Your Cleveland CME conference.

Cleveland after your study day

Study days finish at 2:00 PM Cleveland time. Easy afternoon choices include a visit to the West Side Market in Ohio City, the Cleveland Museum of Art in University Circle, or a walk at Edgewater Park on Lake Erie. Check each place’s days against your plans, since the market and the museum each close on certain days of the week.

Travel, lodging and attraction admission are arranged separately by you. The city is the setting for your own plans, and nothing in this guide is scheduled around your study day.

A market, a neighborhood and a lake

The West Side Market opened in 1912 at 1979 West 25th Street and anchors the Ohio City neighborhood. Sixty small businesses sell produce, meats, seafood, baked goods and prepared food, and some have been run by the same families for generations. Its regular days are Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, so a weekday afternoon visit depends on the day.

Destination Cleveland describes Ohio City as known for its beer and food scene and as a lively neighborhood. For a change of scene, Edgewater Park is a 147-acre Lake Erie park with 9,000 feet of shoreline, dog and swim beaches, and a seasonal fishing pier from which you can view the city along the shore. The park also has picnic areas with grills, boat ramps, a rentable pavilion and trail access, and the park service says the Cleveland Lakefront Bikeway gives easy access to the area, and the park service says the pier suits birdwatchers, anglers and photographers.

Museums and music at University Circle

Destination Cleveland calls University Circle a thriving arts center. The Cleveland Museum of Art is at 11150 East Boulevard, has permanent collection galleries and an ArtLens Gallery, and is closed on Mondays and on a short list of holidays. Check its site for ticketed exhibitions and events.

Severance Music Center, at 11001 Euclid Avenue, opened in 1931 and is home to The Cleveland Orchestra and Mandel Concert Hall. The orchestra’s site also lists Blossom Music Center, which is in Cuyahoga Falls rather than in Cleveland. Concert schedules vary, so compare any performance time with your 2:00 PM finish and with your travel time.

Downtown, Rock Hall and Playhouse Square

Destination Cleveland says downtown Cleveland is buzzing with nightlife, restaurants, attractions and hotels, and describes its historic districts, stadiums, Lake Erie shoreline and mix of skyscrapers and older buildings. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is at 1100 Rock & Roll Boulevard, and the tourism board’s listings include events at Playhouse Square.

Compare each place’s schedule with your 2:00 PM finish, and allow time for the trip in and for entry. Check current status before you plan around a specific exhibition or performance, since both change over time. Destination Cleveland’s listings also include a downtown Public Square winter event, so the center of the city can look quite different from one season to the next.

Parks and trails beyond the city

Cleveland Metroparks lists 18 park reservations, including the Lakefront Reservation, which holds Edgewater, and Rocky River. The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is at 3900 Wildlife Way, and its daytime schedule changes between the April–September and October–March periods, so check the current schedule against your 2:00 PM finish.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park is a short distance from Cleveland and Akron. Its Towpath Trail follows the route of the Ohio & Erie Canal, the park also has Brandywine Falls and passenger trains, and its own pictures show fall color at Ledges Overlook. Its photos show kayaking on the Cuyahoga River in summer. Check the park’s site for what is open before you go.

Choosing where to stay

Destination Cleveland’s lodging pages cover downtown hotels, University Circle hotels and airport hotels, along with bed and breakfasts, campgrounds, resorts and short-term rentals, and a page for pet-friendly stays. Decide first whether you would rather be near the lakefront and restaurants, near the museums, or near the airport, then check your exact address against the conference’s check-in area.

When to visit Cleveland

May through June and September through October are a useful starting point for planning a visit. Destination Cleveland keeps separate spring, summer, fall and winter pages, with fall content such as Fall in The Land and Fall Festival Fun, and a winter event called WinterLand at Public Square. Dates for events like these change each year, so check current status. Use the local forecast when you plan outdoor time.

Getting to Cleveland and your study setting

Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) is the arrival point shown in this guide. Its address is 5300 Riverside Drive, and its site lists public transportation among its ground transportation options. Choose your lodging and ground transport with both your study setting and your plans outside study hours in mind.

The map shows straight-line distances from Shift’s designated center. These are orientation distances, not driving distances or travel-time estimates. Check your exact address against the conference’s check-in area before booking.