National Geographic’s “Traveler” magazine has named Cleveland as one of its “2018 Best of the World” destinations – its annual list of the 21 must-see places to visit this year. Top picks are selected in three key categories – Cities, Culture and Nature – and Cleveland is listed under the Culture category.
The list featured our Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – noting that it “adds character to the Cleveland skyline.” Visitors are advised to go now to “celebrate an industrial city’s revival.”
It continues by saying that “Cleveland rocks” – “on stage in the eight theaters on Playhouse Square, at indie-music venue Beachland Ballroom, and in hip meat-lovers’ restaurants like the Black Pig and The Plum. Visitors are encouraged to “Shop and stroll in the revived Hingetown neighborhood and Waterloo Arts District.”
According to George Stone, National Geographic Traveler’s editor in chief, “The No. 1 question we get from our 9.6 million readers is, ‘Where should I go next?’ Our ‘Best of the World’ list responds to that question with 21 timely destinations that make for a year of transformative travels.”
“With 15 international editions, National Geographic Traveler has a global team of writers, photographers and travel experts who helped build our list and report on these stellar places,” Stone continued.
“We looked for cities that bustle with new energy and intrigue; parklands that percolate with vitality and ecological protection; and communities rich in local character that offer opportunities for cultural engagement. Packed with surprise, humor and relevance, our list advances our National Geographic mission to explore, conserve and share unforgettable stories about the best of our world,” he concluded.
Cleveland.com reports that David Gilbert, president and CEO of Destination Cleveland, welcomed the praise. "It's a very important affirmation," he said. "You don't land on a list like this by accident… It's particularly meaningful that the magazine included Cleveland on its Culture list – alongside Vienna, Austria; Sydney, Australia; and Harar, Ethiopia.”
National Geographic Traveler (six issues per year) is the world’s most widely-read travel magazine and has 15 international editions.
Rock on, CLE!
