World City Guide

Mini Guide of Cleveland

City Overview

Cleveland sits on the southern banks of Lake Erie at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River – a city of green parks, lively neighbourhoods and historic buildings. Local residents are proud of its high quality of life and recent awards that attest to its liveability. Miles of parkland encircle the city, while museums, sporting and cultural events and visitor-friendly attractions lure residents and visitors alike to Downtown areas. It is one of the few American cities with park access in the heart of the city. Visitors, especially, are often surprised to discover a vibrant Downtown with distinct neighbourhoods and a lively urban atmosphere. True, its roots are certainly more prosaic than those of New York, Los Angeles or Boston, but Cleveland has outgrown its industrial past. Once known as a ‘steel town’ during the Industrial Era of Ohio’s development, it is now a healthy mix of manufacturing and service industries.

Cleveland’s Public Square provides a skyline of skyscrapers now, but its roots date back to wilderness beginnings when Moses Cleaveland arrived from Connecticut to survey the region in 1796. It is difficult to imagine an old-time village green amid horse-drawn carriages and farm animals ready for market instead of the mass of traffic and one-way streets there today. Cleaveland drew up the plan for the town that would later bear his name (the ‘a’ was dropped in 1834 in order to fit the city’s name on a newspaper’s masthead). The city saw a growth spurt in 1825 with the opening of the Erie Canal, establishing a water route between Lake Erie, the Ohio River and all ports south. Subsequent railroad development advanced Cleveland further and, by 1855, it had become a hub for lumber, ore, coal and farm produce. Later still, it developed as a centre for metal fabrication and oil refining and, by the 1930s, it had the vibrant look and feel of a major city. Today, Cleveland still possesses a strong industrial base, although its economy has diversified into the service sector, as well as science, education and technology.

Unlike many American cities, Cleveland’s Downtown is not only lively, it is the focal point around which the rest of the city nestles. In the middle of the Downtown area is the historic Public Square, a European-style square with statues and fountains. The lakefront, having benefited from committed renewal, is home to the stunningly designed Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, which, when it was built during the last decade, epitomised not only the renewal of Cleveland’s Downtown but the city’s growing cultural presence as well.

More recent additions to Cleveland’s Downtown include Jacobs Field, home to the Cleveland Indians baseball team, and Cleveland Browns Stadium, where the Cleveland Browns play football. The Great Lakes Science Center with its Cleveland Clinic OMNIMAX Theater, nestled between the ‘Rock Hall’ and the stadium, features a hands-on look at science. Downtown areas, such as the Theater District, the Historic Warehouse District, the Flats Entertainment District and the Historic Gateway District are only a few of the trendy spots that continue to grow and prosper.

Cleveland enjoys long, hot summer days, during which locals enjoy the many restaurants featuring alfresco dining, picnic in the surrounding state, national and municipal parks, or gather around the barbecue for casual entertaining. During its cold sometimes snowy winters, the city’s cultural attractions, including theatre, symphony, opera and museums, thrive. The city offers all the trappings of any American city – shopping, sightseeing, excellent service – and, although it possesses a historic flavour popular with tourists and residents, it is most definitely a city that keeps moving forward.

Getting There By Air

Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
Tel: (216) 265 6030. Fax: (216) 265 6021.
Website: www.clevelandairport.com

Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is located 16km (10 miles) southwest of the city centre. The airport functions as the major hub for Continental Airlines and handled more than 13 million passengers in 2001.

Major airlines: Continental Airlines (tel: (216) 771 8419; website: www.continental.com) is the major domestic carrier. Other major carriers include Air Canada, Air Ontario, American, America West, Delta, Midwest Express, Northwest, Trans World Airlines, United Airlines and US Airways.

Airport facilities: These include bureaux de change, ATMs, tourist information, car hire (Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Thrifty), duty-free shops, restaurants and bars.

Business facilities: The Airport Business Center (tel: (216) 265 3975; fax: (216) 265 9071) offers conference rooms, flight insurance, fax machines and photocopying.

Transport to the city: A variety of transport options are available for transit into Cleveland from the airport. Direct journeys to the Downtown core take approximately 20 minutes, assuming reasonable traffic. Taxi service Downtown is available and costs about US$25. Shuttle service is provided by Cleveland Hopkins Airport Limousine Service (tel: (216) 267 8282; website: www.hopkinslimousine.com). Subway train service is operated by the RTA with a single fare costing US$1.50.

Burke Lakefront Airport (BKL)
Tel: (216) 781 6411. Fax: (216) 781 5738.
Website: www.clevelandairport.com

Burke Lakefront Airport is a small airport located right in the heart of Downtown. It services corporate clients and general aviation traffic.

Major airlines: Presently no commercial airlines fly out of the airport but it is possible that commercial services will be launched in the future.

Airport facilities: These include restaurant and car hire.

Business facilities: Millionaire (tel: (216) 861 2030; fax: (216) 265 9071) and Avitat (tel: (216) 781 1200) offer conference room, photocopying, fax and Internet services.

Transport to the city: A Regional Transit Authority rapid transit station is located on site. Taxis are available. Downtown is accessible by foot in a matter of minutes.

