URBAN OUTDOORS

CONNECTING THIS GREAT LAKES CITY IS MADE FOR ADVENTURE URBAN OUTDOORS

CLE

By Annie Zaleski

LINKING CLEVELAND VIA BRIDGES AND TRAILS

Wendy Park

LAKE ERIE LIFE

> Living On The Edge Home of summer fun on the near west side,

Edgewater Beach boasts a 2,400-foot beach with 1,000 feet of swimming access and a pup-friendly section (plus cabana rentals and a fishing pier).

Overheated? Grab some local Honey Hut ice cream at the Edgewater Beach

House—an open-air hangout that oozes relaxation. > East Side Story Consider Euclid Beach the more laid-back yin to

Edgewater’s bustling yang. Once a legendary amusement park, this lakefront expanse now houses a gorgeous new pier, sandy beach and selfie-friendly Cleveland script sign—not to mention killer skyline and sunset views.

> Let’s Go Outside Play sand volleyball or chill on the beach at Wendy

Park at Whiskey Island, where a distillery once sat in the 1800s. Bird lovers also flock here for their fix, with 260 species of birds recorded on site. There’s also a kayak launch and fishing pier at this nature haven. > Beachy Keen The 35 acres of sandy beach at Headlands Beach State

Park would make even Jimmy Buffett jealous. Attracting everyone from beach glass collectors to picnickers to fishing enthusiasts, this state park has been designated among the nation’s top 20 beaches by both CNN and Planet Ware.

Thanks to the completion of several major outdoor trails and bridges, Cleveland’s neighborhoods are now linked together even more closely. The 2.1-mile Red Line Greenway connects two RTA Red Line stations with the Cleveland Foundation Centennial Trail Lake Link as commuters can travel from Detroit Shoreway and Ohio City to The Flats. From The Flats, the Wendy Park Bridge provides a straight shot to Whiskey Island’s popular Wendy Park and the gorgeous Lake Erie waterfront. And 2021 marked the completion of a four-stage connection project connecting the Towpath Trail to its historic roots— where the Ohio & Erie Canal meets the Cuyahoga River.

Cleveland Metroparks Cleveland Metroparks

Kendall Ledges Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad

THE FOREST CITY

By Annie Zaleski

The word emerald literally means “green gem”— and that’s exactly what the Cleveland Metroparks have become. (No wonder the Metroparks received a 2021 National Gold Medal “Best in Nation” award!) Dotted across 23,000 acres (including 18 reservations and 100 miles of trails), The Land’s “Emerald Necklace” is one attractive accessory. Also falling under the Metroparks umbrella are Cleveland’s zoo and popular beaches like Edgewater and Euclid Beach. Choose your own adventure with hiking, mountain biking, birding, stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, snowshoeing and pretty much anything else ending with “ing.” At 33,000 acres, Cuyahoga Valley National Park makes up the heart of Northeast Ohio, hugging the banks of the Cuyahoga River in all the right spots. If chasing waterfalls is your thing, scenic Brandywine Falls and Blue Hen Falls await. (Take the boardwalk to the former, hike to the latter.) The 85-mile Towpath Trail is also one of the park’s best-known draws, attracting more than 2.5 million people annually for biking, running and more. Visitors can also take in the Towpath Trail in a more leisurely way via the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, which provides inviting nature views as it winds its way to the charming village of Peninsula.

CUYAHOGA VALLEY NATIONAL PARK IS THE SEVENTH MOST VISITED NATIONAL PARK WITH DID YOU KNOW? 2.8 MILLION VISITORS. (SO MUCH FOR THAT BEST-KEPT SECRET THING.)

5WAYS TO ROCK THE RIVER

By Annie Zaleski & Jen Jones Donatelli

1/ ALL A-BREWED

How’s this for alliteration? BrewBoat CLE made its name as “Ohio’s first pedal-powered paddle-wheel party-boat.” But it’s no hyperbole— the company books river cruises for up to 16 people to sip drinks and enjoy a pumped-up playlist while pedaling a cycleboat. 2 / the jet set

Lake Erie is your adventure oyster, thanks to Great Lakes Watersports. Located at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River, the business rents powerboats and kayaks to novices and experts alike from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

3 / RUM RUNNER

Tiki culture has made its way to CLE with Tiki Barge Cruises, setting sail again this summer with daily two-hour cruises. Hop aboard a tiki-inspired pontoon boat, bring your own fruity cocktails and take a tropical spin ‘round the Cuyahoga. 4 / Smooth Sailing

If letting someone else navigate our fair waters is more your style, the majestic Goodtime III and Nautica Queen boats offer a variety of waterfront cruises— ranging from sightseeing jaunts to romantic dinner voyages. 5 / ROCK THE REGATTA

These days, the only thing setting the Cuyahoga River ablaze is the annual Blazing Paddles—an annual race and celebration convening a high-energy throng of kayakers, canoe enthusiasts and stand-up paddleboarders.