I'm taking my boyfriend to The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and a Baseball Game in Cleveland in May...Any romantic suggestions for restaurants, etc.?...We may be staying at the Wyndham...Any thoughts on this hotel?...

romance and cleveland in the same sentence? the silence is deafening!

Are you telling me I'm in trouble...

Cleveland is a wonderful town. Try www.cleveland.com or www.travelcleveland for ideas. I stated in my other post, try for an Indians game at Jacobs Field. I don't know what your interests are, but a fun day could be to go to Cedar Point or take the ferry to either Put-In-Bay or Kelly's Island. Not sure when you are going either so the islands are more fun in summer. Have fun.

No, you are not in trouble. It depends on what you are looking for. You can take a cruise on the Goodtime or Nautica Queen, rent a sailboat, visit one of the many metroparks or the Cleveland Botanical Gardens, Cleveland Zoo, Holden Arboretum, go up to the observation deck of the Terminal Tower, take a train ride on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, drive to Amish country or just stroll along the beach at Edgewater Park.

I think it's too easy to knock Cleveland-- how many cities have a burning river in their history?! It's working very hard to clean up and brush up its image, I'll grant you that. But, in my travels there, I've found it about as romantic as a colonoscopy. Without sedatives.

Of course, I've stayed downtown, and those four square blocks are pretty dismal. The Wyndham looks like it's in a rather nice area; did you check its website for surrounding attractions? My only quibble: it talks of "breathtaking views" from an open-air terrace. Sorry, a view of Cleveland's skyline from an open terrace could only be breathtaking if an open dumpster were just below....

rj-We had a similar discussion regarding Columbus a while back. When is the last time you visited Cleveland? It really has changed alot. Before you gripe about a city you really need to see it up close and personal recently, not 10 years ago. BTW-Any reason you hate Ohio so much? Like an ex or something?

Visited Cleveland one year ago. I'd say that's recent enough to have an informed opinion.

I used to live in Pennsylvania, I had family living in West Virginia, and traveled quite a bit in Ohio. I'm willing to give Columbus the benefit of the doubt, but I *have* been to other parts of Ohio more recently, and it's just not a place I would choose to visit. But don't take that as a personal slam. I'm sure you love Ohio because you know about all its good things (and it must have quite a few I just haven't run into). I live in California, and lots of people hate California (and list their informed reasons here). I can accept that. Doesn't reflect on me-- I'm not jacking cars in Compton... or causing the earthquakes/landslides/brush fires.

I was just in Cleveland and had lunch at Sans Souci at the Renaissance, it is very romantic! tables are intimate, lighting is low and food is amazing!

I stayed at the hotel thru priceline for $55 night. From there you can walk all the way to Jacob's field pretty much inside which is handy. You might want to check that out as an option!

Have fun!

Wendy

Wendy...When you went on Priceline what area and what star rating did you put in to get the Rennaisance?...

I used biddingfortravel.com to research the hotels, areas and winning bids. Saw that the Renaissance was a 4 star in the Tower City area I wanted to stay in and then bid what others were winning at.

Check out that site first, it makes it really easy. The hotel also has an indoor heated pool which is in the center of a big atrium. Very cool.

Pogo:

Yes, Cleveland CAN actually be romantic! If it's not too late, I'd try to switch my reservations to the Ritz Carlton at Tower City Center. the Wyndham is nice, but I think the Ritz would be more romantic. As far as restaurants, I'm a little rusty at what's up in Cleveland (I used to live in Columbus), but Sans Souci in the Renaissance (also in Tower City Center) is nice. I remember that there's a really good seafood restaurant in Lakewood that's right along the lake.

For activities, in addition to the great ones already mentioned, here are my suggestions:

- Wineries along Lake Erie
- Shopping at Beachwood Place (has Saks, Galleries at Neiman-Marcus, etc.)
- Rent a car & drive west along the Lake

To get more info., call 1-800-BUCKEYE, & they'll give you plenty of info.

rjw: Nice to see you again! I understand where you're coming from, but since I'm assuming you live in/near Long Beach, I wouldn't exactly be throwing stones at any place . . . I've (unfortunately) been there, and I think they should move terminal cancer patients there, since 1 day there feels like a lifetime . . .

