Take This Quirky Road Trip To Visit Cleveland’s Most Unique Roadside Attractions
By Nikki Rhoades|Published September 03, 2018
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Nikki Rhoades
Author
Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is — she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
Cleveland is a quirky place to call home. While the city undeniably has charm – in addition, of course, to beauty and incredible food – there’s something about it that makes it unlike any other U.S. city. Perhaps it is our unshakable “hometown” feel; the fact that our city feels more like a small town than a big city. Or, perhaps it is the unusual kinds of people that call this enchanting city home. Either way, there are plenty of unusual features worthy of visiting. For an interactive map, click here.
This incredible 25-foot-tall tall sculpture was designed by Chicago-based artist Tony Tasset as a tribute to his wife, Judy Ledgerwood, and is based on a cast of her hand. This whimsical piece is part of FRONT International: Cleveland Triennial for Contemporary Art, a region-wide celebration of art that runs through September 30, 2018.
Cleveland's skyline is an iconic silhouette that will leave you breathless when seen from Edgewater Park. The park's Lake Erie shoreline is made even lovelier with the addition of one of the three original script signs, and it's perfect for taking photos.
Each garden in Rockefeller Park is distinct, celebrating the different cultures that contributed to Cleveland's development. Their beauty is vast and the collection includes more than 30 gardens, Amazingly, the collection is in a state of everlasting growth! New gardens have been added since its start, a tradition that continues to this day.
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4. Fountain of Eternal Life (Veterans' Memorial Plaza)
This gorgeous fountain is endlessly lovely, and its history is haunting. Now a gorgeous and familiar addition to the skyline, it was dreamed up Marshall Fredericks, an alumnus of the Cleveland Institute of Art, and dedicated in 1964. Its likeness is of a man escaping the flames of war and reaching for eternal peace, a nod to the brave souls that serve our country.
Cleveland has one of the few casts of Auguste Rodin's The Thinker that was made during artist's lifetime, but even Rodin's passion and supervision couldn't protect this piece from harm. In 1970, a bomb was placed on The Thinker's pedestal around 1 a.m. Whoever committed the crime was never charged, and the damaged statue was never repaired. It remains plumed at the base, an eerie twist on the original piece that somehow introduces a whole new meaning.
The sandstone ledges of Hinckley Reservation are coveted by hikers, but they were once lovingly shaped by the artistic hands of a Cleveland area resident. Today, visitors are greeted by odd decades-old carvings and statues. For the full story on this intriguing destination, click here.
Tremont is one of Cleveland's loveliest neighborhoods, and its charm once captured the hearts of viewers all over the world. A Christmas Story is a holiday movie classic, and parts of it were filmed right in Cleveland. The home that once served for exterior shots of Ralphie's home has been lovingly remodeled to mimic the movie set, and you can visit it all year round.
There is so much to love in Cleveland, but some of our quirkiest sites are the best. Which of these unique places is your favorite to visit? Are there others you would add to this list? Let us know in the comments below!
