Getting Our Groove On at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum #WyndhamWeekends

***Disclosure: I received complimentary passes through the travel campaign with New Creative Media.   All opinions expressed are 100% my own and my family’s. Any additional expenses incurred were my own. ***

My family is a very musical bunch of folks. My husband plays bass, I can sing, as well as play a little guitar and piano, and my daughter Sophie absolutely loves music, too. I grew up surrounded by music, and I fully intend for my kids to do the same. You see,  my dad is a "rock star" here in NE Ohio, and has been in a band longer than I've been alive. He sings, plays guitar and bass, plays piano and keyboards, and can even dabble in drums a bit. I grew up going to band practice with him, and remember learning to love all kinds of music from classic rock to oldies to metal and everything in between. Now, as an adult, I love going to see his band play. You know, since I am over 21 and can finally get into the venues! 

So when we had the chance to check out the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, I knew we were in for a real treat. This gorgeous building right on the shore of Lake Erie houses tons of iconic musical artifacts, like Michael Jackson's famous sequined glove and John Lennon's piano, and Janis Joplin's psychedelic Porsche, just to name a few. 

When we arrived at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, we were immediately greeted by the sounds of classic rock being played. Needless to say, I felt right at home. The atmosphere here is fun, and almost electric...You just feel good as soon as you walk through the doors. 

We came right from the Science Center, so we were a bit hungry. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum offers a nice cafe that overlooks the hustle and bustle in the lobby area and gift shop. We ordered some GIGANTIC cookies for the kids, as well as some fruity icee-style drinks. That gave us enough fuel to make it through the museum! 

We had a blast checking out all of the inductees, as well as learning about 2014's newest additions. It's really cool, because there is a darkened tunnel where the signatures of every single inductee are glowing on the walls. 

There are loads of fun and educational exhibits which show the roots of rock and roll, different eras in rock, and even geographic-specific exhibits for different cities, like LA and Seattle. All of these exhibits feature items that were owned by various musicians, like songs handwritten by Jim Morrison of The Doors, John Lennon's Piano, and even some ridiculous costumes worn by Lady Gaga. And the guitars...Lots and lots of guitars. In fact, they have guitars from legends like Eddie Van Halen, Jerry Garcia, Nils Lofgren, and more! We loved seeing all of these musical relics! 

In addition to all of the great music memorabilia, you can also listen to tons of music! There are designated stations for a wide variety of musicians. You can learn more about each artist as well as hear the songs that made them great. Needless to say, we hung out in this area for a good long while. 

We also spent quite a bit of time at the gift shop. They had all kinds of really neat music-related gifts like apparel, housewares, and even framed records from mega-bands like The Beatles and Rush. We ended up buying a couple of shirts. I got a super-soft top that says "Peace Love and Rock & Roll" and Kyle got a striped, Rastafarian looking hooded pull-over. The name of the style escapes me, but I remember they were quite popular in the early to mid 90's. 

Check out all the awesome things we saw during our visit in the slideshow below:

If you're planning to visit the Cleveland area, definitely be sure to add seeing the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum to your to-do list. This was a ton of fun, even for my preschool-aged kids. It's such a fun way to learn about the history of Rock and Roll, and maybe discover some new favorite artists! 

How to Connect :

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is located in the heart of Cleveland. It's actually right next door to the Great Lakes Science Center, so be sure to make time to explore both attractions! 

Collection Auto Group Plaza
1100 Rock and Roll Blvd.
Cleveland, Ohio 44114-1022
Open daily: 10am - 5:30pm
(and until 9pm on Wed.) 

You can learn more about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum on their website.

You can also connect with them on on Facebook, on twitter, on Pinterest and on Instagram to stay on top of their latest news and exhibits!