#NInjaVerdict: Ohio USA Road Trip | The Holiday Ninja
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The NInja Verdict

ninja-wheel #NInjaVerdict: Ohio USA Road Trip

Did you know that there is a DIRECT service from Dublin Airport to the Cleveland, Ohio in the USA???

As soon as this was announced in 2023, the NInja knew that we would need to check out this route to see what Cleveland and the greater state of Ohio could offer as a NInja holiday destination. So bags were packed, itineraries stacked and it was off down the road to catch a flight …. it was going to be a VERY busy 4-5 days!!

GETTING THERE
Aer Lingus offer a service flying DIRECT from Dublin Airport to Hopkins International Airport in Cleveland, Ohio. The flight duration is just over 7 and a half hours on the way out, approx 7 hours on the way back. There are 4 flights per week and they are operated by an Airbus A321neo LR which is Aer Lingus’ most sustainable longhaul aircraft. The Airbus A321neo LR, which comprises both business cabin and economy class cabin, delivers up to 20% reduction in fuel burn and CO2 emissions and close to 50% reduction in noise footprint when compared to previous generation aircraft. Check out AER LINGUS for more information and to book flights.

CLEVELAND
“Destination Cleveland” they say.
“In Cleveland, we’ve got world-class experiences without the world-class ego” they say.
This is 100% accurate. A big city without feeling overawed, you feel at home immediately and can get straight to it in terms of getting out there and seeing what’s on offer.

After arriving into Cleveland airport early evening, we quickly picked up our bags and made the short journey to get our rental car. It was a short 20 min drive to our hotel in downtown Cleveland. The Crowne Plaza Playhouse Sq is perfectly situated in the heart of the theatre district of downtown Cleveland and a short walk to all the attractions. After checking in we headed straight for the evening “ball game” at Progressive Field to watch the Cleveland Guardians play the San Diego Padres in some Major League Baseball. For anyone who has never experienced an American sports game, then it quite simply is a must. Unbeknownst to us, once the game finished, we were treated to a spectacular firework display – as darkness set in witnessing one of the best fireworks displays this NInja has ever seen. A great way to finish the evening off before heading back to the hotel to rest our heads before getting up the following morning to see everything else Cleveland has to offer.

First thing’s first in the morning, is a hearty breakfast. We made our way to West Side Market, which houses a fresh food market akin to the likes of La Boqueria in Barcelona. From Italian and Hungarian sausages, to red velvet rolls and canoli cheesecakes, there truly is something for everyone – we even spotted an “Irish” stall that was selling Club Orange! The market also houses the West Side Market Café, and after some traditional corn beef hash and eggs, and a large helping of coffee, it was time to set off back over the Hope Memorial Bridge, past the Guardians of Traffic statues, to get to work!

You may not know this, but Cleveland is the birthplace of Rock & Roll. Radio DJ Alan Freed coined the phrase in the city back in 1951, so where better to house the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame. Opened in 1995, the hall of fame celebrates and honours the artists whose music connects us all. You are treated to seven floors of musical memorabilia, exhibits and interactive displays. Upon entering at street level on level 1, you make your way downstairs to level 0 and make your way up through SIX levels of music history.

“The Garage” on Level 2 is an interactive area that allows you to pick up a guitar, sit at a keyboard or even grab some drumsticks and play along to some of rock ‘n’ roll’s greatest songs. This NInja enjoyed himself maybe too much in the drumming booth, living out his inner Dave Grohl!
There is a Hall of Fame Level, and on the top level 6 there is currently a whole section dedicated to one of America’s great rock ‘n’ roll bands, Bon Jovi. So whether you can play a guitar like Slash, or if sitting down and tapping your foot along to the music is more your style, you will love the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Its location on Lake Erie means you are in close proximity to the Cleveland Browns NFL stadium (Huntington Bank Field) and the Great Lakes Science Centre. Or walk behind the Hall of Fame and get your photo taken at the famous Cleveland Script Sign with the city’s skyline in the backdrop.
Also close to the Hall of Fame is the USS Cod Submarine. Step onboard and experience a submarine that saw battle during World War II.

The great thing about Cleveland is that the city is very accessible on foot. A short dander on foot takes you past City Hall and the Fountain of Eternal Life, and into the Downtown Area. We made our way to East 4th Street, in the heart of downtown, with a never-ending choice of dining and entertainment. Enjoy Mabel’s BBQ or Butcher and the Brewer, or just grab a table on the street, order a beer, and watch the world go by – one of the State’s top “people watching” hotspots no doubt.

