A Day on an Ohio Island

If you want to escape to a place that will make you feel like you have really left home, then may we suggest a little Island exploring on Put-in-Bay. Located in Lake Erie, Put-in-Bay is just one of four Islands.
Put-in-Bay is home to the third tallest national monument as well a very popular destination for friends and families to enjoy a little Island paradise.

There are different ways to get to the Island during the summer. By private boat, plane or ferry. On our journey we chose to take Miller Ferry. A 20 minute ride over to Put-in-Bay. Whether you want to walk on the ferry, take a bike, car, camper or motorcycle, Miller Ferry can accommodate. We decided we would leave our car at the dock in the provided free parking area. (Miller Ferry departs Catawba End of Rt. 53 North, off Rt. 2. For GPS enter: 5174 East Water St. Port Clinton, Ohio, www.millerferry.com, 800-500-2421)

Once off the ferry we opted to rent a golf cart for our day's exploration of the Island. We made our selection at E's Golf Carts. E's is a family-owned business located at the top of the Miller Boat Dock. They offer 2-4-6 and 8 passenger gas powered carts. They were extremely friendly and answered all our questions. (419.285.5553)

If golf carts are not your idea, then Put-in-Bay also offers bicycles, taxis and an Island Train. (For more info see "Getting Around the Islands".)

1st stop:
Perry's Cave and Family Fun Center
(979 Catawba Ave.)
Perry's Cave and Family Fun Center offers a wide arrange of things to do, such as Fort aMaze, Rock Climbing wall, 18-hole miniature golf, antique car museum and what we came for Perry's Cave.

 

Perry's Cave was originally discovered by Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry during the War of 1812. The underground lake that is shown to the right was a resource for fresh drinking water for the troops. The tour of the limestone cave lasts about 20 minutes and is not handicapped accessible.

 

Butterfly House
(1/2 mile from downtown Catawba Ave.)
The butterfly house located next door to Perry's Cave is a 4,000 sq. ft. aviary. Here you will experience butterflies flying all around as well as on you. There is an educational presentation available at no extra charge. Attached to the aviary is 5,000 sq. ft. gift shop filled with everything butterfly, garden gifts, nature gifts and more.

2nd stop:
Heineman Winery & Crystal Cave
The winery was founded in 1888 by Gustav Heineman. Besides the delicious wine created here, the Winery is also known for it's Crystal Caves. The world's largest geode was discovered in 1897 while the digging for a well. The walls of the cave are covered in strontium sulfate, a blueish mineral called celestite.

3rd stop:
Perry's International Peace Memorial and Visitor's Center
Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial was erected on Put-in-Bay to honor those who fought in the Battle of Lake Erie, during the War of 1812.
During our visit we were fascinated by the all the history located within the visitor center. Throughout the warmer season the visitor center offers various events such as free concerts and firing and living history demonstrations. The day we visited we were treated to a battlefield troop cooking demonstration.

4th stop:
The Boardwalk
(located on Bay View Ave, downtown)
All this touring can really work up an appetite. And one place that is a must stop on the Island is The Boardwalk. If you love seafood, then a bowl of their Famous Lobster Bisque is a must have. Another of our favorite dishes is the perch. If you do not like seafood they offer hamburgers and fries, nachos, salads and more.

If The Boardwalk does not interest you there are plenty of other wonderful places to dine.

5th stop:
Put-in-Bay Winery on the Doller Estate
(392 Bayview Drive)
Home tours and wine tasting.
Not only can you taste and enjoy the wine created at the winery you can tour the Doller House. This historic Victorian Italian ate Doller Mansion was home to Valentine Doller, one of the Island's wealthiest and most influential citizens. During your tour of the home you will learn about island living and how the home evolved. Outside in a separate building you will get to see the last remaining ice house and a display of how winter travel across the ice evolved.

The Put-in-Bay Winery also offer an exhibit that follows the grape from its seed state to in the bottle. After your tour of the winery, visitors are welcome to a wine tasting and/or to shop their gift shop. You may also enjoy a glass of wine in their area garden or the panoramic front porch which offers a spectacular view of Lake Erie.

6th stop:
Stonehenge Historic Home Tour
(808 Langram Rd., Put-in-Bay)
During the 1800's many grape growing farms and wineries prospered on the island. This beautiful historic landmark is just one of those estates that has been preserved and made available throughout the summer months to the public to tour. The stone home and wine press cottage are both listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Many of the items you are able to view include island memorabilia and antiques from a time gone by. There is also a gift shop located on the premises where you will find many unique items.

7th stop: South Bass Island State Park
Catawba Ave. 419.285.2112
If you are looking to spend a little time with nature may we suggest the South Bass Island State Park? This beautiful campground includes 120 non-electric tent camping sites and eleven full service RV sites with electric and sewer hook-ups. Pet camping is permitted on designated sites. The park also offer the following amenities; a children's playground, waterfront campsites, pier fishing, a pebble swimming beach, jet ski and watercraft rentals and snack and coffee shop.

Additional things to know:

• If you plan on staying on the island overnight, many of the local accommodations require a two night stay on the weekends.
• You will need a State Driver's License for any Golf Cart Rentals
• Check out Miller Ferry's website for coupons.
• Wear comfortable walking shoes!
• Make sure you check the ferry schedule for last departure.

