Out of Towners En Route? 12 Attractions In Cleveland Area For Their Most Enjoyable Visit

CLEVELAND, OH — The visitors are coming, the visitors are coming!

When out of towners come to visit, deciding which activities, things to do or attractions to show them can be daunting. After all, living anywhere makes everything seem normal to the point that you might not be sure what is actually exciting to someone from out of town.

Well, Cleveland actually has more than you probably think to share with visitors. Here are a couple facts for Cleveland bragging to share with your visitors.

According to the Playhouse Square website, the Cleveland theater district is "the largest performing arts center in the nation outside of New York." The only one larger than Playhouse Square is Broadway.

If that is not impressive enough, Insider published a list of the 25 best museums in the country, comparing every museum of any kind. It estimated that there are more than 35,000 museums in the United States and ranked the Cleveland Museum of Art second, behind only the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

Now that you are armed with facts to impress your guests, here is our list of the 12 best things in the Cleveland area to share with visiting out of towners.

1. Cleveland script signs. Mandatory to visit even just for the photo ops.
2. Westside market. More than 100 years of history, plus more than 100 local vendors with fresh food.
3. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Always has new exhibits, so some parts will be new for Clevelanders to enjoy with visitors.
4. Cleveland Museum of Art. Second best museum in the country (see above).
5. Playhouse Square. Largest performing arts center after Broadway.
6. Great Lakes Brewing Co. Cleveland's beer. The brewery offers tours, classes and events, and there's nothing like tasting it free and leaving with a souvenir pint glass.
7. Cleveland Cultural Gardens. This experience is severely underrated. The Cultural Gardens are unique. Here is a bit about the gardens if you are unfamiliar with them: "You will see dozens of international gardens. Each has a sign and a flag of the nation or culture it represents. The gardens depict notable cultural figures and monuments to significant achievements. Gardens focus on culture — science, music, art, literature and philosophy — rather than political or military history. The gardens also feature trees, shrubs and flowers that are native to the particular garden’s home country."
8. "Free" stamp. This stamp has a rich and complicated history. The world's largest office stamp, imprinted with the word "free," has layers of meaning behind it, along with an impressive appearance as it stands 28 feet high and 49 feet long.
9. Third Fridays at 78th Street Studios and Walkabout Tremont. Spend a night strolling while looking at different local artists' work and soaking in the lively scene. Maybe purchase a new favorite. There are two options: Walkabout Tremont on the second Friday of each month or Third Fridays at 78th Street Studios. Learn more about Walkabout Tremont and dates here and find more information on 78th Street Studios and Third Fridays here.
10. Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad is not just train rides for kids. It can be family friendly but is also good for adults. Adult ride options include beers with a commemorative glass, wines with a commemorative glass, cocktails, a paint and sip, a trivia and murder mystery. Bottom line: it is a great way to see the beautiful nature of the area while enjoying the ride. Don't forget the North Pole Adventure ride in the winter.
11. Cedar Point. If you don't think this is the best amusement park in the world, you aren't a Clevelander.
12. Go outside! The area has many options, but its natural resources are also unbelievable. Visit the Metroparks, the Cuyahoga National Park and the Cuyahoga River. An entertaining conversation could include how to pronounce Cuyahoga properly, why people should stop talking about the river burning, and why should guests never use the phrase "mistake on the lake" in Cleveland.

Where is your favorite place to take visitors? Let us know in the comments which attractions we missed.