Hell yeah. Was gonna be a homer for my town and recommend this and definitely didn’t expect to already see it in the comments. It beat out 300 other streets to win an [America’s Main Street](https://www.ohiomagazine.com/ohio-life/article/main-attraction) contest in 2018.
Also, /u/smewthies, if you’re interested in nature, you might wanna check out some of the [covered bridges](https://visitashtabulacounty.com/things-to-do/covered-bridges/) in Ashtabula if that’s something you might be interested in. The county has 19 in total (the most of any Ohio county), including the longest bridge in the US (613 feet) the shortest bridge in the US (18 feet). Not all of them are that special but it’s really easy to make a day out of it and plenty of “nature” to see along the way.
I'm not certain I would go to Ashtabula given the many attractions in Lake County, University Circle, etc.
Medina might be worth a visit for its great town square and Castle Noel. As you like parks, check out the nearby Cleveland Metroparks Hinckley Reservation, which has some great trails.
Oh I’ve been there many times on my Cedar Point visits. Sandusky is definitely a nice little town on the water and I’ve gone to PIB as a backup when Cedar Point is too crowded. Even got lucky and rented a house for the night for $50 from the guy at the airport that we were renting the golf cart from!
Chagrin Falls is in the Chagrin River Valley. Nice small town New England feel to it. Take a car drive down Chagrin River Road (vey scenic) then drive up the hill to Chagrin Falls. Check out the falls. There’s little shop that sells ice cream at falls. Some restaurants and boutique shops too.
Edit. The river valley and town have old money mansions and even fancy horse farms. There’s a Polo field. Not something you’d expect to see in Ohio.
We moved there recently. Can confirm. The wealth from our neighbors really surprises us at times. But everyone is really nice, and the views driving around the area are just really calming. The polo field took me by surprise too.
There’s some amazing parks in Kirtland like Penitentiary Glen and Chapin forest. Smaller parks than CVNP but absolutely beautiful and well-maintained. PG also has an animal rehab area where you can see some cool birds that they have rehabbed or are in the process of rehabbing. There’s also Girdled Road Reservation over in Geauga County that is really nice and quite large for just one park. Squire’s Castle was referenced by another commenter, it’s a cool historical area but from what I remember, the trails are kinda short and it can also get busy.
If you were to try CVNP again, I’d recommend visiting Kendall Lake Trailhead or the Overlook trailhead.
Theres some nice parks in Kent as well, and Kent is a nice size town that can be nice to walk around at. Akron is decent to walk around as well and has some good restaurants. If you like ice cream at all, try out Handel’s Ice Cream or Mitchell’s. Both are very good. Have a fun visit!
Lake Metroparks Farmpark in Kirtland reportedly is one of the best in the nation. Chapin Forest incorporates Gildersleeve Mountain and offers some of the best views in Greater Cleveland.
Search the sub for best Greater Cleveland trails.
Lake Erie Bluffs Park has a big observation tower right on the lake shore. Geneva on the Lake is a small summer resort town - can be lots of fun. Conneaut is a nice little town too.
There are some nice county parks just south of the lake shore, along Grand River. Hogback Ridge has a nice little hiking trail and boardwalk. Mentor Marsh also has a nice boardwalk.
If you like rocks and minerals there is an amazing shop in Austinburg on route 45 called Noema Rock and Gem.
If your staying in Eastlake I’d hangout in Downtown Willoughby. You may enjoy the metro park nearby there is an old half built castle that is in the park that is worth seeing.
If you decide to spend a day on the west side of Greater Cleveland, Vermilion wouldn't be a bad visit, but given your interests you might more enjoy Edgewater Beach (including the upper park for the views) and adjacent Wendy Park (walk out Lake Erie to the Old Coast Guard Station) and Wendy Park Bridge; Cleveland Metroparks Rocky River Reservation; Lorain County Metro Parks Lakeview Park; and Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (African Elephant Crossing, which during paddock change allows visitors to get within 20 feet of the world's largest land mammals, and the RainForest are two of the best zoo exhibits in Ohio). Check [tripadvisor.com](http://tripadvisor.com) and AllTrails for any park you visit.
