5 Stops: Cleveland, Ohio

For one-of-a-kind experiences, like a day at the world’s only Rock & Roll Hall of Fame or a sightseeing tour of Lake Erie aboard the Nautica Queen, consider Cleveland for the next student group destination. 

“In Cleveland, students can experience world-class arts, culture and rock ‘n’ roll,” said Jane Tougouma, group sales manager for Destination Cleveland. 

Located in northeastern Ohio, Cleveland is bordered by the shore of Lake Erie and the vast greenspace of both the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and the Cleveland Metroparks. The city holds exciting attractions, events and opportunities for students. 

“Groups also can choose from more than 40 student performance opportunities throughout the region, ranging from the main stage at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to Progressive Field, home of the Cleveland Indians,” Tougouma said. 

In addition to first-class attractions, a variety of dining options and accommodations round out an unforgettable trip to Cleveland. Destination Cleveland provides free group services to help tour operators and educators create an ideal package.

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Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

To enhance music curriculums for grades K–12, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s “Rockin’ the Schools” program puts a spin on music education with classes like “The Birth of Hip-Hop Culture” and “Shake, Rattle and Roll: The Building Blocks of Music.” Students also can grab a front-row seat to previous Induction Ceremonies in the Power of Rock Experience or “Voice Their Choice” for future Rock Hall Inductees in the new “Hall of Fame” exhibit.

University Circle

Groups can spend the day touring University Circle, the nation’s most concentrated square mile of art and cultural institutions. Budding arts aficionados can interact with masterpieces at the Cleveland Museum of Art or immerse in a performance by the world-renowned Cleveland Orchestra. History buffs can journey through the region’s past at the Cleveland History Center or go back in time to when dinosaurs roamed the earth at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

Great Lakes Science Center

Science, technology, engineering and math come together in interactive exhibits and demonstrations at the Great Lakes Science Center. Students can travel through space at the NASA Glenn Visitor Center, get hands-on with design and engineering in the Cleveland Creates Zone or engage with an augmented reality sandbox. From May through September, groups can learn about life on a Great Lakes freighter aboard the William G. Mather Steamship. 

Playhouse Square

At Playhouse Square, the largest performing arts center outside of New York City, student groups can experience a variety of performances, including the KeyBank Broadway Series, which includes a pre-show “Broadway Buzz” session. Backstage tours show how art and science combine to create a memorable performance. The world’s largest permanent outdoor chandelier is sure to dazzle students as they step off the motorcoach.

Greater Cleveland Aquarium

Located inside the FirstEnergy Powerhouse, a late 19th-century landmark that generated electric power for Cleveland’s streetcar lines, the aquarium offers a unique setting to learn about life under the sea. Students receive a hands-on learning experience with two interactive touch pools (one with stingrays and one with invertebrates). They can ask questions of deep-sea divers as they swim alongside sharks, stingrays and moray eels in a 230,000-gallon SeaTube.