11 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Cleveland

One of the most popular things to do in Cleveland is visit the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Designed by I.M. Pei, it is more of an experience than a museum. The history of popular music is spread over six floors in an atmosphere of multimedia exuberance, with such rarities as the manuscript of Purple Haze, written by Jimi Hendrix. It is here that the rock and roll music industry honors its finest entertainers.

Music enthusiasts could spend days going through all the museum has to offer, with permanent exhibitions and traveling national and international shows. The eye-catching, state-of-the-art building sits on the shores of Lake Erie. The best way to experience the museum is to start on Level 0, where you find the Hall of Fame Inductees, and work your way to the top.

The Cleveland Museum of Art features a variety of art from around the world. It has a particularly strong collection of American art and medieval art from Europe and Asia. Visitors will also find art by North American Indians as well as Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Indian, and Southeast Asian art. In addition to the permanent collection, the Cleveland Museum of Art hosts special exhibitions and events.

The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is home to some outstanding exhibits showcasing collections and research in areas from paleontology to botany. Chief among these is that of a three-million-year-old human ancestor, Australopithecus afarensis, known as "Lucy," which was a key discovery in the field of anthropology. Perhaps more dramatic in a visual sense are the dinosaur skeletons that tower over visitors as they walk through the Kirtland Hall of Prehistoric Life. There are also many other exhibits, from geology and astronomy to gems and minerals. Children will enjoy the many interactive displays, like the "living galleries" in the Perkins Wildlife Center.

A visit to the Great Lakes Science Center is an educational experience that will spark your curiosity about the science behind things like space travel and wind. The center offers hundreds of interactive displays designed to engage visitors of all ages. From spring until fall, visitors can tour the 1925 steamship William G. Mather to learn about life on the ship and the history of the great lakes. One of the main features at the center is the Cleveland Clinic DOME Theater, a movie experience beneath a six-story domed screen that is a multi-media experience of sound and visuals. The center has an active event calendar, be sure to check out their website prior to visiting.

West Side Market is the longest running public market in Cleveland. It was renovated in the early 2000s and has been gaining in popularity over the years with both locals and tourists. The central feature is the 1912 markethouse with a 137-foot-tall clock tower that has stood for more than a century. In total, the market accommodates more than 100 vendors selling vegetables, fine meats, baked goods, cheese, flowers, and other specialty items. The products and people are ethnically diverse, and the market is a fun place to visit and stroll, even if you do not buy anything.

The Cleveland Botanical Garden features 20 unique gardens showcasing flora and fauna from around the world. Take a walk through the rainforest and desert, or get up close to rare orchids. Among the attractions here are the Hershey Children's Garden, a Japanese Garden featuring a dry rock stream, the Mary Ann Sears Swetland Rose Garden, Western Reserve Herb Society Garden, Woodland Garden, Elizabeth and Nona Evans Restorative Garden, Campsey-Stauffer Gateway Garden, and the CK Patrick Perennial Garden.

The USS Cod Submarine Memorial, a National Historic Landmark, is located on the shores of Lake Erie. This World War II submarine has a storied history of battles and rescues. It was responsible for the first submarine-to-submarine rescue, which occurred in 1945. Visitors can visit the USS Cod during the summer months and are invited to board the vessel. Entrance is through the original hatchways as it has not been modified since wartime.

The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the United States. Located near Brookside Metropolitan Park, the zoo has domestic and exotic animals from around the world, including the largest collection of primate species in North America. Besides enjoying the many renovated animal exhibits, you can spend time at the 4D Theater or take part in one of the many behind-the-scenes experiences and seasonal programs. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is also a botanic garden with beautiful year-round foliage.

The Lake View Cemetery was created in the style of those found in Victorian England and France, as a garden with monuments. Referred to as Cleveland's Outdoor Museum and designed as a peaceful park, the 285-acre cemetery features elegant gardens and horticulture. The cemetery was established in 1869 and contains more than 100,000 graves, including some famous names. James Abram Garfield, 20th President of the United States; John Davison Rockefeller; and Eliot Ness are among the few who made Lake View Cemetery their final resting place.

PlayhouseSquare is in the heart of Cleveland's Theater District. There are nine theaters that operate separately in the district, bringing in Broadway performances, comedy, dance, opera, concerts, and family shows. The theaters are The Allen Theatre, The State Theatre, The Ohio Theatre, The Palace Theatre, The Hanna Theatre, The 14th Street Theatre, Kennedy's Cabaret, Westfield Insurance Studio Theatre, and Star Plaza. These theaters, primarily built in the 1920s, were saved from demolition in the 1970s by local community organizations and individual people who undertook a gradual restoration of the properties. Most of the restoration took place in the 1980s and 1990s and the project was one of Cleveland's greatest success stories.

The Museum of Contemporary Art, more commonly referred to as the MOCA, features rotating, temporary exhibits by national and international artists as well as local artists in the Cleveland area. The museum's new building, which opened in 2012, is a unique and impressive structure designed by Farshid Moussavi. This mirror finished structure begins from the ground as a hexagon and rises to become a square at the top, creating all kinds of angles. MOCA has public programs throughout the year, including artist talks and gallery tours.

For fun and sightseeing the best place to stay in Cleveland is right downtown. On the waterfront are the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Great Lakes Science Center. A few blocks off the water are the East 4th Street Entertainment District and sports venues, as well as shopping and dining. The hotels listed below are popular choices in good locations:

• Luxury Hotels: In a great position near the waterfront, and just a short stroll from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Convention Center, is The Westin Cleveland Downtown. A few blocks inland from here and frequently rated as one of the top hotels in the city, the Metropolitan at The 9, near Playhouse Square, is a new luxury hotel, opened in 2014, with an indoor dog park. The Hyatt Regency at the Arcade, in a historic building downtown, is conveniently located near the East 4th Street Entertainment District, with good restaurants and shopping.
• Mid-Range Hotels: Within walking distance to the major downtown attractions, the recently renovated Holiday Inn Express is in a late 19th-century historic bank building, and nearby is the Hampton Inn. Both of these are upper end mid-range options serving a free hot breakfast. Just a little further out from the action is the Hilton Garden Inn, near Progressive Field.
• Budget Hotels: Quality budget hotels are few and far between in the city center, and travelers may want to look further afield for better deals. The Comfort Inn Downtown offers comfortable rooms and a good location at a reasonable price for a downtown hotel. Near the airport, the La Quinta Inn Cleveland Airport North is a 15- to 20-minute drive from the city center. Five minutes further out is the Value Place, with basic but sufficient rooms.