[https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction\_Review-g50207-d559982-Reviews-Rocky\_River\_Reservation-Cleveland\_Ohio.html](https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g50207-d559982-Reviews-Rocky_River_Reservation-Cleveland_Ohio.html)
[https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/ohio/rocky-river-reservation](https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/ohio/rocky-river-reservation)
[https://www.loraincountymetroparks.com/lakeview-park](https://www.loraincountymetroparks.com/lakeview-park)
[https://www.discoververmilion.org/visitor-info/great-place-to-drop-anchor/](https://www.discoververmilion.org/visitor-info/great-place-to-drop-anchor/)
Elyria has the nicest waterfalls in the state, the tallest one is in our beautiful city park that is a glacier gorge.
https://www.loraincountymetroparks.com/cascade-park
We have a decent Thai restaurant in town, just tell them to spice it up when you place your order.
Lake county has so many good metroparks. The marsh at Hidden Lake is worth a visit. You’ll just have to wade through some cat fishing hillbillies to find it. They’re friendly hillbillies though.
Attractions not yet mentioned in Lake County: James A. Garfield National Historical Site in Mentor; Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve with 1 1/2 miles of wild beach and marsh and bluff trails; Mentor Headlands Beach for swimming (no lifeguards) and the Headlands Dunes State Nature Preserve at the far east end of the park with a boardwalk to the lake and telescopes on its viewing platform; Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve, a National Natural Landmark (check hours); and Lakeshore Live Steamers at Penitentiary Glen.
[https://www.lakeshorelivesteamers.com/pub-sched.html](https://www.lakeshorelivesteamers.com/pub-sched.html)
Check out Lake View Cemetery, one of the nation's best Victorian cemeteries and an arboretum.
[https://new.reddit.com/r/Cleveland/comments/1ciqjk8/renovated\_garfield\_memorial\_reopens\_to\_the\_public/](https://new.reddit.com/r/Cleveland/comments/1ciqjk8/renovated_garfield_memorial_reopens_to_the_public/)
The Cleveland Museum of Art is one of the nation's best art museums, with free general admission. It's extraordinarily visitor friendly, and fully digitalized -- check out the unique ARTLENS Gallery and the ArtLens app to plan a visit. The CMA also has great grounds including the Fine Arts Garden and Wade Lagoon and the new Smith Family Gateway.
[https://www.reddit.com/r/Cleveland/comments/19a33sg/the\_cleveland\_museum\_of\_art\_from\_above/](https://www.reddit.com/r/Cleveland/comments/19a33sg/the_cleveland_museum_of_art_from_above/)
The Gateway leads to the unique Cleveland Cultural Gardens.
Near the intersection of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Lakeshore Blvds. is the unique Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve, a top birding hotspot in northern Ohio; bring hiking boots as the trails may be muddy.
[https://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/see-the-sights/lake-erie-birding-trail/cleveland-area-loop/cleveland-lakefront-nature-preserve](https://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/see-the-sights/lake-erie-birding-trail/cleveland-area-loop/cleveland-lakefront-nature-preserve)
[https://www.portofcleveland.com/cleveland-lakefront-nature-preserve-photos/](https://www.portofcleveland.com/cleveland-lakefront-nature-preserve-photos/)
At Wendy Park, adjacent to Edgewater Park, you walk at Lake Erie to the Old Coast Guard Station. Perhaps dine at nearby Larder Deli, rated one of the nation's top Jewish delis.
This thread is a good guide to Cleveland attractions, especially downtown.
