From Public Square to Playhouse Square, Euclid transforms into a beautiful festive avenue. Watch the show-goers bustle through the doors of the theaters in Playhouse Square, or the revelers heading to Public Square. Take a hot drink to warm yourself along the way. Take a gander down Ontario Street and Superior Avenue for more festive lights!
Near the river, both South and North Main Street have some festive decorations for the holiday season. The town's tree resides in Triangle Square. The gazebo is also beautifully lit.
It's no surprise that the town boasting the largest Christmas attraction in the country also has a beautiful main street during Christmas. The tree is housed inside the gazebo, and lanterns and lights lead you right to it. It's a pretty display for a pretty town.
As one of the stops along the Guyahoga Valley Scenic Railway, Peninsula is nestled in the forest. It has a quaint, old-town charm. Main Street is decorated, but the real joy is the shops along the street, who all pitch in and make their own storefronts shine for Christmas. There are decorations and trees in almost every window, and special events and deals for the season.
Take a little extra time during your Christmas shopping to wander down Crocker Park Boulevard. The Christmas tree and the giant snow globe are the major draws, but the street itself is just magnificently lit.
Shopping centers are known for being festive and well-lit during the Christmas season, and Strongsville is no exception. The winter Wonderland on Pearl Road is a great place to start or end your Christmas shopping.
Burton, Ohio is a small reminder that while there's so much to see and do in Cleveland, when it comes to the best fall fun, it's worth going outside the city limits. Although Cleveland is part of the Rust Belt and is absolutely bustling, many of the communities beyond the surrounding suburbs are quaint farming towns with a slower pace of life. One of the best ways to experience autumn is on this day trip near Cleveland that will take you to a tiny community in Geauga County and it's nothing short of picturesque. This convivial village of Burton is perfect for a fall adventure and it's calling your name.
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The distance is approximately 50 minutes from Burton, Ohio, to Cleveland.
Whether you take a day trip or decide to spend a whole weekend there, there's no shortage of things to do in Burton, Ohio. With just under 1,500 residents, we enjoy how this sleepy Geauga County village enjoys a slower pace of life in a landscape filled with history.
Founded in 1798, just two years after Cleveland's founding, this community is the oldest in Geauga County.
This sleepy small town is full of historic buildings and the vibe is downright quaint. The town square at the heart of the community is even modest and picturesque. It's a great community to unplug and go where the wind takes you.
Of course, there's plenty to do in the Burton area. Farms in particular are a hit with locals and tourists alike.
While you're in the area, Rowdy Cow Creamery is one spot worth checking out. The farm store sells cheese and beef, plus an ever-rotating schedule of flavored milk. This small town farm is operated by a family that has been working in the dairy business for generations, and you can feel their passion at the farm. There's also a farmstead creamery on site, meaning that milk is processed right on site - where crops are grown to feed the cows, where the cows are milked, and where you'll be picking up your order. From start to finish, these guys are real growers and makers.
If history is more your vibe, you'll be pleased to know that the town's historical society is open to visitors.
Full of charm and old-school vibes, the Century Village Museum is one spot you won't want to pass up. In the fall, the rolling hills of the countryside burst into shades of rust and gold, beautifully framing this tiny town. And it's so much more than just a collection of historic buildings. This cool community museum hosts family-friendly education and events right on the working farm. With 65 acres to explore, there's no shortage of things to do here. While you'll find a number of events each year, the Apple Butter Festival in October is one autumnal experience you'll want to enjoy.
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If farm shops aren't quite your vibe, perhaps a quaint cabin in the woods with horse-drawn hayrides is more your speed.
No trip into Burton is complete without a stop at Ma and Pa's. While it's perhaps best known for horse-drawn sleighs and hayrides, this country store also has a wide array of goodies worth perusing. The furniture is gaga-worthy, and the mouthwatering maple products are just downright delectable. We also appreciate the ambiance; this cute country shop in Geauga County is hosted in a lovingly reconstructed 1820s log cabin. With this as your backdrop, you'll love the Fall Harvest Weekends fun. It starts in September and those horse-drawn hayrides become the star of the show.
Since you're visiting Burton, Ohio in the fall, be sure to budget a bit of time to spend in the great outdoors.
