Founded in 1796, Cleveland became an industrial town with the opening of the Erie-Ohio Canal that linked the Ohio River to Lake Erie, and the city's vast iron and coal supplies made it one of the most important steel and shipbuilding centres in the country, a sprawling mass of oil refineries, mills and warehouses along the shores of Lake Erie.<br /><br /> Industrial success poured money into the city and wealthy tycoons built the downtown area that today has outgrown its 'steel town' image and is a bustling place, a city of green parklands and lively neighbourhoods with a vibrant atmosphere. Once the heavily-polluted victim of much mockery, its industrial character has moved beyond the city limits and the downtown warehouses and factories now house trendy clubs and restaurants, while museums, and sporting and cultural events attract many visitors to the city.<br /><br /> Located on the southern shore of Lake Erie at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River, Cleveland has a growing cultural presence that has been enhanced by newly added attractions such as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, the enormous Great Lakes Science Center and six-storey OMNIMAX Theatre, and the professional sports arenas and stadiums of the Gateway District that host major sporting events as well as live entertainment.<br /><br /> These are welcome additions to a city already boasting a world-class orchestra, a celebrated art museum, lively theatre district and the restored lakefront area. Neighbourhoods buzz with restaurants and shops, and the Flats, once the industrial heart of the city occupying both banks of the Cuyahoga River, is now the booming entertainment and nightlife district of Cleveland. The historic Warehouse District is downtown's oldest commercial quarter and is a national Historic Landmark with over 70 fine examples of Victorian architecture. Once housing merchants' and manufacturers' goods, the old warehouses are now home to music clubs, galleries and trendy dining spots.<br /><br /> Some miles out of the city centre are two theme parks with some of the world's tallest and fastest roller coaster rides at the Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, and the Six Flags Worlds of Adventure in Aurora.<br /><br />

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Address: 1100 E 9th St, Cleveland Cleveland

Admission: $23.50 adults, $13.75 children aged 9-12. Concessions available. Daily 10am-5:30pm, until 9pm on Wednesdays; in summer (Memorial Day to Labor Day) open until 9pm Saturdays.

Telephone: (216) 781-7625

The term 'rock and roll' was coined by Cleveland DJ Alan Freed in the early 1950s, and it is partly for this reason that Cleveland won the fiercely contested honour of becoming home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Designed by renowned architect I.M. Pei as an 'echo of the energy of rock and roll', the glass and porcelain pyramid-shaped structure is a celebration of the American institution of rock music in honour of those who have had an influential role on modern music.<br /><br /> With a permanent collection drawing from the most impressive and iconic rock and roll artefacts and a wide-ranging roster of on-going and temporary exhibits, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is dedicated to exploring the past, present and future of the music. The Museum augments its own massive collection of thousands of artefacts with items on loan from artists and collectors from around the world. It includes exhibits dedicated to the museum's choice of all-time top artists, including Elvis Presley, the Beatles, U2 and the Rolling Stones.<br /><br /> As one of the state's top attractions, the Hall of Fame gets particularly crowded on weekends and advance booking is required, especially as new artists are being inducted.<br /><br />

Great Lakes Science Center

Address: 601 Erieside Avenue Cleveland

Admission: Exhibits: $15 adults, $12 children 2-12; OMNIMAX: $11 adults, $9 children. Other concessions and combo tickets are available. Daily 10am-5pm (closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day).

Telephone: (216) 694 2000

Located on the lakefront, the glass facade of the Great Lakes Science Center makes it a perfect match to the adjacent glass pyramid-shaped structure of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It is one of the largest science museums in the country with 375 exciting interactive exhibits that explain subjects such as planet earth, meteorology, sports, music, environment and technology through hands-on examples. The new Great Lakes Environment exhibition focuses specifically on the Great Lakes region. It also contains the region's only OMNIMAX Theatre.<br /><br />

Cedar Point Amusement Park

Address: Cedar Point, Sandusky Cleveland

Admission: $58.99 adults, $45 children under 48 inches (122cm). Discounted tickets available from the website. Open May to October. General hours 10am-10pm, however hours and dates vary according to season. Check the website for specific times.

Telephone: (419) 627-2350

Cedar Point Amusement Park, located in Sandusky Ohio just outside of Cleveland, is a paradise for roller coaster lovers. Named 'Best Amusement Park in the World' many times over, it is the only park to have four roller coasters taller than 200 feet (61m), and the only amusement park of its size within hundreds of miles.<br /><br /> If those are too much, though, there are 13 others to choose from, along with dozens of other rides and attractions for all ages. Cedar Point also boasts and indoor and outdoor waterpark, white sand beach, two marinas, and Challenge Park, which offers go-karts and miniature golf as well as several thrill rides. One of the oldest theme parks in the US, Cedar Point has been operating since 1870.<br /><br />

Progressive Field

Address: 2401 Ontario Street Cleveland

Admission: Tickets range $8-85, depending on section and game. Tours are $7.50 adults, $5.50 children.

Home to the Cleveland Indians baseball team, Progressive Field is a beautiful outdoor stadium in downtown Cleveland. Built in 1994, Progressive Field (formerly known as Jacobs Field) was voted the best major league ballpark by Sports Illustrated in 2008. Catching an Indians game is a great way to spend a warm summer evening in Cleveland, and true fanatics can take a tour of the stadium between May and September.<br /><br />

Slavic Village Harvest Festival

Where: Fleet Avenue, Slavic Village Development,Cleveland

When: 25 August 2018

Thousands of visitors are attracted each year to the popular Cleveland ethnic street fair, the Slavic Village Harvest Festival. The festival is held in the heart of the city's historic 'Warszawa' neighbourhood which is home to one of the largest Polish-American communities in the country. The history, traditions, music and food of this community is showcased at the festival where visitors enjoy dancing the polka, riding the trolleybus, sampling tasty dishes and toe-tapping to the music.<br /><br />

Taste of Cleveland

Where: Time-Warner Cable Amphitheater,Cleveland

When: TBC

For the past 10 years the city of Cleveland has celebrated its cultural and ethnic diversity with an annual culinary fest par excellence. The city's top chefs step out of their kitchens to compete for the 'Best of the Fest' award, while food enthusiasts can eat their fill from a selection of diverse options from seafood to sauerkraut or Irish stew. To help keep things on the boil, the festival also features ongoing entertainment, a beer garden and sports lounge.<br /><br />

Clevelands Irish Cultural Festival

Where: Berea Fairgrounds,Cleveland

When: TBA

The three-day Cleveland Irish Cultural Festival celebrates all things Irish with a variety of world class music, dancing, theatre, children's activities, shopping, art and historical exhibits. Many Irish travelled across the Atlantic to make a new home for themselves in the United States and this festival focuses on the preservation of that link.<br /><br />