ESPN

Nestled in the northeast corner of Ohio along the shores of Lake Erie, Cleveland has transformed itself from a Rust Belt manufacturing and industrial hub to a sophisticated cultural center and increasingly popular destination for tourists. Shedding its image as "the mistake by the lake," Cleveland has been revitalized by downtown development, with new museums, sports complexes, restaurants and clubs joining the already renowned Cleveland Museum of Art and Cleveland Orchestra.

A light-rail and bus system ($1.50 per ride or $3 for an all-day pass) makes it easy to get around and connects visitors in downtown Cleveland to top attractions like the museums in University Circle, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Great Lakes Science Museum and Cleveland Browns Stadium.

Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport is located 10 miles south of downtown and has an RTA rail station on the lower level of the main terminal with Red Line service into the city. Cabs are metered and will run about $25 for the trip.

Join the Dawg Pound
Cleveland football fans are as loyal as ever after the departure of the old franchise to Baltimore and the Browns' rebirth in 1999. If you can get tickets, the east end zone bleachers at Cleveland Browns Stadium are home to some of the rowdiest fans in the NFL, though strict new rules have mellowed them compared to their heyday, when they would throw Milk Bones onto the field.

See the Tribe at the Jake
Grab a panini and head down to Jacobs Field for an Indians game. Another successful retro park, the Jake opened in 1994, offering panoramic views of downtown Cleveland and featuring the largest free-standing scoreboard in the U.S., with a video screen measuring 149 feet wide and 36 feet high.

Journey Through NFL History
Though it's 60 miles away in Canton, no fan will want to miss the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Hall is not only a home for enshrined football legends, but also a narrative of professional football from its infancy. Highlights include a collection of old playoff mementos and the Super Bowl rings showcase.

Cheer on LeBron at the Q
Considering that the Cavs are arguably most famous for being victimized by Michael Jordan, it's fair to say that Cleveland's NBA fans have endured a desultory history. But now it's the LeBron James Era and change is in the air. New owner Dan Gilbert has rechristened Gund Arena as Quicken Loans Arena, and -- can you believe it? -- Cleveland is the home of basketball's hottest young star.

Take a Toboggan Run at the Chalet
From Thanksgiving through February, the Chalet at Mill Stream Run Reservation features a pair of 1,000-foot refrigerated ice chutes where amateur daredevils can reach speeds of 40 miles per hour on old-fashioned wooden toboggans. Groups of 20 or more get a discount but must schedule at least two weeks in advance.

Hike or Bike the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail
Winding nearly 20 miles, the multi-use towpath trail follows the route of the Ohio & Erie Canal, which was built in the early 1800s to connect Lake Erie and the Ohio River. Numerous exhibits along the way provide information on significant historic sites. While the trail now begins south of Cleveland, plans are to extend it all the way into downtown.

Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame
One Key Plaza, 751 Erieside Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44114
216-781-ROCK
It's fair to say that this post-modern paean to rock 'n' roll is what triggered the revitalization of downtown Cleveland. You'll find Eric Clapton's guitars and legal notepad paper filled with Bruce Springsteen's scrawled song lyrics, as well as John Lennon's school report card and Jim Morrison's cub scout uniform. And, of course, the roomful of plaques honoring pop music's greatest.
http://www.rockhall.com/home/default.asp

Great Lakes Science Center
601 Erieside Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44114
This museum is serious about being hands-on and interactive. Take its tornado exhibit. Not only does its eight-foot-high simulated twister spin and twirl, visitors can reach out and touch it. Don't miss the Great Lakes Story exhibit, which chronicles the geologic history of the region.
http://www.greatscience.com/visit/

Cleveland Museum of Natural History
1 Wade Oval Dr., Cleveland, Ohio 44106
The best old exhibit is the museum's fossil and geology collections. Its emphasis is prehistoric Ohio. The best new exhibit is the state-of-the-art Shafran Planetarium. Its Skymaster ZKP3/S projector -- the first of its kind -- shows the positions of more than 5,000 stars, nebulae and galaxies, as well as the Moon and visible planets.
http://www.cmnh.org/index.html

Cleveland Botanical Garden
11030 East Blvd., Cleveland, Ohio 44106
The highlight is the crystal-peaked, 18,000-square-foot glass conservatory. It houses two remarkable ecosystems: Madagascar's spiny desert and Costa Rica's rainforest. The spiny desert features the largest collection of Boabab trees in North America, a pair of free-roaming Oustelett's Chameleons and an environment of delicate and endangered Madagascar plants. The rainforest includes more than 200 butterflies, tiny orchids and palm, black olive, fig and avocado trees.
http://www.cbgarden.com/

USS Cod
1089 N. Marginal Rd., Cleveland, Ohio 44114
What's cool about the Cod -- credited with sinking more than 12 Japanese warships in World War II -- is that it remains completely intact and has not been altered in any way. Meaning, visitors climb down the same ladders and through the same hatches that its sailors once did.
http://www.usscod.org/

1964 Cleveland Browns (defeated Baltimore Colts, 27-0).
1955 Cleveland Browns (defeated Los Angeles Rams, 38-14).
1954 Cleveland Browns (defeated Detroit Lions, 56-10).
1950 Cleveland Browns (defeated Los Angeles Rams, 30-28).
1948 Cleveland Indians (defeated Boston Braves, 4 games to 2).
1945 Cleveland Rams (defeated Washington Redskins, 15-14).
1924 Cleveland Bulldogs (NFL) (no title game).
1920 Cleveland Indians (defeated Brooklyn Robins, 5 games to 2).