You can't get much more rockin' than the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland. The Arbz made the pilgrimage last fall (ROCKtober, to be precise) to the holy land of rock history and left with an even deeper appreciation and knowledge of rock (as if that was even possible!).
What To Check Out At The Hall!
The Hall of Fame & Museum is an amazing place. There are exhibits ranging from current, modern rock all the way to the roots of rock n roll music. My favorite part of the museum is the exhibit room divided into timelines of rock n roll - most notably, the 90's section on the Seattle music scene! (Unfortunately, the museum prohibits ALL types of photography, even cameras without flash, otherwise there would be TONS of photos to go along with this).
(photo courtesy of rockhall.com) The grunge section features incredible, one of a kind pieces, including the claymation figures for Alice In Chains' "I Stay Away" video, featured below.
There is also an absolutely adorable school photo of Chris Cornell in addition to several Soundgarden posters and guitars. You'll also find lyrics to several Alice In Chains songs and Jerry Cantrell's softball jersey from Rock N Jock, in addition to Chris Cornell's boots. There are some other cool pieces from Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Tad and Mother Love Bone.
There is also a running presentation in one of the theatres acknowledging all inductees. The exit ramp (or entrance ramp since we went in that way!) is enclosed by a dark black wall with electronic signatures of every band member and inductee.
(photo courtesy of rockhall.com)If you want to sit down and take a break, I recommend watching the feature. We snuck in at the last part to see the inductions of Van Halen, Metallica and AC/DC.
Some other highlights in the museum include:
- Display of pieces from the current year's inductees. We got to see some great Metallica pieces, including one of Kirk's guitars, a black tshirt and jeans ensemble from Jason, and a heartbreaking letter from a European fan to Cliff Burton's family following his death.
- Jimi Hendrix childhood artwork. Many of the pieces are on the backside of school papers and Hendrix's love of football is evident in his many football drawings.
- Jim Morrison exhibit. His report card (mostly A's and a few B's) along with birth certificate andother documents are showcased, including this school paper:
(photo courtesy of rockhall.com)
There are seasonal and limited exhibits at the museum, so if you're looking for something specific I recommend checking the website to check run dates.
Much like a baseball fan's trip to Cooperstown, all rock fans must visit the Hall of Fame at least once in their lifetime. However, plan your trip accordingly. While researching the Cleveland area, The Arbz did not find too much to do outside of their main journey. If you're planning on making this a day trip, then you're all set. You can spend at least 3 or 4 hours in the museum, reading and admiring all the artifacts on display. If you plan on making a multi-day trip to CLE, then be prepared (two day passes to the Hall are also available).
The time of year can be crucial to planning your trip. While The Arbz were not expecting amazing weather for an October weekend in Cleveland, we were also not expecting rain/snow and high winds with 40 degree temperatures. That put a bit of a damper on our adventures, especially without a car to get around. Luckily, we had planned our vacation around a concert at the Quicken Loans Arena in downtown - Metallica, baby!
I strongly suggest that if you don't find anything super exciting to do while you plan on being in Cleveland, definitely plan your trip around a concert. That's the ultimate rock vacation! There is an amusement park nearby and several seasonal attractions, but if you want to stay busy in the off seasons, definitely look for a concert. There is also a House of Blues on East 4th Street, which is a cool street closed off to traffic and filled with a variety of bars and clubs.
Unless you find a wide variety of options in the Cleveland area (or if you have a car and are planning to venture out of the area), The Rock Hall is a perfect weekend getaway. There are great hotel options on Expedia and Hotwire, where The Arbz got a great deal on the Crowne Plaza . I highly suggest the Crowne Plaza as well - the Hall is a 10 minute walk north and the Arena/House of Blues/East 4th street area is a 10 minute walk south. There's not too much around the hotel itself, but is still a great, centrally-located option and highly recommended!
The Arbz love food nearly as much as rock n roll. Some great places to try while in Cleveland include Vincenza's Pizza (amazing, cheesy thin crust pizza!) and Flannery's (just steps away from the arena).
If you're not getting a car and want to save on cab fare, take the RTA from Hopkins Airport into Tower City in downtown for about $2. From there you can catch a bus or cab to your hotel. Heading home, The Arbz decided to walk from the hotel to Tower City and the walk took less than 15 minutes and was manageable even with a duffel bag and backpack.
As with any vacation, it's only as great as you make it. Find the best time for you to go, and make the most of it. The Arbz were a bit under the weather during the vacation, but luckily our comfortable hotel room and great company made the trip a fun time.
Rock Essentials
Keep these facts in mind when planning your trip!
Adult admission: $22 (check out AAA for membership discounts)
Hours: 10a-5pm (best to get there early and take your time, or head over after an early lunch)
Check the official guide from the HOF to help plan your trip here!
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is located at 1100 Rock and Roll Blvd, Cleveland, Ohio 44114
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