Going To Cleveland

[JDsDirtySox]

Just decided to head to Cleveland for the upcoming games.

I need some help from anyone that has done the trip before.

 

1. How far is the Airport from the Stadium.

(can I just take a taxi or do I need to rent a car)

 

2. Is there any place to stay around the Stadium.

 

3. Are there many people outside the stadium selling tickets?

(I'd like to get great seats...like right behind the Sox dugout. Do I have a chance or should I just buy the tickets off of ticketmaster)

 

Need help folks. Thanks In Advance.

[Guest JimH]

Just decided to head to Cleveland for the upcoming games.

I need some help from anyone that has done the trip before.

 

1. How far is the Airport from the Stadium.

(can I just take a taxi or do I need to rent a car)

 

2. Is there any place to stay around the Stadium.

 

3. Are there many people outside the stadium selling tickets?

(I'd like to get great seats...like right behind the Sox dugout. Do I have a chance or should I just buy the tickets off of ticketmaster)

 

Need help folks.  Thanks In Advance.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I think everybody expected I would answer this LOL.

 

We've been to Cleveland many times, in fact there is a lengthy thread on it where I outlined a whole bunch of places to go, where to stay, etc. I don't know how to search the site for something like this, but maybe one of the admins can help ... I know it was just this year, perhaps the last time the Sox were in Cleveland.

 

In answer to your questions for the here and now: The airport is a good 35 minutes from Jacobs Field. Here is something I recommend if you need to watch $$: Take the rail line from the airport to downtown, you will see it when you are by baggage claim at the airport or just ask somebody. It is very safe, it will take you right smack downtown to the Terminal Tower, which is not far from the ballpark. I think the ride from the airport to the Terminal Tower is $2 one way.

 

The best place to stay in the area downtown is the Lakeshore Holiday Inn, it's not to expensive and it's clean. Right on the lake as the name implies. They run shuttles to the game and back, and unless you're doing some exploring of outlying areas you really won't need a car. Both the Warehouse District and the Flats are within a healthy hike away, or of course you can take a cab or the Cleveland Trolley system (called Molly the Trolley or Lolly the Trolley) in the immediate area or wherever you want to go downtown. The Warehouse District is where a lot of the bars and restaurants are, the Flats has several too. Be sure to try a Cleveland original in the Flats, it's called Flat Iron Cafe (do an internet search), they have great cheap sandwiches, beer, fish fry, etc. it is a great place.

 

There are several other places to eat around Jacobs Field, I won't cover them here because they are so hard to miss. Take a very short cab or trolley ride over to the West Side Market (literally 5 mins. from the ballpark), the market is a great place for breakfast and to get a flavor for Cleveland, and just steps away is the world famous Great Lakes Brewing Co., a brewpub, one of the first. Try their summer beer on tap, it's called Holy Moses, it is outstanding.

 

If you need more info, PM me.

[aboz56]

I don't know how to search the site for something like this, but maybe one of the admins can help ... I know it was just this year, perhaps the last time the Sox were in Cleveland.

Here ya go...

 

http://www.soxtalk.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=34312

[3E8]

Maybe unblock youngstownindians for some advice?

[LosMediasBlancas]

Just decided to head to Cleveland for the upcoming games.

I need some help from anyone that has done the trip before.

 

1. How far is the Airport from the Stadium.

(can I just take a taxi or do I need to rent a car)

 

2. Is there any place to stay around the Stadium.

 

3. Are there many people outside the stadium selling tickets?

(I'd like to get great seats...like right behind the Sox dugout. Do I have a chance or should I just buy the tickets off of ticketmaster)

 

Need help folks.  Thanks In Advance.

 

Are you in Chicago? Just drive there.

[southsider2k5]

Are you in Chicago? Just drive there.

 

Its only 4-5 hours depending on what part of town you are in, and parking is WAAAAAAAAY easier than in Chicago.

[shakes]

I'm heading there this weekend. JimH so kindly gave me the following with websites. I'll be at the game Friday and Saturday. Thanks Again JimH!!!!

 

This guy updated with websites:

 

Cleveland is underrated IMO. We have been there several times for seminars and it's actually a pretty neat city, they've cleaned it up quite a bit.

 

Try to take a tour of Jacobs Field if you can, that's always an interesting behind the scenes look at things. They're inexpensive and they have them almost every day, the Indians website will tell you more.

 

Hotels ... try for a weekend discount at some of the downtown hotels ... there's one on Lakeshore Drive, right on Lake Erie, called the Holiday Inn Lakeshore (duh). You can get a decent rate there, and I believe they run a shuttle to the game. Most of the restaurants in the area will run a shuttle, and that's what I recommend. Parking is ok but there are tons of angle streets in and near downtown Cleveland because of the Cuyahoga River.

 

If you are 21 or with someone who's 21 ... the Warehouse District is adjacent to downtown, maybe 8-10 minutes from the ballpark. Any restaurant you might want, you'll find it there. Also you have an entertainment district right on the river called The Flats ... it caters to the college crowd although it's gone downhill in the past 10 years, several places have moved out. Here's a good link: http://www.cleveland.com/flats/index.ssf?/...re/history.html

The west bank of the river in The Flats has some great places to eat, drink, sit in the sun on the river, etc. (check out a complex called The Powerhouse, you can't miss it, it's huge). They have a nice brewpub on the west side and they always have concerts there on many weeknites and always on the weekends. The downtown hotels can shuttle you there, or if you drive there are plenty of parking lots.

 

One place to eat that I really recommend is just at the fringe of The Flats called the Flat Iron Cafe. It's relatively inexpensive, kind of a casual place but also a Cleveland original. Go for the fish fry on Friday nites, it is excellent. I'm not doing justice to this place with my description but it's kind of a casual Irish pub sorta place, but not tacky like some Irish pubs. The food is excellent, homemade, and inexpensive. You won't see the tourists there, it is a Cleveland tradition and a place you should absolutely try to make. http://www.flatironcafe.com . Coupon on website for free appetizer, and they have a shuttle to the ballgames.

