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 Claudia Fenner is a writer, photographer and travel enthusiast from Dix Hills. She loves to plan her family’s vacations as well as help her relatives and friends with theirs. Have any travel questions you would like answered? Email her at travelingclaudia@gmail.com. Happy Travels! |
| Five hundred miles due west of Long Island, situated on the southeastern shore of Lake Erie, lies Cleveland, Ohio. We were lucky to spend a few days there recently and instantly fell in love with this Midwestern gem! Named in 1796 after General Moses Cleaveland, the city became an industrial and manufacturing powerhouse at the end of the 19th century due to its prime location as a transportation hub on the Great Lakes. We visited the historic and beautiful West Side Market. Opening to shoppers in 1912 it has been the city’s longest operating food market. The grand building has 44 foot high Guastavino tile vaulted ceilings and over 100 vendors who sell meats, vegetables, seafood, cheese and all sorts of ready to eat foods. The market has been featured on the Travel Channel and The Food Network many times. Don’t miss it. Cleveland’s melting pot of immigrant groups have long played an important role in their diverse local cuisine. We had an absolutely outstanding lunch at Sokolowski’s University Inn which is the oldest family run restaurant in the city. Since 1923 they have served comfort food with a traditional Polish and American menu. You can indulge in favorites such as salisbury steak, chicken paprikash, stuffed cabbage, and of course, their classic mouth-watering pierogi. The walls are lined with pictures of famous diners.. even President Bill Clinton ate lunch there! Sokolowski’s serves lunch Monday through Friday, and dinner on Fridays and Saturdays. Downtown Cleveland has been revitalized and the buildings are truly majestic Home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame the “must see” for music lovers resides right on the lake front in a huge modern building shaped like a pyramid. We also visited the Cleveland Zoo and were overwhelmed at the how well laid out and visitor friendly this modern zoo is. With admissions starting at $15 it’s a great place to bring the family. Whether you call Cleveland “C-Town,” “The Rock and Roll Capital of the World” or “The 216” after the local area code, just be sure to call it a vacation destination and you will love it! |
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20 lucky winners will win $500 each in prizes totaling $10,000. 