Growing up in the 60's, 70's and 80's, music was a huge part of my life. To this day, whenever I hear a song I am immediately transported back in time to some great memory tied to the song. Hearing Paul Revere and the Raiders singing "Indian Reservation" takes me to Knott's Berry Farm in the early 70's where my best friend in 8th grade and I saw them performing live! It was at this first concert experience I was certain that the lead singer, Mark Lindsey looked at me and smiled. Hearing Queen singing "We Will Rock You" magically takes me to the Los Angeles Forum, where with my best friend from college, we "Clap, Clap, STOMP! Clap, Clap, STOMP!" right along with Freddie Mercury! Hearing Sparks sing, "Cool Places" reminds me of going to Magic Mountain in Valencia, California with my college sweetheart (later becoming my husband) and friends and doing our crazy 80's dance! (You know the one I'm talking about!)
So, of course, once my husband Gary and I became Empty Nesters, we started tossing out ideas for our bucket list. With my immense love of all things music, how could a weekend trip to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame not be near the top of any list!?
The location of Cleveland obviously made sense to those wonderful folks who planted this amazing museum in the birthplace of Rock and Roll, however, to a West Coast girl, it seemed rather far away and an awfully expensive trip just to see a museum! Albeit a ROCK AND ROLL MUSEUM! We always found excuses to not spend the money -- nothing to do there, so far away, isn't it dangerous?
So imagine my surprise when my husband surprised me on my birthday with two round trip tickets to Cleveland!? After a few weeks of research, this is what we discovered during our visit in October, 2014.
Where to Stay:
The Renaissance Cleveland Hotel
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/clebr-renaissance-cleveland-hotel/
We found The Renaissance Cleveland Hotel to be the perfect location for our 4 nights in Cleveland. Upon arrival at the Cleveland International Airport, we followed the signs to the train and for $2.25 per person, we were taken within steps of our hotel. This historic hotel is centrally located in downtown, right next to the Tower Shopping Center, everything is within walking distance especially if you enjoy exploring a new city!
The standard room we booked was actually quite nice! A large bathroom and sleeping area were more than adequate for the two of us. A coffee maker with complimentary coffee was an added treat, however the nightly charge for wi-fi in this day and age was ridiculous! One of the best parts of the bathroom was the cupboard space under the sink. This allowed storing toiletries without having them all over the sink area. The room we had actually had windows out the back which overlooked the pool 9 floors down. Given that the pool was heated and indoors, it was actually used quite a bit over the weekend and the echo created by the kids playing was very loud early in the morning. Thank heavens for the earplugs we never leave home without!
Our room was on the Club floor which included breakfast but only on weekdays. Our guess is that the hotel caters mostly to business clientele and therefore only open Monday through Friday. The breakfast was excellent! Scrambled eggs, cereals, breads, juices, coffee, fruit, the whole nine yards! The staff in the breakfast room were so friendly and warm making us feel like valued guests. On the weekend days, we were able to find nice breakfasts a short walk away.
There is a Lobby Bar and a wonderful large seating area downstairs. The Lobby Bar has a full menu and the drinks and wine menu will offer something for all tastes.
The hotel front desk was very helpful with directions and any information we needed. Our late flight home gave us an extra day to explore and the hotel kindly stored our luggage for most of the day.
Where to Eat
Red's, The Steakhouse
http://www.redthesteakhouse.com/
For our first night in Cleveland, after a long day of West Coast to the East traveling, we were craving a thick, juicy, delicious, perfectly prepared filet! Red's, the Steakhouse did not disappoint! In fact, we both decided it was up there with some of the best steaks we've ever eaten! Perfectly prepared with a variety of topping and preparation options, you could probably eat here every night and never repeat the steaks alone! With sauces such as Horseradish Crème Fraîche, Bearnaise, Peppercorn, Diane, and gravy along with toppings such as Blackened, Blue Cheese, Au Poivre, or Oscar Style, the combinations are endless. You can even order them on the side just in case your not very adventurous! I enjoyed the Oscar Style USDA Prime petite filet and my husband ordered the same but with Peppercorn sauce. Both steaks were prepared exactly to our request and mouth watering!
The hardest part is deciding which one or two of the amazing side dishes to share. None of the side dishes is just standard fare. The sauteed asparagus comes with Bearnaise sauce, the whipped potatoes have truffles, the green beans have pepper flakes, pancetta and pine nuts! You get the idea. If you are a foodie, Red's takes dining to a whole new level!
