Bridge Ave, Cleveland
- Daily, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; workshops select evenings
Museum of Divine Statues
Home to rescued and restored religious statues, the
Museum of Divine Statues preserves the artifacts and art of parishes recently decommissioned by the Cleveland Catholic Diocese. The museum itself is in the former St. Hedwig Parish, where a workshop inside the museum is used for on-site restoration. Clevelanders can spend a Sunday afternoon reflecting and revering these divine statues. If visitors find a statue moves them, they can sponsor it and even dedicate it to a loved one or family member.
- 12905 Madison Ave, Lakewood
- Sunday, noon - 4 p.m.
International Women’s Air and Space Museum
Locals can take flight to the North Coast Harbor and learn about women’s impact on air and space travel at the
International Women’s Air and Space Museum. The free museum, located at Burke Lakefront Airport, showcases memorabilia and historical artifacts from women in aviation and space like Amelia Earhart, Bessie Coleman, Sally Ride and the Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASP).
- Burke Lakefront Airport, 1501 N. Marginal Road #165, Cleveland
- Daily, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
5th Street Arcades
5th Street Arcades, a combination of the 121-year-old Colonial Arcade and 108-year-old Euclid Arcade, offer more than 20 locally owned stores for residents to peruse. Located in the heart of Downtown Cleveland, the historic shopping arcades house a variety of unique retail shops like Kilted Bros,
The Whatknot Bow Company,
Haymarket Cleveland and
CLE Steampunk Shop. Clevelanders can get a touch up at
Style House Beauty Bar or Bobby C’s Barbershop. If locals work up an appetite while shopping, they can choose from different dining options like Addy’s Diner and
Little Shop of Cookies.
- 530 Euclid Ave, Cleveland
- Individual business hours vary
Sweeties Big Fun
Two of Clevelanders’ longtime favorite businesses, B.A. Sweetie and Big Fun, have come together as
Sweeties Big Fun at
Pinecrest. Part candy store and part toy store, this shop is full of funny gifts and sweets for any Clevelander’s sense of humor and sweet tooth. From gag gifts like whoopee cushions and hand buzzers to cheeky humored “dirty socks,” visitors can expect to laugh while checking out the store. The candies include some well-known, tasty treats and new favorites waiting to be discovered. If the candy is not tempting enough, fresh caramel corn is available in the store.
- 10 Park Ave, Orange Village
- Monday - Thursday, 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Friday - Saturday, 11 a.m. - 10 a.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Boss Pro-Karting & Events
Ready for life in the fast lane?
Boss Pro-Karting will get any Clevelander’s adrenaline pumping! “Arrive and Drive” sessions are available every day, or residents can book their races in advance. Locals can cruise around a track based on real race circuits in electric race karts and get immediate timing feedback on their performance. Boss Pro-Karting has experiences for novice drivers, racing enthusiasts and kids. All visitors need to bring is the “need for speed,” and Boss provides everything else – including snazzy racing suits.
- 18301 Brookpark Road, Cleveland
- Monday, 4 - 10 p.m.; Tuesday - Thursday, noon - 10 p.m.; Friday - Saturday, noon - midnight; Sunday, noon - 10 p.m.
FUN FOOD AND DRINK FINDS
Ball Ball Waffle
Clevelanders can enjoy authentic Hong Kong-style bubble waffles and milk tea without having to travel around the world thanks to
Ball Ball Waffle, located in Cleveland’s Asia Town district of the St. Clair Superior neighborhood. Crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle, these bubble-wrap-shaped waffles are made fresh in a variety of flavors. Guests can choose between sweet or savory bubble waffles with flavors like Oreo chocolate, matcha or cheese with bacon. On weekdays, puff pastry waffles join the menu, offering even more options for patrons.
- 2999 Payne Ave, Cleveland
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, 11:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Saturday - Sunday, 11:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
AffoGATO Cat Café
Cat people – unite!
AffoGATO Cat Café is Cleveland’s first cat café, where visitors can relax and play with up to 16 cats at a time! Clevelanders can sip on a “catpawccino” as they make a new feline friend and watch other cool cats strut their stuff on the catwalk. The ultimate purrrk? All AffoGATO’s cats are from the Cleveland Animal Protective League. If patrons are PAWSitive they cannot leave a cat behind, they can adopt them.
