Booking Checklist
Book Soho Chicken + Whiskey urgent
Friday dinner — fills fast. sohocleveland.com or call (216) 298-9090. Request for Fri May 8, ~6:30pm.
Book Teddy Baldassarre appointment urgent
teddybaldassarre.com — Sat May 9, 11am slot. Saturday appointments go fast.
Book Airbnb in Westlake or Bay Village
Search "Westlake OH" or "Bay Village OH". Need 2 beds, May 8–10. Budget $150–250/night.
Book flights — SFO → CLE (both)
Aim for Fri May 8 landing by 4pm ET. Return Sun May 10, depart 3pm+ for comfortable margins.
Rental car at CLE
Need it for the full weekend. Westlake ↔ Cuyahoga = 35 min drive. Book in advance for best rates.
Send link: hrajendra.github.io/cle-trip-2026 — works on his phone offline after first visit.
Packing List
Clothing
Hiking shoes (trail-ready, broken in)
Casual layers — May in CLE is 55–70°F
Rain jacket
One dinner-casual outfit
Socks (extra hiking pairs)
Comfortable walking shoes
Gear & Tech
Phone + charger
Portable battery pack
Earbuds / headphones
Camera (optional)
Daypack / small bag for hikes
Sunglasses
Essentials
ID + credit card
Cash (~$100 for tips/parking)
Sunscreen & chapstick
Ibuprofen / basic meds
Water bottle (refillable)
Trail snacks for hikes
Arrival — Friday May 8
At CLE Airport
Land at Cleveland Hopkins (CLE). Pick up the rental car — it's all one terminal, easy to navigate. Takes 15–20 min from wheels-down to car.
Drive to the Airbnb to drop bags — Westlake is ~20 min west of the airport on I-90.
Getting to Soho Chicken + Whiskey
4211 Lorain Ave, Ohio City — about 20 min east from Westlake. Park on Lorain Ave or nearby side streets (usually free evenings).
📌 Reservation is essential. Confirm the booking a day before as a reminder.
After Dinner → The Whiskey Bar
2767 Euclid Heights Blvd, Cleveland Heights — 15 min from Soho. Open until 2am Fridays. This is the scotch night — The Whiskey Bar is closed Sundays, so Friday is the right call.
Plan a rideshare (Uber/Lyft) back to the Airbnb from here — don't drive after a scotch flight.
Jet Lag Tip (SFO → CLE)
Wed–Thu
Try going to bed 1–2 hrs earlier than usual. 3-hour time difference (ET is ahead).
Goal: feel sharp for 8:30am Saturday hike start.
Friday
Early flight recommended — arrive by 4pm gives buffer before dinner at 6:30.
Stay up until 11pm ET to lock in the time zone.
Saturday
Alarm at 7:30am. Brandywine Falls starts at 8:30 — early start beats the crowds.
Brew coffee before heading out, there's no good café near the trailhead.