GORDON SPARKS took a trip to North East Ohio in the States... and he’s

convinced he found the REAL America...

THERE'S no Mickey Mouse and you're a good couple of days' drive from Silicon Valley. This is the real America.

The mid-west city of Cleveland is so much more than the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which is its most famous landmark. Housing rare artefacts as well as stage wear belonging to the biggest names in music, and numerous video and audio displays, one full day may not be enough for the music fanatic.

You may wish to head to the same area again, as right next door is the Great Lakes Science Center, an attraction that takes interaction to a new level.

With temperatures touching the 90s, but with a pleasant breeze coming in off Lake Erie, this part of Ohio State is free of the humidity that can make other cities almost unbearable to the visitor.

A short drive outside the city is The Blossom Music Center, a unique amphitheatre in which you can reserve good seats or take a picnic to enjoy on the grass banks and hear anything from the biggest names in rock through to the world-acclaimed Cleveland Symphony Orchestra.

I witnessed the latter, and their faultless performance of Gershwin's Rhapsody In Blue would have been equally at home at Severance Hall, the permanent home of the orchestra.

The Greater Cleveland area is a playground waiting to be explored. From the Cedar Point amusement park with roller-coasters that seemingly almost touch the clouds, to the USA's largest indoor water park that has the longest flumes known to man and a surfing wave pool to name just a couple of attractions at the Kalahari Resort at Sandusky.

From there, a 20-minute ride on the Jet Express, a catamaran with unbounded acceleration, transports you to Put-In Bay on South Bass Island.

This place is wild with bars aplenty, play parks for children of all ages and a real feelgood factor.

Or, for more gentle pursuits, remain on board for another short hop to Kelley's Island, where the pace of life is more leisurely and great for fishing and spotting wildlife.

If you have a hire car, Niagara Falls is only a three-hour drive away, and the Interstate Highways are easy to negotiate. Don't forget to take your passport, as it enables you to walk over Rainbow Bridge into Canadian territory.

On the return drive, the city of Buffalo is worth a stopover, if only to visit the bar that invented Buffalo Wings. I ordered the spicy platter of ten – I dare you to follow suit!

Back in Cleveland, the city proves food and drink is more than burgers and cola. There are plenty of micro breweries attached to local bars and the Americans are certainly getting discerning tastes.

The Warehouse district comes alive after dusk with a vast array of great food on offer among restaurants that remain competitive by keeping their prices at sensible levels for tempting treats – fish lovers will feel particularly at home.

For more ideas that make a night out great, there are numerous live music venues, including the House of Blues. Its big enough to have housed the biggest names you can think of, but not too big that it guarantees a great view of the stage wherever you are in the building.

Theatre, too, plays an important role in Cleveland and you would have a job to hit town without a big name to witness on one of the many stages at Playhouse Square with the choice extending from comedy, ballet, opera and the latest Broadway hits.

If, like me, you're a sports fan, there's plenty to see. My visit was in the baseball season, so a Major League match featuring the Cleveland Indians, and also a minor league game featuring one of the Indians' feeder teams, the Lake County Captains, were on the agenda. For soccer fans, the Cleveland City Stars play in a tidy stadium, although it was strange watching a game on artificial turf.

For the new basketball season The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed Shaquille O'Neal, and with LeBron James the team now has two of the biggest names in the sport.

I love American Football, and took a great behind-the-scenes tour of the Cleveland Browns' stadium. Visiting the locker rooms and walking around the luscious turf is a must for any sports nut at just five dollars. With the Pro Football Hall of Fame at nearby Canton, the appeal of this part of North America grows even more.

The great thing about Cleveland is that it is easy to navigate, and the people are friendly, too. Just stop by a coffee shop and an English accent will be a conversation starter.

Shopping is great, with modern malls and traditional stores that are a mainstay of this traditional city.

For the finer things in life, the University Circle district has a dazzling choice. I had the opportunity to witness two Andy Warhol exhibitions being shown together for the first time at the Museum of Art.

Nearby are the Botanical Gardens, the Museum of Natural History and the Institute of Music as just some of the neighbours.

I crammed in as much as I could during my visit, but still didn't have time for the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad or the Metroparks Zoo and Rainforest.

For the quirkier side of Cleveland, here's a novel idea – the Smile and Ride buses. Simply smile at the driver as the bus pulls over, and you ride free!

It's appropriate as there's plenty to smile about in Cleveland.

If you ever took that great American adventure where you were stuck for ideas or found everything to be the same after a few days, then take a trip to North East Ohio. You will be far from disappointed!

Continental Airlines (www.continental.com) fly direct from Heathrow to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. Bus services to the city are frequent and several car hire companies are based at the airport, leaving you with a short drive to the downtown area. Accommodation varies from numerous large-chain hotels to guest houses. For full details. visit www.positivelycleveland.com