More Than Entertaining

Day One

Experience the rich tradition of Presti’s Bakery. Located in the heart of Little Italy, Presti’s represents generations of fine Italian baking (and it’s really never too early for a cannoli). 216. 421.3060 • www.prestisbakery.com

Take a behind-the-scenes look at the home of the world-renowned Cleveland Orchestra and enjoy their acclaimed sound. 216. 231.7463 www.clevelandorchestra.com

Enjoy a sound lunch choice at one of the world's best jazz clubs. Nighttown sets the stage for a great group meal with its history, eclectic décor and all-weather outdoor patio. 216. 795.0550 www.nighttowncleveland.com

Light up the stage in Mixon Hall on the campus of the Cleveland Institute of Music. The Institute makes for a great venue to showcase your group's talent. 216. 791.5000 • www.cim.edu

Then, check out the masterpieces showcased at the Cleveland Museum of Art – one of the most prestigious cultural institutions in the city and the only major private museum in the country still offering free admission to its permanent collection. 216. 421.7350 • www.clevelandart.org

Finally, let Mother Nature take center stage. Enjoy an unlimited buffet served up with spectacular lake and river views aboard the Nautica Queen. The two-hour excursion provides unique views of the city’s skyline and musical entertainment. 216. 861.5110 • www.nauticaqueen.com

Day Two

Rock your way to the front of the class with special performance opportunities and docent-led tours at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. The museum’s award-winning educational programs and exhibits teach students how music has played a role in social, cultural and political issues in modern history through live demonstrations, musical examples, video excerpts and multimedia presentations. 216. 781.7625 • www.rockhall.com

Head next door and grab a quick bite before delving into scientific phenomena at the Elements CaFé on the lower level of the Great Lakes Science Center. With soups, salads, sandwiches personal pan pizzas, there should be no trouble refueling for the experiments that lie ahead.

After lunch, explore your inner-Einstein and learn about science without that pesky "learning" feeling. With hundreds of hands-on exhibits, an OMNIMAX® theatre, the NASA Glenn Visitor Center and the Steamship William G. Mather, there is no shortage of live demonstrations and interactive fun at the Great Lakes Science Center. 216. 694.2000 • www.glsc.com

Dive into music history and a good burger in the group-friendly (and conveniently located) Hard Rock Cafe in Tower City Center. Guitars, costumes and other memorabilia lines the walls of this restaurant. 216. 830.7625 • www.hardrock.com

Day Three

Enjoy a biscuit, home-style food and friendly service at Bob Evans, conveniently located on the way to Sandusky. 419. 626.3355 • www.bobevans.com

Cedar Point, the roller coaster capital of the world, awaits you in nearby Sandusky, Ohio. Featuring 17 roller coasters, including the world’s first “strata-coaster” (the 420-foot Top Thrill Dragster), show the kids you’re more than a leader . . . You’re an adventurer. (Your group can also perform on stage or down the park’s midway.) M419. 627.2350 • www.cedarpoint.com

Between the loop-de-loops, grab a bite to eat at one of Cedar Point’s signature restaurants—Johnny Rockets. This ‘50s style diner features a delicious menu and contagiously-energetic waitstaff. 419. 626.0830 www.cedarpoint.com/public/park/ food/full_in/index.cfm

Huge dips and flips don’t scare you? Then you’re up for Ghostly Manor. Ranked the fourth best walkthrough attraction in the US, this spook-fest also includes an XD 3D Theater and Skateworld. 419. 626.4467 • www.ghostlymanor.com

Spend the night before departing the next day at Ohio’s largest indoor waterpark, Kalahari Resort. This African-themed resort boasts 884 beautifully-appointed guest rooms and suites, a zipline, Kahunaville restaurant and much more. 419. 433.7200 • www.kalahariresorts.com

Sports as Recreation

Plan a three-day group getaway perfect for fans of sports and the great outdoors.

Day One

Tommy's (perfect for vegetarians/vegans/ gluten avoiders and carnivores) offers an eclectic menu with items named after its loyal customers. Up for something new? Try a Mr. Stress . . . BLT with peanut butter, mayo and American cheese on white toast. More traditional? Try pancakes with strawberries. The winner of numerous “best casual meal” awards, Tommy’s is up for the challenge of kick starting your day. 216. 321.7757 www.tommyscoventry.com

Visit the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum at the Western Reserve Historical Society to check out vintage automobiles, aircraft, bicycles and motorcycles. The complex also includes a history museum and the restored illuminated Cleveland Indians sign that perched over Gate D on the old Cleveland Municipal Stadium for 32 years. 216. 721.5722 • www.wrhs.org

Metro Bar + Kitchen is a dynamic, hip, energetic restaurant featuring a mouthwatering menu full of American classics and a bar serving more than 15 craft and microbrews. Entering the emerging “burger bar” scene, Metro brings its own version of this American pastime to the forefront. 216. 241.1300 www.metrobarandkitchen.com

