• Estimated Time: 3–4 hours

• Travel Components: America's Byway

• Special Interest: Adults

• Starting Point: Cuyahoga County

• Ending Point: Cuyahoga County

• Cost: Market finds, tour is free

• Submitted By: Nancy Desmond, Ohio & Erie Canalway Interpretive Coordinator

Pack up an empty cooler with ice on Saturday around noon and head for the West Side Market, located on the Ohio & Erie Canalway America’s Byway.

Explore the beautiful architecture of this 1912 building — located at the corner of W. 25th and Lorain in this Ohio City neighborhood — while you savor the busy sights and sounds of Cleveland’s oldest publicly owned market.

Ethnic foods, fresh baked goods and locally grown meat are available for purchase. Stock up your cooler for the week, but don’t eat too much because your adventure isn’t over!

Across W. 25th Street (Pearl Road) on Market Avenue is the Great Lakes Brewing Company. They’ve revived a German brewing tradition that was very much alive in our city of Cleveland before prohibition.

A free public brewery tour starts at 1 p.m. on Saturdays, so join one and check out the brewing process while learning about the history of the site and the sustainable practices employed by this socially responsible company.

After the tour, it’s time to sample the beer and the excellent food. The Burning River Pale Ale is a nice choice and puts a wry spin on our past history while Great Lakes Brewing does much to support environmental initiatives in Cleveland. Much of the food is locally sourced and sustainably produced. Enjoy!

Visitor Tip: Before you go, register online for the free public brewery tours. Some walk-in slots may be available, but your best bet is online sign-up. Tours take place hourly Fri. 5–9 p.m. and Sat. 1–8 p.m.

Great Lakes Brewing Company
2516 Market Ave., Cleveland 44113

West Side Market
1979 West 25th St., Cleveland 44113
Open Mon. and Wed. 7 a.m.–4 p.m. and Friday–Saturday 7 a.m.–6 p.m.