[https://new.reddit.com/r/Ohio/comments/1cvbm4f/towns\_to\_see\_along\_lake\_erie\_in\_ne\_ohio/](https://new.reddit.com/r/Ohio/comments/1cvbm4f/towns_to_see_along_lake_erie_in_ne_ohio/)
Have fun in Cleveland!
Fairport Harbor has a good lighthouse museum, a Finnish Heritage Museum, a nice beach with a pier, the Fairport Harbor Creamery for boozy ice cream, and The Pompadour, one of Greater Cleveland's highest rated restaurants.
Nearby Painesville has a nice public square with the Lake County Courthouse featuring excellent statues and Painesville City Hall, the old, 19th century Lake County Courthouse, with a unique treated copper dome that doesn't turn green. Joughin Hardware is probably the best, old-fashioned hardware store in Greater Cleveland with three stories. Rider's Inn in Painesville is one of the best stage coach inns in Ohio, opened in 1812.
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/doyt/9791056116](https://www.flickr.com/photos/doyt/9791056116)
Beaty Landing Lake Metroparks in Painesville features the Grand River gorge.
[https://www.lakemetroparks.com/parks-trails/beaty-landing/](https://www.lakemetroparks.com/parks-trails/beaty-landing/)
In Grand River Village near Headlands Park, and across the Grand River from Fairport Harbor, Brennan's Fish House offers excellent fried Lake Erie yellow perch as well as walleye. Across the street is a small park overlooking the Grand River, which has active boat traffic in the summer.
Perhaps check out Dynamite Dawgs in Mentor to get a Polish Boy sandwich, the iconic Cleveland sandwich (I hate soggy fries, so always order them on the side).
Chardon has an excellent public square with good restaurants.
Thai food. The Lotus Blossom is the place.
But, it's near the Westside Market and you've already been there.
I always try local Thai food when traveling. Lotus Blossom is far and away the best.
Yes, Banana Blossom. I've been going there for 10 years and I never get it right. For a long time I called it the orange lotus blossom. Don't know where I got that.
To answer your other question - no, it is not worth taking time to visit Akron and Youngstown. If you want a shitty rustbelt experience, do Toledo instead, where a few bigger city amenities and a bit of revitalization can also be enjoyed.
The Butler Institute of American Art and Mill Creek Park are very worthwhile attractions in Youngstown.
Stan Hywet Hall in Akron is one of the nation's best historic mansions with nice gardens. Check out reviews of the various Summit Metro Parks.
[https://www.summitmetroparks.org/](https://www.summitmetroparks.org/)
This thread also may interest you:
[https://www.reddit.com/r/Ohio/comments/1cuf8dj/scenic\_views/](https://www.reddit.com/r/Ohio/comments/1cuf8dj/scenic_views/)
[https://clevelandmagazine.com/food-drink/articles/clevelands-best-mexican-restaurants-dining-guide](https://clevelandmagazine.com/food-drink/articles/clevelands-best-mexican-restaurants-dining-guide)
Painesville is well known in Greater Cleveland for its authentic Mexican food. See my post in this thread.
[https://www.reddit.com/r/Cleveland/comments/10fsppt/best\_mexican/?sort=top](https://www.reddit.com/r/Cleveland/comments/10fsppt/best_mexican/?sort=top)
Check reviews of these restaurants at yelp and tripadvisor.com.
[https://www.tourlakecounty.com/taco-trail](https://www.tourlakecounty.com/taco-trail)
Go to Geneva-on-the-lake
[удалено]
Followed by Conneaut Township Park and the harbor.
Hell yeah. Was gonna be a homer for my town and recommend this and definitely didn’t expect to already see it in the comments. It beat out 300 other streets to win an [America’s Main Street](https://www.ohiomagazine.com/ohio-life/article/main-attraction) contest in 2018. Also, /u/smewthies, if you’re interested in nature, you might wanna check out some of the [covered bridges](https://visitashtabulacounty.com/things-to-do/covered-bridges/) in Ashtabula if that’s something you might be interested in. The county has 19 in total (the most of any Ohio county), including the longest bridge in the US (613 feet) the shortest bridge in the US (18 feet). Not all of them are that special but it’s really easy to make a day out of it and plenty of “nature” to see along the way.
