Patty was a very good guide. We had a group outing for one of the December tours about the historic hotels of downtown CLE. It was a seasonal holiday tour and the city was sparkling. They provided us with hot chocolate and cookies at the start of the tour, as well as a complimentary gift to choose from several options. I picked a tumbler with the Take a Hike logo. You also get a drink coupon for the bar at the Arcade to use after the tour or at another date. What a great touch! For a little over 30 bucks, you get a 90 minute tour, which I think is probably pretty close to the national average for a walking tour, especially considering it comes with some swag. We had a special guest, Mr. Schofield, who acted in character and told us a bit of history about one of the stops, which was a clever touch. The only suggestion I have is to have a warming stop or two in the middle of the tour. (We did have one, but that was close to the end of the tour.) I love learning the history, but honestly by the last stop I was kind of checked out because it was so cold. I would love to come back in the summer. Patty told us the summer tours are free! They also have a passport program where you collect stamps for each tour you take and can earn prizes and stuff. What a great concept! read more

See all

It's difficult to rate this, since it's a free tour. But it did not meet my expectations at all. My family and I went on a Statue tour downtown on a Sunday morning. There was an older male who was our tour guide. Now, I've been on several other city tours before, both in Cleveland and other cities, so I've seen a wide range. This tour wasn't my favorite, and I wouldn't recommend it. Our tour guide was pretty arrogant. Instead of trying to impress us with the history of our city, he tried to prove he was superior by all the things he's done. Okay? Like idc, pal ! He wasn't open to any questions, requests, or feedback of any kind. It was his tour and he did things his way, and that was THAT! No engagement whatsoever. The "facts" were really just one generic sentence written from a page. (Other tour companies provide stories about what we're seeing, you know, like history!) At the end of our tour though, there was a man who played Tom Johnson who was PHENOMENAL though. He should be the one giving all the tours !!!! read more

Once again the Free Tours by Foot did not disappoint. These tours are such a great resource for visitors to Cleveland and residents of the area. Every time I take a tour I learn so much. The Erie Street Cemetery tour is shorter than the other tours at 45 minutes and from past experience there was not as much walking. The tour can be done over a lunch break. There is street parking on a side street near the cemetery. Our tour had approximately 35 people, so it was well attended. Even with that large a group there was no problem hearing. The tour guide had a voice amplifier. The tour guide clearly had done a lot of research on the topic of the cemetery and individuals buried there. It was heartbreaking to see such a historical place in such disrepair. This is a not to miss tour. I can't tell you how many times I have driven by the cemetery and not given it a second thought. It is rich with history and worth the trip. Make sure to make reservations online before arriving for tour. read more

See all

Love the University-Wade Circle area. Our guide was very knowledge and entertaining. We did a lot of walking in the summer heat, and that was okay. That's what Take a Hike is all about. We learned about the area's history, about Jeptha Wade who donated the land for cultural and educational purposes. We learned about the buildings and how the area has changed. We saw trendy places, and a home from the Civil War era. Our hike took two hours. We were in a large group. Do this on Saturday mornings at 10 in nice weather. read more

