There are so many great ways to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Northeast Ohio is full of indoor and outdoor activities that will pique your interest and satiate your hunger for adventure, but before you start planning a really long road trip, consider adventuring locally. Here are 10 of the best day trips in Cleveland to get you on your way.

1. The Cleveland Grays Armory Museum, 1234 Bolivar Road
Cleveland Grays Armory Museum, 1234 Bolivar Rd, Cleveland, OH 44115, USA
Nyttend/Wikimedia Commons
When the Cleveland Grays military company opened their doors in 1837, their goal was to protect the city from riots and violence. However, they would become a deep-rooted site of community celebration. This was the location of the first-ever Cleveland Orchestra performance, a 1916 speech by William Howard Taft, and countless weddings. Today, part of the Cleveland Grays Armory Museum celebrates this cultural significance. One if its most interesting exhibits showcases the first cannon captured by the Union in the Civil War. Check the Armory's schedule for more information about their public tours.
2. Willard Park, East 9th and Lakeside Avenue
Willard Park, Cleveland, OH 44114, USA
Chris Brown/Flickr
Driving through Downtown Cleveland, the last thing one would expect to see is a giant rubber stamp. Yet, the Free Stamp is the crown jewel of this urban greenery. The word "free" was chosen as a nod to the nearby Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument. Pack a picnic for this trip and enjoy the sights and sounds of our beloved city.
3. Lakeview Cemetery, 12316 Euclid Avenue
Lake View Cemetery, 12316 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
Tim Evanson/Flickr
Lakeview Cemetery is more like an outdoor museum than your typical cemetery. It is "home" to more than 100,000 people, and they lay across 285 acres in tombs dating back to 1869. This cemetery actually spurred the creation of Little Italy when stonemasons were brought in from Italy to work on its garden-like layout. At this charming cemetery, you can visit the James A. Garfield Memorial, the Wade Chapel, the resting place of Alan Freed (who coined the term "Rock ‘n Roll"), and the John D. Rockefeller monument. Spending a few hours here is definitely different, yet still one of the unique things to do around Cleveland.
4. Western Reserve Historical Society Cleveland History Center, 10825 East Boulevard
Western Reserve Historical Society, 10825 East Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
Ralf Peter Reimann/Flickr
The Cleveland History Center preserves and celebrates the history of Northeast Ohio through artifacts and exhibits. Some of their exhibits include the Crawford Auto-Avian Museum, the Chisholm Halle Costume Wing, and the Kizibits Family Hands-On Gallery.
5. Great Lakes Science Center, 601 Erieside Avenue
Great Lakes Science Center, 601 Erieside Ave, Cleveland, OH 44114, USA
Mike Russell/Wikimedia Commons
The Great Lakes Science Center on the Cleveland riverfront is a true urban gem. Once you step inside, you are engulfed in a futuristic world where science, technology, and entertainment meet. This day trip destination consists of countless exhibits, a mind-blowing theatre, and events that prove human innovation is limitless.

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6. Northern Ohio Railway Museum, 5515 Seville Road (Seville)
Northern Ohio Railway Museum, 5515 Buffham Rd, Seville, OH 44273, USA
SriMesh/Wikimedia Commons
Just south of Cleveland, the Northern Ohio Railway Museum preserves and restores streetcars and other examples of railway equipment from Cleveland’s not-so-distant past. Unlike a typical museum where you can only look (and sometimes interact) with the artifacts, here you can also get an up-close-and-personal look at the restoration process. The museum is open for walking tours, admission is free, and sometimes when they are testing out the trains, they offer rides to the general public!
7. Malley’s Chocolates, 14822 Madison Avenue (Lakewood)
Malley's Chocolates, 14822 Madison Ave, Lakewood, OH 44107, USA
Joe Ippolito/Google Maps
Lakewood is a sleepy Cleveland suburb, and the laid-back lifestyle of its residents flows through its carefree streets. One store on Madison, Malley’s Chocolates opened in 1935 and has changed very little over the years. That means it still has an old-fashioned ice cream parlour with more than 50 ice cream flavors, and each one is irresistible. Sample a scoop (or two, or three) and take some home to savor all over again!
8. Edgewater Beach, near 6500 Cleveland Memorial Parkway
Edgewater Beach, Cleveland, OH 44102, USA
Erik Drost/Wikimedia Commons
Just outside of the urban streets of Downtown Cleveland is this stunning natural gem - a beach, right on the coast of Lake Erie. Operated by the Cleveland Metro Parks, this stunning location is open from sunrise to sunset and should be visited at least once this summer. Not only will you treat yourself to white sand and the music of the waves, but a stunning view of Downtown Cleveland awaits your presence.
9. Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Boulevard
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
Tim Evanson/Flickr
There is something undeniably romantic about a beautiful monument that stands "for the benefit of all the people forever." That is exactly what the Cleveland Museum of Art was founded to do, and it serves its community by showcasing hundreds of examples of historical and modern art that educate and enchant. Interestingly, Howard Carter, the famed Egyptologist that uncovered the tomb of Tutankhamen, procured a number of artifacts for the museum. If you're searching for "day trips near me," the museum should definitely be on your list. Another added feature is that there is no charge for admission, so your bank account will love it, too!
10. The West Side Market, 1979 West 25th Street
West Side Market, 1979 W 25th St, Cleveland, OH 44113, USA
Brian Zimmerman/Flickr
No matter how many times you have visited The West Side Market, Cleveland’s oldest public market, it never gets old. That’s because it is always worth the trip! With over 100 vendors offering a wide variety of food including meat, spices, fruits, veggies, and pastries, you never know what you are going to find. Consider stopping in for lunch, as a number of vendors offer ready-to-eat meals. But no matter when you visit, we're sure you'll see why Clevelanders cherish this market.

What is your favorite way to spend a day in Cleveland? Share in the comments below!

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Best Day Trips in Cleveland

Lysa Allman-Baldwin | July 08, 2022

Where is a good place to enjoy live music in Cleveland?

There are numerous great places to enjoy live music in Cleveland, covering a wide range of genres. If you love jazz, be sure to head on over to the Society Lounge. Once you walk in the door, you’ll feel like you walked into a classic speakeasy. The cocktails here really help set the mood and the bartenders are exceptionally skilled at serving up some of the best “spirited” creations in town. And let’s not forget the music! The jazz musicians here are amazing, filling the air with classic tunes as well as their own renditions that have a more contemporary feel. The Society Lounge is also a great place for a date night, special celebration, with a group of friends, or as a wind-down after a night out on the town.

I’m looking for hiking trails in the Cleveland area.

There are scores of good hiking trails in the Cleveland area, each offering its own unique settings and levels of difficulty. One of the most popular is the Fort Hill Loop Trail. Located in the Rocky River Reservation, the trail leads to a very cool archaeological site featuring authentic earthworks thought to have been created by the pre-Columbian peoples that inhabited the area some 2,000 years ago. The views along the trail are awe-inspiring, especially during the fall when the leaves are changing. (Be aware that you have to climb a lengthy set of stairs to get to the archaeological site, so it is not the best for families pushing strollers or people with mobility issues). 

Can you suggest a great breakfast place in Cleveland?

Cleveland is not often thought of as a major food city, but the locals would definitely disagree with you! There are so many great places to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (and late-night eats, too!). One of the most well-known and popular places for breakfast, however, is the Landmark Restaurant. The classic old-school restaurant has been a Cleveland staple for decades, serving up some of the best comfort food. Think biscuits and gravy, savory omelettes, pancakes, and grits....the list goes on and on. Bring your appetite cause it’s gonna get a workout!

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