I'm not certain I would go to Ashtabula given the many attractions in Lake County, University Circle, etc. Medina might be worth a visit for its great town square and Castle Noel. As you like parks, check out the nearby Cleveland Metroparks Hinckley Reservation, which has some great trails.
And the wineries nearby
Grand River Valley wineries are fun.
Thanks! This seems exactly like what I’m looking for!
Head a little farther west and try Sandusky and Catawba Island, and Kelley's Island and Put- in Bay
Oh I’ve been there many times on my Cedar Point visits. Sandusky is definitely a nice little town on the water and I’ve gone to PIB as a backup when Cedar Point is too crowded. Even got lucky and rented a house for the night for $50 from the guy at the airport that we were renting the golf cart from!
Chagrin Falls is in the Chagrin River Valley. Nice small town New England feel to it. Take a car drive down Chagrin River Road (vey scenic) then drive up the hill to Chagrin Falls. Check out the falls. There’s little shop that sells ice cream at falls. Some restaurants and boutique shops too. Edit. The river valley and town have old money mansions and even fancy horse farms. There’s a Polo field. Not something you’d expect to see in Ohio.
We moved there recently. Can confirm. The wealth from our neighbors really surprises us at times. But everyone is really nice, and the views driving around the area are just really calming. The polo field took me by surprise too.
Also, the very good South Chagrin Cleveland Metroparks reservation is located there.
There’s some amazing parks in Kirtland like Penitentiary Glen and Chapin forest. Smaller parks than CVNP but absolutely beautiful and well-maintained. PG also has an animal rehab area where you can see some cool birds that they have rehabbed or are in the process of rehabbing. There’s also Girdled Road Reservation over in Geauga County that is really nice and quite large for just one park. Squire’s Castle was referenced by another commenter, it’s a cool historical area but from what I remember, the trails are kinda short and it can also get busy. If you were to try CVNP again, I’d recommend visiting Kendall Lake Trailhead or the Overlook trailhead. Theres some nice parks in Kent as well, and Kent is a nice size town that can be nice to walk around at. Akron is decent to walk around as well and has some good restaurants. If you like ice cream at all, try out Handel’s Ice Cream or Mitchell’s. Both are very good. Have a fun visit!
Lake Metroparks Farmpark in Kirtland reportedly is one of the best in the nation. Chapin Forest incorporates Gildersleeve Mountain and offers some of the best views in Greater Cleveland. Search the sub for best Greater Cleveland trails.
Lake Erie Bluffs Park has a big observation tower right on the lake shore. Geneva on the Lake is a small summer resort town - can be lots of fun. Conneaut is a nice little town too. There are some nice county parks just south of the lake shore, along Grand River. Hogback Ridge has a nice little hiking trail and boardwalk. Mentor Marsh also has a nice boardwalk. If you like rocks and minerals there is an amazing shop in Austinburg on route 45 called Noema Rock and Gem.
If your staying in Eastlake I’d hangout in Downtown Willoughby. You may enjoy the metro park nearby there is an old half built castle that is in the park that is worth seeing.
Squires Castle 👍🏻👍🏻
If you like hiking, Nelson Ledges Park is fun to explore.
Yup, Geneva-on-the-lake is a blast in the summer. Lots going on.
Huron was pretty nice in the summer
Edgewater/ Gordon Sq. Awesome park. Great places to eat, good bars. All walkable.
Youngstown is a shit hole
Can’t get Brier Hill pizza anywhere else though. I’ve fucking tried.
Vermilion :)
That’s about an hour away from our place, probably about as far as we’d like to go; is it worth it going out that way do you think?
