Hey, I’m Amy, editor of Clevelandish! 🎉 Basically, I run around Northeast Ohio finding the best hidden gems, eats, and weird little stories—so you don’t have to. Subscribe and come along for the ride! 😊

But before we dive in…

I’m SO excited to announce that we’re now on YouTube! So if you’d prefer to listen to Clevelandish instead of straining your eyeballs, you can listen here. 😍

It would mean so much to us if you’d check it out and subscribe!

P.S. A little gratitude moment for our sponsor Wilson Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric, who makes sure Cleveland stays comfy, dry, and powered up. Legends only. 🔧❤️

🌿 5 Gorgeous Spring Day Trips Around Northeast Ohio 🚗🌷

Perfect for breezy weekends, camera rolls, and pretending your life is a pastel-hued indie film

This week’s theme is: get me outta here. If you’ve hit that point of the year where your skin is dry, your patience is drier, and you’ve memorized every square inch of your house—same. 😅

I’ve been craving a little adventure lately, nothing huge, just the kind where I’m home in time for takeout and some cheesy TV. So I rounded up 5 of the prettiest, most peaceful day trips in Northeast Ohio—perfect for shaking off the winter dust. 😎

These are all under 2 hours from Cleveland, packed with charm, and totally worth the drive. Plus, they each scratch a different itch: garden strolls, lakeside views, historic mansions, and tree-top trails. Take your pick (or do them all, like a very soft-core road trip). 🚗🙌

🧭 WEST: Marblehead Lighthouse + Latitude Cafe

Ottawa County

This place gives off total Main Character in a Sweater Commercial vibes. The lighthouse is the oldest one still operating on the Great Lakes (since 1822!), and it sits on these stunning, rocky cliffs where you can feel the wind and contemplate your life choices in a cinematic way.

Then head to the Latitude Cafe to snag a chorizo omelet.

💡 Don’t miss:

• The tiny museum inside the keeper’s house

• The charming downtown with ice cream, fudge, and antique shops

• Sitting on the rocks with coffee and pretending you live there

It’s simple, peaceful, and so photogenic it’s honestly rude. 🤣

🍃 SOUTHEAST: Mill Creek Park + The Mocha House Boardman

Youngstown

Start by grabbing a bite of cheesecake the size of your head at The Mocha House in Boardman, then drive up through the park starting at the South End.

Mill Creek Park is one of Ohio’s biggest hidden gems. You get waterfalls, hiking trails, a fancy rose garden, and even a historic bridge that looks like it came out of a fairy tale.

💡 Top spots to explore:

• Lanterman’s Mill (it actually works!)

• The Suspension Bridge (aka Cinderella Bridge)

• Fellows Riverside Gardens—gorgeous all year, but spring is next level

It’s part forest, part English garden, and very good for the soul. Also great for: toddlers burning energy, or grandparents who want to sit and smell flowers. 10/10 no notes. 👌

🏰 SOUTH: Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens + Luigi’s

Akron

If you’ve never been to Stan Hywet, stop what you’re doing and go. It’s a massive Tudor Revival estate built in the early 1900s by the guy who co-founded Goodyear, and it feels like stepping into Downton Abbey—but with fewer corsets and more blooming tulips.

Then finish off the day with a baked pasta, a slice of pizza, and a mountain of cheese at Luigi’s - Akron’s most iconic restaurant.

💡 Things to love:

• The acres of epic gardens

• The 2,700 sq ft music room (my entire house could fit inside)

• The nooks & crannies tour (perfect if you want to really go in-depth and see exclusive sections closed to the public after your normal tour)

There’s also a little outdoor café if you want to sip an iced tea like you own the place. It's giving "quiet luxury" before that was a thing.

🌲 EAST: Holden Arboretum + Biga Wood Fired Pizza

Kirtland

Okay, this one is a full-body exhale. Holden is where you go when you want to disappear into the trees for a bit—but like, in a chill, meditative way (not a "she went missing" way). Then grab some mouth-watering pizza at Biga!

💡 Must-dos:

• Walk the Emergent Tower for a 360° forest view

• The Canopy Walk, suspended 65 feet in the air

• The lilac garden in spring—it smells insane in the best way

It’s peaceful and lush and you’ll absolutely leave with a new screensaver photo and a better mood. Maybe even a new personality. 🪻

🦚 SOUTH: Kingwood Center Gardens + Coney Island Diner

Mansfield

Surprise peacocks. I repeat: surprise peacocks. Kingwood is a historic French-inspired estate turned public garden, and yes, the peacocks just wander around like they own the joint.

And just so you don’t get too big for your britches, you can finish off the day with biscuits and gravy at Coney Island Diner.

💡 Favorites here:

• The formal gardens—symmetry, blooms, and fountains

• A low-key art gallery and café

• Strolling the grounds like you’re the heiress to a tulip fortune

It’s smaller and quieter than Stan Hywet, but just as elegant in its own way—less grand, more Pinterest spring picnic. Plus, again, the peacocks.

📸 So here’s your spring challenge:

Pick one, pack snacks, and go wander. Whether you’re in the mood for lighthouses, castles, or cloud-gazing in a fancy garden, Northeast Ohio has the vibes. 🙌

I’ll be over here googling “how to legally adopt a peacock” and trying to find my picnic blanket. 🧺🦚

xo,
Amy

Pastry Perfection and Staying Power 💪🍰

An Interview with Joe Holmes, Corporate Pastry Chef for Good Company

Enjoying this article? Click here to read the rest!

This week’s dish is a total showstopper from The Mocha House in Boardman – a massive slice of California cheesecake that’s almost as big as my head!

Topped with a colorful burst of fresh kiwi, strawberries, and peaches, and sitting on a sweet layer of cake at the bottom, it’s the perfect blend of creamy, fruity, and decadent. Trust me, you won’t regret taking a bite (or two… or three)!

Just be warned, you’ll be shocked at the portion size, so bring a friend. 🤣