Approximate flight times to Cleveland: From London is 7 hours 10 minutes; from New York is 1 hour 30 minutes; from Los Angeles is 5 hours; from Toronto is 1 hour and from Sydney is 21 hours.

Arrival/departure tax: US$3.

Getting There By Water

The Port of Cleveland, the largest port on Lake Erie, is connected to the rest of the Great Lakes and to the Atlantic Ocean via the Great Lakes–St Lawrence Seaway. It is primarily a freight port, however, passenger traffic is being encouraged. Passenger facilities are still rather undeveloped, but it is hoped this will change as passenger traffic increases. Information can be obtained from the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority (tel: (216) 241 8004).

Ferry services: Ferry service to Canada is being negotiated at the moment.

Transport to the city: The Port of Cleveland lies three blocks from Downtown, which is accessible by foot in a matter of minutes. There is also a rapid transit station operated by Regional Transit Authority.

Getting There By Road

As it is throughout the United States, the automobile is an immensely popular form of transport in Cleveland. An extensive network of freeways and highways services Ohio. Freeways, which have a maximum speed limit of 105kph (65mph), are multi-laned and are distinguished by a thick line on maps. Two-lane highways are distinguished on maps by a thinner line and have a maximum speed limit of 89kph (55mph). All freeways and highways are named according to numerical convention. Traffic drives on the right and seatbelts must be worn at all times. The minimum driving age is 16 years. Proof of insurance is compulsory and foreign drivers must possess a licence from their country of origin. The maximum legal alcohol to blood ratio for driving is 0.10%.

The American Automobile Association (AAA; tel: (216) 606 6300 or (800) 222 1333, toll free USA and Canada only; website: www.aaaohio.com) can provide information, and may offer reciprocal benefits to members of automobile clubs in other countries.

Emergency breakdown service:
AAA (800) AAA HELP/222 4357

Routes to the city: Cleveland is connected to its suburbs and the rest of the state by a series of interstate highways. I-90 and I-80 (Ohio Turnpike) run east–west through the Downtown, connecting Toledo in the west and Ashtabula in the east. Running south from the shores of Lake Erie, I-71 connects with Columbus and Cincinnati, while I-77 connects with Akron and points on the eastern half of Ohio. I-480 and I-271 services some suburbs lying on the southern rim of the city centre, such as Brooklyn, Garfield Heights and Solon, by forming bypasses around the city.

Driving times to Cleveland: From Akron – 40 minutes; Columbus – 2 hours 10 minutes; Cincinnati – 4 hours.

Coach services: Intercity coach service in Cleveland is operated by Greyhound (tel: (216) 781 0520; website: www.greyhound.com) out of the Greyhound Bus Terminal at 1465 Chester Avenue. Facilities include restaurants, toilets, lockers and tourist information. Charter coach services can be hired from American Sightseeing/Greatday! Tours & Charter Bus Service (tel: (440) 526 5350) or (800) 362 4905) and Cleveland Rendezvous Receptive Service (tel: (800) 347 8687).

Getting There By Rail

Amtrak (tel: (800) 872 7245, toll free USA and Canada only; website: www.amtrak.com) operates intercity rail services from Amtrak Lakefront Station, 200 Cleveland Memorial Parkway. It is a staffed station and facilities include a wheelchair lift, pay telephones, toilets, food vending machines, baggage service and lockers.

Rail services: Amtrak offers direct daily services to Pittsburgh (journey time – 3 hours 30 minutes), New York (12 hours) and Chicago (7 hours). Many other US cities on the Amtrak network are accessible, although journeys are often very long due to the distances involved.

Transport to the city: The station is located in the heart of Downtown and is serviced by a taxi stand, bus service and a light rail station.

Getting Around

Public Transport
Cleveland has a relatively developed public transit system consisting of four rapid transit lines and over 100 bus routes. These services are operated by the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (tel: (216) 621 9500). Buses serve downtown and the suburbs; some routes operate 24 hours, others only during rush hour, and the rest throughout the day. A regular bus fare is US$1.25, while fares on express routes are US$1.50. Rapid transit lines operate 0400-2400. The red line is a heavy rail system running from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport through downtown to east Cleveland. Both the blue and green lines run from the eastern suburbs to downtown. And the Waterfront line runs, as its name suggests, along the waterfront from Tower City along the east bank of the Flats to the Muni Parking Lot. All the lines intersect underground at Tower City Center. A rapid transit fare costs US$1.50 and it is possible to transfer onto buses. A weekly transit pass costs US$11.25 and a daily pass costs US$4.

Taxis
As with all American cities, taxi service is cheap and efficient. Taxis can be hailed on the street at any time, or can be ordered from a dispatching company if none are available. Companies include: Ace Taxi (tel: (216) 361 4700), Americab (tel: (216) 881 1111) and Yellow Cab (tel: (216) 623 1550). There is a set charge of US$1.50 and rates are then charged according to distance travelled – US$2.70 for the first mile and US$1.80 for each additional mile. A tip of about 10% is not mandatory but appreciated.

