Cleveland is a beautiful, vibrant city on the shores of Lake Erie in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA. Recreational, cultural and educational opportunities are abundant throughout Northeast Ohio. You'll find world-class museums and cultural events, exciting professional sports and amusement parks, and the most golf courses per capita in the United States. Places Rated Almanac ranks the area second in recreational options out of 354 US metro areas. Plus, this region ranks fifth in the nation in number of major cultural resources per one million residents.

Cleveland is the urban center of Northeast Ohio, the 14th largest combined metropolitan area in the United States. Throughout the twentieth century, the City of Cleveland proper was ranked as one of the 10 largest cities in the U.S. (from 1890 until 1970 per US Census Bureau statistics). Like most U.S. cities, Cleveland proper began to lose population to suburban areas in the 1960s and 1970s. However, in the mid-1980s, Cleveland earned the nickname the "Comeback City" as the urban core experienced a dramatic revitalization process that continues today. As its "comeback" has continued, the official moniker is now the New American City as Cleveland has rightfully earned the reputation as a model of effective public-private partnership for urban planning.

Despite the common perception that Cleveland is an industrial town, just beyond the automotive and steel plants, a clean and beautiful downtown rises at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River on the southern shore of Lake Erie (often marveled over by visitors who are surprised you can't see the other side, i.e., Canada). Like other cities in the so-called "rust belt", Cleveland has endured growing pains as it makes its transition from a manufacturing-based economy. While Cleveland continues to play a leading role in building the U.S. industrial base, it has also developed economic prowess in the fields of health care, law, finance, insurance, real estate development, and professional services.

Visitor info is available at the Convention & Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland, 50 Public Square, 3100 Terminal Tower, Hotline 800-321-1004, 216 621-4110, 800 321-1001, Main fax: 216 621-5967, Tourism fax: 216 623-4499, Housing fax 216 623-4495

Education

 • Case Western Reserve University, 216.368.2000. Tucked inside the University Circle cultural Mecca, Case houses Cleveland's premier research institutes.
 • Cleveland State University, 2121 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115-2214, 216.687.2000. Cleveland's large state school is nestled next to the Theater District (Playhouse Square) and is a cornerstone of the St. Vincent Quadrangle District. The Levin College of Urban Affairs is ranked in the Top 10 in the US. Over the past century, CSU's law school,  , educated many of the region's renowned judicial and political figures.
 • Cuyahoga Community College, 700 Carnegie Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115, 800.954.Tri-C(8742). "Tri-C" has three campuses (downtown, East Side and West Side suburbs). Don't miss it's annual JazzFest.
 • David N. Myers College, Cleveland, 3921 Chester Ave, 216 696-9000, 877-DNMYERS.
 • Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine, 10515 Carnegie Ave, 216 231-3300.
 • Cleveland Institute of Art,  . Visit it's galleries and catch an art film at the Cinematheque.
 • Cleveland Institute of Music. A leading international conservatory for classical music.

Stay safe

Like most big cities, Cleveland is safe, day or night, for walking in the Central Business District and throughout the suburbs. When driving at night, stay in your car along major urban corridors (like Euclid, Chester and Carnegie Avenues heading east and Detroit and Lorain Avenues heading west). At night, you may want to avoid inner city neighborhoods and the City of East Cleveland in its entirety (in this case, including Euclid Avenue).

East Side Driving Tip A good rule of thumb is - once an East Side suburban "Road" becomes an Inner City "Avenue", turn around and get directions to Euclid, Chester or Carnegie Avenues. Example: Cedar Road in the East Side Suburbs (where it becomes the "Fashion District") is a really nice corridor, but once it becomes Cedar Avenue in the City of Cleveland proper, you should pick one of the above mentioned roads that run parallel to its north. Similarly, Chagrin Boulevard (which connects the upscale communities of Shaker Heights, Beachwood (including Cleveland's "Restaurant Row" and the bulk of the East Side office market}, Pepper Pike, Orange Village, Moreland Hills, Hunting Valley and Chagrin Falls) turns into Kinsman Road (an "underground pharmaceutical" neighborhood) once crossing into the City of Cleveland proper.

West Side Driving Tip Again, staying on Lorain and Detroit Avenues, I-90, I-71 or the Shoreway (State 2) is your safest bet. However, driving West 25th (which becomes Pearl), State and Ridge isn't all that terrifying. On the near West Side, avoid the Public Housing Projects that abut the vibrant neighborhoods of the Flats, Ohio City and Tremont.

Otherwise, just be smart (like don't get off at the wrong Rapid stop) and as cautious as you would be in your own neck of the woods (e.g., walk with others at night and don't make a wrong turn). Cleveland is a "Tough Town" (as in "hard working" and "resilient"), but it is not unusually dangerous for a US city of its size.

Get out

 • Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Located south of Cleveland, this park follows the course of the Cuyahoga River and the historic Ohio & Erie Canal between Cleveland and Akron. A number of older buildings are preserved here. The Cuyahoga Scenic Railroad, with train cars from the 1940s and 1950s also runs through the park. Pick up the train in Valley View near   (8111 Rockside Road), a mixed-use retail, restaurant and office complex sitting between the river and canal.
 • North Coast Beaches. Along the southern shore of Lake Erie are a large number of public beaches. The largest natural sand beach in Ohio,  , is located east of Cleveland, in Mentor. also includes a large beach at its Edgewater Park, just west of downtown Cleveland. Many other beaches are available throughout Northeast Ohio, including Huntington Beach, Euclid Beach and Fairport Harbor.
 • Lake Erie Islands. Located west of Cleveland, a group of picturesque and festive islands in Lake Erie are accessible via ferry. In addition to several located on the islands, there is plenty to do including wineries, restaurants, bars, marinas and beaches.
 • Hall of Fame Cycle. Tourists can plan visits to the Rock Hall, (the National Inventors Hall of Fame in Akron) and (in Canton).

Medical

World renowned healthcare providers, include:
• Cleveland Clinic Health System, 9500 Euclid Ave #F25, 216 444-2200
 • University Hospitals Health System