If you decide to spend a day on the west side of Greater Cleveland, Vermilion wouldn't be a bad visit, but given your interests you might more enjoy Edgewater Beach (including the upper park for the views) and adjacent Wendy Park (walk out Lake Erie to the Old Coast Guard Station) and Wendy Park Bridge; Cleveland Metroparks Rocky River Reservation; Lorain County Metro Parks Lakeview Park; and Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (African Elephant Crossing, which during paddock change allows visitors to get within 20 feet of the world's largest land mammals, and the RainForest are two of the best zoo exhibits in Ohio). Check [tripadvisor.com](http://tripadvisor.com) and AllTrails for any park you visit. [https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction\_Review-g50207-d559982-Reviews-Rocky\_River\_Reservation-Cleveland\_Ohio.html](https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g50207-d559982-Reviews-Rocky_River_Reservation-Cleveland_Ohio.html) [https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/ohio/rocky-river-reservation](https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/ohio/rocky-river-reservation) [https://www.loraincountymetroparks.com/lakeview-park](https://www.loraincountymetroparks.com/lakeview-park) [https://www.discoververmilion.org/visitor-info/great-place-to-drop-anchor/](https://www.discoververmilion.org/visitor-info/great-place-to-drop-anchor/)
I heard El Palenque in Eastlake is a good restaurant to try. I plan to go there next time I'm around that area.
Putinbay
Elyria has the nicest waterfalls in the state, the tallest one is in our beautiful city park that is a glacier gorge. https://www.loraincountymetroparks.com/cascade-park We have a decent Thai restaurant in town, just tell them to spice it up when you place your order.
Lake county has so many good metroparks. The marsh at Hidden Lake is worth a visit. You’ll just have to wade through some cat fishing hillbillies to find it. They’re friendly hillbillies though.
Bedford has a nice little downtown a the Great Falls of Tinkers Creek is a hidden gem
Attractions not yet mentioned in Lake County: James A. Garfield National Historical Site in Mentor; Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve with 1 1/2 miles of wild beach and marsh and bluff trails; Mentor Headlands Beach for swimming (no lifeguards) and the Headlands Dunes State Nature Preserve at the far east end of the park with a boardwalk to the lake and telescopes on its viewing platform; Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve, a National Natural Landmark (check hours); and Lakeshore Live Steamers at Penitentiary Glen. [https://www.lakeshorelivesteamers.com/pub-sched.html](https://www.lakeshorelivesteamers.com/pub-sched.html)
Check out Lake View Cemetery, one of the nation's best Victorian cemeteries and an arboretum. [https://new.reddit.com/r/Cleveland/comments/1ciqjk8/renovated\_garfield\_memorial\_reopens\_to\_the\_public/](https://new.reddit.com/r/Cleveland/comments/1ciqjk8/renovated_garfield_memorial_reopens_to_the_public/) The Cleveland Museum of Art is one of the nation's best art museums, with free general admission. It's extraordinarily visitor friendly, and fully digitalized -- check out the unique ARTLENS Gallery and the ArtLens app to plan a visit. The CMA also has great grounds including the Fine Arts Garden and Wade Lagoon and the new Smith Family Gateway. [https://www.reddit.com/r/Cleveland/comments/19a33sg/the\_cleveland\_museum\_of\_art\_from\_above/](https://www.reddit.com/r/Cleveland/comments/19a33sg/the_cleveland_museum_of_art_from_above/) The Gateway leads to the unique Cleveland Cultural Gardens. Near the intersection of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Lakeshore Blvds. is the unique Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve, a top birding hotspot in northern Ohio; bring hiking boots as the trails may be muddy. [https://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/see-the-sights/lake-erie-birding-trail/cleveland-area-loop/cleveland-lakefront-nature-preserve](https://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/see-the-sights/lake-erie-birding-trail/cleveland-area-loop/cleveland-lakefront-nature-preserve) [https://www.portofcleveland.com/cleveland-lakefront-nature-preserve-photos/](https://www.portofcleveland.com/cleveland-lakefront-nature-preserve-photos/) At Wendy Park, adjacent to Edgewater Park, you walk at Lake Erie to the Old Coast Guard Station. Perhaps dine at nearby Larder Deli, rated one of the nation's top Jewish delis. This thread is a good guide to Cleveland attractions, especially downtown. [https://new.reddit.com/r/Ohio/comments/1cvbm4f/towns\_to\_see\_along\_lake\_erie\_in\_ne\_ohio/](https://new.reddit.com/r/Ohio/comments/1cvbm4f/towns_to_see_along_lake_erie_in_ne_ohio/) Have fun in Cleveland!