This greater Cleveland area is a wonderful area in which to live and work, and as I acquire clients who move here from other areas, I encourage them to contact me if they are looking for things to do, places to see, restaurants/stores to patronize, etc. Because of my work schedule (self-imposed for the most part, so I can only complain so much), I get out much less than I should or would like to. Last Tuesday, I decided to punch out at 5pm and go with my assistant on a Take A Hike tour (we took one several years ago, and had grand plans to do all five, but had not followed through). Take A Hike began nine years ago, and five tours are offered - we had already taken the Playhouse Square tour (this one happens on Thursdays at 6pm), and this being a Tuesday, we reported to the Old Stone Church for the Civic Center tour. Tip: If you find a parking spot on the street, put enough coinage into the meter to pay until 6pm; thereafter, parking is free. The hike (it's really more of a stroll) takes about 1 1/2 hours, so wear comfortable shoes, and in warmer weather, take a bottle of water, sunglasses, and your curiosity. Elise, our guide, told us about the Veteran's Memorial Plaza, Board of Ed building (now the Drury Hotel), Public Auditorium (venue for Beatles and Rolling Stones concerts and poultry fairs and the like), Cleveland Civic Center, Cleveland Public Library, Cleveland Convention Center, Cuyahoga County Courthouse, and the Global Center for Health Innovation (medical mart). Along the way, actors playing architect Daniel Burnham and Browns coach Paul Brown gave us more in-depth historical insights; I was inspired to some reading later that evening and find out why the train station ended up in Terminal Tower rather than the north side of the Cleveland Group Plan, what existed in the space before then, and how it affected not only Cleveland, but also the communities outside the city. Many of us in the group were disappointed that the tour took us close to, but stopped short of the Free Stamp. Elise did give a good account of the creation, rejection, storage, and relocation of the piece, though, and of course we all had the option of hoofing back there at the conclusion of the tour. Like so many good things in Cleveland, Take A Hike tours are free (donations are graciously accepted), and I learned that well-behaved dogs are welcome, too, so I may opt to bring Waldo for the next tour (each time I leave him at home, he gives me this "what did I do wrong?" look as I walk out the door). read more

See all

I can't believe it took me this long to take a "Take A Hike" tour! Honestly, what have I been doing / thinking? Wednesday last, my beau and I decided to finally go on one of these tours. The Wednesday tour meets at the State Theatre lobby where they quickly directed us to head over to the Allen Theatre. (Note: Look for the people in bright yellow "Take A Hike" tour shirts!) You sign in and they hand you a sticker to put on your person so they know you're participating. The tour is a WALKING tour, so please keep that in mind when making your shoe selection and wear something comfortable. I'd recommend you also take some water with you. This tour moves and in the summer you want to stay hydrated. The Playhouse Square District tour was awesome! It lasted approximately 1.5 hours and our docent was fabulous! She had a small personal amplification system to help her be heard. Occasionally, across the din of sirens, motorcycles, and traffic I lost some of what was said, but overall she was very clearly understood. I learned so much about the history of Cleveland's Playhouse Square District, buildings present and buildings gone. The docent provided a bevy of information and stories to keep the tour interesting for young and old alike. She provided current developments and information too, for example how the Halle building was sold for $22 million dollars and will soon be converted to residences. We were greeted by two actors on our trek and they provided a lively interruption to our docent-guided hike with personalized stories of Cleveland's great past. At the end of our Hike surveys were passed around to be turned in or mailed in and donations to the Take A Hike group were accepted. (No Tips!) The tour is FREE, so please be generous with your donations. This was a surprising gem of an event and from previous experiences in other cities where I've spent upwards of $50 per tour ticket, this is truly something special to Cleveland. I was wowed by how great this Hike was and would love to take all of them. Tours are typically beginning at 6pm on weekdays and vary in location depending on day of the week, and weekend tours begin at 10am. Hurry and go! These tours are May16-Sept 16 this year. read more

Had to write an update after another fantastic experience with Take a Hike. I went on the Canal Basin Park tour a few weeks ago and was so impressed. Our tour guide shared a wealth of eye-opening information about the history of the river and future plans for a public park in the Canal Basin. Perfect (free!) way to spend a summer Sunday morning in the CLE! read more

I went on the tour of the University Circle area today (Sept 8,2018) and was very pleased. Our guide, Bob, was knowledgeable and pleasant. The area is beautiful and learning about Jeptha Wade was a great way to enjoy it and get information and other Cleveland movers and shakers. The length of the tour was good although I could have happily spent more time. Having an actor interpreter talk about Adella Prentiss Hughes, Founder of the Musical Arts Association, at Severance Hall was a nice touch, too. I highly recommend this and other Take A Hike tours read more