Cleveland Connections

In which I contemplate The Free Stamp, The Spirit of ’76, The Stones,

and the rain through my lens.

TAKE A HIKE! In ClevelandAfter completing an

assignment at the Cleveland Convention Center – a fascinating assignment, but one that involved too much sitting – I just had to take a walk. I didn’t quite make it to the lake before the rain hit, but I picked up some new perspectives along the way.

Willard Park, probably best-known for displaying The Free Stamp, was named to honor Archibald Willard, who painted The Spirit of ‘76. Willard was born in Bedford, so if the rain chased me out of downtown too soon, I decided that suburb would make an appropriate stop on my way home.

The Mall, then and nowAs it turns out, the “new” Global Conference Center (AKA Don’t-Call-It-Medical-Mart) and the revamped Convention Center went exactly according to plan. Indeed, is a gathering of civic and economic interests.

I love it when a plan comes together – all 110+ years of it!

Cleveland surprises

I could walk around Cleveland all day and say several times on each block, “I didn’t know that.” In fact, that’s just what I said when I ‘discovered’ a monument to Cleveland’s Polish-American veterans, on the Northwest edge of Willard Park.

In the background, the window-washers, like me, are hoping to beat the approaching rainstorm.

No Mistake, I’m Heading to the Lake…

Here comes the rain (Or, I can’t get no satisfaction.)

OK, so long for now, Cleveland. I’ll be back! I believe in the Cleve – and I believe this is a very walkable city.

Aside – cyclists, take note. Willard

Parking Garage offers free bike parking!

Leaving Cleveland, I was determined to beat the rain to Bedford. Archibald Willard, who painted The Spirit of ’76 – and the guy for whom the park on the corner of Lakeside and E. 9th is named - was born in Bedford. Nice connection, eh?

Truth be told, when I’m traveling I-271, I don’t need much of an excuse to stop in Bedford. It’s a great and storied town, of course, but for me the real attraction is Bedford Reservation.

An offshoot of Bedford Reservation, Viaduct Park is literally nestled among downtown developments and industry. Which again, I find fitting, since the park celebrates Bedford’s early mills (and therefore, industry).

Like every property in Northeast Ohio, Viaduct Park has as many beautifully different looks as we do types of weather. I didn’t beat the rain, but I got to take a hike. So it was a great day!

Seriously – Take a Hike in Cleveland

Here’s a shameless commercial break: There are hundreds of ways to take a hike in Cleveland, and all over Northeast Ohio. I detail 60 of those ways in my book.

Not a reader? Well then, take one of the awesome guided heritage hikes, available May – September, from Gateway District. (No reading required.)

Find 60 Hikes/Cleveland on Facebook!