Cleveland Cultural Center with Museums & Attractions
An introduction to University Circle on the east side of Cleveland, site of the Art and Natural Museums and Severance Hall, home of the Cleveland Orchestra.
University Circle, 4 miles east of downtown, is the home of over twenty artistic and cultural venues with year-round activities and special events at little or no cost.
Cleveland has a number of great places for tourists and locals to visit. The University Circle area, a few miles east of downtown, is home to the major cultural institutions, including the Art Museum and Museum of Natural History.
In need of an inexpensive family vacation packed with activities? The economic slump has the average family hunting for reasonably priced destinations. Travelers question whether to forego the vacation altogether or plan a reasonably priced family car trip. The answer is an excursion to Cleveland’s University Circle. It is packed with culture, great dining, and performing and visual arts. Each year, The Circle (as it is better known) plays host to 2.5 million visitors.
Wade Oval
Located at the heart of University Circle, Wade Oval features an expanse of green space surrounded by the neighborhood’s world renowned museums and schools. Not only is it scenic, it’s sustainable. Recycling bins surround the pathway to help reduce waste, the Kulas Community Stage is constructed of water-filtering permeable concrete and the lawns are treated with non-chemical products. Wade Oval hosts many of the area’s most popular free events, including Parade the Circle, Circle Village, WOW! Wade Oval Wednesdays, a weekly concert series, Holiday CircleFest and skating at the Rink at Wade Oval. The Wade Oval kiosk- constructed using design principles and green materials and techniques- provides visitors with information on events and attractions in and around Wade Oval and University Circle.
Location
You can get to University Circle easily from downtown Cleveland by taking any of the major thoroughfares of Euclid, Carnegie, or Chester a few miles east. Euclid is under construction for the Euclid Corridor Project.
From the Eastern Suburbs, Euclid, Cedar, or Mayfield Roads intersect at University Circle. From Interstate 90, known as the East Shoreway, take the exit for MLK Boulevard and head south for about five miles.
Museums
The Cleveland Art Museum is a major attraction. The building and grounds are undergoing construction, and there is only limited access to the important works of art stored there. Galleries on the second floor will open in mid-2008.
The Art Museum, and most of the museums here, are closed on Sundays and Mondays, and open Wednesday evenings until 9. Admission to the Art Museum is free, except for some special exhibits and films.
The nearby Museum of Natural History contains educational exhibits on the world we live in, the always popular Prehistoric Life room and dinosaur exhibit, and the Planetarium. Admission is $9 for adults, with discounts for youth and seniors.
Attractions
Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) campus is in University Circle as well as the Cleveland Institute of Music and the Institute of Art, which also houses the Cleveland Cinematheque, which shows classic films and little known but deserving modern movies.
Severance Hall
Severance Hall is the home of the world-renowned Cleveland Orchestra, with performances on weekends from fall to spring. Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls is the outdoor summer venue for the Orchestra.
Cleveland Botanical Garden
The Cleveland Botanical Garden provides lovely outdoor displays and a Glasshouse filled with flora from around the world. Admission is $7.50. Across Euclid Avenue, there is a Children’s Museum, where children can learn by playing. Admission is $6.
History Museum
The Western Reserve Historical Society operates The History Museum, with information on Northeast Ohio, the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum, and The Library. Admission for all three is $8.50.
Two great medical centers are located in University Circle, Case Medical Center of University Hospitals, and the world-famous Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
The hospitals have large campuses and stunning architecture, as does CWRU, particularly the new Peter B. Lewis Building, and the stately historic buildings around campus.
Culture Abounds
The Circle boasts something for everyone no matter your age or interest. The most popular include Cleveland Museum of Art, Western Reserve Historical Society, Children’s Museum, Museum of Natural History, Severance Hall (home of the world-famous Cleveland Orchestra), and a spacious seven-acre park and lake, Wade Oval. The many museums offer low-cost admissions ranging from free (Museum of Art) to $9.00 (Natural History Museum adult admission). In addition to museums, The University Circle Organization along with the local cultural venues ensures that the calendar is filled with exciting free or low-cost events year-round.