Limousines
Limousine service can be a convenient way to get around Cleveland, especially if a variety of different locations must be visited in one day. Providers include American Limousine Service (tel: (216) 221 9330; US$50 per hour), CBS Transportation (tel: (216) 579 9270; US$42 per hour) and Red Sparrow Transportation (tel: (216) 695 7550; US$35 per hour).

Driving in the City
Cleveland’s traffic is usually heaviest around rush hour (0800-0930), particularly on the highways leading into the city. Visitors should be aware that winter snowfalls can bring on dangerous road conditions, particularly on the highways and freeways. The city is laid out on a loose grid system, one that is by no means as uniform as those found in cities like New York, as some avenues traverse the city at odd angles. Roads running north–south are mostly named according to numerical convention, whereas those running east–west are avenues. Cleveland’s most important streets are East Ninth Street and Euclid Avenue. Street parking is available in the downtown core at parking meters that cost 75 cents every hour. Garage parking is often more reliable with rates from US$6. An abundance of garage parking is available near Public Square, adjacent to the Tower City Shopping complex.

Car Hire
A number of different car hire companies operate within Cleveland including Avis, 18923 Maplewood Avenue (tel: (216) 265 3702), Enterprise, 19601 Maplewood Avenue (tel: (440) 345 3999), and Hertz, 19025 Maplewood Avenue (tel: (216) 267 8900). Hire charges generally start as low as US$20 per day.

Drivers must be at least 21 years, and some companies will only rent cars to drivers over 25 years. Drivers with non-American licences must have a national licence from their country of origin. It is recommended that individuals always check with the car hire firm first, in case an Internatinal Driving Permit is required. Insurance can be purchased from the car hire firm.

Bicycle Hire
Cycling around Cleveland is fairly unusual; however, bicycles can be hired from Garfield Bike Shop, 4521 Warner Road (tel: (216) 441 6430; US$20 per day).

Business

Business Profile
Cleveland’s economy is robust and healthy. As the city redefined itself in the 1990s, so did the economy, strengthening an established industrial and service base, while enhancing its emerging science and technology sector. Fortune magazine recently rated Cleveland the sixth best city in North America for business and its residents, who experienced a 30.4% raise in personal income between 1990 and 1996, would not hesitate to agree. Although, the 5.2% of the population that are unemployed may not be feeling as confident in the city’s growth.

Like many of its not-too-distant neighbours – Detroit and Chicago – Cleveland was an industrial centre, close enough to the densely populated northeast to serve its populace, while benefiting from the transport and resource wealth of the Great Lakes and the Midwest. It still retains some of that industrial might to this day, with manufacturing accounting for slightly over 20% of total employment, the highest such percentage among the top 20 markets in the USA. The city is home to some major manufacturing companies, including Goodyear Tire and Rubber, TRW, Sherwin Williams and Eaton Corp.

Nevertheless, as the rest of the North American economy has switched increasingly to the service sector, so has Cleveland’s. Service industries account for nearly 30% of total employment, with business services and health services forming the largest constituents. Major service-based companies headquartered in Cleveland include National City Corp, OfficeMax, Sherwin-Williams, KeyCorp, Progressive Corp and IMG, a sports management and marketing company.

Some of the city’s most dynamic growth has been in science- and technology-related industries, especially in biomedicine, biotechnology and polymer-related industries. NASA’s only facility north of the Mason–Dixon line (the line traditionally demarcating the American South from the North), the NASA Lewis Research Center, along with hundreds of other research and development labs support the kind of high-tech environment enjoyed by companies like BF Goodrich (Aerospace).

Business Etiquette
As a Midwestern city whose traditional economic base was in manufacturing, Cleveland possesses the conservative business manner typical of the region. Its citizens are friendly and hardworking. Formal business wear is often worn in the office, although ‘dress-down’ or ‘casual’ Fridays are common, especially in summer months. Formal business attire can always be counted on for sales calls or when meeting business associates. The working day typically runs 0900-1700, although many career-minded employees work longer hours.

Entertainment commonly takes place in restaurants – occasionally bars – either during lunch or in the evening. It is not common to be invited into a business associate’s home for business purposes, although an invitation to a weekend barbecue during summer months would certainly not be abnormal. Gifts are not usually expected, although token gestures, such as a bottle of wine, are happily accepted after a deal has been completed. Business cards are normally exchanged after meals or meetings, not during introductions. Upon introductions, it is normal to call people by their last names, however, once a relationship has been established, people tend to call one another by their first names. The best time to visit Cleveland for business purposes is between September and May, as the summer is a popular time of year for holidays.

Sightseeing

Sightseeing Overview
Among Cleveland’s icons is the recently built, striking Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, located on the waterfront in the hub of the Downtown core, next to the Great Lakes Science Center and the Cleveland Browns Stadium. To the north is the Civic Center District, the city’s business centre, home to banks, government and community buildings, gardens and fountains. West is the Warehouse District and the Flats Entertainment District, the place to go for trendy restaurants and nightlife. North of the Warehouse District is the Tower City District, home to Public Square, a four-quadranted public area that forms the heart of Cleveland, along with the historic Terminal Tower building. The neighbouring Gateway District is home to Jacobs Field baseball stadium and Gund Arena, where professional basketball is played. East of the Gateway district is the Theater District, featuring the Playhouse Square Center, the largest performing arts centre in America outside New York, made up of five restored 1920s theatres.

