Josh is a Couchsurfing Ambassador in Cleveland, Ohio. He has been a member of Couchsurfing for 10 years and is here to give us his tips to help you experience the best of Cleveland!
Best Breakfast in town…
Lucky’s Cafe is a bit on the pricier side, but hands-down has the best breakfast / lunch in Cleveland. It’s located down the street from the Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Tremont. Travelers looking to save a little money should go to Red Chimney in Slavic Village, a greasy spoon diner that serves up a plate of eggs, sausage, and hash browns for US$3.
1 Museum not to miss…
My favorite is the Cleveland Museum of Art, a (free!) museum in University Circle. The museum contains an excellent collection of Egyptian and Asian art, as well as a substantial number of European masters and modern works.
Cleveland is also home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a museum dedicated to preserving the history of the musical genre. The museum is a great look at how one of the most dominant musical genres of the 20th century has grown and evolved. Exhibits include everything from costumes and guitars to lyrics notebooks and audio listening booths.
Best place to grab a drink…
My favorite brewery is Platform Brewery in Ohio City. They’ve got a wide variety of small batch beer on tap and are always coming out with fresh new flavors.
Barrio has an extensive draft list and excellent margaritas, but the reason to visit is for the food. They don’t have the most traditional tacos, but they do have the best tacos in Cleveland. If your only experience with tacos is from Taco Bell, you owe it to yourself to try something better. They offer US$2 tacos during happy hour, and have locations now in Tremont, downtown, Cleveland Heights, and Lakewood.
Where to sweat…
The Cuyahoga Valley National Park has great hiking trails, waterfalls, and bike paths and is located 30 minutes outside of Cleveland. Serious bikers can ride down the historic Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail straight to the park. If you have a day to dedicate to biking, you can take the towpath trail all the way to Akron and ride back on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railway. Tickets only cost a few dollars for cyclists.
A treat-yourself-meal…
Collision Bend Brewery is located on the east bank of the Cuyahoga River in a neighborhood known as the Flats. It offers beautiful views of the river, great food, and great beer.
Best quick bite…
The Polish Boy is a staple of Cleveland street food and can be found at almost any hot dog vendor. A kielbasa is placed on a bun, then covered in french fries, BBQ sauce, and coleslaw. It is just as delicious as it sounds.
Cutest cafe…
Civilization, in Tremont, is across the street from Lincoln Park. They have delicious coffee and snacks, and Tremont is a vibrant neighborhood and great for people-watching.
Best view in the city…
Voinovich Bicentennial Park, behind the Rock Hall, has the best view of the city skyline. However, I think the prettiest views of Cleveland aren’t of the buildings but of the river. The river is really the lifeblood of the city. The best view of the river is either from Heritage Park (along the Flats) or from the Lorain-Carnegie Bridge between downtown and Tremont.
Where to try the local cuisine…
Clevelanders are known for their love of pierogies, and Sokolowski’s University Inn makes some of the best traditional pierogies in the city. Bring an appetite, because the portions here are not small.
The perfect picture…
There are a number of Cleveland signs throughout the city, positioned so that they have good backgrounds for photos. I think my two favorite locations are in Voinovich Bicentennial Park and on Abbey Ave, just beneath the bridge for I-90. Public Square also provides excellent photo opportunities.
Historic moment…
“Cleveland used to be rich” would be a great motto for the city. It used to be a wealthy city, and people here were not afraid to flaunt it. There is some amazing architectural gems to check out inside the city. I would recommend Tower City, the Arcade on Euclid Avenue, and the Federal Reserve Bank, which has been converted into a numismatics museum (or money museum).
One experience not to miss…
The West Side Market in Ohio City has a wealth of small vendors hawking meats, cheeses, breads, vegetables, desserts, and prepared foods. It’s a great place to stop by and browse for an hour or two, sampling bites from different stalls as you go by.