 

If you are 21, go over the river from the flats and go to the Great Lakes Brewing Co. - one of the first brewpubs around. http://www.greatlakesbrewing.com .They give tours of their brewery which is adjacent, and even if you're not 21 it's great ... free root beer. In the summer they have a spectacular beer on tap called Holy Moses ... do not miss it! Also there is a huge market, kind of like a farmers market but indoors and permanent, on the same block as the Great Lakes Brewing Co. - this market is a great place to go on Sat. mornings to see all the hustle and bustle, mingle with the locals, and grab some cheap breakfast. The official name is the West Side Market, literally steps from Great lakes Brewing: http://www.westsidemarket.com

 

If you can't or don't want to stay in downtown Cleveland, go to Lakeview which is the first suburb west of downtown and stay at a place called the Edgewater Inn. It's about 12-15 minutes from downtown Cleveland, right out Lakeshore Blvd. (Rt. 2). You can look them up on the web. Clean, decent rates and easy to get in and out of. It's in the vicinity of 117th and Clifton Blvd.

 

Other things ... Rock and Roll Hall of Fame of course. Take a boat trip on Lake Erie, very cool. http://www.goodtimeiii.com/default.htm

 

Baseball history ... do mapquest and take a 15 minute drive east of downtwon on Euclid Ave. to 66th and Lexington. There you will see the remains of League Park, the first home of the Cleveland Indians. It is now a ballfield and community center. http://members.tripod.com/franksballparks/leaguepark.html

The community center building is itself the old ticket office for the Indians, and the grandstand on the first base side is part of original League Park. There's a plaque there commemorating the only unassisted triple play in World Series history, on that site in 1920. Babe Ruth hit a ton of HR's at that site, the left field wall was only 291 feet down the line. It is kind of a sketchy neighborhood, go during the day, but you won't be bothered, it's a park and lots of people will be around. League Park was used in the early part of the 1900's and the last game held there was 1946 when Bill Veeck moved the team to Cleveland Stadium full time. The actual ballpark was demolished in 1950.

 

I also recommend going out to Shaker Heights, that's kind of a University area, you can combine that with the drive to League Park. Shaker Heights is upscale and there is a town square area http://www.shakersquare.net with places to eat and drink. Also stop at Little Italy, a stretch of Euclid Ave. not far past the League Park area at about 108th St. to 125th St. west: http://www.littleitalycleveland.com/. Several good, cheap Italian places, just walk around, stick your nose in and pop into the one you like best. Anything from good pizza to all the pasta dishes. A personal favorite: Mama Santa's, 12305 Mayfield Rd. - have the italian sausage. Here's a link:

http://cleveland.citysearch.com/profile/79...d_pizzeria.html

 

Oh, in the Shaker Heights area, again not far from Little Italy, etc. is a place called the Academy Tavern http://www.cleveland.com/dining/reviews_pl...ssf?1960?1960_1, kind of like Schaller's Pump in Cleveland. It's been around since 1939, great comfort food and they have Genesee Beer on tap. They have blue plate specials and a fish fry. Cheap and very good, another personal fave.

 

 

On your way in or out of town, try to stop at the Port Clinton/Lake Erie islands area. If you have an extra 1/2 day, the boat ride out to Put-In-Bay is a must http://www.put-in-bay.com . It is a great little island for walking around with all sorts of stuff to do ... and even if you can't get into the bars you will not be missing out on the scenery, it is absolutely jumping in the summer. There is a bar there which has "the world's longest bar", it curves around and around and around, very cool. The entire area is maybe 1 hour west of Cleveland, you'll see the signs. Lastly, if you are near Toledo around lunch time, go into their downtown and see the Mud Hens ballpark, it's a gorgeous little stadium called Fifth Third Stadium. Then stop and get a great hot dog at a local legend called Tony Packo's, it's been around forever, http://www.tonypacko.com . It will only be 15 minutes off the interstate and you'll be a hero with everyone you take.

 

If you guys are all around 21 or so, where you want to be at nite is The Flats and the Warehouse District, or some of the bars right around Jacobs Field. Plenty of scenery, a little too young for me since I'm over 40 but you young guys will have a blast.

 

During the day, you can take a short drive east to see the site of League Park, and then wander another 25-30 blocks or so to Little Italy. This is a great thing to do first thing Sat. morning - you can get some great Italian bakery/breakfast in Little Italy.

 

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is cool but expensive, the boat ride on Lake Erie is really nice, and just sitting at one of the outdoor bars on the west side of the Flats by the Powerhouse is fantastic. If you like fresh local fish try the perch sandwich with fries at Flat Iron Cafe.

[shakes]

Just decided to head to Cleveland for the upcoming games.

I need some help from anyone that has done the trip before.

 

1. How far is the Airport from the Stadium.

(can I just take a taxi or do I need to rent a car)

 

2. Is there any place to stay around the Stadium.

 

3. Are there many people outside the stadium selling tickets?

(I'd like to get great seats...like right behind the Sox dugout. Do I have a chance or should I just buy the tickets off of ticketmaster)

 

Need help folks.  Thanks In Advance.

 

I'm driving there tomorrow. We booked a room at the Hilday Inn lakeshore. It was $99 a night and is a mile form the park. They also have a shuttle.

 

http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hd/clels?irs=null

[southsider2k5]

BTW... one thing I learned about Cleveland. Do NOT Jaywalk. You will get a ticket. I watched a guy get written a ticket while absolutely stunned because he ran accross a street that the cops had blocked to traffic.