Spend the Day in Willoughby
Stay in an award-winning bed and breakfast, channel your inner artist and support local in Willoughby, Ohio. The historic downtown has become a destination for unique shops, delicious food and a lively nightlife with a beautiful lakefront just a few miles away. Consider adding Willoughby to your “must visit” list so you can experience everything it has to offer.
The downtown district of Willoughby is full of boutiques for all of your shopping needs. If you’re looking to change your style, A Bit of Skirt has everything to make the world your runway. Stop into Elite Repeats for vintage pieces or go thrifting at It’s So You. Support women-owned businesses and brands at Yogi’s Closet. Siopa Boutique offers trendy pieces to update your closet as well as home decor and gifts. For more home decor, visit Etc. on Erie for wall decor, mirrors, hand-made jewelry and more. Blue Lake Botanicals offers high-quality, handcrafted products from local, organic and wildcrafted herbs to reimagine self-care and wellness. Don’t forget something for your furry friend! Barktown Willoughby is a specialty dog boutique with both useful items and fun toys for you and your pup. Looking for one-of-a-kind artwork for your home? GV Art + Design is renowned for its Etch-a-Sketch artworks and prints as well as apparel. For handcrafted pottery, wall art, glassware and jewelry, Finestra Gallery showcases artist-made products for you, your home or a special gift. Many of Willoughby’s boutiques have joined forces to form Shop DTW, a collaboration among merchants to create fun experiences and events, including Second Saturdays, sidewalk sales and festive events in downtown Willoughby.
Embrace your artistic side at Stella’s Art Gallery. Peruse and purchase local artwork during Second Fridays or enroll in a class, workshop or demonstration to create your own — from digital painting and needle felting to drawing and pottery, there is a class for everyone. Stella’s also offers creative party hosting for celebrations, fundraisers, corporate team building events and more at the studio or at your own location. For bigger crowds, host your own art show, party or meeting at the Annex Gallery or Stella’s Gallery & Event Space. The Fine Arts Association provides opportunities to enjoy live theater and concerts in Willoughby, near Cleveland, Ohio. The performance season runs from September to June, but they offer concerts, theater and special events throughout the year.
Bask in Willoughby’s beautiful scenery at two Lake Metroparks. Hike over 2 miles of trails winding through dense shrubs, forest and wetland areas at Chagrin River Park. Here you’ll find many opportunities to see wildlife, including sandpipers, salamanders, frogs, blue heron and ducks. Enjoy a range of active fun from fishing and canoe/kayak access to bridle trails and sports. Reconnect with nature at Gully Brook Park — a 177-acre haven that protects a valley, stream, wetland and forest. Explore the park on more than a mile of hiking trails through hemlock forest and ravines, and keep an eye out for winter wrens, chickadees and an abundance of native flora. There are many ways to explore Willoughby and the rest of Lake County’s scenery. Hike on a trail or take a stroll in a park, or use the waterways to explore the county on the Grand River Water Trail.
If you’ve worked up an appetite, grab a bite and a cold pint at Pulpo Beer Co. Crafting beers inspired by the owners’ Latin heritage, this brewery is located inside a two story, dual restaurant concept. Savor wood fired tacos at Hola Tacos on the first floor or head upstairs to indulge in Latin American food and cocktails on the rooftop patio at Barroco Arepa Bar. Enjoy a Pulpo brew like the Blonde Mamacita or Tropical Thunder in the restaurant or taproom. Lift your spirits at Lake Erie Distillery with their handcrafted liquors using locally sourced ingredients and sample the infamous Dill Pickle Vodka. Part of the Northern Ohio Distillery Passport, this distillery offers a bit of everything from vodka to bourbon — their seasonal whiskeys, ghost and winter, are not to be missed! Stop into the bottle shop, enjoy a spirit tasting on weekends or take a tour of the distillery on Saturday afternoons.
Downtown Willoughby also offers a lively nightlife scene with a variety of bars and restaurants within walking distance. Enjoy the small town feel with big city vibes. Discover the live entertainment, patio bars, upscale dining and many local bar crawls and events.
Spend the night at the ball park in Eastlake, just 2 miles away, where you can take in a baseball game at Lake County Captains Classic Park. The Lake County Captains, the High-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians, plays teams from all over the Midwest during the season. Try the pulled pork nachos, a local favorite, during home games held April to September.
Top off your trip and treat yourself to a luxurious stay at Homestead House, a nationally ranked bed and breakfast perfectly situated in the Historic District of Willoughby. The beautifully restored 1884 Italianate Victorian home is within walking distance of restaurants, antique shops and plenty more to do. Check in to one of the five decadent rooms complete with hand-carved Victorian beds, Jacuzzi tubs and fireplaces. Each morning, their talented French-trained chef whips up two- to three-course breakfasts featuring organic products and local produce. Trust us, it’s a meal you won’t soon forget.