Though its slogan is "Cleveland rocks!", locals say this city's actually all about sports: Indians baseball, Browns football, and Cavaliers basketball. But sports mania aside, this city still has—and probably always will have—a great live music scene. It's the home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as well as the Cleveland Agora, where everyone from Springsteen to the Ramones has played. There's a great bar scene by the river, as well as in the Tremont area. And fans say local station WMMS still ranks as one of the best rock stations ever.

Insiders' favorite year-round activities include dining out in Little Italy and shopping at Crocker Park or Legacy Village. In summer, people head out to the islands: Catawba, Marblehead, Kelleys Island, and Put-in Bay. A fave summertime hangout is Whiskey Island, an outdoor bar along the lakeshore where the Cuyahoga River meets Lake Erie.