24 Hours in Cleveland, OH

Thanks to a conjoined trip up to Cedar Point and Cuyahoga National Park, I was able to park myself right in between at Cleveland and spent a day in the city. I've been pretty familiar with Southern Ohio living in a nearby state, but this was my first chance getting to come up to the North side, which, to my surprise, has a lot that you can see and do.

Cleveland is a fairly small city, so 24 hours felt like a good amount of time to explore, but our day still felt packed to the brim with fun activities! Here's some recommendations to check out if you decide to visit The Forest City.

Explore the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

If you've read any blog post before this one, I can guarantee that this isn't your first time hearing about this place! In fact, it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the state of Ohio.

You've probably heard about the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in the media, as it is a big honor for artists to be inducted into. In order to qualify, your first record must have come out 25 years prior, and your music must have "created music whose originality, impact and influence has changed the course of rock & roll." For instance, Eminem just got inducted, and he's already been around for decades!

The museum itself is pretty large and has a lot to offer. Multiple floors will show you a walk through time on the history of rock & roll, from the beginning to present day. There's even an area where you can learn how to play different instruments!

Have Lunch at The Haunted House Restaurant

If you're a scary movie lover, then you're in luck! This horror-themed restaurant was created by celebrity chef, Darnell Ferguson, and he really brought all of the classic ghosts, killers, and monsters to life here (Don't worry, it's still a family-friendly place!)

As you wait for your food, you can watch one of the scary movies playing on the TVs while munching on some complimentary popcorn (with different seasonings to choose from!)

My favorite thing about The Haunted House are their themed drinks and food. As you could imagine, each menu item is themed after a famous horror character. A couple things I tried were the Candyman Potion Bowl (A very sweet-like-candy fish bowl drink,) and the Pennywise fried chicken and waffle sandwich (with red food-coloring, of course!)

Catch A Guardians Game at Progressive Field

Cleveland is such a sporty city, and Major League baseball is a big deal here! If you're in town during a home game, then it's a given that you need to grab your ball cap and get some tickets.

Guardians fans have such high energy that it makes just hanging around the stadium fun in itself. Not to mention it is in a popping spot of downtown, so there are plenty of restaurants/bars to celebrate the win in afterward.

Take A Hike Through Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Did you think you'd be able to find a national park so easy right by a city? Well, in Cleveland it's possible! Cuyahoga Valley is only about a half hour drive from the metro area, making it an easy day trip or even just to spend a few hours for a good hike.

I also have to say that this park is pretty underrated - There's all kinds of beautiful trails and wildlife to check out! You can also take a scenic train ride throughout the park.

You can read my full blog post on Cuyahoga Valley National Park here!

Watch the Sunset at Edgewater Park

One of the most stunning parts about Cleveland is how it sits right on Lake Erie. During a hot summer evening, it felt amazing to get to sit on top of the large rocks surrounding the bank and watch the sun go down.

Edgewater Park is the perfect place to do this, but there are many other things you can do here, too! You'll find others fishing, picnicking, or just taking a stroll. There's also a pier where you can gaze out into the glimmering, blue waters of the lake.

I truly feel like Cleveland is one of those cities that doesn't get as much credit as it should. It is a really fun city with a lot to offer! Not only do you have what's in the city itself, but there are a lot of other great spots surrounding it as well, like the roller coaster capital of the world, Cedar Point. I already can't wait to come back to cross more off of my Cleveland bucket list.