If you're hoping to get out to soak in the autumnal vibes in nature, there's no shortage of parks in the area. Burton Wetlands Nature Preserve is one of my favorite parks in the area and it's stunning. With 305 acres to explore, fall foliage truly stretches as far as the eye can see. Despite this vast expanse, the three hiking trails on-site are less than two miles altogether. Lake Kelso, the stunning kettle lake, is the park's crown jewel and it is absolutely breathtaking to see the sun and autumn leaves reflecting off its pristine surface. Read all about it on the Burton Wetlands Nature Preserve website.
When it comes to this fall day trip near Cleveland, there's no shortage of things to see and do.
Seriously ... budget some extra time during your visit to kick back and explore. There's so much to discover in this small Northeast Ohio town.
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Burton, Ohio, offers more information on its Facebook page. Take this day trip with positive surprises, especially in the fall! The charming community has so much to offer, and its rural roots have kept fall farm festivals on a pedestal since the town's founding. Are there any other places you'd recommend in Burton, Ohio? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Summer in Cleveland offers a blend of urban vibrancy and natural beauty, making it the perfect location to start a summer bucket list. From sun-soaked days on the shores of Lake Erie to thrilling hikes and hidden local gems, Greater Cleveland promises a season of fun each time the wheel of the year turns. So gas up the car, grab your travel journal, and get ready for endless fun when you start checking items off this Cleveland summer bucket list.
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1. Attend a summer concert at Blossom Music Center
Nestled away in the national park, Blossom Music Center is actually an integral piece of Cleveland's rockin' history. While the amphitheater may not look large at first glance, this venue can host more than 20,000 people at its epic outdoor performances. From metal acts to summer performances by The Cleveland Orchestra, this incredible spot puts on the best summer concerts near Cleveland each and every year.
One of the coolest secrets in the Cleveland Metroparks is none other than Squire's Castle. In around 1897 or so, this Romanesque Revival castle was completed as a rustic gatehouse for the site where Standard Oil executive Feargus B. Squire intended to build a summer home. While Squire never built his dream home, he did stay in this rustic castle from time to time. However, after about a decade of ownership and no further movement in the creation of his countryside estate, Squire sold the castle and land to a developer that went bankrupt. In the 1920s, it was taken over by the Cleveland Metroparks, who gutted the castle and filled in its basement. Today, the open-air structure is open to the public, the perfect backdrop to a dreamy summer picnic.
Tinker's Creek hides one of my favorite local waterfalls... and it's one of dozens purported to be in Bedford, Ohio. This stunning overlook, complete with historic elements from a long-gone mill, is part of the Cleveland Metroparks. The stunning creek is actually the largest tributary of the Cuyahoga River, and it was named for the principal boatsman of Cleveland's first survey crew. Now a National Natural Landmark, this stunning natural feature in Bedford Reservation is an incredible summertime visit.
The Ohio skies are beautiful, so why not recline under the sunny sky and watch the clouds pass by? With an excursion by Float The River, you can relax and splash your way along a scenic route of the Cuyahoga River. At roughly two hours long, these excursions are super laid back and enjoyable. Just don't forget to bring a waterproof bag to hold your phone and keys... Nothing puts a damper on summer fun like losing your keys in the river muck!
Now a coveted annual attraction, the Asian Lantern Festival at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is one of the most exciting events of the summer. When the sun goes down, the lanterns bathe the zoo in warmth, surrounded by vibrant displays that will knock your socks off. As you might expect, most of the lanterns are animal themed in some way, and each is beautiful. On select nights, guests can even drive through the displays. You'll want to stop by this year's exhibit to see what's new!
While Lake Erie may be home to a number of totally submerged shipwrecks, there is one local ship that's, for all intents and purposes, a wreck. Now considered a ghost ship, this abandoned wreckage in Lorain is a bit of a local mystery. How did it get there? Who even owns it? Who's responsible for removing it? The answers, like the water trapped in the ship's deteriorating hull, is murky. One thing is for sure... the ship definitely won't be here forever, so if you're looking for an oddity to add to your bucket list, you've found it.
While it may look tropical, Headlands Beach State Park is just a drive away from Cleveland. It's the longest naturally occurring beach in Ohio, and it's also home to sand dunes that will make you feel like you're in the Carolinas. Such an unusual landscape has also sprouted some unique plants that are nonexistent in other parts of the state. Whether you're hiking or sunbathing at this spot, you're in for a treat.
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This Cleveland summer bucket list is a great way to get out and enjoy all that our area has to offer. From beaches to hidden cultural gems, there's no shortage of things to do near Cleveland.