LT: Good to hear from you too! Sorry to hear about your nasty stay down here in Long Beach. It IS such a terrible city! I guess I'm used to the misery of my awful neighborhood of $500,000+ homes and clean streets and friendly neighbors, four blocks from the disgusting ocean and the $3,000,000+ homes found there (dumps! Especially the priceless Irving Gill house on the bluff....), and of course the squalor of Belmont Heights and Belmont Shore (where Sonny Bono's daughter put TWO expensive restaurants which manage to pack in the trashy inhabitants valet-parking their Lexuses and Mercedeses). I'm just resigned to the horror of this disgusting city. Eeewww.

PS: Mostly sunny and in the 60s today. I'm not complaining in the least.

Oh, and before I get accused of throwing housing costs around like I'm rich: I bought in long ago when housing costs were rock-bottom. For some bizarre reason, my condo's value has tripled in the last five years. I like Long Beach, but it's ain't "triple-your-housing-value" nice!!

rjw:

Yeah, the Columbus I grew up in, actually, Muirfield, was pretty nasty, as well. The hicks there have to live in homes where the average square footage was easily over 4,000 sq. ft., with many sitting on one of the best golf courses in the country. . . I'm sure the people there are just kicking themselves over not having to pay through the nose for a mediocre house on a lot that has about as much total square footage as a postage stamp, as well. How do they manage?

I could have also shown you how these typically-friendly midwestern hicks there earn their backwater reputation when they go to the area Lamborghini dealership (which, by the way, is the highest-volume Lamborghini dealership in the country) to pick out a new ride . . . Ugh, the indignity of it all!

We also had to put up with the nasty fact of being only a 1-1/2-hour flight from 70% of the US population. Yeah, I think they'd be better off being isolated in one part of the country . . . I mean, after all, who really wants to travel & experience new cities and cultures?

And we had to put up with an average commute of only 30 minutes (how do they stand it?).

And, in case you're wondering if I'm one of the "idle rich," I've been working since I was 13, and I'm now living on the East Coast, where I'm FAR happier -- I'm enjoying paying through the nose for housing and sitting in nerve-wracking traffic for half of my life. You're right. Those Ohio rubes don't know what they're missing!

P.S. Came across this interesting tidbit: On most days, LB's total Air Quality Index ("AQI," pollution factors traditionally considered "smog") remains below 50, a level AQMD considers "good." (AQMD calls 51-100 AQI "moderate" pollution, 101-150 "unhealthy for sensitive groups," 151-200 "unhealthy" and above 200 "very unhealthy.") But while LB's AQI often ranks "good," it includes PM-10 -- particulate matter smaller than 10 microns, tiny dust-like particles that can invade deep into the lungs.

The CA Air Resources Board (ARB) considers PM-10 a danger to human health, especially for children and the elderly.

rjw, send me your address. I'll be happy to send you some masks so you can enjoy that wonderful Long Beach lifestyle!

Hmmmmm..... I guess I struck a nerve with the Ohioans out there. Sarcasm doesn't fly far on these boards, does it?

My point is: I happen to not measure the worth of a city by the square footage I can afford. I go by a simple test: Is everything I want to do on a regular basis nearby? Is there natural beauty to be found in the area? And if I want to get out of the area, do I have good transportation options? AND, are there nice people around me?

Long Beach actually fits me. It won't fit some people, but hey, it's a place to LIVE, not so much a tourist hotspot. Small houses? Less tchotchkes to dust, less grass to mow. I live close enough to the ocean that pollution is a non-issue (ahh, those ocean breezes!). I actually can walk to places I want to go in my neighborhood. Last I looked, we have some fair golfing in the area (like I care). I can easily get out of town (and I do travel quite a bit) when I want to. And my neighbors are a friendly, diverse lot who smile at you on the street-- gee, like any other town in the world.