Wintry Wind and Hot Happenings
The colder temperatures in Cleveland doesn’t stop University Circle’s organization to cook up events and festivals that are sizzling. Bring along ice skates to participate in community skating on Wade Oval Outdoor Rink (rental skates:$3.00), or simply watch while sipping hot chocolate. The annual “Holiday Circle Fest” features a parade with a holiday light precession to an outdoor art installation. Martin Luther King Day celebrates with a free concert with the world-renowned Cleveland Orchestra. Take in stellar shows like “Glass Menagerie” or “Raisin in the Sun” at The Cleveland Playhouse with admission as low as $23.00. The end of the winter season is celebrated with “Circle of the Masks Festival” which includes a lively parade, enjoyable dance, and interactive theater performances.
Warm Wind and Fresh Festivities
As the mercury rises, The Circle’s appealing park setting invites visitors to trek the trails or picnic on the lake. Kick-off the summer solstice with “Parade the Circle”, a collaborative community event featuring unique costumes, people-powered floats, and hands-on activities for children. It is held annually on the second Saturday in June. The clement weather draws crowds to weekly free concerts offered in Wade Oval Park featuring different musical genres ranging from Reggae to Rock while providing entertainment for the entire family. An always pleasing summer destination, The Botanical Gardens boasts over nine sprawling acres of exotic plants and aromatic gardens that guarantee a relaxing, pleasurable excursion. .
Let’s Eat
Whetting the appetite is easy with the eclectic collection of restaurants and coffee houses dotting the in and around the Circle. Soul food, Mexican fare, Italian delicacies, various types of Asian cuisines and traditional American diners are conveniently located and pledge to please the most discerning palates. Close to 100 eating establishments are dotted in and around The Circle, with fare for every budget.
Where to Stay
The endless events and fun festivities make even the most energetic traveler in need of rest at the end of a busy day. Beautiful Historic Inns to quaint Bed & Breakfasts are available in the University Circle area with most major hotel chains offering reasonably priced accommodations in downtown Cleveland. A newly updated public transportation system whisks tourists from downtown to The Circle for approximately $2.00 per trip.
Whether it’s a day trip for locals or a jaunt for travelers abroad, University Circle promises a family escape steeped in cultural and culinary diversity and endless events without breaking the bank.
Other
Parking is available at the major venues at hourly and daily rates. Metered parking is available on side streets, for a maximum of two hours at 50 cents per hour. Rules are strictly enforced.
Most of the venues have cafeterias or snack shops. There are a number of great restaurants in the area.
Whether you are visiting from out of town or a Clevelander looking for a fun and educational way to spend a day or weekend, University Circle should be on your list of places to explore.
The nearby Museum of Natural History contains educational exhibits on the world we live in, the always popular Prehistoric Life room and dinosaur exhibit, and the Planetarium. Admission is $9 for adults, with discounts for youth and seniors.
Attractions
Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) campus is in University Circle as well as the Cleveland Institute of Music and the Institute of Art, which also houses the Cleveland Cinematheque, which shows classic films and little known but deserving modern movies.
Severance Hall is the home of the world renowned Cleveland Orchestra, with performances on weekends from fall to spring. Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls is the outdoor summer venue for the Orchestra.
The Cleveland Botanical Garden provides lovely outdoor displays and a Glasshouse filled with flora from around the world. Admission is $7.50. Across Euclid Avenue, there is a Children’s Museum, where children can learn by playing. Admission is $6.
The Western Reserve Historical Society operates The History Museum, with information on Northeast Ohio, the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum and The Library. Admission for all three is $8.50.
Two great medical centers are located in University Circle, Case Medical Center of University Hospitals and the world famous Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
The hospitals have large campuses and stunning architecture, as does CWRU, particularly the new Peter B. Lewis building, and the stately historic buildings around campus.
Other
Parking is available at the major venues at hourly and daily rates. Metered parking is available on side streets, for a maximum of two hours at 50 cents per hour. Rules are strictly enforced.
Most of the venues have cafeterias or snack shops. There are a number of great restaurants in the area.
Whether you are visiting from out of town or a Clevelander looking for a fun and educational way to spend a day or weekend, University Circle should be on your list of places to explore.