What else is there to do in Cleveland? (Stop laughing I'm serious)

I decided to skip the Fiats on the Dragon spring event this year after 3 years.  End of March/ beginning of April is always berkeleying cold, it snowed on us one year going into Cherohala Skyway, always the same dead trees in the photos, and although I'm friendly and can talk to anyone, I've never struck up any friendships to look forward to the following year.  I might go back for their smaller Fall event.  (Also I heard there's a Subaru event in August I might try with the WRX for a change.)

So instead I'm trying to come up with a long weekend trip elsewhere, semi-close to southern OH.  I found out SWMBO has never been to the R&R Hall of Fame (I've been twice) or the Christmas Story house (I've been once).  So we've narrowed it down to that in late April.  Yeah I know, I was just bitching about cold right?

What else would be worth visiting in the general area, or even between Dayton and Cleveland?  Any interesting museums?  Car related stuff?  (She's cool with car stuff, even got over her fear of riding the Dragon with me).  Neither of us are really drinkers so that's not a draw.

National Museum of the USAF?

In reply to Jerry :

All the museums in Cleveland are neat.  The art museum is top notch and the natural history museum has Balto.  But what I think you really want is the Western Reserve Historical Society’s Crawford Auto and Aviation Museum.  Look that one up.  There is plenty of good food downtown or around the area, I can steer you any direction you wish from fancy to hole in the wall Polish comfort food.  

I have a friend visiting from North East Ohio ATM. She said that she was looking at the national geographic tours, and Cleveland was a major destination. 

She said that the art museum is world class. 

You could... visit the Batcave?

(Don't visit the Batcave.  Also, i have nothing interesting happening at work right now except for a lot of trucks and the world's rattiest 4th-gen F body)

Funny, I've lived here all my life except for 2-3 years, and I never visited any of the cool places around here except for some trendy restaurants and shops in Cleveland Heights.

You can't bring up the Christmas Story house in my family without everyone pointing out that my previous generation grew up in the house next door and across the way.  (I... have never watched the movie.   I know the memes and that is it)

Cuyahoga National Park is one of my favorites.  Canton isn’t far - Football HoF.   

Akron.  Rubber stuff.  Soapbox derby.  Big hanger for the blimp.  

In reply to Patrick :

.. .hole in the wall Polish comfort food.  

That's gotta be Skolowski's University Inn  https://www.sokolowskis.com

Very close to the Christmas Story House

Get Animal fries at greenhouse tavern in downtown. 

French fries, cooked in duck fat, served poutine style with whole grain mustard, fresh mozzarella clumps, and the best gravy I've ever had in my entire life. 

Otherwise I got nothing, been there twice, one at 16 for the rock n roll Hall of fame and once a couple years ago to watch the Steelers win and (mostly) get the half roasted pig head and animal fries at greenhouse tavern. 

LinkIf you do go to the Cleveland Museums also in that general area is the Monument and Tomb to the 20th US President, James Garfield. A unique place open every day of the week from April to Nov 9am - 4pm

Unique place and unique architecture. 

Garfield Tomb

Cleveland, OH 44106
(216) 421-2665

https://g.co/kgs/XjZyYZ 

while Sokolowski's is the hot ticket, I'm referring to the Little Polish Diner on Ridge in Parma.  

On the way through, the historical Mansfield Reformatory (Prison) which was the site of all the filming of The Shawshank. 

https://www.mrps.org/

Knurled. said:

You can't bring up the Christmas Story house in my family without everyone pointing out that my previous generation grew up in the house next door and across the way.  (I... have never watched the movie.   I know the memes and that is it)

I am familiar with the story...  Yes that's me in 2010 in the cabinet under the sink, hiding like Ralphie's brother.  I bought a large leg lamp that's prominently in my front window like a major award.  The tour guide told me people bring their BB guns to pose with.  I have a Red Ryder from ~1977 that's going back with me next month.

In reply to John Welsh :

Oh, that's right. She said that's a good tour!

Great Lakes Brewing Company? 

Link!

Only because it's the time of year for Conway's Irish Ale - my favorite beer ever. YMMV of course.

If I ever get close to Dayton, the USAF museum is a must so.

I live in Dayton, pass the museum a few times.  Even set up a road rally that you had to stop and right down a trivia question answer outside the place.  Never been inside...

Cleveland is a hole.  Happiest day of my life was when I put that dump in my rear view mirror.  You couldn't pay me enough to go back there.

I suggest going on vacation elsewhere.

I head to the Dayton Air Museum every other year on the motorcycle, it is a must-see if you are anywhere in the area.  I spend two days there, and I have been there several times.  They just added a new building that I can't wait to see! 

In the Akron area, a visit to Stan Hywet Hall is my recommendation.  This is the family (Sieberlings) that provided the rubber to the Goodyears and Firestones at the turn of the century.  It is a mansion from the golden age and the grounds are awesome. Well worth the tour.  

Southern Ohio also contains the Hocking Hills.  The wife and I have been known to rent a cabin for a weekend to get away from the kids.  (In fact, we will be there soon!) There is a cool hike down to Old Man's Cave that we always enjoy.  Most cabins have a hot tub out on the deck, and there aren't many other things to do or see around, so you get the idea.  

You can also check out Kalahari Resort in Sandusky if you are into indoor water parks.  

In reply to pinchvalve :

I love Hocking Hills.  We just spent a weekend there beginning of November.  If it wasn't the wrong direction from where we start/are going, I'd add that to the trip.

docwyte said:

Cleveland is a hole.  Happiest day of my life was when I put that dump in my rear view mirror.  You couldn't pay me enough to go back there.

I suggest going on vacation elsewhere

we don’t like you either 

First thing I would do in Cleveland is take a match to the river. You know just to see if it's still flammable.

I kinda doubt that anything would be going on in late April, but the Nelson Ledges race track is not too far east of Cleveland.

I went to college at Wright State, and only went to the USAF museum once.  I need to go back.  Definitely worth the trip.  

I wish they could've got a space shuttle.  I understand why they didn't, but there aren't many aerospace musuems of this caliber in the country.  It's that good...

AMA motorcycle museum is near Columbus if you want to stop on the way up or back.  It’s small, but pretty neat.

Nick Comstock said:

First thing I would do in Cleveland is take a match to the river. You know just to see if it's still flammable.

Cleveland Race Week (sailboat racing) used to use the following two tag lines...

"Our river hardly ever catches fire anymore" and "A whole lot like Key West Race Week, just closer to Akron."  

http://clevelandraceweek.com/