Tourist Information
Convention & Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland
Tower City Center, 50 Public Square
Tel: (216) 621 4110 or (800) 321 1004. Fax: (216) 621 5967.
Website: www.travelcleveland.com
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1630, Sat and Sun 1100-1600 (until 1700 May-Sep).

Visitor information centres are also located at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and on Old River Road on the East Bank of the Flats.

Passes
There are no dedicated tourist passes in Cleveland, although there are often visitor package rates that include hotel and attraction/shopping discounts.

Key Attractions

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
The term ‘rock and roll’ was coined by a Cleveland disc jockey in 1951 and it was largely for this reason that Cleveland became home to this institution dedicated to it. When the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum opened in 1995, it was already emblematic of the city’s revival. Designed by the renowned architect I M Pie, the attraction celebrates the American pop-cultural institution of rock music by honouring its popular and influential performers, producers, songwriters and disc jockeys. Various exhibits, films and displays explore nearly all aspects of rock and roll – from the roots of the genre in folk music, blues and country music to a large variety of rock and roll artefacts. As a museum, it features a Hall of Fame exhibit, which includes a computerised juke box containing close to every song of every performer inductee, the signatures of inductees etched in glass, film exhibits and displays of artefacts.

1 Key Plaza
Tel: (216) 781 7625. Fax: (216) 515 1228.
Website: www.rockhall.com
Transport: Rapid transit to Coast Harbour.
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1730 (Wed until 2100).
Admission: US$17 (concessions available).

Cleveland Museum of Art
Known for the breadth and quality of its collection, the Cleveland Museum of Art opened in 1916 in an elegant Beaux Arts building and forms the centrepiece of University Circle, a picturesque cluster of museums, performing-arts facilities and educational institutions. The original structure still stands but has been added to at various times over the years and the museum now houses 70 galleries. The collection itself covers 5000 years, including genres such as Arms and Armour, Medieval and Islamic Art, 19th-century European Painting, American Painting and contemporary Art and Photography.

University Circle, 11150 East Boulevard
Tel: (216) 421 7340.
E-mail: info@cma-oh.org
Website: www.clevelandart.org
Transport: Rapid transit to University Circle.
Opening hours: Tues, Thurs, Sat and Sun 1000-1700, Wed and Fri 1000-2100.
Admission: Free.

Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Incorporated in 1920, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History imaginatively brings to life the natural sciences. Disciplines celebrated within its galleries and exhibits include archaeology, astronomy, botany, cultural anthropology, paleobotany and zoology. Its most celebrated display is the Reinberger Hall of Earth and Planetary Systems – one of the first to integrate the disciplines of geology and astronomy, allowing visitors to touch volcanic rock or experience the rumbling of an earthquake. The museum also houses an extensive collection of gemstones.

1 Wade Oval Drive, University Circle
Tel: (216) 231 4600. Fax: (216) 231 5919.
E-mail: info@cmnh.org
Website: www.cmnh.org
Transport: Rapid transit to University Circle.
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 1000-1700, Sun 1200-1700.
Admission: US$6.50 (concessions available).

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Founded in 1882, the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is the seventh oldest in the United States and home to thousands of animals representing seven continents. The zoo has an outdoor area covering 66 hectares (165 acres) and an indoor area covering 0.8 hectares (two acres). Exhibits include a Northern Trek, including bears, tigers, sea lions and reindeer, an Australian Adventure, featuring koalas, snakes, kangaroos and wallabies, and the Primate Cat and Aquatics Building, which houses animals including gorillas, lungfish and cheetahs. One of the zoo’s most famous exhibits is the Rainforest, an indoor area that presents the delicate animal and plant life of the disappearing tropical rainforests.

3900 Brookside Park Drive
Tel: (216) 661 6500. Fax: (216) 661 3312.
Website: www.clemetzoo.com
Transport: Zoo bus (20C).
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1700.
Admission: US$8 (concessions available).

Cleveland Botanical Garden
Founded in 1930, the Cleveland Botanical Garden is the oldest civic garden in America. Its three hectares (7.5 acres) of meticulously kept greenery includes five different types of garden –Japanese, herb, rose, reading and wildflower. The gardens will be transformed by the addition of the Eleanor Armstrong Smith Glasshouse, due to open in Autumn 2003, which will include a vast greenhouse, with living ecosystem exhibitions, an extensive library, as well as a caf and gift shop and other visitor services.

11030 East Boulevard
Tel: (216) 721 1600. Fax: (216) 721 2056.
Website: www.cbgarden.org
Transport: Rapid transit to University Circle.
Opening hours: Gardens only until Autumn 2003. Apr-Oct Mon-Sat 0900-dusk and Sun 1200-dusk.
Admission: Free.

Great Lakes Science Center
Situated in between the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and the Cleveland Browns Stadium, the Great Lakes Science Center is one of the largest science museums in America. Rather than feature three or four major exhibits, this science centre offers over 340 interactive exhibits, covering a very wide variety of themes, including meteorology, aquatic environments, the planet earth, pollution, sports and music. It focuses on science as it applies to Cleveland in particular – situated as it is on one of the Great Lakes, Lake Erie. There is also a children’s area and an OMNIMAX theatre.

