This is a self serving post, but we’re hoping to do a quick road trip to visit these 3 schools early this fall in conjunction with a little sightseeing and family vacation. If anyone has any suggestions for visiting these schools or fun things to check out nearby, I’d love to hear them.
I do hope to have the kid reach out to try and get sample lessons if possible, so if anyone has faculty thoughts I’d appreciate those too (happy to take PMs). This would be for an academically minded, multi interested baritone vocalist. (also studying piano, guitar, composition and does a lot of musical theater)
Don’t miss the rock and roll hall of fame museum. I also recommend the Cleveland museum of art (general entrance is free). It might be a off route but Michigan’s sand dunes are outstanding!
The rock and roll hall of fame is high on our list for sure! And thanks for the other recommendations, we’ll check them out. 
When visiting Oberlin, we LOVE Cleveland’s Little Italy (Presti’s Bakery, Mama Santos, etc.) and the Cleveland Art Museum (which is spectacular and free of charge as @coloraturadad said)! Also, don’t miss Lake View Cemetery (the Garfield Memorial and the Tiffany Chapel are staffed about 9 months of the year)…again, GORGEOUS, with graves of some of the most famous industrialist families, and also free! Catch a Cleveland Orchestra concert, if you can. All of this is within about one square mile in Cleveland! And eat at The Feve in downtown Oberlin, for sure; you’ll definitely sit near students and professors there-it’s an Oberlin institution. I’ll PM you with some Oberlin specific VP must dos…
so… if and when there are auditions to Oberlin… how does one get to the campus in the dead of winter?
We rented a car at the Cleveland Airport but there’s also a shuttle service available between the airport and campus. It’s called airport oberlin shuttle.
There are always extra shuttles from the Cleveland Airport to Oberlin on audition weekends, although unless you are staying at the Oberlin Hotel or a few select AirBnbs within easy walking distance, you will really need a rental car. Make sure to reserve a weather friendly vehicle in advance!
Agree with the listed fun things to do in Cleveland and Oberlin. Be sure to check out the school’s calendar of events. Oberlin has concerts every night and most are free to the public. PM if you have specific VP questions.
Places to stay are limited in town. Obie parents book graduation a year in advance just to get a spot within a 30 min radius. I would always book our hotel the day the opera cast list was posted for the next semester. Book as soon as you pass prescreen! If you can’t get a place in town, you will need a car.
If you are not going to go with your child, they can fly in, take the shuttle and stay on campus with a student as an option. But you have to schedule that carefully.
See below:
Prospective conservatory students who plan to stay overnight should be prepared to stay with a current arts and sciences student and sleep on a residence hall room floor. If your audition is scheduled after your overnight, you should consider staying in a local hotel or similar facility instead. We do not offer overnight stays for Saturday or Sunday nights.
If you plan to stay overnight during the time of your on-campus audition, contact Conservatory Admissions, 440-775-8413 or conservatory.admissions@oberlin.edu at least two weeks prior to your audition date to register.
That is super helpful, thank you @Scubachick!
We used a network run by a local church or churches, for a place to stay. I forget how I found it. We spent several days in Oberlin, driving around at sunset over the fields, eating at restaurants and going to performances. We never even considered going to Cleveland because we wanted to get a feel for Oberlin itself. The houses we stayed in offered rooms with local residents who were interesting and sometimes taught at the college. We loved the whole town. Airbnb would be a good option too.
I personally recommend during audition weekend, to book your lodging early at Oberlin Inn. Rates are more expensive but you will be a block away to the conservatory. This proximity comes very handy when your dressed up son/daughter only has to walk a few minutes to the conservatory lobby especially during unpredictable winter days. Having a private place nearby to vent your joy or frustration after the audition is priceless. Also, the hotel lobby has a great bar for parental stress relief during and after the audition
I love the Hotel at Oberlin. Always my first choice if it’s available. Be sure to call and not use the website. I always got a better “friends and family” deal when I called.
Correction - I meant Hotel at Oberlin.