Sitting on the shores of Lake Erie, Cleveland is about as Midwest as Midwest gets. Part of a cluster that includes Akron, Youngstown, Canton and Toledo, Cleveland is no longer Ohio's biggest city (a distinction that now belongs to Columbus), but it is Ohio's center of culture and activity. DowntownIt is hard to imagine many places in the world having undergone the type of facelift Cleveland has seen over the past 15 years or so. From the dirty, damp and dingy steel town of the early 1980s has emerged a shiny new lakeside spectacle. A skyline once filled with smokestacks now boasts glowing towers, shiny stadiums and a host of modern museums and shopping centers. Jacobs Field, Gund Arena and Cleveland Browns Stadium, along with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and Great Lakes Science Center, are the architectural and cultural creations that define downtown's rebirth. The Key Tower a skyscraper built since the mid-1980s, joins the 70-year-old Terminal Tower to give Cleveland a skyline that reflects both its history and its future. The FlatsLocated down the hill from downtown on the very near-west side of the city, the Flats has been reborn with the rest of the city. The clean up of the once-burning Cuyahoga River has coincided with the emergence of this entertainment district. Highlighted by such establishments as Basement, Howl at the Moon Saloon and Powerhouse Pub, the Flats is where you will find Cleveland's most active nightlife. The Nautica Stage offers outdoor concerts by popular national acts throughout the summer. The Flats is located near the mouth of the Cuyahoga, a few meanders north of the steel belt, where a handful of refineries are still productive.University CircleCentered around the prestigious Case Western Reserve University, this enclave about 4 miles east of downtown is a haven for museum-goers, as well as those looking for quaint shops and cozy eateries. Home to no fewer than nine museums, including Cleveland Museum of Art, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and Western Reserve Historical Society, the neighborhood has an almost Smithsonian feel. Culture-seekers are not limited to museums. Visitors to University Circle will find Severance Hall, home of the Cleveland Orchestra and the Cleveland Play House. Those not taking in a show can rest their feet at the Chicago Deli and Restaurant.Ohio CityBirthplace of football legend John Heismann, Ohio City also hosts the Market Square District as well as the West Side Market, both in the range of a century old and both always crowded with visitors. Ohio City is also home to many fabulous restaurants, like Parker's, one of Cleveland's finest. Traci's Restaurant is a bit less expensive, but still offers fine fare. The Great Lakes Brewing Company features home brews and fine foods and is one of the more popular places for locals to gather. TremontLocated about five miles from Lake Erie, directly south of downtown, Tremont is populated by mostly Greek families. This area treats you to some of the best views of downtown Cleveland and the Flats. Enjoy the Masonic Auditorium, once the home of the Cleveland Orchestra. The ultimate Tremont dining experience comes in the form of Lago Restaurant & Wine Bar and Kosta's. There are many small lodging options, such as Lincoln Inn, in this area as well.East Side and West SideSuch "new" suburbs as Westlake, Rocky River, Bay Village, Strongsville and Middleburg Heights represent a good chunk of the population that left Cleveland but did not go very far. This booming area continues to grow, with the sprawl continuing as far west as Vermilion and beyond and as far south as Medina. Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights, Newburg Heights, Maple Heights, Cuyahoga Heights and Garfield Heights highlight an area of ethnically diverse communities. Newer "burbs" such as Solon, Brecksville and Sagamore Hills bridge the gap between Cleveland and Akron, which sits about 25 miles to the south. Travel east or west from downtown and you will find the signs of urban flight: strip malls, fast food stores and every other chain retailer imaginable.

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