601 Erieside Avenue
Tel: (216) 696 4679. Fax: (216) 696 2140.
Website: www.glsc.org
Transport: Rapid transit to West Third Street.
Opening hours: Sun-Fri 0930-1730, Sat 0930-1845.
Admission: US$7.95.

Further Distractions

Western Reserve Historical Society Museum/Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum
Located in the heart of University Circle, this museum combines a glimpse into Cleveland’s past, a research and genealogy library, and a record of the city’s prominent role in the transportation industry with more than 200 autos on display. The museum also provides visitors a peak into life along Millionaire’s Row – Euclid Avenue as it was called decades ago when the wealthiest industrialists built their mansions here – by offering a tour through its Hay-McKinney Mansion located next door to the museum proper.

10825 East Boulevard
Tel: (216) 721 5722.
Website: www.wrhs.org
Transport: Rapid transit to University Circle.
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 1000-1700, Sun 1200-1700.
Admission: US$7.50.

Steamship William G Mather Museum
The Steamship William G Mather Museum is a living relic of Cleveland’s historic role in the Great Lakes steel industry. Built in 1925, the bulk freighter William G Mather plied the waters of the Great Lakes, supplying coal and ore to Cleveland’s steel yards, with a cargo hold capable of carrying 13,300 tons of iron ore. In 1980, the ship was taken out of active service and, since 1990, has been this floating museum, restored to bring to life the lives of its crew.

North Coast Harbour, 1001 East Ninth Street
Tel: (216) 574 6262. Fax: (216) 574 9053.
Transport: Rapid transit to West Third Street.
Opening hours: May-Oct Mon-Sat 1000-1700, Sun 1200-1700 (Wed Jun-Aug open until 2100).
Admission: US$5 (concessions available).

Tours of the City

Walking Tours
Guided tours are provided by Walking Tours of Cleveland (tel: (216) 575 1189; website: www.clevelandwalkingtours.com), which last two hours and cost US$10. Reservations are required. The Downtown is compact enough that it can easily be explored on foot without the aid of a tour guide. It can be easily accessed from Public Square at Ontario Street and Superior Avenue.

Bus Tours
Trolley Tours of Cleveland (tel: (216) 771 4484 or (800) 848 0173; website: www.lollytrolley.com) operates tours of the city on trolley buses covering 20 miles and over 100 points of interest, such as Warehouse District, the Flats Entertainment District and the Northcoast harbour. The one-hour tour costs US$10 and the two-hour tour costs US$15.

Other Tours
North Coast Ghost Tour (tel: (330) 225 1519) operates a three-hour narrated bus tour to ten haunted sites and places of intrigue (US$25). Those wishing to explore the scenic country surroundings of Cleveland can ride the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (tel: (330) 657 2000 or (800) 468 4070; website: www.cvsr.com), which departs from the city of Independence, south of Cleveland, for a ride through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park before heading to Hale Farm and Village and Downtown Akron.

Excursions

For a Half Day

Kent State University Museum: Located on the picturesque campus of Ohio’s Kent State University, about 30 minutes’ drive east of Cleveland, the Kent State University Museum (tel: (330) 672 3450; website: www.kent.edu/museum) is an unusual institution, which houses an astounding collection of costumes and decorative arts from the 18th century to the present day. Opened to the public in 1985, its collection now includes almost 20,000 items of costume and 200,000 pieces of glass, as well as fine furniture, textiles and paintings. The museum is open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 1000-1645, Thursday 1000-2045 and Sunday 1200-1645; admission costs US$5. Transport by car is recommended via Highway 271 to 480 to 43.

For a Whole Day

Cedar Point Amusement Park: Cedar Point (tel: (419) 627 2350; website: www.cedarpoint.com) began life in the middle of the 19th century as a bathhouse resort on a peninsula jutting into Lake Erie. Soon after, rides were introduced and in the intervening years it has grown into one of the largest ride parks in the USA. Of its 68 rides, the most recent is the Wicked Twister, ‘the world’s tallest and fastest "double-twisting" impulse roller coaster’, which brings the total number of rollercoasters to 15 at this famous park. Millennium Force, the world’s first rollercoaster to offer a single drop of 91m (300ft) is another favourite. Although the park features many other rides – it has the most steel rollercoasters of any single park –making it a popular destination for coaster aficionados the world over. Other facilities include a water park and water ride, an IMAX cinema, a marine mammal complex and a mile-long beach.

Cedar Point is located 98km (61 miles) west of Cleveland and is accessible by car via Highway 6 or Highway 2. A Greyhound bus service is operated to the town of Sandusky, which is itself worth a visit for its attractive rural setting and Downtown square. Cedar Point is open from May to September and admission is US$42.

