As a matter of principle, I’m careful to never judge a place until I’ve actually step foot there. As I get older, the more I realize that there are plenty of people who are perfectly content to live their lives with the recycled opinions of others, but, personally, I refuse to be that person. So, before I set off to Cleveland, did I know there would be countless fun things to do in Cleveland? No. But I also figured I ought to go and check it out for myself.

What I did know about Cleveland, I knew primarily from sports. I watched the Cleveland Cavaliers led by the one and only Lebron James dismantle the Toronto Raptors in the playoffs year after year (my soul was more or less crushed until our big championship win in 2019). I followed the rise of the Indians under such legendary players as Jim Thome and David Justice, and my brother and I would often fight to the death to see who would be the Indians in Ken Griffey Baseball for N64. Just recently, I watched the Cleveland Browns rise up from the ashes to become one of the most exciting teams in the league, and Baker Mayfield turn himself from a rookie into a bonafide leader and superstar in one season.

What I learned about Cleveland through sports was that this is a passionate, blue collar city and, honestly, those are the cities I love. I love cities with grit, character, passion, and a story. I mean, why do you think I lived in Istanbul for three years?

So, when I got the chance to go to Cleveland I relished the opportunity. What I learned in Cleveland was that this is a city that has come a tremendous way as recently as the past decade, and especially in the development of the downtown core.

This is a city that, from a tourism perspective, is catapulting forward and, in the process, rediscovering its identity, and once again finding a sense of pride in that.

I came to Cleveland to form my own opinion, and, in many ways, I jived with this city better than I could have ever expected. A sports loving, beer drinking, relatively inexpensive, street art laden, music crazy, mid-sized city? Um, Where do I sign?

Today, I want to talk about all the fun places to go in Cleveland and all the fun stuff to do in Cleveland, so that you too can go and form your own opinion and, in all likelihood, leave with a smile. I want to talk about what I know to be true, so you don’t have to listen to others who likely haven’t ever been.

NOTE: This post may contain some affiliate links. That means, simply, that I may get commissions from some of my recommendations. That being said, my opinions are fully my own.

Let’s Talk About All Those Fun Things to do in Cleveland, Shall We?

The list that I’ll include below, which will basically be a field-guide to fun in Cleveland, will aim to provide you with a bit of Cleveland itinerary for those who like to enjoy themselves when they’re on the road. There are actually plenty of things going on in Cleveland that fit nicely into that fun category, so let’s get to it.

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