Our future Put-in-Bay Island to do list:

• Parasailing
• A ferry jaunt to Middle Bass Island
• Learn about the famed Hotel Victory that once stood where the State Park now resides. Lake Erie Islands Historical Museum off Catawba Ave., downtown
• Kayak the Bay
• Jet Ski the Bay
• Take the tour Train
• Check out the Chocolate Museum

For additional information about Put-in-Bay please see our Lake Erie Island page.

Have you explored our local Scenic Byways?
What a wonderful way to explore Ohio! Grab the family or a few friends and take a tour on any one of the areas scenic Byways.

For a listing of local scenic Byways click here.

Geauga County – A Gourmet Get-A-Way!

Geauga County is known for its beautiful rural landscapes and Amish country making it a favorite stop for people looking to take life at a slower pace and take home an amazing array of fresh, tasty goodness! To many people, taking a road trip means packing a small cooler to snack from along the way. Visitors to Geauga County that are ‘in the know’ arrive with a large empty cooler to take home their souvenirs.

As you make your way through Chardon’s Historic downtown area you’ll want to plan a stop at Sage’s Apples for seasonal goodies; berries, peaches, and of course apples! Richards Maple Products has been in business 100+ years and offers everything Maple! Looking for Maple BBQ sauce? Maple cotton candy? Maple coffee? Maple dog treats? This is your stop! If its close to lunch time, gourmet pizza at Noce or tea at Rosepointe Cottage are excellent choices. Summer Friday nights also offer up an amazing Farm Market on the Square, with an open air concert.

During the summer growing season the Geauga Fresh Farmers Market in South Russell is a wonderful place to browse and find locally grown/produced everything! From veggies to meat, flowers to herbs, something for everyone!

In Burton you will have to personally decide on your favorite chocolate with stops at Buckeye Chocolate and White House Chocolate. Either way you win! Sunrise Rise Farm offers up beautiful plants and ‘gourmet gift baskets’ filled with many local goodies, while Geauga Country Meats will provide you with the freshest meat you’ve ever had.  Burton Log Cabin will supply you with pure Geauga County Maple Syrup and you may even catch them making some of that yummy Maple Candy.

Next stop Middlefield, the heart of the 4th largest Amish community in the world! Many people equate Amish country with cheese and here you have two amazing stores to shop for your favorites! At Middlefield Cheese Co-op you can watch cheese production through their large window that overlooks the factory floor if you visit early on a production day. Middlefield Cheese offers a museum that showcases their history and a video that shows you the cheese making process.

Of course no trip is complete without fresh bakery! Amish Home Craft & Bakery, Countryside Home Bakery and Nauvoo Family Market are brimming with home-baked goodness! Have you ever had a warm Amish “Fry Pie?” MMmmmm! Of course, no dessert until you have had dinner and Mary Yoder’s Amish Kitchen is a perfect choice.  Now that your cooler is full of take home treats and you are too full to move…you just may want to spend the night!

 

So how does everyone not weigh 500lbs you ask??? Did we mention we also have Geauga Park District with a great bike trail & the all new Observatory Park? Pioneer Waterland, Camp Hi Canoe Livery, Chips Clubhouse and so much more??? You can start your journey here www.TourGeauga.com and request a Visitor Guide. See you soon!

Submitted by:
Lynda Nemeth, Executive Director,
Geauga County Tourism
1-800-775-TOUR
Email: lynda@tourgeauga.com

 

 

From Amish Bakeries to Railroad Museums, there is so much to do
in Wayne County:

Area Tour
(as published and used with permission by Wayne County Visitor Bureau)

A DRIVING TOUR OF SCENIC WAYNE COUNTY
Take US 30 W from Canton through Dalton. Just south of Rt. 30 on Zuercher Road, (take Wenger Rd. south off of Rt. 30 and follow signs) you'll find P. Graham Dunn, maker of laser engraved inspirational carvings. (P. Grahman Dunn will be moving to their new facility on Rt. 30 in Feb. 2008.)

Back on Rt. 30, or you may want to travel the more scenic and historical Lincoln Highway, (watch for the Red, White and Blue signs with the large "L") you won't want to miss the bigger than life cinnamon rolls at Das Dutch Kitchen before heading toward Kidron on CR52. On the corner, stop at Shisler's Cheese for some of the best tasting cheese you'll ever find. If it's Thursday, you're in for a special treat. It's auction day in Kidron. After visiting the famous Lehman's Hardware, where you will find all the non-electrical appliances and equipment used by the Amish, don't forget the specialty shops at the Olde Millstream Plaza. Take home an authentic hand made quilt or a beautiful handcrafted item from the World Crafts Store. Don't miss the Kidron Community Historical Society, right on the square in Kidron.

Continue your journey by taking Emerson Road(CR 79) W out of Kidron to US250 W. Watch for slow moving buggies. Travel through Apple Creek where there are wonderful restaurants, unique shops and Troyers Home Pantry, an Amish bakery. Continue on US250 toward Wooster. A "must see" is the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center and the Agricultural Technical Institute. Enter off Madison Avenue at the main entrance to OARDC and drive through the Secrest Arboretum. In the spring the trees are breathtaking. The Rose Garden is in its prime in early June.

For the balance of your driving tour click here: waynecountycvb.org