Kelleys Island: Located in Lake Erie about 19km (12 miles) north of Sandusky, Kelleys Island (tel: (419) 746 2360; website: www.kelleysisland.com) is the largest freshwater American island in Lake Erie and a tranquil day out of the city. Attractions include Inscription Rock State Memorial, a limestone rock with pictographs of men and animals carved 300-400 years ago; three hiking trails, sandy beaches and a picturesque and historic Downtown. Kelley’s Island is also very popular with bird-watchers due to the large number of migrating birds that visit it. The island is accessible by ferry from Marblehead via Highway 163 (total journey time – two hours). It is possible to bring a car onto Kelley’s Island, although foot, bicycle or golf cart is strongly encouraged.

Sport

With three major sports teams, Cleveland is an unusually sports-driven city given its relatively small size. The city’s baseball team is the Cleveland Indians (tel: (866) 488 7423; website: www.indians.com), who play at Jacobs Field, which is considered one of the finest baseball stadiums in North America. A few steps away is Gund Arena (tel: (216) 420 2287; website: www.gundarena.com), where the Cleveland Cavaliers (website: www.cavs.com) play basketball. During winter the Gund is also home to the Cleveland Barons (tel: (216) 420 0000; website: www.clevelandbarons.com) ice hockey team. The Cleveland Browns (website: www.clevelandbrowns.com) are the city’s football team and play at Cleveland Browns Stadium, on the waterfront next to the Great Lakes Science Center. The Cleveland Crunch (tel: (216) 896 1140; website: www.crunchsoccer.com) play soccer fall and spring at Cleveland State University’s Convocation Center. Baseball is played from the middle of spring to the middle of autumn, football during the autumn, basketball during the winter and spring and soccer autumn and spring.

Tickets are usually available from Ticketmaster (tel: (216) 241 5555; website: www.ticketmaster.com) or Tickets.com (tel: (216) 241 6000 or (800) 766 6048; website: www.tickets.com) instead of or as well as the above numbers.

Fitness centres: Balley Total Fitness, 3600 Park East Drive (tel: (216) 765 8085), offers racquetball, free weights, a fitness room, weight machines, track, sauna, steam room and pool. Blacks Health World, 11934 Lorain Avenue (tel: (216) 252 1695), offers free weights, weight machines and cardio equipment. LifeStart Athletic Club, One Cleveland Center, 1375 East Ninth Street (tel: (216) 621 0770), offers a variety of health, fitness and wellness programs.

Golf: Golf is exceedingly popular in Cleveland. There are some 300 courses located in northeastern Ohio. Two popular choices are within the Cleveland Metroparks. Big Met Golf Course, 4811 Valley Parkway, Fairview Park (tel: (440) 331 1070; website: www.clemetparks.com/recreation/bigmet.html; US$18 per 18 holes), is a very popular par-72 course dating from 1926. Manakiki Golf Course, 35501 Eddy Road, Willoughby Hills (tel: (440) 473 3370; website: www.clemetparks.com/recreation/manakiki.html; US$14), is another popular public course, known for its mansion clubhouse and links designed by Donald Ross.

Tennis: The Mayfield Village Racquet Club, 6685 Best Drive (tel: (440) 461 8105; US$26 per hour per court), has 12 courts and charges a guest fee of US$5.

Shopping

Like many American cities, Cleveland offers excellent shopping opportunities. Items are inexpensive and in abundant supply and variety. Cleveland-themed souvenirs popular with visitors are, of course, rock and roll memorabilia and they can be found at Daffy Dan’s Rock’n’Roll Heaven/Cleveland Souvenirs, 2101 Superior Avenue.

On Public Square and connected by walkways to nearby hotels and sports facilities, is the US$400 million development called The Avenue at Tower City Center, whose lower level is a converted train depot and houses various shops, including names like Brooks Brothers, J Crew and Nine West. America’s first enclosed shopping centre, The Arcade, was built in 1890 on Euclid Avenue and is today completely refurbished and renovated, offering three levels of speciality shops in an Atrium-style structure. The new Hyatt Regency Cleveland at The Arcade, 420 Superior Avenue (tel: (216) 443 1000; website: http://cleveland.hyatt.com), also found a home in this landmark structure.

Factory outlet shopping is also popular in Cleveland. The Aurora Premium Factory Outlets, 549 South Chillicothe Road (tel: (330) 562 2000), has 70 outlet stores, including Eddie Bauer, Polo Ralph Lauren and Liz Claiborne. Northeast Ohio’s largest factory outlet centre, featuring over 80 stores, is Prime Outlets at Lodi, 9911 Avon Lake Road (tel: (330) 948 9929), located in Burbank, a short drive southwest of Cleveland off I-71S.

Visitors should also not overlook Cleveland’s various neighbourhoods when shopping. Larchmere is good for antiques, ethnic specialities can be found in Ohio City, and art galleries and Italian pastries and restaurants in Little Italy.

A state sales tax of 7% applies, which cannot be refunded. Stores are open daily 1000-2100. On Sundays, some stores may open 1200-1800.

Culture

The cultural heart of the city is Playhouse Square Center, 1501 Euclid Avenue (tel: (216) 771 8403, information only; website: www.playhousesquare.com), a cultural complex consisting of five restored landmark theatres: the Ohio, State, Palace, Hanna and the Allen Theatres. The major restorations began in 1972 and transformed Playhouse Square into the second largest performing arts centre in the USA, which is now attracts over one million patrons every year. Tickets for Playhouse Square productions can be purchased in person from their box office, online from their website, or from Tickets.com (tel: (216) 241 6000 or (800) 766 6048; website: www.tickets.com).

