OHIO: THE BUCKEYE STATE
BY CLAY
LARROY
There is nothing more
exciting than traveling.
Whether you are going for a road trip to see something new in your own state,
or heading off to somewhere for the very first time to visit a city you have
always dreamed of, there are some travel
basics that you should know. Travel in the
off seasons from November to April, to avoid crowds,
save money and enjoy temperate weather. In those months, many families with
children cannot travel due to school commitments, making many tourist
attractions much less crowded. This may also result in lower costs for airfare
and hotels. When
you are ready to plan a vacation contact me!
CLEVELAND,
“Rock n' Roll Capital Of The World”
Cleveland History
Cleveland
has seen its fortunes rise and fall more than once.
Cleveland
was first settled in the late 18th century, named after General Moses Cleveland,
who laid out the town's plans.
The first
settlers arrived in 1814 and the population began to expand rapidly around
1832, when the Ohio and Erie Canal was completed.
The city
was incorporated in 1836 and was an early headquarters for Standard Oil, with
iron ore and coal being transported through the city.
By 1870,
Cleveland's new found wealth was apparent in the mansions being built; there was
even a ‘millionaires row' on Euclid Avenue. This late period of the 19th
century was known as the ‘Gilded Age'.
A number
of notable manufacturing companies moved into the city, propelling it to become
the fifth largest city in the USA in the early 20th century.
The 1920s
were prosperous for Cleveland. Waves of new immigrants arrived from Eastern
Europe, though local mobs became powerful after Prohibition.
The stock
market crashed in 1929, coupled with what was widely considered incompetent
leadership in Cleveland.
In 1936,
the city debuted the Great Lakes Exposition, designed to kick start the
economy. It worked incredibly well, drawing 4 million visitors in its first
year and 7 million by the end of its second year. This success continued
after WWII.
Political
unrest and a series of economic slumps in the 1960s and 70s sent the city into
a sharp decline, and come the 1980s, industry was badly faltering.
A couple
of proactive mayors turned Cleveland's fortunes around in the 1990s,
redeveloping Downtown and building the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the
Cleveland Browns Stadium.
Cleveland
earned the nickname ‘The Comeback City'. It has improved infrastructure, is
more diversified, and has invested in the arts. It's attracted back innovative
young business people, nurtured its neighborhoods and emerged as a vibrant,
strong city.
Did you know?
- Clevelanders Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster created the first Superman comic in 1933.
- Actress Halle Berry was born in Cleveland in 1966.
- The Shawshank Redemption (1994) was mainly shot in the Mansfield area, just southwest of Cleveland.
- Clevelanders Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster created the first Superman comic in 1933.
- Actress Halle Berry was born in Cleveland in 1966.
- The Shawshank Redemption (1994) was mainly shot in the Mansfield area, just southwest of Cleveland.
Things
to do in Cleveland
Activities
Indoor climbing
This being an urban
environment, the climbing opportunities in Cleveland are restricted to indoor centers
with climbing walls. Most facilities ask you to book in advance, but there are
classes enough for beginners and more experienced climbers alike. Try Cleveland
Rock Gym, 21200 St Clair Avenue. The center takes walk-in enthusiasts or if
you're in town for longer, you can sign up for classes.
Tel: (216) 692 3300.
Website: www.clevelandrockgym.com
Website: www.clevelandrockgym.com
Mountain biking
You can hone your cycling
skills in one of the indoor mountain biking centers before contacting the
Cleveland Area Mountain Bike Association for trails not too far from the city center.
A recommended indoor mountain biking center in Cleveland is Ray's MTB, 9801
Walford Avenue. For a further choice of local outdoor trails, a number are
available throughout the various Metroparks, and a full list can be found at www.clemetparks.com.
Kayaking
Cleveland is blessed with
several options for aquatic exploration, and the Cuyahoga River and Cleveland Harbor
provide some scenic spaces to get out onto the water. You can see many of
Cleveland's main sights from the river, and you can even paddle under the Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame. 41° North offers courses for beginners in everything
from stand-up paddle boarding to sea kayaking, both indoor and on the open
water.
Tel: 1 866 529 2541.
Website: www.kayak41north.com
Website: www.kayak41north.com
Golfing
The Cleveland Metroparks
network offers eight courses, spread throughout the metropolitan area, from
smaller three-par courses to challenging, championship courses. You can make
reservations for tee times up to 12 days in advance and a list of the
individual courses (as well as a quiz to ascertain the right course for you) is
available at the Metroparks website.
Tel: (440) 232 7247.
Website: www.clemetparks.com
Website: www.clemetparks.com
Spectator sports
Cleveland has a die-hard
sports tradition. There are three main outlets for this sporting obsession.
Progressive Field is home to the baseball team the Cleveland Indians. Football
team the Cleveland Browns play at their eponymously named stadium and the
Quicken Loans Arena houses the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers.
Fishing
Sports fishing is another
incredibly popular activity in Cleveland. Greater Cleveland has a wide
diversity of water resources, with many of these lying within the ‘Emerald
Necklace' of the Cleveland Metroparks network. Lake Erie is the city's largest
fishing resource, though there are also some 26 miles of streams. Ohio requires
anglers to apply for a license, available through the Metroparks website.
Skydiving
Cleveland Skydiving offers
a full range of skydiving activities and experiences, from tandem dives for
first timers to accelerated freefalls for more advanced and a menu of
professional qualifications. The well-qualified instructors can talk you through
all aspects of skydiving, and their teams are set up to take photos and video
of your experiences.
REFERENCE SITES:
I love the normalcy of
Cleveland. There's regular people there.
Drew Carey
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