Lifestyles
Quality of Life
Cleveland, Charleston and Bradley County, Tennessee has much to offer – from millennials to retirees. Our community’s spirit mixes a bustling small-city feeling with progressive business, thriving industry, excellent healthcare, quality schools and a wealth of culture all in the heart of the Ocoee Region. Here we respect nature, take pride in a job well done, get to know our neighbors and live a balanced life; to make living in our community unlike anywhere else.
We have plenty to do for outdoor enthusiasts and for those interested in more intellectual or cultural pursuits. We offer high-end dining and inexpensive but tasty eateries. And after dinner you can stroll on our Greenway or plan a Saturday drive through some of the most picturesque scenery anywhere.
Yes, we are a community with heart and spirit, reflecting hometown pride, sharing resources, extending kindness, displaying devotion to where we live and work. We are willing to work to create the ideal place to call home, whether it’s home for your family or home for your business. After you have experienced the spirit of our community, we think you will want to stay.
Churches
Cleveland and Bradley County have over 250 churches representing most denominations.
Civic Clubs and Organizations
Over 60 clubs and organizations are active in the Bradley County area. A listing of clubs, times and places of meetings is available at the Chamber office or online at www.clevelandchamber.com.
Culture
Considered a cultural center since the opening of Craigmiles Hall in the 1870’s, Cleveland offers a diversity of performing arts groups and arts-related activities. Concerts, recitals and plays are presented in such venues as Squires Recital Hall, Conn Center and Dixon Center. The community boasts several annual events, including downtown concerts, festivals and exhibits preserving the history and culture of the region, and is home to a variety of associations and guilds that support the arts.
MainStreet Cleveland also provides an important public forum, where members of the community can congregate. Annual events and celebrations coordinated by MainStreet Cleveland-MainStreet Cruise-In, Halloween Block Party, Carols in the City and Community Tree Lighting, and the Christmas Parade-reinforce an intangible sense of community. 423-479-1000. www.mainstreetcleveland.com
Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce offers a searchable online calendar that highlights annual arts-related activities, including the Chair-ries Jubilee arts fundraiser in April. 423-472-6587. www.clevelandchamber.com
Attractions
We have plenty to do for outdoor enthusiasts and for those interested in more intellectual or cultural pursuits. You can take a wild summer ride on the rapids of the Ocoee River or a relaxing boat excursion on the Hiwassee to view migrating Sandhill cranes in the winter. See fall colors ablaze in the Cherokee National Forest or hike a lush green trail in the spring.
If arts and culture are more to your liking, you may enjoy a broad range of entertainment- from Broadway-style plays and musicals to poets and storytellers- throughout the year.
We can also issue you a passport to explore our Cherokee heritage, including Red Clay State park, and the small town of Charleston, where history is unfolding along the Hiwassee River.
For an outdoors arts experience, explore the beauty and the bounty of Bradley County by following the 12 colorful hand-painted wooden quilt blocks that dot our landscape as part of the Appalachian Quilt Trail. Along the way find handmade craft items, peruse local shops and galleries, and pick up locally grown fruits and vegetables at farm markets. The drive itself will afford you a view of some of the most picturesque scenery anywhere.
Dining
They may be small-city restaurants, but they bring to the table big-city taste. From specialty pizzas and paninis to prime rib and capellini pancetta, Cleveland’s dining options will tantalize your taste buds and satisfy most cravings. If you like savory barbecued brisket, an old-fashioned burger and malt, or an exceptional deli sandwich, we have locally owned eateries just for you. If you prefer fine dining, we can offer you mouth-watering Italian cuisine or Kobe beef in an elegant Western atmosphere. Some of our locally owned restaurants are acclaimed in national publication. Some are housed in historic old building and offer a quaint ambiance. Some feature live music on the patio and five-course wine dinners. Some boast third-and fourth- generation customer. All feature staffs that make you feel welcome and will cause you to want to come back.
Recreation
Cleveland has a wealth of recreational activities, including three municipal community centers, Boys & Girls club, Cleveland Family YMCA, various fitness complexes, three municipal pools, three private club pools, a private racquetball club, city parks with 11 tennis courts, one municipal golf course, a county park with fitness trail, a greenway, softball and baseball fields, a dog park, one private golf course, two theatres, a bowling alley, a BMX track, and organized programs in youth and adult softball, baseball, soccer and football. Camping, hiking and fishing are available in nearby state and local parks. For more information contact the Chamber’s Tourism Development Department at 423-472-6587 or go online at www.visitclevelandtn.com.
Senior Living
Don’t want to admit you’re over 50? That’s quite all right. We have offerings for mature adults and for those who don’t mind acknowledging they’re senior adults. First on the list are housing options. Garden Plaza at Cleveland offers the traditional, service and excellence you can expect from a premier retirement community. Garden Plaza at Cleveland is the only continuum of care senior living community in Bradley County, offering different styles of living from independent patio homes called The Village at Garden Plaza to independent and assisted living apartments with such amenities and activities as housekeeping and linen service to water aerobics and schedule entertainment for residents 55 years and older. www.gardenplazaatcleveland.com
Heritage Place is also a development designed for seniors age 55 years and over and offers highly functional, top notch quality, yet affordable patio home condominiums for the active senior. The design of each home and floor plan ensures a positive lifestyle in a low-maintenance home. www.legacyretirementvillage.com
Senior Living Activities
Also on the list are senior living activities intended for mature adults. Tennova Healthcare makes life even better for adults age 50 and older through Senior Circle. Membership in Senior Circle offers a generous selection of valuable local and national discounts, activities and events, exercise and wellness classes. 423-559-6887.
Lee University implemented Encore, a program for scholars 60 or older, to enrich their lives through experiencing academic excellence in a Christ-centered atmosphere. For a nominal fee, you can take up to two courses per semester for credit or just for fun, and no special educational background or transcripts are required. Class offerings change each semester. The fee also includes free entry into concerts, plays and athletic events on campus. www.leeuniversity.edu/encore
Bradley/Cleveland Senior Activity Center, funded in part by the Older Americans Act and the Tennessee Commission on Aging, offers a full slate of activities, including art and dance classes, exercise classes, bowling, Bingo and Bridge, information sessions, gospel singing, and lunch (with reservation) for those 55 and up. For more information, call 423-559-2171. 230 Urbane Rd, Cleveland TN 37312.
Shopping
Whether you’re looking for automotive parts or building supplies, up-to-the-minute fashions or vintage charm, our small city can meet your shopping needs. If you’re looking for Tervis tumblers, Jim Shore collectibles, one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces by regional artisans or original artwork, downtown Cleveland offers quaint shops and intimate art galleries to pique your interest. If your needs are more practical, local retailers provide quality merchandise or you can bargain hunt in our national chains. The shopping landscape is also dotted with antique shops and furniture stores for those more interested in an afternoon of browsing.
Between visits to Bradley Square Mall, Hickory Grove Shopping Center, Cleveland Towne Center, the Shops at Spring Creek or any number of plazas, you may also choose to pamper yourself with a salon treatment or sip a cool drink or specialty coffee on the patio. Then you can arrange to have dinner at one of our casual eateries or fine restaurants. However you choose to plan your day, your shopping experience is sure to be pleasant.