Ticketmaster (tel: (216) 241 5555; website: www.ticketmaster.com) also sells tickets for most cultural events.

Entertainment listings can be found in Friday!, the weekly magazine accompanying Cleveland’s local newspaper, The Plain Dealer, which is also available online (www.cleveland.com). The following magazines and newspapers all provide listings: the weekly Scene (website: www.clevescene.com) and Free Times Magazine (website: www.freetimes.com), and the monthly Northern Ohio Live (website: www.northernohiolive.com) and Cleveland Magazine (website: www.clevelandmagazine.com).

Music: The Cleveland Chamber Symphony (tel: (216) 687 9243; website: www.csuohio.edu/ccs) performs free concerts of musical works exclusively by present-day composers at Cleveland State University’s Drinko Recital Hall, 2001 Euclid Avenue. Cleveland Opera (website: www.clevelandopera.org) finds its home at Playhouse Square (see above), performing grand operatic works, such as The Barber of Seville and La Bohme, in the renovated State Theatre. The Cleveland Orchestra (tel: (216) 231 1111 or (800) 686 1141; website: www.clevelandorch.com) performs at the recently restored and expanded Severance Hall, 11001 Euclid Avenue. It offers a popular outdoor concert series during the summer at the Blossom Music Center, 1145 West Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls.

Theatre: The Cleveland Play House, 8500 Euclid Avenue (tel: (216) 795 7000; website: www.clevelandplayhouse.com), was founded in 1915 and is the longest running regional theatre in the country, presenting critically acclaimed major theatrical productions alongside works by more obscure writers. The Cleveland Public Theatre, 6415 Detroit Avenue (tel: (216) 631 2727; website: www.cptonline.org), is the city’s best-known alternative theatre, presenting local, national and international avant-garde works.

The Great Lakes Theater Festival (tel: (216) 241 5490; website: www.greatlakestheater.org) puts on the classics from October to May at the Ohio Theatre at Playhouse Square (see above). Karamu House, 2355 East 89th Street (tel: (216) 795 7070; website: www.karamu.com), is an African-American cultural institution, which has been putting on performances and working with the community for more than 75 years.

Dance: The Ohio Ballet (website: www.ohioballet.org) was formed in 1968 and finds its home near Cleveland in Akron, Ohio. When in Cleveland, the company performs at the Ohio Theatre, 1511 Euclid Avenue, at Playhouse Square (see above). DanceCleveland (tel: (216) 861 2213; website: www.dancecleveland.org) hosts different contemporary/modern dance troupes from around the world at various Playhouse Square venues (see above).

Film: Fairly recent films, including Rain Man (1988) and Air Force One (1997) show off Cleveland, but one of the most memorable is Major League (1989), a comedy about baseball, directed by David S Ward and starring Charlie Sheen.

Mainstream cinemas worth visiting in Cleveland include Regal Cinema Mayfield Heights 10, 1345 SOM Center Road (tel: (440) 449 9288), and the Tower City 11, 230 Huron Road Northwest (tel: (440) 717 4697). Cleveland Cinematheque, 11141 East Boulevard (tel: (216) 421 7450), presents arthouse films. Tickets can be purchased in person at the theatre or by telephone with a credit card.

Cultural events: Ohio’s premier film event, the Cleveland International Film Festival, takes place in March at Hoyts Tower City Cinema. The Tri-C Jazz Fest is a festival of jazz celebrating local and national artists. It takes place at Cuyahoga Community College and various venues throughout Cleveland in the month of April. Parade the Circle takes place in University Circle in June and consists of parades, ethnic foods and family activities, as well as free museum admission, which attracts the visitors. The Cleveland Shakespeare Festival (tel: (216) 732 3311) provides free, outdoor performances of Shakespeare during the summer months. September is home to Taste of Cleveland at the Nautica Entertainment Complex (tel: (216) 861 4080; website: www.nauticaflats.com), featuring art, entertainment and food from over 30 area restaurants.

Literary Notes
Toni Morrison, author of Beloved (1987), The Bluest Eye (1969) and Paradise (1998), was raised in Cleveland. Langston Hughes (1902-67), the prolific African-American poet, novelist and essayist spent his high-school years in Cleveland, where much of his early poetry was written. He was part of the Harlem Renaissance movement of black artists. Cleveland was also home to another of America’s early 20th-century poets: Hart Crane (1899-1932). Crane spent his youth here and was expected to follow in the footsteps of his father’s business, but instead he gave it all up to move to New York and become a writer.

Nightlife

The nightlife in Cleveland is vibrant and varied. The Downtown is compact enough that it is possible to walk from bar to bar, through different neighbourhoods. The Flats Entertainment District is packed with bars, nightclubs and live music venues, most of which have a fairly mainstream atmosphere. The nearby Warehouse District has a slightly more alternative, laid-back feel. Younger crowds tend to frequent Ohio City, which is slightly further from the Downtown area.

