Day Tripper Heads to Cleveland for Some Rock 'n Roll

“Take those old records off the shelf...”

If you're like me, you'll be singing every old rock-and-roll song you can think of while driving to Cleveland to visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.

Cleveland is a little more than a two-hour drive from the greater Pittsburgh area. It's an easy drive, too, certainly easy enough for any music lover who wants to visit the museum for a fun-packed day.

My daughter, Eliza, and I went to the museum on a girl’s holiday, just the two of us. Even though we are a generation apart, we were both excited for our visit.

The museum is a 150,000 square-foot building with seven floors dedicated to the history and story of rock and roll music. There are five theaters and the exhibits change, so even if you have been there before, you can visit again and see something new and exciting.

We loved the “featured collections” – the eclectic belongings of famous musicians. Items on display include not only the clothing, musical instruments and original lyrics you would expect but also old report cards, correspondence and even the cars of famous musicians.

I’m not one to get awestruck, but the Beatles exhibit was particularly enjoyable. John Lennon’s glasses, Paul McCartney’s famous collarless jacket and two guitars, one belonging to Lennon and the other to George Harrison, were among the collection. For me, there was something fun about seeing the everyday items of these rock icons.

We also enjoyed trying to figure out who had the bigger waist – my tiny daughter or Prince after we saw his pants on display. Both of us wanted a ride in Elvis Presley’s purple convertible, which made our little, red Chevy pale in comparison.

One of the biggest attractions of the museum is the Hall of Fame where famous musicians have been inducted over the years. The 2012 nominees have just been announced, and the inductees will be chosen in a few weeks. Eliza is voting for the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

The real reason to go to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is for the history. Even those who don’t like history will enjoy learning more about the Beatles, U2 or, my personal favorites, Hall and Oats. The museum also has educational programming for schools.

The films also are worth a view. Right now, the ever-popular U2 3-D movie is playing (there is an extra fee for the film) along with several others. Check the website for current offerings before you head to Cleveland.

Before you end your visit, stop in the gift shop. There is a wide variety of super-fun items. and it's a great place to start your holiday gift buying.

While you're in town, you might also want to visit West Side Market, Cleveland’s famous food market. The historic market has limited hours, but they will have extended holiday times kicking in soon. Check their website before you visit.

There are aisles and aisles of booths offering an incredible variety of food including cheeses, meats, delicious pastries and things that I have never seen or heard of before. It's also a great place to stop before the drive back to Pittsburgh to stock up on munchies for the ride home.