The wine list is presented on an iPad and the selection is large. Not only that, but there are many reasonably priced wines that won't break the bank and pair excellently with the entrees.
Because our reservation included information that we were celebrating my birthday, they brought out the most amazing dessert. What tasted and looked like fluffy, solid doughnuts that were served with three different dipping sauces! Heavenly!
The only downside to Red's, the Steakhouse, is that it is an airplane ride away from home!
Blue Point Grille
http://www.bluepointgrille.com/
Another great find on our Empty Nest Escapade! After having the best steak in all of Cleveland, how do you top that in the cuisine of seafood? Blue Point Grille is the answer! Located in the quaint, trendy Warehouse District just a few blocks from the Renaissance, this restaurant was perfect for a fine-dining night out. We arrived early and enjoyed a glass of champagne at the bar. The bartender was friendly and warm, suggesting different drinks to try. Since we were still celebrating my birthday, champagne seemed fitting! People around the bar were friendly and talkative. Most seemed to be visitors to the area. At exactly the time of our reservation, the hostess found us and walked us to our table. We had a lovely street-view booth and probably one of the nicest servers ever!
We started with the Ahi Tuna Tartare which was served with a Wasabi-Avocado mousse. A bit on the zesty side, but it was so tasty! For the main course, I loved the house specialty, the Nag's Head Grouper. Served with Lobster mashed potatoes and Spinach, it was the perfect size and so mouth-watering. Gary enjoyed the Shrimp and Scallops saying they were some of the best scallops he's eaten. High praise as he orders them frequently!
The service was personal and friendly. We enjoyed getting our servers input on various things to do in Cleveland. We also loved the special touch of the manager coming to our table and talking with us, not just asking how the meal was! He seemed genuinely grateful for our business!
Bottom line is if you want great seafood while visiting downtown Cleveland, look no further. You will not be disappointed!
Lola Bistro, a Michael Symon Restaurant
http://lolabistro.com/
Lola Bistro is perhaps one of the more difficult restaurants in which to get dinner reservations. I would suggest calling on the day of your arrival and taking the first available. The difficulty in getting a reservation may be because they had recently opened or because of the familiarity of celebrity chef/owner Michael Symon who appears on "The Chew" television show. In any case, we were able to secure a table for two on a Saturday night at 9:45 PM!
Lola Bistro is located in the vibrant bar/restaurant area of 4th Street in downtown Cleveland. Again, only a short walk away from the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel. We arrived early and were told that it would be closer to our actual reservation time before we would be seated. The small bar was full so we walked across the street to The Butcher and the Brewer and had a beer and glass of wine before dinner (very loud inside!). Sitting in the front window facing out to 4th Street is great fun as this pedestrian street for perfect for people watching . . . if you enjoy that kind of thing . . . and who doesn't!
We returned to the hostess stand a few minutes before our reservation time. We waited another 15 minutes before being taken to our table. Luckily our stomachs were still on west coast time so the lateness of the hour didn't bother us. People were still arriving for dinner well past the time we had finished! Our server was the highlight of the night. She was warm and engaging, interested in what we thought of the meal and quick with great wine and entree selections.
Unfortunately, the meal failed to live up to its hype. Maybe it was because we had enjoyed exceptional meals the previous two nights or perhaps is was the curse of many celebrity-owned restaurants, but the food did not impress us. I had the Wild Salmon, served with artichoke and gnocchi and it was so salty that I could hardly taste the fish! The portion size was usual for high end restaurants, a bit on the small side, but I don't usually eat large amounts so it was plenty. The value for such a small portion left a bad taste in my mouth, or maybe that was the salt?! My husband ordered the Lamb loin and was also disappointed. It was tough and a bit overcooked despite ordering it "rare" as our server suggested. Because our server was so wonderful and the ambiance was so very cool, I would recommend a visit. However, I would suggest ordering something different than we did!
Cowell and Hubbard
http://cowellhubbard.com/
Located in what was once Cleveland's premiere jewelry story, Cowell and Hubbard's location in the Playhouse Square makes it an ideal location for pre- or post-theater dining. During our visit we were lucky enough to secured tickets to see Motown:The Musical -- an excellent selection for a weekend of enjoying music history! Since the play began at 6:30 we enjoyed an early dinner. Being only steps away from the theater, we were able to enjoy our meal and not feel rushed. The tables are kind of close together and private conversation is difficult. The noise level is energetic and the menu offers a large selection of a great variety of seafood, poultry, beef and vegetarian dishes.
