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Cleveland is
served by the Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport which is located
about 9 miles south-west of downtown Cleveland. For
on-line flight ticketing,
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For car rentals,
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Access to
Cleveland from I-80 (Ohio Turnpike)
From west to east, the following Interstates provide the easiest (and
fastest) access to the City of Cleveland:
- from exit 142,
take I-90 eastbound
- from exit 151,
take I-480 eastbound
- from exit 161,
take I-71 eastbound
- from exit 173,
take OH-21 northbound to
Miller Rd, turn left, drive some 300 yards to the I-77 northbound
on-ramp, turn right and get on I-77.
Cleveland
Cleveland, once
flat broke, has made a resurgence with a vengeance. This is exemplified
in their Convention and Visitors Bureau: marketing Cleveland is their
name and they do it well. Their offices are downtown in the Terminal
Tower on Public Square.
If you are eastbound on the Ohio Turnpike (I-80), take exit 151
and follow to I-71 at exit 11. Merge with I-71 northbound and continue
through the I-90 interchange (you don't 'exit' here). Keep going (that
was the end of I-71 - you are now on I90 eastbound) to exit 171-B. Exit
and merge with OH-14. This is Broadway at the Interstate but a few
blocks later it becomes Ontario. It is still OH-14 if you can find the
signs. When you cross Superior Avenue (US-6), you're getting close. The
next street is Frankfort Avenue and 'Public Square' is one block to your
left. There are parking garages all over but some of them seem to be
reserved for monthly clients. If there is not sign indicating you're not
welcome, drive on in. Parking in Cleveland isn't as bad as New York City but
they appear to be working hard at catching up. We took a stroll around
the area and found our visit very well worth while. If you like to eat good
food (vs. what is available in a hurry) there are 8 or 10 very good
restaurants in this area. Some are very reasonable (check the prices
before you take a table).
Downtown Hotels
in Cleveland - We
about choked when we found that parking in downtown
Cleveland could cost over $20/day. (The
Hyatt Regency
charges that for guests! The Radisson
Gateway
on Huron Rd and the other downtown hotels aren't far behind.)
When we made reservations at the
Comfort
Inn Downtown
on Euclid Ave (right near exit 173-B of I-90), theirs was about the best room rate
we could find. We hadn't thought to ask about parking. It wasn't free
but it was only $6.50 per night with "in and out privileges".
The Holiday
Inn Express
- same room rates and just a few blocks away on Euclid — charged $12.
The Hampton
Inn
—
almost next door to the
Hyatt Regency
charged about the same room rates
— $15 if you park
yourself; $18 (only a dollar less than the Hyatt) for valet service.
So there you have it. We stayed at the Comfort Inn, near the
Interstate, found everything was within walking distance plus there are
four good restaurants within a block.
City of Cleveland Greenhouse
and Botanical Garden
Note: there are two 'botanical gardens' in Cleveland frequently confused by tourists because of
similar names: this 4-acre 'City of Cleveland Greenhouse and Botanical Garden' on 88th Street and the larger, 10-acre 'Cleveland Botanical Garden' on East Boulevard.
This is the former, City of Cleveland facility which has the famous 'Talking Garden',- taped descriptions of many of the plants which visitors are actually encouraged to touch and smell. This is a self-guided tour;
guided tours are available by appointment (phone 216-664-3103).
Open 10a-4p daily. Admission is FREE.
Cleveland
Botanical Gardens - Note: there are two 'botanical gardens' in Cleveland frequently confused by tourists because of
similar names: the 4-acre 'City of Cleveland Greenhouse and Botanical Garden' on 88th Street
(described above) and the larger, 10-acre 'Cleveland Botanical Garden' on East Boulevard.
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This is the latter. To some people, a garden is a garden and there isn't too much difference. Wrong! This facility actually has ten different gardens ranging from the
natural to the formal.
Like most big city botanical gardens, this one
seems to have about everything. But one special attraction is certainly
worth taking the effort and time to visit: the giant Glasshouse.
The newest attraction in the Botanical Gardens, the Glasshouse
contains two distinct ecosystems - under glass. One, an emulation of a
desert oasis similar to what you might see on the island of
Madagascar. The other, an emulation of a Costa Rican rain forest
complete with a river gorge.
The Botanical Gardens is at 11030 East Boulevard. For more
information, phone 216.721.1600 or visit their web site at
cbgarden.
From I-90, take exit 173A and follow US-322 (Chester Ave)
eastbound to E. 63rd Street. Turn left, go one block and turn right on
Hough Avenue. Follow Hough eastbound past the VA Center to the Botanical
Gardens. Hough Ave changes its name to East Boulevard at Liberty Street,
just before the VA Center.
Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame - where else can you view over 50 rock and roll
exhibits, dynamic cinema presentations plus the largest single
collection of rock and roll artifacts? Here is is at One Key Plaza
(East 9th Street at Lake Erie). Phone 1-216-781-ROCK.
Open 10a-5:30p every day except Wednesday when they stay open
until 9p. Admission: $18 (kids 9-12, $11; under 8, free).
If you are already in town, your best route is to follow 9th
Street north to Lake Erie.
If you are on I-90, take exit 174-B and follow OH-2 to the 9th
Street exit. The Hall of Fame is on the lake side of the freeway.
If you are on I-80, take exit 151 - or, if you've passed that
exit, take exit 161 - or, if you've passed that or are westbound, take
exit 173. Follow I-480, or I-71, or I-77 (respectively) northbound to
I-90 and continue on I-90 to exit 174-B. Exit and follow OH-2 to the 9th
Street exit. The Hall of Fame is on the lake side of the freeway.
Cleveland is full of fun and interesting things to do, like
visiting Cedar Point and Geauga Lake amusement park facilities. Where
else can you go and visit the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Pro
Football Hall of Fame in one day? Cleveland rocks! Cleveland is home to
the Cavaliers NBA basketball team, the Cleveland Indians American League
baseball team and the Cleveland Browns of the American Football League.
Cleveland Museums
One would expect to find many museums in any large city and Cleveland is certainly no exception. Here are some of special interest to tourists:
Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad
Ride aboard climate-controlled rail coaches (built between 1939 and 1940) through the heart of Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area to such destinations as Canal Visitor Center, Hale Farm & Village, Inventure Place, Peninsula and Quaker Square. Many different special and custom journeys are available. For more information ant to review their extensive schedule, see their web site at:
cvsr.
Finding
and reserving a hotel room with the amenities and at a price that best suits you
is very easy here on Hotels-near-Airports.com. Using the
maps, or the text directories, let your mouse quickly provide you with a
very useful selection of possibilities. We can show you hotels near the
Cleveland airport or hotels offering
discounts in and around the city of
Cleveland. |
