It’s only about a six-hour drive to Cleveland from Chicago, which is not nearly far enough to deter the fiercest Cubs fans from making the trek to see their team take on the Indians in the World Series.
Now, Cleveland may be to Ohio as Chicago is to Illinois, but just belonging to the Midwest doesn’t make the two cities enough alike to not warrant homesickness. So with the help of Destination Cleveland, we gathered Cleveland equivalents to Chicago staples to help ease the transition.
1) We all know Chicago hot dogs are sacred. Clevelanders must have known they’d never compare to the likes of The Wiener’s Circle or Hot Doug’s (RIP), so they instead created the weirdest hot dog ever. If you’re feeling brave and want to try what residents of that city call a Slider Dog at Progressive Field (or other Happy Dog locations), you’ll get a hot dog topped with macaroni and cheese, bacon and … Fruit Loops. For real. Proceed with caution.
2) In Chicago, we’re #blessed with not only more than 8,100 acres of green space, 580 parks, 26 indoor pools, 51 outdoor pools and 26 miles of lakefront, but also the more than 69,000 acres of forest preserve in Cook County. We won’t get cocky, but when compared to Cleveland’s 23,000 acres, we’re feeling pretty good about ourselves. Still, if you’re craving nature, we suppose Cleveland’s Metroparks system might do the job.
3) If you’re a frequenter of Chicago’s many museums—at least 10 operated by the Chicago Park District alone—you might be looking for a dose of culture. With heavy hitters like the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium and Museum of Science and Industry (not to mention the Chicago History Museum, Art Institute and the Museum of Contemporary Art), it’s hard to imagine Cleveland holding a candle to that roster. But if you want to give it a chance, check out the Baseball Heritage Museum (fitting) or the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
4) Chicago is home to a glorious selection of farmers markets. If you’re in Cleveland and craving fresh produce that will remind you of home, check out the West Side Market. This “food lover’s paradise” is a huge concourse with more than 100 vendors, so it’s worth a shot.
5) When it comes to beer, Chicago is the best place to be. Between Half Acre, Lagunitas, Goose Island, Revolution and dozens more around the city, we’re spoiled when it comes to breweries. If you’re in the market for good beer in Cleveland, check out Great Lakes Brewing Co. (you’ve probably tried their beer already). If you’re not a fan, you have a few more to choose from.
Even if you take a liking to Cleveland, don’t forget the reason you’re there in the first place. Go, Cubs, go.
Sources: Forest Preserves of Cook County, Chicago Park District, Destination Cleveland
@shelbielbostedt | sbostedt@redeyechicago.com
