I like to stay home. I cherish the view from my own front porch. Still, I have had the chance to visit other places in our glorious world. I have had the good fortune and opportunity to see the Great Wall of China and I have also had the joy of seeing the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. I’ve been to paradise, but I haven’t throughly explored the touristy places of my own neck of the woods, in Northeastern Ohio. That is about to change! Thanks to Adela Crandell Durkee.
The historical drama of the the 2016 major league baseball World Series, pitted the extremely long-time winless Chicago Cubs against the long-time winless Cleveland Indians. The Fall Classic also prompted me, an Indians fan, to a have a friendly wager with Adela, Chicago Cubs gal. We agreed that the user would share a book with one of our Twitter retweeters (which really was a win for someone, right?) Adela upped the ante and added a Chicago deep dish pizza to the pot, and I, confident in my team, promised a surprise. We had a blast; Adela tweeted photos of her with Chicago blue hair.
Soon the Tribe was ahead in the series 3-1. At which point, as a long-suffering Cleveland fan who knows all about jinxes, I knew the Indians and I had lost. In June, the Cleveland Cavaliers had complete an amazing triumph over Golden State. After falling behind 3-1 in the series, Cleveland rallied and won in Game 7. What were the chances that karma would now pay us back, via the Indians? 100% as it turned out- the Indians lost in Game 7.
I did follow through with the book part of the wager and I sent Charli off to a lucky retweeter. Then the holiday came and I forgot about the surprise part of the bet. Adela reminded me and said that her husband had a great idea- how about a tour of Cleveland! Wow-what fun! Except sight-seeing in the snow belt, Lake-effect maelstrom of Cleveland didn’t seem as jaunty. I punted (see we’ve gone from baseball, to basketball to football) and asked that we wait for warmer weather to tramp around #Believeland.
However, in the spirit of the wager,
Stow your carry-on luggage in the overhead storage, recline your seat, put a glass of wine on your tray table and here we go!
First, let’s visit my top 5 places! I should be more suspenseful and start with number 5, but lets start with my number 1 favorite.
Feeling refreshed? Let’s continue our explorations and visit some of the famous places that I have never been to!
Ready for some quirky places? Here we go! If we can’t go to them all, the Polka Museum and the Duct Tape festival are MUST SEES. Here’s an overview– you can choose what tickles your fancy.
Please come see me! We can ride Lolly the Trolley or Uber, take the RTA Rapid Transit, walk, bus, zoom on a Segway tour, try a paddle boarding tour in August, see Cleveland from Lake Erie on the largest quadruple-deck 1,000 passenger luxury ship on the Great Lakes the Good Time III. Cleveland’s buzz phrase used to be “best location in the nation”- let’s have fun and find out!
I am a writer, blogger, book reviewer, and bon vivant and encourager. I have lived my entire life in Tropical Ohio. My goal is to make friends with everyone in the world. I wrote a fiction series, The Golden Age of Charli, that presents the problems and praises, and the love and laughter of family life and retirement. My passions are blogging, reading and reviewing, and writing. My life is a WIP.
Mae Clair
March 9, 2017 at 9:01 amYou’ve seen some very cool places during your life.
As for Cleveland, I’ve never been there, but I’ve been to southeastern, Ohio (Gallipolis). Cleveland isn’t really that far from me, I would think (I’m in central PA) and it does sound like it has a lot going for it. My dad was born in a small Ohio town called Lucky (near Bowling Green). One of these days, I really do need to explore his home state.
Thanks for a look at Cleveland. And BTW, the Duct Tape Festival sounds crazy, bizarre and fun all at the same time, LOL!
Jena Henry
March 9, 2017 at 9:52 amHi Mae- I had to check the map-was your Dad born in Luckey near Toledo? According to the last census, there were 1012 souls in Luckey! My husband grew up fairly close to Luckey in Bettsville- population 660! So Cleveland is the big city! Cleveland is having somewhat of a renaissance- downtown is much livelier!
Duct Tape Festival AND Rock &Roll hall of fame? I can’t wait to get there.
Jena Henry
March 9, 2017 at 2:08 pmExciting, right?!
Mae Clair
March 10, 2017 at 1:43 pmThat was probably it, Jena. I always heard it mentioned near Bowling Green, but now that I think about it, it probably is Luckey with an “e”.
Wow, I love those small populations. I think I’d like small town living, Duct Tape Festivals aside, LOL!
Jena Henry
March 10, 2017 at 1:48 pmIt would be fun to say you were born in Luckey!
Minnesota Prairie Roots
March 9, 2017 at 12:53 pmAnd to think we missed all of this while driving around Cleveland in May on our way from Minnesota Boston.
Jena Henry
March 9, 2017 at 2:07 pmSo close and yet so far! For all sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are these, “It might have been.” – John Greenleaf Whittier.M
Minnesota Prairie Roots
March 13, 2017 at 10:40 amWe were under a timeline so there really was no time to stop and explore. Had to get to Tufts University in time for the graduation ceremony.
Jena Henry
March 13, 2017 at 2:32 pmLong drive to Boston! For your son’s graduation as I recall.
Melinda
March 14, 2017 at 8:11 pmJena, Charli and Pud sound like an exciting couple! How much is autobiographical??
You make Cleveland sound fun too.
Thanks so much for the follow!
Jena Henry
March 14, 2017 at 11:12 pmThanks for stopping by. My spirit is in the book infusing all the ideas! Cleveland rocks! although Blieveland might not be at the top of anyone’s bucket list!
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Beth Ann Chiles
June 8, 2017 at 6:27 amWell heck–how did I miss this one? Cleveland rocks! Have not spent as much time there as I would like so need to make that change! Love the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and while I am not a huge baseball fan I follow along a bit with my sister who is a die hard Indians fan. Thanks for the tour.
Jena Henry
June 8, 2017 at 10:09 amThank you Beth- it’s only been in recent years that I have bonded with Cleveland. I do like the sports and the restaurants!