clevelove.

From the Grand Island KOA I drove down to Cleveland, OH. When I entered the expansive city of Cleveland I was intimidated and a little worried that I wasn't going to like it. I decided to keep an open mind and jump with both feet into the experience of exploring a new city.

I went directly to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum where I saw so many amazing things like Elvis' gold sparkly suit, a collection of famous Beyonce outfits, Ringo Starr's drumkit, and all the Beatles memorabilia a fanatic could dream of. Going through a museum by yourself when you feel pressured for time is quite the sight. I felt like I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off, trying to see every little thing.

After walking around the museum I decided to find my Airbnb. I probably should have looked at a map of Cleveland before entering the city. I for some reason thought I was staying right in the city but my Airbnb turned out to be in University Heights [an area right outside the city]. My Airbnb host left the key in a shoe for me. I wasn't fully aware how Airbnb works, so entering the house with no one home made me a little nervous. I felt very much like an intruder. The best part of Airbnb is that a lot of the hosts will have a book of suggestions for where to eat or what to do. I followed my host's suggestion of exploring Ohio City. Now if you thought I wasn't knowledgeable about Airbnb, I am even more clueless about Uber. I was attempting to request an Uber to Ohio City, meanwhile I'm texting my sisters and sending them screenshots of the app to ensure I actually requested the Uber.

I highly recommend exploring Ohio City if you are ever in Cleveland. This area has a lot of breweries and phenomenal restaurants. I went to TownHall for a beer and food. I had the worlds most delicious oven roasted kale and goat cheese flat bread. It had roasted kale, goat cheese, caramelized sweet potatoes, and balsamic glazed shallots. Unfortunately with my granola bar and water diet I had to save the second half for later. I then went to the Market Garden Brewery, which has great brews and an extremely friendly staff.

When I returned to my Airbnb I shared a lovely conversation with my host, Dan. Another couple, Mort and Paula, were staying in the additional Airbnb room. It was the perfect environment to share stories and interview Mort and Paula. That night Dan spoke of clevelove, which is something I honestly experienced during my time in this city. When I tell people about my positive experience in Cleveland they are a little taken aback that I liked it so much. By keeping an open mind, I fell in love with its Midwestern charm. Everyone I met was extremely welcoming and shared amazing stories with me. Heartland was a major success in the Heartland.