City Guides: Things to do While Boating in Cleveland, Ohio

While art and culture, music history and sports teams generally come to mind when thinking about Cleveland, the city also offers a wealth of water-based activities for boaters visiting this Great Lakes state.

From the sandy shores of Edgewater Park and Euclid Beach to boating and fishing for walleye, perch and bass in Lake Erie, Cleveland is an often-overlooked spot for the boating crew. In fact, Lake Erie has the largest population of fish of any of the Great Lakes. It’s also a popular spot for binocular-toting birdwatchers.

Located in the northeast region of Ohio, Cleveland is situated east of Sandusky and north of Akron in Cuyahoga County. Along with the lake and arts scene, it’s famous for its sports teams: the NFL’s Cleveland Browns, MLB’s Guardians (formerly the Indians) and NBA’s Cavaliers.

If you’re planning to visit Cleveland any time soon, whether for a weekend, on a Great Loop adventure or an extended stay at a private boat slip rental, you’ll definitely want to check out the local area. We have a few ideas for you.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Photo: Wikimedia

On the shore of Lake Erie, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is one of Cleveland’s most famous attractions. It opened in 1995 with a mission is to share, preserve and teach the history of rock and roll and highlight the influential artists behind the music. Exhibits feature interactive kiosks, films, videos and more on music history. Check out displays on musicians such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, U2, Jerry Garcia and the largest public collection of Elvis memorabilia outside of Graceland. There’s a replica from Pink Floyd’s The Wall tour, which was designed to imitate the 1990 Berlin Performance.

The Hall of Fame floor features inductees gear, clothing and posters from inductees that include Tina Turner, Carole King, the Go-Go’s, LL Cool J and Foo Fighters. Enjoy live music and events and visit The Garage where you can start a band and play real instruments and feel like a rock star. You won’t want to leave to go back to the boat lift rental!

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Photo: Cleveland Museum of Art (Facebook)

Founded in 1913 and opened in 1916, the Cleveland Museum of Art features African, Greek, Roman, Southeast Asian, European and more art, photography, printmaking, sculpture, fashion and textiles. Check out special exhibits such as Medieval Treasures, Arts of Africa, Martial Art of India, 19th-century French drawings, Van Gogh, Tiffany lamps, Swedish modern design and much more. Located in the Wade Park district, the museum offers summer creativity camps and studio programs for kids.

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

Photo: Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (Facebook)

The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is one of our favorites to visit from a private boat slip rental in Cleveland. Visit monkeys, lions, koalas, Andean bears, marine life, amphibians and birds as you stroll around the zoo. Habitats include an African savanna, an Australian adventure, an African elephant crossing and a wilderness trek. Learn about conservation, take behind-the-scenes tours and participate in keeper-for-the-day programs. There’s a café, a food court and several other food vendors within the zoo. Check them out before you head back to a boat slip for rent, hotel or vacation rental.

Cleveland Museum of Natural History

Photo: Cleveland Museum of Natural History (Facebook)

The Cleveland Museum of Natural History features permanent and traveling exhibits on archaeology, astronomy, jewels and gems, prehistoric life and human origins. Also on site is the Perkins Wildlife Center & Woods Garden, home to mammals, fish, birds and reptiles. Be sure to look up at the overhead enclosed walkways where you can watch animals lounging and walking while you learn about Ohio’s biodiversity at the ground level. Explore the night sky at the Shafran Planetarium & Mueller Observatory or let the kids run wild at the Smead Discovery Center, a hands-on learning center.

Cleveland Botanical Garden

Photo: Cleveland Botanical Garden (Facebook)

Get your garden fix in with a visit to the Cleveland Botanical Garden. Enjoy indoor gardens with rare and exotic plants and themed greenhouses. Located in University Circle, there are themed areas such as topiary and hosta gardens, a Japanese garden, a rose garden, a woodland garden and several others offering beautiful plants, flowers and shrubs for your viewing pleasure.

We hope you’ve found some great places to visit the next time you’re hanging out at a private boat dock for rent in Cleveland. Happy boating!