Where to Visit
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
http://www.rockhall.com/
Of course, in my humble opinion, no trip to Cleveland would be complete without a visit to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! Die hard and not so die hard fans alike will find something of interest in this amazing I.M. Pei designed building (the same architect who designed Paris's Louvre Museum.) With its 7 stories, 4 theaters and multiple interactive stations, hours can be spent here reliving and rediscovering Rock and Roll's roots!
Located next door to First Energy Stadium, otherwise known as the home of professional football team, The Cleveland Browns, the museum is a nice walk from any downtown hotel. If walking is not in the plans, there are frequent free trolleys that you can hop on that will drop you off right in front of the museum.
Since we realized that one day would not be enough to see and absorb all that this amazing museum has to offer, we decided to purchase a museum membership. With this membership, you are allowed unlimited visits to the museum within a 12 month period. Now living in California we realized that another visit within 12 months was probably not going to happen (you never know!) but we knew for sure that we would visit at least 2 days. The cost for two adult tickets for two days was more than the Duet Rocker membership. With this membership you not only get unlimited free admission for you and one guest, but you also get a free t-shirt, lanyards, decal, invitations to special events and 10% off in the gift store (including online) and snack shop.
The visit begins on the downstairs level. Room after room of memorabilia explaining the roots of rock and roll and the many inductees is displayed in an eye-catching array! There is an opening film called "Mystery Train" that is recommended to enhance your visit.
Although there were large walls displayed for Elvis, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Jimmy Hendrix, many other inductees have very little to see. In fact, I didn't find one item from Queen but their music was found in the interactive listening stations and in some of the films.
To stop and look at each item in every display case containing costumes, letters, contracts, musical instruments, eye wear, etc. can literally take hours. Add in the really interesting repeating film loops in each area and the first floor alone took the entire first day! Be on the lookout for the docents who walk around. They will explain, with great fascination, some of the more obscure items in each case. This added so much to the enjoyment and I wish they were more readily available.
There is a cafeteria to grab lunch and a huge gift shop with a large selection of t-shirts, CD's, DVD's, posters, baby wear, and just about every collectible under the sun.
One of the more fascinating films runs just over an hour and it is a compilation of the various inductees since the beginning of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Watching rock legends be inducted and perform is a real treat and to sit in the comfy theater after so much time on one's feet is bliss!
We spent about 5 hours over the course of three days just in the museum. Some may say that's too much and other's, not long enough. That's the beauty of any museum. Enjoy as needed!
Lake View Cemetery
http://www.lakeviewcemetery.com/index.php
My fascination with cemeteries began on one of our many family trips to Charles City, Iowa. Something about being a teenager and seeing the final resting places of family that I did and didn't remember as a child captured my attention. This fascination has continued well into my adulthood and Gary will tell you that no vacation for me is complete without a trip to some historic cemetery, especially where someone famous is buried. In Cleveland, this historic cemetery would be the Lake View Cemetery. It is a cab ride away from downtown Cleveland and very close to Little Italy. Combining these two places in one visit is a perfect day!
Perhaps the most famous person laid to rest at Lake View Cemetery is James A. Garfield, the 20th president of the United States. Assassinated in 1881, Garfield and his wife Lucretia are buried side by side in a large, beautiful monument. Docents are there to tell you about the history of President Garfield and his lingering health and poor medical care after the assassination. We found it really unusual and interesting that Garfield's American flag-draped casket, alongside his wife's, are out in the open, downstairs in the crypt. The remains of their daughter and her husband are also found with the coffins.
A larger than life-size marble statue of Garfield stands boldly in the middle of the rotunda when you enter. Stairs take you up to an outside balcony with beautiful views of Lake Erie (thus the name "Lake View").
As we continued our walk, we came upon the grave site of Eliot Ness. His marker is a simple stone with a large plaque that sits alongside one of the main roads. However, this is just a marker as his ashes were scattered in the small lake just beyond the marker. A really beautiful trail circles the lake and took us to some beautiful, large mausoleums. Enjoy the solitude of walking the beautiful grounds. Many other people of note are buried her including John D. Rockefeller, Civil and Revolutionary war soldiers, as well as former Cleveland mayors and citizens of distinction. Their graves can be found as you stroll the beautiful grounds of Lake View Cemetery.