Enjoy your afternoon with a 45-minute tour of Cleveland Browns Stadium and get access to the press box, a luxury suite, NFL Team Shop and the Browns Locker Room. Call for availability. Reservations required. 440. 824.3361 • www.clevelandbrowns. com/tickets/stadium/tours.php

Enjoy a tour and tasting at the Great Lakes Brewing Company, Cleveland’s iconic eco-friendly local brewer with beers named after events and figures in the region’s history (try an Edmund Fitzgerald Porter or an Eliot Ness Amber Lager). 216. 771.4404 www.greatlakesbrewing.com

The great outdoors coupled with America’s greatest pastime combine to make visiting a Cleveland Indians' game an electrifying event for the summer. Opened in April of 1994, Progressive Field has been described as a “fan-friendly” park and a “must-visit” for baseball lovers. While there, visit the legends of Heritage Park and enjoy a Sugardale “frank” slathered in Bertman Original Ball Park Mustard. (If there’s no game, check into a behind-the-scenes tour.) 216. 420.HITS • www.indians.com

Head over to Fat Fish Blue for dinner in downtown Cleveland. Fat Fish Blue captures the flair of New Orleans in a bluesy, relaxed atmosphere complete with live music most nights of the week. 216. 875.6000 • www.fatfishblue.com

Day Two

Watch the sun rise above the horizon aboard your own charter fishing boat. With many charter companies offering fantastic fishing experiences, the big catch is only a call away.

Fishin’ Boat Charters 800. 777.9304 www.fishboatcharters.com

Holiday Charters 216. 991.FISH www.holidaycleveland.com

North Coast Charter Boat Association 216. 319.0840 www.eriefishingcharters.com www.northcoastcharter.com Wildwood Marina 216. 481.5771 www.discoverydive.com

People can expect exceptional food synonymous with the Lockkeepers tradition, including guest favorites with a distinctive Italian flare including steaks, seafood and pasta at reasonable prices. Lockkeepers is now open Sundays (11am-8pm) for brunch and family-style dinners. And, nestled at the tip of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, cyclists on the scenic Towpath Trail can valet their bikes and stop for refreshments. 216. 524.9404 • www.lockkeepers.com

Vintage memorabilia, bronze inductee busts and the stories behind gridiron greats reside at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. An array of interactive experiences gives pigskin fans a variety of ways to experience the greatest moments and players of the game. 330. 456.8207 • www.profootballhof.com

Hike the gardens and experience the vintage grandeur of Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens. It's the home of American entrepreneur, F.A. Seiberling, who founded Goodyear Tire and Rubber in 1898. The manor house boasts a massive 64,500 square foot layout with 65 rooms, 23 fireplaces and 12 chimneys. The grounds provide 70 acres of outdoor beauty, which catered to the active, recreational character of the family. 330. 836.5533 • www.stanhywet.org

Serving certified Angus Beef, John Q's Steakhouse mixes great food with an atmosphere accented by polished brass, warm lighting, and hardwood floors. Outdoor seating available. 216. 861.0900 www.johnqssteakhouse.com

Roll into the Corner Alley on East Fourth Street entertainment district. Spend your spare time enjoying the sophisticated entertainment center’s 16 sleek bowling lanes. 216. 298.4070 www.thecorneralley.com

Day Three

Start your day right by visiting the #3 ranked public golf course in Ohio by Golf Week magazine 2010, Boulder Creek Golf Club in Streetsboro. Boulder Creek’s challenging layout and professionally-manicured grounds are worth the trip. 330. 626.2828 www.bouldercreekohio.com

You don’t have to go to Colorado to experience mountain-style lodge dining. At Blue Canyon Twinsburg, enjoy a delicious lunch surrounded by warm fireplaces, cozy accents and cathedral ceilings. 330. 486.2583 www.bluecanyonrestaurant.com

A Taste of Cleveland

Looking to make the grade? Cleveland Plus has the answers you need. Enjoy educational tours, entertaining student activities and group-friendly restaurants that are sure to pass the test when your students come to town.

Day One

Spend the morning perusing 180 booths that make up the West Side Market. As the largest indoor/outdoor market in the country, this marketplace was once where turn-of-the-century immigrants found their native foods and spices. Today, it features the freshest selection of fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy, produce, bakery, ethnic foods and international delicacies. 216. 861.5250 • www.westsidemarket.com

The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo features more than 3,000 animals located throughout 165 rolling wooded acres and a two-story rainforest full of exotic creatures and striking plant life from across the globe. 216. 661.6500 • www.clemetzoo.com

From wax lips to PEZ dispensers to gourmet jellybeans, the b.a. Sweetie has every delight for every sweet tooth. Hard-to-find retro candies and the latest in tempting treats can all be found in this outwardly unassuming 6,000 square-foot candy warehouse. (Their average inventory is in excess of 300,000 pounds and valued at more than $1 million.) 888. 267.9340 • www.sweetiescandy.com

