On the weekends, when we aren't busy or traveling, the kids and I become tourists in our city. It's no longer a surprise to them when I exit the highway unexpectedly because something catches my eye. That's how we discovered so many wonderful places in Cleveland - like an unpopulated natural waterslide in the Chagrin river. As the Midwest thaws we find ourselves back outdoors re-visiting some of our most favorite travel destinations within the city we call home.

At the top of our list is the West Side Market. Dating back to the 1840s, it reminds me so much of Budapest's Great Market Hall that my husband and I fell in love with in 2000 during our European travels as DINKS (double income no kids). Cities like Chicago have been trying to build similar open air marketplaces for years and I am thrilled that we have one in our backyard.

Last year one million people walked through the doors of the West Side Market in Cleveland.

Inside, under an incredible yellow brick ceiling, one hundred vendors lovingly tend to their kiosks.

Families employ their teenage children on Saturdays and they successfully stop shoppers with humorous out bursts. "Peppers hotter than Selena Gomez - two for a dollar!" We purchased four.

Every vendor carries a pocket knife to cut open produce for curious shoppers - especially those visitors under three feet. Five minutes in the produce section fills a four-year-old belly, full of samples.

Walking through the cramped aisles transports you throughout the world, in mere minutes. From Polish sausage...

to freshly caught fish from a man whose thick Russian accent is stronger than the fishy scent of his kiosk.

All under one roof this open air marketplace is a study of world cultures and cuisine. Feast on falafil or try some Cambodian. Make a milk run with your children in tow - this "field trip" kills an hour or two on a lazy Saturday morning. Make sure you reward your little travelers with a stop at the popcorn shop that has a dozen canisters of free flavored popcorn samples. It's also the place where you can get chocolate covered every-things including my kids' favorite: chocolate covered gummy worms.

This isn't an ad. Just a mother in Cleveland who hates to hear the words "I'm bored" from her children. You can never be bored if you become a tourist in your own city. Next up "Tourist in other cities: The DC edition - where everyone we met on the Metro has never visited anything we saw in the week we were there."

West Side Market:

1. Arrive early or well after the lunchtime crowd.

2. Inspect all foods before paying for them. Especially if you are a frazzled suburbanite visiting for the first time.

3. Take advantage of all the samples having no remorse for not buying.

4. Bring grocery bags - I have an extra large cloth tote.

5. Most kiosks only accept cash, bring lots.