Get yourself across to Heinen’s, a grocery store like no other, with a rotunda so breathtaking it has to be seen to be believed – a Tiffany-style glass ceiling and 13 hand-painted murals. As you sit and gaze in awe, it’s an opportunity to grab an ice cream, or some light bites and take it all in.

We quickly made our way across to League Park, one of the city’s first sporting venues and home to Cleveland’s first baseball team, the Spiders. It’s nice to take a minute and stand there, knowing that sporting greats Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig once plied their trade there.

It was a whirlwind in Cleveland, but a city that seemed easy to get around, where you get your bearings quickly, with world-class attractions and entertainment to suit everyone’s interests.

CINCINNATI
Our hotel was in the downtown area – 21C Museum Hotel which was a modern fusion hotel mixed with an art gallery, very cool!  We parked up and dropped off our bags, and enjoyed a pleasant 15 min walk to the Great American Ball Park, home of the Cincinnati Reds, baseball’s first professional franchise. Although we walked, we could just as easily jumped on the streetcar (what we would call a tram) that run throughout downtown making it very easy to get around.

The Reds were playing the Milwaukee Brewers, and as we took our seats, we sat back, sipped on a beer (or a soda), and watched the ballgame unfold in the scorching sunshine – the quintessential American Saturday afternoon! When we got peckish, the choice of concessions was plenty. But when in Cincinnati, one has to sample Skyline Chili. This is Cincinnati-style chili as opposed to your typical Texas-style, poured on top of your hotdogs then topped with what can only be described as a mountain of shredded cheddar cheese! Honestly, this had to be seen to be believed …. and you may want to order more than 1, as they go down VERY quickly!
As the baseball finished, we made a quick stop to East Freedom Way, with what seemed to have an endless amount of bars and restaurants. After refreshments, it was time to get some dinner.

Krueger’s Tavern, in the Over-the-Rhine area of the city, offered an array of burgers, from the Bleu Gruyere to Spicy, Chicken Parm to Veggie, they catered for all your needs. Over-The-Rhine neighbourhood itself is a quaint area which offers food, drink, nightlife, shopping and theatre. Day or night, this thriving neighbouring has something for everyone.

Smale Riverfront Park, on the banks of the Ohio River, was the next stop, for the much anticipated Riverfest – we were lucky to be there on Labor Day weekend, where during the day you are treated to live music along the Riverfront Park, with the Rubber Duck Regatta taking place on the river itself. At 9pm, once darkness has descended, the Rozzi Family Fireworks start. The display is set to the music you can hear on the local rock radio station, WEBN.

A review of Cincy would not be complete without mentioning the street art. Round every corner, along every street, downtown Cincinnati is essentially a canvas. You walk amongst the art and can’t help but stopping constantly to capture photo after photo. In fact, USA Today named Cincinnati the number 1 city for street art in America. It’s easy to see why, with over 300 murals and pieces of public art.

After getting our much needed 8 hours, it was again time to replenish our energy levels with another generous breakfast. This time at a traditional old-school American diner (looks EXACTLY how you would expect a USA diner to look!), Sugar n Spice. This diner has been feeding Cincy residents for over 80 years, and the menu has not changed much since 1941! Their famous wispy thin pancakes, huge omelettes and signature sandwiches provided the fuel to jump back in the car and drive to our next destination….

COLUMBUS
Another city, like the previous two, that is so warm and inviting with its friendliness and hospitality. Another city that also seemed so accessible and easy to get around. We arrived at our hotel – Renaissance Columbus – shortly after lunch time and immediately set out to explore again.

The Hotel was very close to the state capitol building, it was a nice place to start our sightseeing tour of the city. From there, we passed the city hall, as we made our way to parks that front the Scioto River. A proud moment indeed to say I have seen, and posed in front of, the world’s largest gavel! Look across the river to the National Veterans Memorial and Museum, and the COSI (The Centre of Science and Industry).

Columbus may not have a Major League Baseball team (they do have a professional NHL Ice Hockey team), but they are the proud home of the Clippers, the Minor League team who play at Huntington Park. We thought we would enjoy yet another ballgame, but this time we opted not to eat at the park and save ourselves for some Columbus-style pizza later that evening ….

