CLEVELAND, OH (WOIO) –
Downtown Cleveland and University Circle will be buzzing with activity this weekend as a potential of more than 160,000 visitors come to check out all the excitement.
In addition to the beautiful weather forecast, some of the great events happening this weekend (May 18 – 20) include:
- Cleveland Indians vs. Florida Marlins – Friday, Saturday, Sunday
- Horseshoe Casino Cleveland first operating weekend – Friday, Saturday, Sunday
- Sondheim on Sondheim (PlayhouseSquare) – Friday, Saturday, Sunday
- International Asian Festival – Saturday, Sunday
- Hessler Street Fair (University Circle area) – Saturday, Sunday
- Come Fly Away (PlayhouseSquare) – Saturday, Sunday
- Cleveland International Tattoo – Saturday
- Cleveland Gladiator game – Saturday
- Rite-Aid Cleveland Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, Fun Run – Sunday
- Case Western Reserve Commencement Ceremony – Sunday
Positively Cleveland, the region’s convention and visitors bureau, is making sure that visitors are informed about all that’s happening during this monumental weekend. The Cleveland Plus Visitor Center (334 Euclid Avenue) will open on Saturday and Sunday from 10am – 4pm. Below are some helpful hints to make the most of this monumental weekend:
Positively Cleveland’s Tips for a Great Weekend
Be the early bird. Start your trip off stress free. Whether you’re a spectator for the Cleveland Marathon or just a die-hard Indians fan, make sure to arrive a bit earlier than normal this weekend. Rest assure if you leave early, you won’t hit as many issues with road closures, availability of parking sports or the overall feeling of just being late. The early bird really does get the worm on this one.
You’re early. So now what? There’s plenty of things to do or see while you’re waiting! Have a photo shoot and capture some beautiful sites of the city at Voinovich Park down on the lakefront or by the Fountain of Eternal Life Statue on the Mall. On Saturday, enjoy the architecture inside the Arcade or the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. Or, get a birds-eye view of the city from the Terminal Tower Observation Deck on in the afternoon on Saturday or Sunday. Tickets are available for $5 and visitors must buy online at www.terminaltowerodeck.eventbrite.com.
Use public transportation. Avoid worrying about finding a place to park by using the Cleveland Regional Transit Authority’s (RTA) service. Cash fares for any RTA bus or rapid is $2.25 per ride. All Day Passes allow for unlimited rides on any RTA bus or rapid anywhere in Cuyahoga County, from the time of first use until 3am the next day. The cost is $5. Five-trip passes cost $11.25, but are not restricted to subsequent day use. Visitors to the Indians Game and Casino can take the Red Line from any park-and-ride station throughout the county into Downtown and Terminal Tower. Head out to the University Circle area on the Healthline. And, the Waterfront Line will be open early, leaving Tower City at 4:52am on Sunday and will depart every 30 minutes to get Marathoners to the Lakefront. (www.riderta.com)
Whenever possible, walk. It’s good for your health and your wallet . . . no taxi fares and no additional charges to come and go from the hotel garage. Downtown Cleveland is incredibly walkable and most downtown hotels are within a 5-25 minute walk of the Horseshoe Casino Cleveland, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Progressive Field, The Warehouse District, East Fourth Street, PlayhouseSquare and other major attractions.
Bike it. For residents who live in closeby neighborhoods (Tremont, Ohio City, Cleveland Heights, etc.), why not just scratch traditional transportation downtown altogether and ride your bike? With the recent upswing in “greener” transportation, many locations downtown offer bike parking. Also considering utilizing safe, secure bike parking at the Cleveland Bike Rack located across from Quicken Loans Arena. (www.clevelandbikerack.com)
Help is here. Need directions? Want to make advance reservations at a restaurant? Can’t decide what to do next? This weekend, Positively Cleveland will open its doors to the hundreds of thousands of visitors coming to downtown Cleveland. Make sure to stop in and get some helpful advice from our Concierge Ambassadors. The Visitors Center is conveniently located on the corner of East Fourth Stree and Euclid Avenue. Just look for the big question mark sign. (www.PositivelyCleveland.com)
Your guide. While in the Cleveland Plus Visitors Center, make sure to grab an Official Visitors Guide. This publication is your guide to Cleveland. From maps and attraction listings to articles and helpful hints, this guide will take your trip from great…to fantastic.