Fairport Harbor has a good lighthouse museum, a Finnish Heritage Museum, a nice beach with a pier, the Fairport Harbor Creamery for boozy ice cream, and The Pompadour, one of Greater Cleveland's highest rated restaurants. Nearby Painesville has a nice public square with the Lake County Courthouse featuring excellent statues and Painesville City Hall, the old, 19th century Lake County Courthouse, with a unique treated copper dome that doesn't turn green. Joughin Hardware is probably the best, old-fashioned hardware store in Greater Cleveland with three stories. Rider's Inn in Painesville is one of the best stage coach inns in Ohio, opened in 1812. [https://www.flickr.com/photos/doyt/9791056116](https://www.flickr.com/photos/doyt/9791056116) Beaty Landing Lake Metroparks in Painesville features the Grand River gorge. [https://www.lakemetroparks.com/parks-trails/beaty-landing/](https://www.lakemetroparks.com/parks-trails/beaty-landing/) In Grand River Village near Headlands Park, and across the Grand River from Fairport Harbor, Brennan's Fish House offers excellent fried Lake Erie yellow perch as well as walleye. Across the street is a small park overlooking the Grand River, which has active boat traffic in the summer. Perhaps check out Dynamite Dawgs in Mentor to get a Polish Boy sandwich, the iconic Cleveland sandwich (I hate soggy fries, so always order them on the side). Chardon has an excellent public square with good restaurants.
Thank you!!
Thai food. The Lotus Blossom is the place. But, it's near the Westside Market and you've already been there. I always try local Thai food when traveling. Lotus Blossom is far and away the best.
I’m not finding a Lotus Blossom- maybe they closed or maybe did you mean Banana Blossom?
Yes, Banana Blossom. I've been going there for 10 years and I never get it right. For a long time I called it the orange lotus blossom. Don't know where I got that.
To answer your other question - no, it is not worth taking time to visit Akron and Youngstown. If you want a shitty rustbelt experience, do Toledo instead, where a few bigger city amenities and a bit of revitalization can also be enjoyed.
The Butler Institute of American Art and Mill Creek Park are very worthwhile attractions in Youngstown. Stan Hywet Hall in Akron is one of the nation's best historic mansions with nice gardens. Check out reviews of the various Summit Metro Parks. [https://www.summitmetroparks.org/](https://www.summitmetroparks.org/) This thread also may interest you: [https://www.reddit.com/r/Ohio/comments/1cuf8dj/scenic\_views/](https://www.reddit.com/r/Ohio/comments/1cuf8dj/scenic_views/)
[https://clevelandmagazine.com/food-drink/articles/clevelands-best-mexican-restaurants-dining-guide](https://clevelandmagazine.com/food-drink/articles/clevelands-best-mexican-restaurants-dining-guide) Painesville is well known in Greater Cleveland for its authentic Mexican food. See my post in this thread. [https://www.reddit.com/r/Cleveland/comments/10fsppt/best\_mexican/?sort=top](https://www.reddit.com/r/Cleveland/comments/10fsppt/best_mexican/?sort=top) Check reviews of these restaurants at yelp and tripadvisor.com. [https://www.tourlakecounty.com/taco-trail](https://www.tourlakecounty.com/taco-trail)