Published: October 19, 2006 01:00 pm            

Cleveland rocks (but that is not all there is to it)

Arts, nightlife, family activities abound in nearby Ohio

When parka weather finally settles in for its long residence, it’s time to start getting realistic about your weekend getaways.

Sure, using a personal day or two could make a flight to sunnier pastures seem feasible, but what do you do with the kids?

What’s more, even Florida and the Carolinas gets cold and rainy weekends, so unless you snap up an expensive same-week ticket, you’re gambling with precious paid time off.

Fortunately, most of Western New York is only a three-hour drive away from one of the Midwest’s great destinations, full of both individual and family attractions.

Cleveland is a city built for cold weather, and beautifully built at that — it might not tout its architectural heritage quite so loudly as our own Rust Belt digs, but perhaps it doesn’t have to. Its residents are built from the same industrial stock as our own, and events planners know that sub-zero squalls can strike at any moment.

So plan to use a bit more than a tank of gas and head west on Interstate 90. Here are a few reasons why, in no particular order.

Sports

Anybody who’s seen a game in Cleveland — be it Indians, Browns or the recent Cavaliers roster — will tell you that it’s a memorable experience.

The orange and brown fanaticism of the NFL’s most fiercely loyal fans (actually named as such in a 2006 study by Bizjournals). The sheer excitement of sitting in the Gund Arena (technically now Quicken Loans Arena) and seeing NBA superstar Lebron James do his thing. The feeling of taking part in more than 100 years of Indians history.

• Highlights: Don’t forget that the Football Hall of Fame in Canton is only a short drive away.

• nba.com/cleveland, clevelandbrowns.com, indians.mlb.com, profootballhof.com.

Nightlife

Cleveland is often cited as an example of urban renovation, and with good reason — it has turned two of its most maligned districts into thriving spaces for restaurants, bars, dancing and live entertainment.

You’ll see all kinds of signs pointing you to The Flats, the strips on the east and west banks of the Cuyahoga River that see brisk business even after patio season is over. The Warehouse District, home to the city’s young and aspiring, features a variety of trendy bars, restaurants and nightclubs.

• Highlights: Hit the Rock Bottom Brewery inside the Powerhouse complex for some great grub and grog; try the Cleveland ChopHouse if you’ve already run the red meat gamut in Buffalo.

• warehousedistrict.org, cleveland.com/flats.

Arts

The Cleveland Orchestra is always listed as one of the “Big Five” in the country, but it’s proclaimed by some to be the best in the country. If you can’t make it to Severence Hall or can’t swing the tickets, check out the Cleveland Museum of Art.

• Highlights: The art museum is housing Picasso, Dali and other Spanish masters in a “Barcelona & Modernity” exhibit through Jan. 7.

• clevelandorchestra.com, clevelandart.org.

The zoo

The zoo in itself is worth a trip, but “Boo at the Zoo,” running today through Oct. 29, allows families to roam the grounds at night and enjoy animal shows, a haunted hay maze, costumed characters and other treats that are “spooky, but not too scary.”

• Highlights: If you miss the Halloween festivities, there’s always “December Days,” which offers a complimentary heated shuttle and plenty of indoor exhibits.

• clemetzoo.com.

Dining

There are far too many great pizzerias, bistros, Asian restaurants and choice culinary pit stops to list here. But if gourmet home cooking is your thing, get ready for the Fabulous Food Show, running Nov. 10-12 at the I-X Center. Paula Deen, Tyler Florence, Cat Cora and Cleveland’s top chefs take over the stages, while the Cleveland Wine School conducts seminars and tons of other food vendors try your willpower – all for $25 per person.

• Highlights: Hit Valentino’s Pizza for a great slice, or try the Cleveland ChopHouse if you’ve already run the red meat gamut in Buffalo.

• fabulousfoodshow.com, menupalace.com/cities/cleveland,10best.com/cleveland/restaurants.

Brews

If you’re the type who gets a bit angry when you find out you missed a seasonal at the Pearl Street, Cleveland has at least two watering holes for you: The Rock Bottom Brewery in the Powerhouse complex in the flats, and the Great Lakes Brewing Company on Market Avenue. Both have a great variety of excellent beers, way-above-average pub food and a chance to see the brewery gear up-close.

• rockbottom.com, greatlakesbrewing.com.

Holiday CircleFest

Cleveland’s University Circle, near Case Western University, is home to many of the city’s great events, and this is one of them. Music, entertainment, hands-on activities and holiday shopping, along with a Winter Lights Lantern Festival to cap it off — all for free.

• universitycircle.org.

Shopping

The Avenue at Tower City Center is one of the most convenient shopping trips you’ll have, located downtown and featuring a huge food court, more than 100 stores (J. Crew, Brooks Brothers and more) and an 11-screen cinema. Also check out Beachwood Place and Eton on Chagrin Boulevard.

• travelcleveland.com (click “Where to Play & Eat”).

Children’s activities

For the little guys full of wonder, there’s the impressive Great Lakes Science Center, the Children’s Museum of Cleveland and, while it’s not as big as the D.C. version, the NASA Glenn Visitor Center is a wealth of early space travel artifacts and information.

• greatscience.com, clevelandchildrensmuseum.org, nasa.gov/centers/glenn.

Stubborn kids

For the kids you can’t imagine not acting up inside a museum, there’s a whole city full of back-up options: Sandusky. More to the point, the three different indoor waterparks in Sandusky: The Great Wolf Lodge, Cedar Point’s Castaway Bay and the Kalahari.

• kalahariresort.com, castawaybay.com, greatwolflodge.com.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.