Euclid, OH

Euclid remains a city steeped in dynamic traditions and diversity. Distinctive neighborhoods and respected businesses rank as a few of the reasons that residents stay in the area. The city was officially established in 1930 during the Great Depression. The sense of determination has not left locals and can be felt throughout the area.

The city was once the site of a big housing boom in the 1970s, which has dwindled in subsequent years. Fortunately, the presence of new businesses has re-energized the atmosphere, turning it into an attraction for parks and dining.

Free parades and festivals make up much of the warmer-month entertainments. The Euclid Wind Festival remains a popular annual event created to strengthen the community. Held in the summertime, the event has an innovative focus, celebrating all things wind. Activities include a pinwheel garden, live woodwind music and racing paper sailboats in the park fountain.

The area may not be home to the youngest population, but that doesn't mean that it isn't drawing them in. Independent dining options are not hard to come by, such as Paragon. The casually modern restaurant and bar serves contemporary updates on American fare, including braised short-rib sliders and pomegranate mojitos. The side-alley bar and expertly stirred martinis give off a vintage vibe.

Stick's Pub and Grill, at Briardale Greens Golf Course in the center of Euclid, provides golfers and non-golfers alike a place to gather for classic breakfast, lunch and dinner specials. Homemade ribs and Italian buffets rank as the patrons' favorite way to celebrate after a successful day on the greens. In the summer, the spacious outdoor patio remains a popular spot to sip a cold one.

Head to Lakeshore Boulevard for a peaceful meal at the Beach Club Bistro. This small restaurant cooks up a large assortment of gourmet pizzas, including the seafood pizza, a local favorite. The impressive wine bar at the Beach Club Bistro sells a solid selection of wines at all price levels.

Nightclubs and late-night entertainment options are practically non-existent, with the local dive bar, Trade Winds on East 185th, being one of the only establishments hosting a strictly bar atmosphere. Cheap beer, a jukebox and a continuous string of strangers make this venue a place for extroverts and the brave.

The best way to get around Euclid remains by car or bus. Euclid sits near the junction of Interstate 90, Interstate 271 and Ohio Route 2, providing easy access to downtown Cleveland, Lake County, and most the Eastern suburbs.

Taxis provide a possibility; however it is a good idea to call ahead for one as they are not easy to come by on the street, although Uber services the area. Street and lot parking remains readily available and (most of the time) free.

Residents sometimes choose bus transportation, as the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority runs several bus routes for those without a vehicle or looking for a hassle-free commute into Cleveland. While car and bus are the preferred method of transit, many residential streets in the area are walkable. You don't find many bicyclists and hardly any lanes to use for transportation. Hit one of the public park paths for a safe bike ride.

Over 13 neighborhood parks cover the city, including playgrounds, baseball diamonds and basketball courts. In addition, the Euclid recreation department maintains five public pools and an ice arena.

Two free public beaches inhabit the city and attract visitors for the wide range of activities they provide. Kenneth J. Sims Park. Sims Park houses one, along with a 2500foot long pier equipped with benches for people to sit and fish. Euclid Creek Reservation, part of the Cleveland Metroparks remains popular for outdoor enthusiasts. Once the site of the famous Euclid Beach Amusement Park, it now features a 650-foot beach with shaded picnic areas, an observation pier and a rentable pavilion. Though the original park closed in 1969, signs of the past, such as a shuffleboard area, remnants of the beachside fountain and concrete footers of a roller coaster, are still visible. For leisure or high-energy exercise, the parks in Euclid are perfect for joggers, families spending time with their children or a casual dog walk.

Throughout the city, flower and produce gardens pop up, tended by local gardeners making use of vacant plots of land. While not a park, Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine provides an outdoor sanctuary, housing a grotto with holy water and plenty of green space.

Affordable starter homes on tree-lined streets along with waterfront homes and basic apartments provide housing options for every budget. Living costs are a bit lower than the national average, running an average of $588 a month for rent. At your local bar, expect to pay $3 for domestic beer. In a car-dominant town, gas prices come in lower than the national average, a perk all the way around.

You don’t find trendy boutiques or high-end stores in Euclid, and the only mall in the area exists in a distant memory. However, well-known and loved shops, such as Tuthill Florist, known for their ever popular corsages and centerpiece arrangements, are mainstays. Traditional barber shops, such as Mansi’s Barber, regularly greet locals that have been going to the establishments religiously for years. Euclid Fish Company holds a reputation throughout Lake and Cuyahoga County as the premier place to score the ultimate clambake kits. What you don’t find in flair, you make up for in character when it comes to retail options in this eclectic town.

Not known for an abundance of farmers markets or high-end grocery stores, residents utilize a Daves Supermarket along with affordable staples, such as Marc's and Save-A-Lots Foods.