The Joy of Traveling: Cleveland, Ohio

First road trip of the summer took us to Cleveland, Ohio. We’ve been there before on two separate occasions, but haven’t had the opportunity to explore this city. The architecture was amazing with modern building sandwiched between historic buildings, public art sprinkled throughout the city, and old banks converted into Heinen’s grocery store and another into a local bar. You’ll have to see for yourself.

Below is a collective list of recommended places.

Recommended places to eat in ranking order based on food, hospitality, and service.

Acqua di Luca in the Warehouse District – salmon and sea bass delish! Ask for Keith. Fabulous waiter.
TownHall in Civic Center District – locally sourced, innovative bar bites and vegan options. Recommend the Southern Chicken Sandwich.
Butcher & Brewer in downtown Cleveland – killer sliders!
Mabel’s BBQ – gotta have BBQ!!! And, introduced to Tony Packo’s pickles. Mmmmmm.
Guarino’s Italian – gotta try the 60 year old Lasagna recipe.
Nuevo Modern Mexican & Tequila Bar – alongside Lake Erie.
The Winking Lizard in downtown Cleveland.
House of Creole in downtown Cleveland.

Recommended places to visit

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – 6 stories of pure rock-n-roll memorabilia, videos, and interactive music stations. Did you know that the Red Hot Chili Peppers were inducted in 2012?
Third Street Market – an old train station converted into a marketplace for food vendors.
Cleveland Museum of Art – one of the best art museums that embraces equity, diversity, and inclusion. Free admission.
Little Italy – great location for Italian. Recommend to park outside of this neighborhood unless you like to drive around for 20+ min looking for a spot that is residential and have only an hour parking limit.
Flats East Bank – an entertainment district near Cuyahoga River.
Waterloo Arts District. A unique stretch of galleries, studios, coffee house, and restaurants. Parking is convenient.
4th Street in downtown Cleveland. An alleyway full of restaurants, bars, and retail shops.
Warehouse District
Hilarities – comedy venue in downtown Cleveland.
Jerry Schmidt Sculpture in the Waterloo Arts District. Jerry’s father, son, and grandson are 4-generation welders/sculptors.
Brick Ceramic Studio in the Waterloo Arts District. Tell Valerie Frank & Mary Lou sentcha.

Recommended place to stay centrally located in downtown Cleveland.

Drury Hotel Plaza (converted Board of Education building). Valet was top-notch!

Recommended place for coffee

Six Shooter Coffee in the Waterloo Arts District.

Photo Collection

Please note: This collection of photos are not in chronological order. Recommendation: wear comfortable shoes if you plan on walking. We walked 20+ miles.

Photos taken with either a Fujifilm X-100V or Canon 5D Mark III

@ 2022 Frank Juárez

Let’s connect on Instagram at @frankjuarezartist.

Gallery One

Gallery Two

About Frank Juárez’s The Joy of Traveling

Since 2021, I have been publishing posts about my travels. As an art educator, I find it difficult to travel for long periods during the school year. However, when I see small opportunities to get in the car or hop on a plane, even if it is for a couple of days, I’ll pack my bag. Photography has been my way of seeing the world, trying new experiences, making photos that hopefully encourage others to travel, and, frankly, putting myself in a different mindset to continue to be inspired by the places I visit and the people I meet along the way. Each post includes recommendations of places to eat, drink, stay, and visit.

Frank Juarez Photography