Where to Stay:
The Renaissance Cleveland Hotel
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/clebr-renaissance-cleveland-hotel/
We found The Renaissance Cleveland Hotel to be the perfect location for our 4 nights in Cleveland. Upon arrival at the Cleveland International Airport, we followed the signs to the train and for $2.25 per person, we were taken within steps of our hotel. This historic hotel is centrally located in downtown, right next to the Tower Shopping Center, everything is within walking distance especially if you enjoy exploring a new city!
There is a Lobby Bar and a wonderful large seating area downstairs. The Lobby Bar has a full menu and the drinks and wine menu will offer something for all tastes.
The hotel front desk was very helpful with directions and any information we needed. Our late flight home gave us an extra day to explore and the hotel kindly stored our luggage for most of the day.
Where to Eat
Red's, The Steakhouse
http://www.redthesteakhouse.com/
For our first night in Cleveland, after a long day of West Coast to the East traveling, we were craving a thick, juicy, delicious, perfectly prepared filet! Red's, the Steakhouse did not disappoint! In fact, we both decided it was up there with some of the best steaks we've ever eaten! Perfectly prepared with a variety of topping and preparation options, you could probably eat here every night and never repeat the steaks alone! With sauces such as Horseradish Crème Fraîche, Bearnaise, Peppercorn, Diane, and gravy along with toppings such as Blackened, Blue Cheese, Au Poivre, or Oscar Style, the combinations are endless. You can even order them on the side just in case your not very adventurous! I enjoyed the Oscar Style USDA Prime petite filet and my husband ordered the same but with Peppercorn sauce. Both steaks were prepared exactly to our request and mouth watering!The hardest part is deciding which one or two of the amazing side dishes to share. None of the side dishes is just standard fare. The sauteed asparagus comes with Bearnaise sauce, the whipped potatoes have truffles, the green beans have pepper flakes, pancetta and pine nuts! You get the idea. If you are a foodie, Red's takes dining to a whole new level!
The wine list is presented on an iPad and the selection is large. Not only that, but there are many reasonably priced wines that won't break the bank and pair excellently with the entrees.
Because our reservation included information that we were celebrating my birthday, they brought out the most amazing dessert. What tasted and looked like fluffy, solid doughnuts that were served with three different dipping sauces! Heavenly!
The only downside to Red's, the Steakhouse, is that it is an airplane ride away from home!
Blue Point Grille
http://www.bluepointgrille.com/
We started with the Ahi Tuna Tartare which was served with a Wasabi-Avocado mousse. A bit on the zesty side, but it was so tasty! For the main course, I loved the house specialty, the Nag's Head Grouper. Served with Lobster mashed potatoes and Spinach, it was the perfect size and so mouth-watering. Gary enjoyed the Shrimp and Scallops saying they were some of the best scallops he's eaten. High praise as he orders them frequently!
The service was personal and friendly. We enjoyed getting our servers input on various things to do in Cleveland. We also loved the special touch of the manager coming to our table and talking with us, not just asking how the meal was! He seemed genuinely grateful for our business!
Bottom line is if you want great seafood while visiting downtown Cleveland, look no further. You will not be disappointed!
Lola Bistro, a Michael Symon Restaurant
http://lolabistro.com/
Lola Bistro is perhaps one of the more difficult restaurants in which to get dinner reservations. I would suggest calling on the day of your arrival and taking the first available. The difficulty in getting a reservation may be because they had recently opened or because of the familiarity of celebrity chef/owner Michael Symon who appears on "The Chew" television show. In any case, we were able to secure a table for two on a Saturday night at 9:45 PM! We returned to the hostess stand a few minutes before our reservation time. We waited another 15 minutes before being taken to our table. Luckily our stomachs were still on west coast time so the lateness of the hour didn't bother us. People were still arriving for dinner well past the time we had finished! Our server was the highlight of the night. She was warm and engaging, interested in what we thought of the meal and quick with great wine and entree selections.
Cowell and Hubbard
http://cowellhubbard.com/
Located in what was once Cleveland's premiere jewelry story, Cowell and Hubbard's location in the Playhouse Square makes it an ideal location for pre- or post-theater dining. During our visit we were lucky enough to secured tickets to see Motown:The Musical -- an excellent selection for a weekend of enjoying music history! Since the play began at 6:30 we enjoyed an early dinner. Being only steps away from the theater, we were able to enjoy our meal and not feel rushed. The tables are kind of close together and private conversation is difficult. The noise level is energetic and the menu offers a large selection of a great variety of seafood, poultry, beef and vegetarian dishes.