Sit back and enjoy an olive stuffed sirloin burger or Croque Madame at Light Bistro in Ohio City. The inspired fresh food choices at this charming restaurant are prepared from scratch. 216. 771.7130 • www.lightbistro.com

You can’t leave the near west side of Cleveland without stopping by Lilly Handmade Chocolates, an exceptional artisanal chocolatier that specializes in pairing fine wine and craft beer with its handmade, fresh chocolate confections. 216. 771.3333 www.lillytremont.com

Take in the spacious views as you explore the new Vermilion Valley Vineyards located in Lorain. After, enjoy a glass of dornfelder or traminette inside the totally eco-friendly tasting facility. 440. 965.5202 www.vermilionvalleyvineyards.com

Then, stop off for a stroll along the historic main street in charming Vermilion, Ohio. This lakeside community recalls a simpler time when a swim in the lake, a phosphate or a stroll along the pier made the day special. 440. 963.0772 www.mainstreetvermilion.com

Enjoy a delicious dinner in the formal dining room while tasting a glass of local champagne from Mon Ami Winery and Restaurant, one of the oldest wineries in the region. 800. 777.4266 • www.monamiwinery.com

Then, head to Sandusky for a tour of Firelands Winery, a pioneer in establishing European Vinifera grape varieties in the east. Enjoy some extraordinary wines available at reasonable prices. 419. 625.5474 • www.firelandswinery.com

Day Two

Wake up with traditional American breakfast dishes with elegant overtones at the award-winning MUSE, located in the Ritz-Carlton where the menu of contemporary American cuisine is designed to offer meals as wholesome and fresh as they are appetizing, artistic expressions. 216. 902.5223 • www.ritzcarlton.com

Enjoy the Cleveland Museum of Art – one of the most prestigious cultural institutions in the city, one of the United States’ most important art museums and the only major private museum in the country that offers free admission to its permanent collection. 216. 421.7340 • www.clevelandart.org

Dine on Chef Zack Bruell’s world cuisine at the critically-acclaimed Table 45. Bruell pushes the envelope with this cross-cultural blend of cooking techniques that combines various styles, cultures and ingredients from North Africa, South America, Europe and Asia. 216. 707.4045 • www.tbl45.com

Later in the afternoon, become inspired from the boundary-pushing pieces of international, national and local artwork exhibited at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA). As Cleveland’s forum for interpreting culture through contemporary visual art, MOCA connects visitors to the dynamic art and ideas of our time. 216. 421.8671 • www.MOCAcleveland.org

Head underground to explore Osteria Di Valerio & Al, a small, New York-style restaurant where the authentic flavors of Northern Italy are woven into sophisticated contemporary dishes. 216. 685.9490 • www.osteria.us

Enjoy alternative theatre that’s adventurous, versatile, intelligent and socially conscious. Cleveland Public Theatre’s two theatres offer a truly unique experience that’s informal, friendly and reasonably priced. 216. 631.2727 • www.cptonline.org

Day Three

Start your day with fire, food and drink’s freshly prepared brunch items that were recently rated by Travel & Leisure magazine's Top 25 American Hotspots for having one of America's best Sunday brunches. Headed by Chef Doug Katz, the menu include pastry bag pastries, lemon soufflé pancakes with blueberry compote, almond stuffed French toast and other mouthwatering delicacies perfect for a leisurely Sunday brunch. 216. 921.3473 www.firefoodanddrink.com

Head to Beachwood to explore the history of Cleveland Plus’ Jewish community at the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage. This unique attraction takes its visitors on a journey through the ever-changing background of the Jewish faith through artifacts, unique exhibits and interactive displays. 216. 593.9575 www.maltzjewishmuseum.org

Dive into a juicy steak or a whole Maine lobster at Red, The Steakhouse, where you’ll experience exceptional food and service in a sleek, yet intimate, setting. 216. 831.2252 www.redthesteakhouse.com

Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Swarovski and Bebe? If high-end fashion is the name of your game, then Beachwood Place is your playing field. Head to one of Cleveland Plus’ premier fashion destinations located just 15 minutes east of downtown Cleveland. 216. 464.9460 www.beachwoodplace.com

Head downtown to pamper yourself with a luxurious, full-service day spa (Marengo) offering massages, facials, nail and hair services at one of the area’s top 25 spas. Group discounts and packages available. 216. 621.4600 • www.marengospa.com

Dine with social responsibility at The Greenhouse Tavern, one of Cleveland’s newest delicacies to join the East Fourth Street Entertainment District. Chef Jonathan Sawyer evokes the farm-toplate movement in his French-inspired menu. Nearly everything in this upscale eatery (from the light fixtures to the walls) is made of recycled materials. 216. 4432.0511 www.greenhousetavern.com

After dinner catch a show at PlayhouseSquare, the nation’s secondlargest performing arts center, second only to the Kennedy Center in New York City. Eight historic and beautiful performing spaces play host to Broadway shows, world-class ballet, concerts, family shows and more. 216. 664.6050 www.playhousesquare.com