It's hardly a surprise that the roller coaster capital of the Midwest — nay, the country — crops up on our Best of Cleveland list year after year because, simply put, it's the best. Beginning this summer, thrill-seekers can catch a ride on the new Rougarou, a floorless coaster that whips you through a series of gravity defying twists and turns at speeds upwards of 60 mph. For tamer souls, there's always Thunder Canyon.
1 Cedar Point Dr, Sandusky 419-627-2350, cedarpoint.com.
Ever since opening late last year, the Metropolitan at the 9 has brought a bit of class to the Nine-Twelve district downtown. The swanky new downtown hotel looks like it belongs on the Las Vegas Strip. What distinguishes the place? For starters, it features an indoor dog park and a rooftop deck for drinking and tanning (sorry, no pool). It also boasts one the city's hottest new nightclubs in the Vault. You're likely to run into local celebrities hanging at the club that features VIP rooms in actual vaults.
2017 East Ninth St., 216-239-1200, the9cleveland.com.
When a photographer from the food magazine Saveur came to town a few years back to shoot photos for an article on the best places to eat in Cleveland, he was so smitten by the West Side Market that he shot hundreds of photos at the century-old Ohio City landmark known for its assortment of food vendors. The place offers a smorgasbord of fresh, exotic foods, plenty of friendly faces, and great people watching. It's a slice of Cleveland approved by locals and visitors alike.
1979 West 25th St., 216-664-3387, westsidemarket.org.
Steve Presser, who opened the novelty toy store Big Fun in 1990, is a big booster for all things Cleveland. At Big Fun, you can find a wide range of vintage and new toys. But you'll also see a selection of Cleveland-related T-shirts and postcards. Presser also helps organize the family friendly Coventry Village events that take place throughout the year along the street. And despite the closure of his Lakewood outpost, his passion for small businesses in Cleveland's neighborhoods remains robust -- and an inspiration to all of us.
Locals looking to escape the daily grind need look no further than Lake Breeze Inn, located just 30 minutes from downtown Cleveland on a scenic stretch of Lake Erie shorefront. Rooms here sport water views, outdoor balconies, and are surrounded by 10-plus acres of lush, artistically manicured gardens. Venture out to a nearby winery or brewery — there's no need to come home early; a continental breakfast of fresh fruit and bagels will be waiting for you in the morning.
4233 Lake Rd., Sheffield Lake, 440-949-2545.
The Cleveland Museum of Art recently underwent some significant renovations that resulted in expanding its gallery space by a full third. The museum also added state-of-the-art technology, a new app, and now looks and feels both timeless and brand new. The historic Breuer building was redesigned to accommodate a variety of performances, ranging from film screenings to concerts. The 39,000-square-foot glass-enclosed atrium is Cleveland's largest free public space and hosts everything from CMA-sponsored mixers to weddings to aimless coffee hours.
11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org.
Lakewood commands hefty attention amongst Northeast Ohio and the inner-ring suburbs of Cleveland. Thankfully, we've got ace citizen-journalist @lkwdcitizen bringing us everything we need to know — plus all the local silliness we just want to know — on Twitter each and every day. He tends to branch out to Cleveland and elsewhere, so don't get too put-off by the Lakewood moniker, but he's still the man for city council happenings, new restos and more.
We'd like to think that you get all your local news from Scene, but we know better than that. Russ Mitchell, WKYC's lead anchor for its evening news slots, delivers the goods and lends his audience some much-needed know-how for life in Cleveland. His career has taken him all over the world — e.g. the Democratic Republic of the Congo, for heaven's sake — but we know him best as the guy who knows Cleveland news best.
The epicenter of Cleveland's dining, drinking and shopping scenes is housed these days in Ohio City, just west of downtown Cleveland, where one can find outlets for practically every whim. Craving bacon-cheddar popcorn? Head to Campbell's. Need to get your Zen on? Try a class at Vision Yoga. Angling for a drink? Well, you've certainly come to the right place. Go. Shop. Eat. Drink. Enjoy. It's all here in Ohio City.
Since 2003, Cleveland couples have exchanged "I dos" against the Cleveland Botanical Garden's lush and romantic backdrops. Choose from more than 10 unique outdoor spaces, including the Rose Garden, the Japanese Garden and the Terrace, which boasts a private fountain and a lily pond, for either your ceremony, your reception or both. The botanical garden's expert event-planning staff will take care of the rest.
11030 East Blvd., 216-721-1600, cbgarden.org.
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