Ever wish you knew the inside scoop before visiting a new destination? Now you can! We’ve reached out to our favorite locals and tour guides from all over the world for their insider tips. In the City Insider Q&A, they’ll let you in on the spots that should be on your must-see and do list!
Name: April Ingle
Occupation: Communications Coordinator at Positively Cleveland
Born in: Cleveland, OH
Lives in: Cleveland, OH
Website: PositivelyCleveland.com
Twitter: @PositivelyCleve
Facebook: Positively Cleveland
Pinterest: Positively Cleveland
YouTube: Positively Cleveland
Short bio: As the communications coordinator for Positively Cleveland, the CVB responsible for promoting tourism to the area, April Ingle is constantly discovering more new restaurants, attractions, boutiques and people to love about her hometown. When she’s not busy touring travel journalists around town, she spends most of her time shopping at local festivals, running through the beautiful Cleveland Metroparks and eating her way through Cleveland’s renowned culinary scene, one neighborhood hotspot at a time.
Ready to explore?
Best way to/from the airport: RTA Red Line
Favorite 5-star hotel: The Ritz-Carlton Cleveland – Not only are the accommodations the ultimate in luxury, their “Rocktails” – cocktails inspired by a hit rock songs like the “Bittersweet Symphony” – are clever and out of this world.
Favorite budget hotel: The Doubletree Downtown Lakeside is in the ideal downtown location with an excellent view of Lake Erie (and, of course there’s the FREE cookie they offer upon check-in) or recently-renovated Holiday Inn Express Downtown in a 19th century historic building that feels like luxury without breaking the bank.
Favorite fine dining restaurant: With an unbelievable view of Lake Erie, Pier W offers some of Cleveland’s tastiest seafood, chops and steaks in a white-table-cloth, contemporary atmosphere.
Favorite casual restaurant: Momocho in Ohio City – This funky “mod mex” restaurant is known for its extensive selection of guacamoles (try the goat cheese guac) and the famous cucumber margarita.
Favorite café: Lucky’s Café in Tremont – The pecan-crusted bacon is simply life-changing.
Best museum: The Cleveland Museum of Art, known for its breadth of internationally renowned pieces of art ranging from Monet to Picasso, is also one of the few remaining major art museums that still offers free admission to its massive permanent collection.
Most popular local food: From the gourmet, beef cheek-stuffed ones at Michael Symon’s Lola, the traditional types made at Prosperity Social Club and Sololowski’s University Inn, to the kind you can have shipped to your door from the West Side Market’s Pierogi Palace, there’s no doubt that the Pierogi reigns supreme in Cleveland cuisine.
Local drink: A beer from Great Lakes Brewing Company – Their brews are so legendary, the locals write songs about them
Movies filmed there: A Christmas Story
(you can even tour the house), The Deer Hunter
, Major League
, Air Force One
, American Splendor
, The Avengers
Best souvenirs locals can buy: Anything from C.L.E. Clothing Company
Recommended reading for your city: The West Side Market is a Cleveland icon, culinary resource and signification cultural treasure. Local author Laura Taxel explores the history and importance of the space in her book, West Side Market: 100 Years and Still Cooking
.
10 Places Visitors must see:
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
- West Side Market
- Playhouse Square
- University Circle
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- The Cleveland Orchestra
- Museum of Contemporary Art
- Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
- Greater Cleveland Aquarium
- Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Best place to volunteer: www.handsonneo.org
Best iPhone app(s): The University Circle App provides instant, up-to-date information, events, photos, and maps on hundreds of locations in University Circle, including museums and institutions, restaurants, galleries, schools, entertainment, and shopping venues. Also, the Cleveland Historical App helps visitors explore the people, places, and moments that have shaped the city’s history with layered, map-based, multimedia presentations.
Best websites: PositivelyCleveland.com or FleetotheCleve.wordpress.com
Best travel tip: The heart and soul of Cleveland is in our neighborhoods. Ethnic neighborhoods retain much of their Old World cultural background from food to festivals and emerging diverse neighborhoods blend art galleries, indie theaters, gastropubs and blue-collar watering holes. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore these hidden gems.
Give Cleveland Museum of Art more credit than ranging from Monet to Picasso ! The collection contains decorative arts, contemporary art, textiles, photography, prints, armor, Asian, Indian, Native American, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, European and American works.
Great feature. Love the “Best travel tip” at the end! To add to the already lovely list– I highly recommend to anyone visiting (or living in) Cleveland, Cookie & a Cupcake in Tremont. It’s definitely one of those hidden gems around town! Also, a great place for festive food and drink at an affordable price– The Black Pig in Ohio City. And one more MUST-try to add to the list is Velvet Tango Room just between Ohio City and Tremont. This little spot is classy without being pretentious (though it is on the pricier side– those looking for a deal should try their happy hour) and they make a mean drink. There’s so much to explore in Cleveland, so get going!
http://beautifuldaysgoneby.wordpress.com/
~Steph
Great tips, April!
Awesome suggestions – more stuff to check out on my next Cleveland visit!
Major League was filmed in Milwaukee, not Cleveland.
April is correct, @Rick Vaughn. Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium was used in the filming of “Major League,” according to IMDB. Got your back, April!