“Columbus Style” pizza is the standard circular shape, it is cut into short rectangular slices. Thin crust, dense toppings, provolone cheese and a slightly sweet sauce. I can honestly say that it was outstanding, to the extent that my mouth is watering at the memory of it as I write about it. There are a number of independent family owned restaurants that offer the Columbus style pizza in the city, whether you’re in downtown or the picturesque German Village neighbourhood – they form the Pizza Trail throughout the city.

And for dessert why not visit Jeni’s Ice Creams, in the Short North area of the city. They offer a unique choice of flavours, from Goat Cheese with Red Cherries or Brown Butter Almond Brittle, to Maple Soaked Pancakes or Salted Peanut Butter with Chocolate Flecks. No better place to visit for those with a sweet tooth.

Our final morning started at Lox Bagel Shop, which has been voted the “Best Bagels in America” several times by publications Bon Appetit and Food & Wine.
From there we took the short journey to the Ohio Stadium, home of the Buckeyes, the Ohio State University Football team. Nicknamed “The Horseshoe” (or simply “The Shoe”), it is the third largest stadium in the USA, with a capacity currently at 102,780. The “Buckeyes”, almost as famous for their Marching Band as their Football team, have played in the stadium since it opened in 1922. The tour was fantastic, getting behind the scenes to see how a stadium of that vastness operates, seeing where the media gather, or how the other half live in the suites and lounges.

And unlike so many stadium tours, it actually finished on the field! We got to walk on the (artificial) turf that the players do their thing on, and channel our inner child and envisage ourselves scoring that winning touchdown. To stand in the centre of the field and take in the sheer size of the stadium was something else, it must be something to behold on gameday.

Not far from the stadium, still within the university area of the city, is a museum to one of Ohio’s greatest sons, a true sporting great. The Jack Nicklaus Museum was a bonus attraction to enjoy, to walk through the exhibits celebrating an American icon, a name known all over the world. See his trophies (there were quite a few!) and his Green Jacket, awarded to him for winning the US Masters a record six times.

We headed back to the Short North neighbourhood and enjoyed lunch at Brassica, a popular Columbus-based restaurant known for its fresh salads and sandwiches that customers can customise. The restaurant uses organic pita bread, special tahini sauce, chickpeas, and meats without antibiotics. It was a culinary highlight of the trip, so fresh and healthy, and most importantly, delicious!

Within walking distance of Brassica is a random wee statue that we stumbled upon, of none other than Arnold Schwarzenegger! The statue captures Arnie in his signature twisted double biceps pose, and was donated to the city on behalf of the International Sports Hall of Fame.
A must-do experience when in Columbus is to head for one of the most atmospheric neighbourhoods in the country, German Village. In this historic neighbourhood (the entire 233 acres is on the National Register of Historic Places), you’ll find brick homes, shops, delis, and some of the best local dining in the city. Stauf’s is a local coffee shop in the area, and Pistacia Vera is a European bakery to die for. And if you are after pizza (again), this is the area to visit!

Also check out the Book Loft – one of the largest independent bookstores in America, with 32 rooms for you to stroll round and browse through.

For dinner why not try Watershed Distillery, a kitchen and bar (as well as the distillery itself) known for its reimagined comfort foods and expertly crafted cocktails. The food was fantastic, but it was the cocktail menu that really was something else. The menu had a music theme, with each cocktail assigned to a different genre of music. The “Zig a Zig Ah” or the “That’s All, Folks”, there was plenty to choose from!

OHIO did not disappoint! 3 cities in 4-5 days …. and we barely scratched the surface – they were so different in some ways, but so similar in others, but each left us with nothing but positive things to say.
All 3 cities were close enough to drive between (2 hours between each of them) and unlike so many other USA holiday “hotspots” it felt that the costs and prices were slightly more kind on the wallet – certainly for food and drink and lodgings.

Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus – the people were incredibly friendly and hospitable, the food was world-class, and whether you’re a fan of music, sport, architecture, art, or simply want to sit at a table in the sun enjoying a drink and watching the world go by, then I cannot recommend these places enough!

Ohio – The Heart Of It All!

You can check out the FULL highlights from this NInja trip over on the Instagram page – on the homepage under the OHIO USA highlight tab – CLICK HERE

Why not visit your LOCAL NInja travel agency and ask them to plan your next NInja adventure to Ohio, you can contact them via Holiday NInja – CLICK HERE – and we can easily make that connection for you!!

Progressive Field - home of the Cleveland Guardians
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