Be patient. This is especially important on Sunday morning after the marathon events start to wind down (around 9am). Be aware that usual breakfast spots may require a bit of a wait. Some places to grab a bit to eat are Tremont’s Grumpy’s Café, Lucky’s Café and the Tremont Tap House, or Latitude 41 in Detroit Shoreway do a great job of getting diners in and out quickly, without sacrificing the quality of service or food. A lot of the downtown restaurants open at 11am or noon for lunch during the weekends.
Consider rockin’ the suburbs. So, your first inclination is to stay downtown, in the heart of it all. But, visitors can head 10-20 minutes outside of the city for free parking, an abundance of kid-friendly restaurants and, quite often, lower rates. This is especially helpful this weekend, as downtown hotels are sold out.
Twitter-ific. Connect with many of the local attractions and events on social media to get up-to-the-minute updates on all that’s happening including any additional road closures, great places to dine, scores, etc. Follow @PositivelyCleve, @HorseshoeCLE, @Indians, @CLEAsianFest, @clevemarathon, @GCRTA and @DowntownCLE.
Dollars make sense. It’s always best to leave home with about $20 in cash for parking, valet tips and other miscellaneous travel expenses that only take cash. It’ll save you the time of searching for an ATM machine.
HOT HOT HOT! The temps are expected to shoot up into the mid-80s this weekend. That said, makes sure to bring your sunscreen! And, for those heading to the Indians game, Progressive Field now allows folks to bring in one bottle of water (sealed). Stay healthy. Stay happy. Stay hydrated. (www.indians.com)
Mobile hospitality. Positively Cleveland has a unique location-based mobile website that matches you with nearby restaurants, attractions and hotels. Use it and you’ll never wonder, “Where can I get a bite to eat around here?” (www.cleplus.mobi)
Visit the Cleveland Marathon website for information. You can pre-plan running routes, scout spectator spots and get up-to-date road closures through the comprehensive website for the Cleveland Marathon. The site is chock-full of lists on the best spectator spots, route entertainment and neighborhood parties taking place. (www.clevelandmarathon.com)
Gamble at the new Horseshoe Casino Cleveland, then park free. Guests who gamble at the Horseshoe Casino Cleveland are able to park downtown for free. To be eligible for 24 hours of free parking near the casino, visitors have to become a Total Rewards member and then play for 30 minutes earning at least 15 “Tier Credits.” (www.caesars.com/HorseshoeCleveland)
Ask Downtown Cleveland Safety Ambassadors for help or safety or direction. Safety Ambassadors patrol downtown as a positive influence for safety, acting as the eyes and ears for police. Ambassadors also carry two-way radios to reach Peace Officers, who are off-duty Cleveland Police officers who can provide supplementary security. They are easy to spot with their bright yellow shirts. (www.downtownclevelandalliance.com/ambassadors.aspx)
Ride the “Fatty” wagon. Here’s a money-saving idea that is also good for the environment. Grab a brew at Great Lakes Brewing Company (GLBC) before an Indians game. Park for free (or for a minimal fee) in Ohio City and catch the GLBC “fatty” wagon, run on fryer grease, over to the ballpark. One dollar ($1) roundtrip gets you to and from the game where cheap seats can cost you less than ten bucks. (www.greatlakesbrewing.com)
Mobile culture. University Circle Inc. has launched an interactive University Circle App for iPhone. This FREE 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. So, for those folks in town for the Hessler Street Fair or the Case Western Reserve graduation, you can check out all the great museums in University Circle this weekend, too! (http://www.universitycircle.org/iphone-app) Make reservations at restaurants on OpenTable or call ahead now. The restaurants will be busy this weekend, so plan ahead by reserving your table online through Open Table. Look through the Positively Cleveland’s website to find dining options and make your reservations today. (www.opentable.com)
Plan, plan, plan. Visit PositivelyCleveland.com to get started planning your trip. Also read first-hand experiences on our blog at Flee to the Cleve.
Article Courtesy of WOIO 19 Action News
