The Arcade Cleveland opened in May of 1890 as the first indoor shopping center in America. It is now one of Cleveland's most popular landmarks and premier destinations for shopping and dining. You can even stay in the luxurious Hyatt Regency Hotel that occupies the top three levels of the Arcade!
Photo courtesy of the Downtown Cleveland Alliance
Downtown Cleveland is home to eight incredible and unique districts full of art, music, great food and more. Here you'll find one of the best art museums in the country: the Cleveland Museum of Art and the largest performing arts center in the United States outside of New York: Playhouse Square. From gorgeous historic structures to shiny modern skyscrapers, the city center is teeming with excitement and history.
Photo courtesy of The Great Lakes Brewing Company
The Great Lakes Brewing Company was the first brewpub and microbrewery in Ohio and offers fantastic beers, grub along with daily tours of their facility. Since they opened in 1988, the Great Lakes Brewing Company has become an integral part of Cleveland's identity and has been one of the forces behind the revival of the Ohio City neighborhood.
Cleveland just happens to be home to one of the most famous baseball teams in the country: The Cleveland Indians. Since they were established in 1901, they've brought home two World Series championships!
Photo courtesy of the Downtown Cleveland Alliance
Both tourists and locals alike can take tours of Cleveland on Lolly the Trolley, which showcases the different neighborhoods around Cleveland and allows you to experience them in a whole new light. They even offer packages for weddings, groups, and reunions so you can make your party one your guests won't forget.
Photo courtesy of Roger Mastroianni via the Cleveland Orchestra
The Cleveland Orchestra has been producing beautiful music for over 100 years and is known as one of the "Big Five" symphony orchestras in the United States. In 2012, Gramophone Magazine ranked the Cleveland Orchestra as number seven on its list of the world's greatest orchestras and The New York Times referred to it as "America's most understatedly amazing orchestra".
Birthplace of the term "Rock and Roll", it isn't a surprise that Cleveland was chosen as the home for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Visit the famous museum to see exhibits featuring famous rock and roll artists, rock and roll photography and art, publications and more.
Photo courtesy of Downie Photography via University Circle
University Circle is a cultural hub in Cleveland home to institutions like the Natural History Museum, The Museum of Contemporary Art and Case Western Reserve University along with dozens of shops and restaurants.
West Side Market is Cleveland's oldest publicly owned market, originally opened in 1912. Today the market is home to over 100 vendors of all different cultures that sell the finest meats and vegetables, fresh seafood, baked goods, dairy and cheeses and even fresh flowers.
Photo courtesy of A Christmas Story House
While a lot of "A Christmas Story" was shot in Toronto, Canada, the exterior shots of the Parker residence were of a modest 19th-century Victorian home in Cleveland. The creators of the movie scoured Cleveland neighborhoods to find the perfect place that would resemble story creator Jean Shepard's childhood home. They finally found it at 3159 West 11th Street. Bob Clark, director of the film, ultimately chose this specific home because it gave off a classic-American feel while also having features that they were looking for such as steel mills in the backyard, a wrap around porch and an empty lot next door — perfect for the crew to set up camp. In December of 2004, Brian Jones, a San Diego entrepreneur, bought the house on eBay for $150,000. He had been a massive fan of the movie since childhood and had even founded his own business based off of the film; the Red Rider Leg Company, which manufactures replicas of the "major award" Ralphie's father wins. The previous owners of the home had remodeled the house, installing new windows and covering the original wood siding with blue vinyl. Jones watched "A Christmas Story" frame by frame to draw detailed plans of the interior and spent $204,000 to gut the structure and reconfigure it into the floor plan we know and love. Today, the house sits as a near-replica of the set.
Photo courtesy of A Christmas Story House
The neighborhood is also home to two more "A Christmas Story" inspired buildings — the museum and gift shop! At the museum, you can see behind the scenes photos, props, costumes and memorabilia. While you're there, be sure to check out the Higbee's Department Store holiday toys, Randy's snowsuit and zeppelin he receives for Christmas and even the family car! After spending a day immersed in the Ralphie's world, you'll definitely want to pick up a souvenir, which you can do at the A Christmas Story Gift Shop. There, you can purchase your own leg-lamp in any size you please as well as apparel, miniature figurines and more. If you can't make it to the gift shop in person, visit their website where you can purchase memorabilia from "A Christmas Story", "Christmas Vacation", "Home Alone" and many more classic holiday movies.
Photo courtesy of The Rowley Inn
This holiday season, The Rowley Inn, the restaurant right across the street from A Christmas Story House, will be serving up several "A Christmas Story" themed cocktails and dishes! Make sure to check out this special spot and see where the cast and crew of the movie hung out after filming.
Photo courtesy of The Spotted Owl
Join the Spotted Owl during their special Christmas cocktail popup this season! They'll be hosting this special event until December 30th in their vintage 1850's bar space. The bar will be decorated head-to-toe in Christmas decor and they'll be serving up original Christmas cocktails every day!