- 761 Starkweather Ave, Cleveland
- Wednesday - Sunday, 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
The Speakeasy at Quintana’s
Quintana’s in Cleveland Heights transforms from a barbershop by day to speakeasy and lounge by night, all hidden behind a “secret” bookcase. Locals can try classic cocktails or original concoctions like the “Cranbeery Cocktail” or “Urban Lumberjack.” On certain days throughout the year, Clevelanders can participate in craft cocktail making classes and learn to create their favorite drink.
- 2200 S. Taylor Road, Cleveland Heights
- Monday – Thursday, 3 p.m. - midnight; Friday – Saturday, noon - midnight
La Plaza Taqueria
Located in La Plaza Supermarket on Cleveland’s west side, residents can find an authentic taste of Mexico at
La Plaza Taqueria. The sit-down restaurant offers tasty tacos, tamales, quesadillas and tortas, all of which can be topped with one of La Plaza’s house-made salsas. Side dishes like refried beans, guacamole and Spanish rice round out a delicious meal.
- 13609 Lakewood Heights Blvd., Cleveland
- Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Sweet Moses
One stop at
Sweet Moses can remind Clevelanders to keep life simple. This soda fountain and treat shop transports locals back in time with homemade ice cream, made-from-scratch treats and pharmacy-era soda fountain drinks, all served up on doilies. If residents and their friends have a major sweet tooth, they can take on the Terminal Tower Sundae, which is ten scoops of ice cream, topped with almonds, pecans and sprinkles!
- 6800 Detroit Ave, Cleveland
- Sunday - Thursday, noon - 10 p.m.; Friday - Saturday, noon - midnight
- Happy hour specials: Monday - Friday, 2 - 6 p.m.
OUTDOORS AND OFF-THE-BEATEN PATH
Punderson State Park
Approximately 40 minutes from Downtown Cleveland,
Punderson State Park is beautiful year-round, but the peaking autumn leaves add another level to its scenic views. With a natural lake and several different hiking and walking trails, there are plenty of ways Clevelanders can immerse themselves in fall’s changing colors. After enjoying the great outdoors, residents can check out
Punderson Manor. This historic English-Tudor manor was built in 1929 and is known to host spirits from its past. On Friday evenings in October, Clevelanders can join the manor historian for stories and haunted tails of Geauga County, Punderson State Park and Punderson Manor.
Lake View Cemetery
Lake View Cemetery is the final resting place of President James A. Garfield, John D. Rockefeller and many other famous Clevelanders like Henry A. Sherwin, founder of The Sherwin-Williams Company, DJ Alan Freed and Prohibition agent Eliot Ness. But, not all cemetery dwellers have found their final resting place at the cemetery. Clevelanders can discover the owls that call the cemetery home during the upcoming “
Owl Prowl Walking Tour.” In addition, residents can admire the cemetery’s unique architecture and art, including the Wade Memorial Chapel, the interior of which was completely designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany and his studio, or the Haserot Angel, which appears to be weeping black tears as a result of aging bronze and sculpting work.
- 12316 Euclid Ave, Cleveland
- Please visit lakeviewcemetery.com for visiting times for The Garfield Monument and Wade Memorial Chapel
- Owl Prowl Walking Tour, Friday, Nov. 22, 7 - 9 p.m.; reservations required
Cleveland Metroparks
Residents are likely to have a favorite spot(s) in at least one of the
Cleveland Metroparks’ 18 reservations. With 100 hiking trails to choose from, opportunities abound to discover hidden gems along the way. In the Rocky River Reservation, locals can visit the
Smoky Memorial, which celebrates Yorkshire Terrier Smoky who aided troops during World War II and later became one of the world’s first therapy dogs on record. In the South Chagrin Reservation, Clevelanders can see the
Henry Church Jr., Rock. Blacksmith, spiritualist and artist Henry Church carved images, like an eagle and shield amongst others, in the rock, dating the piece in 1885. In the Garfield Park Reservation, residents can marvel at Cuyahoga County’s tallest waterfall,
Mill Creek Falls.
For more hidden gems, new attractions and activities or to learn more about Destination Cleveland, check out
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DON’T FORGET: Destination Cleveland’s Concierge Team is also available to help residents and their visiting family and friends explore the region. Contact our team through email at
[email protected], live chat at
thisiscleveland.com or stop in the Cleveland Visitors Center (334 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 44114) Mon. – Sat., 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. to plan your adventure.
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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 19.2 million visitors annually. For more information, visit www.thisiscleveland.com