To Ohio and Back: Day Four--Cleveland and 'Burbs

We spent the early part of Monday exploring a bit of Cleveland. Not far from the hotel was Public Square, one of the focal points downtown. In the Square stands the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, which is a tribute to Cuyahoga County veterans of the Civil War that opened in 1894. The Monument is currently under restoration, so the interior was not available for viewing, but the exterior bronze scupltures are. They stun with their enormous size and intricate detail of facial expressions and even folds of uniforms.


Monument and Key Tower

We then entered Terminal Tower. It's a good illustration of the old style skyscraper construction (think Empire State Building). Completed in the late 1920s, it was tallest building outside New York City until 1953. The lobby off Public Square has vaulted ceilings and murals.

We wandered through the building and found our way into the more recently built Tower City Mall. For a mall, it's fairly elegantly designed with lots of natural light. They had an interesting public art exhibition, paying homage to the guitar. Cleveland is home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.


The Elephant

Fireworks!

We walked to the two stadiums, where the basketball Cavaliers and the baseball Indians play. This was during the height of the Cavalier playoff run, so there was a buzz about the team. The baseball stadium is built down into the ground, so standing outside the park from the north, you stand at the concourse level and can get a good view of the park. The stadium orients towards downtown, so while watching the game, you can get a view of the skyline. I just wish the White Sox would have followed this and let their fans catch a great glimpse of downtown Chicago.

For lunch, we stopped at One Walnut, which is upscale but still affordable. The chef has separate limited offerings. I had hanger steak which was delicious with its tasty sauce. Sandra had a pulled pork sandwich, which also was quite tasty. With stomachs full, we headed out to Sandra's family in the late afternoon.

We picked up Sandra's father and wandered south into the 'burbs of Cleveland. There is a spot that both Sandra and her father beamed about in the Cleveland Metroparks system. After losing our bearings for a bit, we found the place.


View of the Valley

Father and Daughter

After taking a look at the scenic valley, we drove the road down to the creek, and stepped outside to wander a bit.


The Creek

In a sheltered part of water, Sandra noticed some little creatures in the water. It might been small fish or frog tadpoles. We curiously watched them for minutes. The light was gorgeous as the sun neared setting--good to be outside enjoying the land with others.


Little Rapids

If you're in the Cleveland, check out the Cleveland Metroparks. It's amazing what wonderful slices of nature exist in the confines of metropolitan areas.