I'm sure Columbus and Cleveland are pleasant, lovely towns for many people. Still, spending a nice summer Saturday night in Long Beach, star jasmine wafting in the breeze, watching fireworks at 9 PM off the Queen Mary on the bluff near my house is my Paradise.

Oh and pogohead2-- the Renaissance in Cleveland is a quite nice hotel, and the restaurant is very good. (See? I said something nice about Cleveland!)

WE WERE TRANSFERRED OUT OF CLEVELAND 11 YEARS AGO, BUT ENJOY OUR VISITS BACK TWICE A YEAR TO VISIT FAMILY AND FRIENDS. THE GREAT SEAFOOD RESTAURANT IN LAKEWOOD IS DON'S LIGHTHOUSE INN. WE GO BACK THERE EVERY YEAR FOR A GREAT DINNER AND ATMOSPHERE!!!

There is also a restaurant called Pier W in Lakewood that is known for their view.

Back to your original question.....there are many great places to go in Cleveland. I do agree with some others here that you may want to try staying at the Renaissance or the Ritz. Both are lovely, but the Wyndham is O.K. too. As far as other things to do than baseball, you may want to try to see a show - the theatres are all recently renovated and fun to see. You can also go to the Science Center - it is right by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and has an IMAX.
There are many very nice restaurants downtown - you may want to try Blue Point for seafood, Osteria for Italian, Johnny's for continental food. The Cleveland Chop House has a great bar and for late night try The Little Bar.

You can also check out the near east side for the history and art museums and Severence Center, the home of the reknowned Cleveland Orchestra. Close by is Little Italy, many great restaurants and a fun bar The Barking Spider.
Hopefully that gives you a little more to work with! Enjoy your stay

rjw:

Guess sarcasm is in the eye of the beholder, isn't it . . . ?

If I seem a little defensive, it's just because I get really tired of the "cultural elites" on both coasts who consider the Midwest as "flyover territory" (not that I'm accusing you of being in that group), and its inhabitants just one step above the characters portrayed in "Deliverance."

You're absolutely right -- everyone has differing tastes and opinions as to what they like and dislike in a city. For me, I measure a city based on quality of life, as well. Do I have to push and shove with the crowds? Does it take half a day to get to & from work? What good are all of the natural and man-made attractions if I have to spend most of my time getting there and waiting in lines? Can I live in an area where I'm not spending the equivalent of the annual gross domestic product of Sweden on a tiny house with no land? As you probably can tell(!), I really enjoyed living in the country in Ohio, where the only sounds that woke you up were the birds chirping and the frogs croaking on the pond; where I didn't have to wonder if I was going to get a seat on the commuter bus for my 1+ hour trip into work every day; and where I'd only be a 30-minute drive from the heart of the city and the airport. Do they have Hermes and Prada? Nope. But they eventually get all of that stuff that starts in the major cities at some point in time. If nothing else, it provides us with a built-in excuse to hop a plane to Chicago or NYC for the weekend!

From your other postings, it sounds like you just had a few bad experiernces in Ohio, and it's pretty much turned you off of the state in its entirety. I can understand this. I had some bad experiences in the south of France, and despite its overhyped reputation, you couldn't pay me to go back (especially after what the French did prior to, and during the war!).

I'm sure that Long Beach might have some lovely areas, as well (are you SURE you don't live in Palos Verdes and are just saying you live in LB to remain humble?!? , but I'll take lots of open space without crowds and the wonder of watching the change of seasons anyday! Now, if I could just figure out how to get a job in my field back in OH . . .

P.S. You should thank your lucky stars that you have your own airport as an alternative to LAX! See, I can say someting nice about LB, as well . . . ! BTW, Thanks, Deborah! Pier W was the name of the restaurant I was thinking of!