West Side Market

No journey to Cleveland would be complete without a trip to the West Side Market.

When you get here, come hungry. Be sure to check out Cleveland's historic West Side Market for a taste of our culture, homemade bakery, fresh produce and meats. You will be glad you did!

A shining gem on the outskirts of Downtown Cleveland. The foundation upon which the historic Ohio City district was built. Feel the old world come alive at the West Side Market. It’s been in continuous operation for more than 100 years and is home to more than 100 independent operators and vendors.

When you first walk in, you might think you accidentally walked into a train station, or perhaps a supervillain’s lair. No worries, you’re in the right place.

Be prepared for all your senses to be assaulted. With the blinding array of fruits and vegetables, the savory aromas of smoked meat, cheese, freshly-baked bread, the sounds of vendors hawking their wares, it’s sensory overload. You’ll be rubbing shoulders with the locals and sampling all the foods. It all adds up to the beautiful chaos that is the West Side Market.

Pro tip: For the best view, take a minute to find the stairs that go up to the balcony overlooking the market.

Playhouse Square

Did you know Cleveland’s Playhouse Square is the largest performing arts center in the United States outside of New York? It also has a pretty awesome chandelier!

From concerts to comedy, ballet to Broadway, Cleveland’s premier performing arts center has something for everyone. Located near the heart of downtown, Playhouse Square boasts ten performance spaces, including an outdoor plaza and five dazzling, historic theaters that date back to the 1920s.

Attracting more than one million guests per year, Cleveland’s Playhouse Square is a must-see entertainment destination, for locals and out-of-towners alike. With over a thousand annual events in multiple performance spaces, Playhouse Square offers fabulous opportunities for friends, family or colleagues to come together to share new experiences.

Whether you’re going for the shows, the history, the architecture or the art – just go!

You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll be inspired.

And don’t forget to check out the GE Chandelier before show time! It’s the world’s largest outdoor chandelier, glittering with over 4,200 crystals.

Cleveland Museum of Art

Take in some arts and culture at the Cleveland Museum of Art, located in University Circle.

Experience a whole world of art and culture right here in The Land! Check out the Cleveland Museum of Art, located in the bustling University Circle neighborhood on the city’s east side.

Founded over 100 years ago, the CMA is home to more than 45,000 works of art from around the globe. And with over 700,000 visitors annually, it’s one of the most visited art museums in the world.

Another plus – admission is free!

The museum itself, located in the center of Wade Park’s Fine Arts garden, is a beautifully preserved work of art. Grab a cup of coffee and take a stroll through the garden’s outdoor galleries, admiring the building’s pristine white Georgian marble and neoclassical design. Then step inside, into the grandiose atrium courtyard, to start your journey through the ages. The permanent collections include world renowned pieces spanning 16 diverse departments. From Medieval to Contemporary, textiles to photography – the Cleveland Museum of Art has it all.

Spend an afternoon with the works of Botticelli, Picasso, Warhol and centuries of other legendary artists. And don’t forget to check their calendar for any special exhibitions, lectures and programs going on while you’re in town!

A Christmas Story House

Did you know that one of your favorite Christmas classics was shot right here in Cleveland?

The actual home of Ralphie Parker and his family in the 1983 film “A Christmas Story” is located in the westside neighborhood of Tremont. Director Bob Clark reportedly searched twenty cities before selecting the iconic Victorian house as the perfect site for many of the exterior shots of the flick. Other parts of the Tremont neighborhood are featured in the movie as well.

The house was purchased on eBay in 2004 by a fan of the film, using proceeds from his existing business, The Red Rider Leg Lamp Company. (Are you sensing a theme?) Watching the movie frame by frame, he drew up and executed plans to reconfigure the interior of the house to a near perfect replica of the Parker family home.

The space opened to the public in 2006 and is now accessible year-round for tours and overnight stays. Go for a visit and relive cinematic history!

Also, the house across the street is now home to the Christmas Story House Museum, full of behind the scenes photos and props from the film, including Randy’s red snowsuit and the family Oldsmobile. Be sure to swing by the gift shop for your very own leg lamp, pink bunny suit or Red Ryder BB gun!

Just don’t shoot your eye out!

Cleveland Botanical Gardens

Admire the beauty of plants and wildlife from all across the globe, right here in CLE.

Unwind and become one with nature with a journey through the Cleveland Botanical Gardens. With 20 lush, ever-changing gardens to explore, you never know what you might discover.

Start in the temperature-controlled Glasshouse and travel through the unique landscapes of two separate continents. Visit the weird and wonderful spiny desert of Madagascar, featuring a world-class collection of endangered plants and exotic animals – including chameleons, radiated tortoises, and one of the largest collections of Madagascan baobab trees in the United States. Continue on to the vibrant rainforest of Costa Rica, with towering trees and boundless blooms. Stick around for one of the daily butterfly releases and watch beauty take flight.

Outside, stop and smell the roses in the romantic Rose Garden or find your zen in the Japanese Garden. Get lost in imagination among the whimsical topiaries or delight your senses and breathe deeply in the Herb Garden.