Behind the Scenes of The Bachelor: Cleveland, Ohio

The Bachelor fans and contestants alike love to see the producers choose exciting locations for the show to film. Exotic beaches, large yachts, snowy mountain peaks, water so clear you can see the sand on the bottom. These are the mental images we form when Chris Harrison is about to announce a new destination. I for one am always stoked to know where they are headed for the week. Well, I was watching The Bachelor, and it was time to reveal the first location for Peter’s season. Chris announced, “Ladies it’s time to pack up! The first stop on this amazing journey that will take us literally around the world will begin in a city full of art, culture, and rock-and-roll. Peter’s gonna meet you in Cleveland, Ohio. ” 

The faces on the contestants were more than telling of their emotions. 

They appear to hold the perfect blend of surprise, disappointment and confusion. Like, really? We made it on national television on an iconic reality tv show and all we get is Cleveland? 

To any Clevelander, this reaction is understandable yet still offensive. I am Cleveland born-and-raised, and in my personal opinion, it’s exceptionally overlooked. Sure, The Bachelor touched some of the main points. Cleveland is a huge sports community (our fans are so loyal because they’ve been through so much disappointment) so having Peter and the girls hit the Browns stadium was a solid choice. However, the amusement park Cedar Point is located in Sandusky, Ohio. This is over an hour away from downtown. 

To me, some of the Cleveland staples are the beautiful skylines, the amazing food and being right on the Shore of Lake Erie. 

It wouldn’t be a Cleveland skyline picture if you weren’t taking it in front of one of the six Cleveland signs. These are scattered about the city, located at East 9th, Edgewater Park, The Foundry, Abbey Avenue, Euclid Beach and the airport. I am proud to say that I have been to all of these. Are you really from Cleveland if you haven’t? 

Another important aspect of Cleveland is the food scene. Locally-owned restaurants, such as Barrio, are a weekend favorite. Their tacos and queso hit quite different. Additionally, favorites such as Mitchell’s and Malley’s Ice Cream are fun stops to hit. The variety and quality are what set Cleveland food apart. 

Finally, Cleveland is located right below the coast of Lake Erie. During the warmer times of the year, a lot of fun surrounds the water. Activities such as sand volleyball, boating, tubing, swimming, paddle-boarding and tanning take place on the wonderful shores of Lake Erie. Tubing is definitely my personal favorite—especially when the person driving the boat is trying to fling you off the whole time. 

It’s so weird to get an outside perspective of what people think of Cleveland now that I’m at Notre Dame. People definitely think it’s overrated. Two of my friends from Notre Dame came home with me for Thanksgiving Break and I did my best to give them an authentic Cleveland experience. I’m pretty sure they enjoyed their time. However, no one loves Cleveland as much as Clevelanders love Cleveland, and I think that is just a fact I will have to accept. The Land ’til I die. 

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