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In Cleveland to see the Hawkeyes play? Here’s what else to do while there
Quick hit of major attractions in the city hosting Friday’s Final Four game
Heading to The Land for The Game?
The first is what Clevelanders call their city. The latter is what Hawkeyes call Friday’s Final Four appearance where the Iowa women’s basketball team meets UConn.
If you spent a small fortune on a game ticket, you’ll probably be looking for something big and free to see and do.
Free Stamp
How about the Free Stamp public art in Willard Park? It’s huge, red and impossible to miss. Commissioned by Standard Oil of Ohio, stakeholders failed to embrace the giant rubber stamp bearing the giant upside-down and backward letters FREE, so it didn’t see the light of day in the company’s Public Square. Instead, it went into storage. Years later, it came out of the dark and into the light, donated to the city. And now it stands next to City Hall, 9 Lakeside Ave. E. Details: onlyinyourstate.com/ohio/cleveland/scavenger-hunt-cle
For the rest of these attractions, free applies only to toddlers and members, but the prices generally top out at $25 or so for adults.
Rockin’ & Rollin’
Whether you play music, love music or specialize in air guitar, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is so cool it even has its own street — 1100 Rock and Roll Blvd. Visitors can walk and roll through more than 50 immersive exhibits tracing the art form’s evolution, including the latest, Revolutionary Women in Music. And since Cleveland is in the path of the eclipse, you can even celebrate Earth’s own star during Solar Fest from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Monday. Museum admission: free to $35. Details: rockhall.com
A Christmas Story House
You won’t shoot your eye out, but you’ll see plenty of holiday eye candy stepping inside the Parker family house from the 1983 classic film, “A Christmas Story.” Located at 3159 W. 11th St., it’s open every day for touring and overnight lodging. Across the street is a museum full of the movie’s original props, costumes and behind-the-scenes photos. Need the Old Man’s leg lamp? Stop in the museum gift shop for movie memorabilia and house tour tickets. Hopefully, you won’t see the Bumpus hounds. Admission: Free to $25. Details: housefromachristmasstory.com
Botanical Garden
No need to wait for spring to actually spring forth with colorful blossoms. Visit the outdoors indoors at the Cleveland Botanical Garden, 11030 East Blvd. See exotic plants and animals, including “upside-down” trees and a chameleon roaming through the Madagascar Glasshouse. Unless, of course, the chameleon decides to blend in with its surroundings. Stop and smell the roses, relax in the Japanese Garden, get inspired to create your own garden, and feel your heart flutter during 2 p.m. butterfly releases in the Costa Rica biome. Admission: Free to $20. Details: holdenfg.org
Metroparks Zoo
You know the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse will be a zoo during Final Four weekend. So how about a break at a real zoo full of lions, tigers and bears, instead of hawks, gamecocks, wolves and huskies? Educational programs abound, along with wildlife areas from an African Savanna to the Rain Forest, at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, 3900 Wildlife Way. Admission: Free to $25. Details: clevelandmetroparks.com/zoo
Aquarium
“Every Week is #SharkWeek,” proclaims the Greater Cleveland Aquarium, 2000 Sycamore St. But visitors also will see Great Lake perch, sea horses, lionfish, crustaceans and more. You can even pet a stingray, and anyone who has done so will say the creatures feel like liquid velvet. Admission: Free to $25. Details: greaterclevelandaquarium.com
More options
Looking for other options? Check out thisiscleveland.com/things-to-do/major-attractions or head to the Cleveland Visitors Center, 334 Euclid Ave.
Comments: (319) 368-8508; diana.nollen@thegazette.com
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