Where to Visit
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
http://www.rockhall.com/
Of course, in my humble opinion, no trip to Cleveland would be complete without a visit to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! Die hard and not so die hard fans alike will find something of interest in this amazing I.M. Pei designed building (the same architect who designed Paris's Louvre Museum.) With its 7 stories, 4 theaters and multiple interactive stations, hours can be spent here reliving and rediscovering Rock and Roll's roots!Since we realized that one day would not be enough to see and absorb all that this amazing museum has to offer, we decided to purchase a museum membership. With this membership, you are allowed unlimited visits to the museum within a 12 month period. Now living in California we realized that another visit within 12 months was probably not going to happen (you never know!) but we knew for sure that we would visit at least 2 days. The cost for two adult tickets for two days was more than the Duet Rocker membership. With this membership you not only get unlimited free admission for you and one guest, but you also get a free t-shirt, lanyards, decal, invitations to special events and 10% off in the gift store (including online) and snack shop.
The visit begins on the downstairs level. Room after room of memorabilia explaining the roots of rock and roll and the many inductees is displayed in an eye-catching array! There is an opening film called "Mystery Train" that is recommended to enhance your visit.
Although there were large walls displayed for Elvis, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Jimmy Hendrix, many other inductees have very little to see. In fact, I didn't find one item from Queen but their music was found in the interactive listening stations and in some of the films.
To stop and look at each item in every display case containing costumes, letters, contracts, musical instruments, eye wear, etc. can literally take hours. Add in the really interesting repeating film loops in each area and the first floor alone took the entire first day! Be on the lookout for the docents who walk around. They will explain, with great fascination, some of the more obscure items in each case. This added so much to the enjoyment and I wish they were more readily available.
There is a cafeteria to grab lunch and a huge gift shop with a large selection of t-shirts, CD's, DVD's, posters, baby wear, and just about every collectible under the sun.
One of the more fascinating films runs just over an hour and it is a compilation of the various inductees since the beginning of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Watching rock legends be inducted and perform is a real treat and to sit in the comfy theater after so much time on one's feet is bliss!
We spent about 5 hours over the course of three days just in the museum. Some may say that's too much and other's, not long enough. That's the beauty of any museum. Enjoy as needed!
Lake View Cemetery
http://www.lakeviewcemetery.com/index.php
My fascination with cemeteries began on one of our many family trips to Charles City, Iowa. Something about being a teenager and seeing the final resting places of family that I did and didn't remember as a child captured my attention. This fascination has continued well into my adulthood and Gary will tell you that no vacation for me is complete without a trip to some historic cemetery, especially where someone famous is buried. In Cleveland, this historic cemetery would be the Lake View Cemetery. It is a cab ride away from downtown Cleveland and very close to Little Italy. Combining these two places in one visit is a perfect day!  |
| James A. Garfield's monument |
A larger than life-size marble statue of Garfield stands boldly in the middle of the rotunda when you enter. Stairs take you up to an outside balcony with beautiful views of Lake Erie (thus the name "Lake View").
As we continued our walk, we came upon the grave site of Eliot Ness. His marker is a simple stone with a large plaque that sits alongside one of the main roads. However, this is just a marker as his ashes were scattered in the small lake just beyond the marker. A really beautiful trail circles the lake and took us to some beautiful, large mausoleums. Enjoy the solitude of walking the beautiful grounds. Many other people of note are buried her including John D. Rockefeller, Civil and Revolutionary war soldiers, as well as former Cleveland mayors and citizens of distinction. Their graves can be found as you stroll the beautiful grounds of Lake View Cemetery.
The Tower City Center
Perhaps the best spot in the city to get a view of all of Cleveland is at the top of the Tower City Center in the Terminal Tower Observation Deck. The deck is only open on weekends (12-5 Saturday and 12-4 Sunday). Tickets to ride the special elevator may be purchased in advance online or in the guest relations office near the casino. At a cost of only $5 per person, this bargain can't be beat. The large room at the top affords a 360 degree walk around to see every angle out the windows. A view of the nearby river with it's drawbridges and tugboat-pulled barges is mesmerizing. A security guard sits at the top and he pointed out some really interesting areas. There are also maps posted on the wall to let you know what you are looking at in the distance.