Alcohol can be legally served in Cleveland until 0200 and the minimum drinking age is 21 years. Dress at most bars and clubs is casual. Some nightclubs require jackets and will not permit jeans. Bars usually charge a cover admission if a live band is playing and it is common to pay a fee at the door at nightclubs. Mixed drinks cost around US$4-5.

Entertainment listings can be found in Friday!, the weekly magazine accompanying Cleveland’s local newspaper, The Plain Dealer, which is also available online (www.cleveland.com). Good listings magazines for nightlife are the weekly Scene (website: www.clevescene.com) and Free Times Magazine (website: www.freetimes.com).

Bars: Rock Bottom Brewery, 2000 Sycamore Street, is located in a restored four-storey redbrick powerhouse and offers a pool, a patio and micro-brewed beer. The Great Lakes Brewing Company, 2516 Market Avenue, is another brew-pub, with a long mahogany bar that still has bullet holes from a 1920s gangster-style shoot-out. In the Warehouse District, try the Spy Bar, 1261 West Sixth Street, which is a loud trendy bar popular with the international crowd. The Mercury Lounge, 1392 West Sixth Street, is a fashionable bar/club, with trendy lounge areas. Other bars in this district include: the stylish Liquid Caf, 1212 West Sixth Street, and the more peaceful, refined D’Vine Wine Bar, 836 West St Clair Avenue. In the Flats, good bars include: Shooters on the Water, 1148 Main Avenue, a riverside bar-restaurant-club, and, on the east bank, Fagan’s at 996 Old River Road.

Casinos: Casinos are illegal in Ohio.

Clubs: Wish, 621 Johnson Court, is not the easiest club to find, tucked away in an alley that runs off Sixth Street, but inside there are three different levels, subdued lighting and music ranging from late 1980s nostalgia to cutting-edge techno and house. Velvet Dog, 1280 West Sixth Street, is a more upmarket affair; its three floors (plus rooftop terrace) play dance tunes to a post-work crowd. Funky Buddha, 1360 West Ninth Street, is an extremely trendy club that plays mainly electronica, with long queues to get in.

Live music: As to be expected, Cleveland is home to some very good, very well-known venues for live rock and roll. Perhaps the best known among these is the gritty Euclid Tavern, 11629 Euclid Avenue, where posters and clippings hanging on the wall lend a sense of history. Peabody’s Down Under, 1059 Old River Road, is similarly gritty and smoke filled and plays a steady bill of rock bands but has an outdoor patio for those needing a breath of fresh air. Jazz enthusiasts will find a clean, refined interior at 6th Street Under Jazz Club, 1266 West Sixth Street, where touring as well as local jazz acts regularly perform.

City Statistics

Location: Ohio, USA.
Country dialling code: 44.
Population: 478,000 (city); 2,900,000 (metropolitan area).
Ethnic mix: 41.5% white, 51% black, 7.3% Hispanic, 0.2% other, comprising more than 80 ethnic groups.
Religion: Majority Catholic, Protestant, Baptist and Methodist; minorities include Lutheran, Presbyterian, Jewish and Episcopalian.
Time zone: GMT - 5 (GMT - 4 from first Sunday in April to last Sunday in October).
Electricity: 110 volts AC, 60Hz; flat round two-pin plugs are standard.
Average January temp: - 4C (25F).
Average July temp: 22C (72F).
Annual rainfall: 810mm (31.9 inches).

Special Events

Martin Luther King Jr Day Celebration, Jan, Severance Hall
Tri C Jazz Fest, Apr, various venues
Midwest Brewfest, Apr, Cleveland Convention Center
Cleveland International Film Festival, May, Hoyts Tower City Cinema
Beachwood Art Festival, Jun, Beachwood Mall
Ohio Irish Festival, late Jun, West Side Irish American Club
Marconi Grand Prix of Cleveland, Jul, Burke Lakefront Airport
Festival of Freedom, 4 Jul, Edgewater Park
Boston Mills ArtFest, early Jul, Boston Mills
Abbey Road on the River, Beatles festival, Aug, Nautica Entertainment Complex
Feast of the Assumption, Aug, Little Italy
African-American Heritage & Cultural Celebration, Aug, Western Reserve Historical Society
Latino Heritage Day, 11 Aug, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Vintage Ohio Wine Festival, early Aug, Lake Farmpark
Twins Day Festival, early Aug, Twinsburg
Taste of Cleveland, late Aug-early Sep, Tower City Amphitheater
Cleveland National Air Show, late Aug-early Sep, Burke Lakefront Airport
WinterFest Holiday Lighting Program, late Nov, Public Square
Murray Hill Art Walk, late Nov-early Dec, Little Italy
Holiday Circlefest, 1 Dec, University Circle

Cost of Living

One-litre bottle of mineral water: US$1.75
33cl bottle of beer: US$2
Financial Times newspaper: US$4.50
36-exposure colour film: US$6.50
City-centre bus ticket: US$1.25
Adult football ticket: US$34
Three-course meal with wine/beer: From US$20

1 American Dollar (US$1) = 0.52; C$1.25; A$1.28; 0.77
Currency conversion rates as of May 2005