City Overview

Wrapping around the banks of the Cuyahoga River and the southern shore of Lake Erie, Cleveland is the second largest city in Ohio. The city’s rich character is driven by its Industrial and Gilded Age past, which have left a legacy of unspoiled Gilded Age architecture, creative reuses, and world-class arts and cultural resources. A vibrant, ethnically diverse city, Cleveland prides itself on providing a warm welcome with top-notch hospitality and accommodations for visitors.

In March 2023, Travel + Leisure ranked Cleveland Number 7 on its list of Best Food Cities in the US, highlighting how the local food scene, fueled by local farms and trailblazing chefs, is inspired by our 100+ ethnicities, including Asian and Slavic cuisines and many Black-owned and Black-led restaurants. To highlight just one distinctive restaurant, Mabel's BBQ, operated by one of Food and Wine magazine’s "Ten Best Chefs in America," serves up Cleveland-style BBQ that incorporates Eastern European spices.

Downtown Highlights

Located within a mile of our hotel, Cleveland’s Playhouse Square theater district is the largest performing arts center in the US outside of New York City, and boasts the largest community of season ticket-holders in North America. Many Broadway shows come through at prices much more affordable than theatergoers can find in New York, Chicago, or other major cities. Five beautifully restored, Vaudeville-style theaters and four modern performance spaces host a variety of music, dance, and theatrical performances in this historic district.

University Circle is home to the Cleveland Orchestra, world-class museums, botanical gardens, and top educational institutions. The renowned Cleveland Museum of Art, ranked second in the U.S. by Business Insider Magazine, is one of the world’s most distinguished comprehensive art museums. It is particularly renowned for its collections of Asian art, ancient art, medieval European art (including the awe-inspiring Armor Court), and pre-Columbian art. Collections span 6,000 years of human achievement. A JASNA bus will run to University Circle on Thursday, October 17; alternatively, it is easy to reach and explore the area on your own.

We are especially proud of our Cleveland Orchestra, one of the “Big Five” city orchestras and named #7 on a list of the 20 best orchestras in the world in 2012. Currently under the direction of Franz Welser-Möst, the Cleveland Orchestra plays in the beautifully restored, historic Severance Hall.

A different genre of music prevails at the famous Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, in keeping with Cleveland’s history as the site of the first rock and roll concert. Its pyramidal structure is a signature feature of Cleveland's skyline, and within its doors is an archive of hundreds of superstar souvenirs and interactive exhibits telling the story of rock and roll. And if that’s not enough music, the history of another homegrown genre is presented at the Polka Hall of Fame.

The country’s third largest public research library, Cleveland Public Library, is located just off Public Square, steps from the AGM hotel. The original 1925 building, beautifully restored, is connected to its new (1997) wing by an underground passage and an open-air reading garden. In addition to more than 3 million books, the library is noted for its fine art and special collections, and has the largest collection of Superman memorabilia in the world.

For anyone who, like Lydia Bennet, relishes the chance to win a few fish at the gaming table, JACK Cleveland Casino on Public Square is open 24 hours a day. Don’t gamble? The casino is worth walking through for its architecture, housed in the lovingly restored Higbee Building - once a classic downtown department store that was immortalized in the movie “A Christmas Story.”

Those looking for natural scenery can enjoy views of Lake Erie from Voinovich Bicentennial Park, a short walk from the hotel; watching the sunset over the water is especially memorable. Also nearby is Willard Park, an urban greenspace housing the landmark “Free Stamp” sculpture. At University Circle, the Cleveland Botanical Garden’s 10 acres of outdoor gardens and extensive glasshouses offer relaxation and interesting displays.

Farther Afield

Cleveland is located within a short drive of Ohio’s largest Amish settlements. The Amish community welcomes tours to its working farms and shops, where Janeites can get a glimpse of what life was like before the age of electricity and modern conveniences.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame and National First Ladies’ Library and Museum are in nearby Canton, OH. Cedar Point, Ohio’s record-breaking roller coaster park, offers rides and experiences the whole family will enjoy.