Whether you like to fish for Walleye, kayak along the shoreline, sail in regattas, or scuba dive for shipwrecks, the Lake Erie area has plenty of opportunities for water lovers. Towns and islands in and around Lake Erie are also suited for nature buffs, culture and history enthusiasts, food connoisseurs, and active families. A visit could range from riding roller coasters to tasting local wines. Whatever your interests, hidden treasures and unique experiences await you on the north shore of Ohio.

Vermilion
Located 35 miles west of Cleveland, on the south shore of Lake Erie, Vermilion is known as the “Village of Lake Captains.” Marinas on the Vermillion River have more than 1,000 boat slips and ramps for easy access to the lake. Regattas are frequent, as is fishing for perch or walleye in the lake and small mouth bass and trout in the river.

The quaint shops, art galleries and working soda fountain downtown are reminders of a simpler time. Plan a picnic at the beach and stop for a hand-dipped ice cream cone on your way home. Vermilion hosts outdoor movies and concerts on the green throughout the summer.

Nature and history lovers should visit the Vermilion River Reservation. (www.loraincountymetroparks.com/vermilion.htm) With 273 picnic tables, two playgrounds and 5 miles of wooded trails, it is the perfect place for lunch with the family after a hike.

The Great Lakes Historical Society’s Inland Seas Maritime Museum (www.inlandseas.org) is a key attraction in Vermilion, hosting the largest collection of Great Lakes maritime artifacts, ship models, documents and original artwork. Round out your trip with a narrated scenic river cruise on the Mystic Belle, a small paddle wheeler.

Insider Dining Tips: The Red Clay on the River: Enjoy this lovely restaurant with outdoor seating and watch the boats go by. Chez Francois: experience an elegant restaurant on the river with sumptuous cuisine. Har Bar: Relax on the veranda of this favorite little hangout.

Huron
Heading west along the shore from Vermilion, you’ll reach the charming town of Huron, with some of the best beaches on the north shore. Make time for a self-guided tour of the private homes, historic sites and old churches.

The Huron Amphitheater is located at the Huron Boat Basin and overlooks the marina. (www.huronparks.org/boppin.htm) With more than 1,000 seats, the amphitheater hosts events all summer long. The Huron Playhouse has a summer theater and productions this summer include Brigadoon and Thoroughly Modern Millie.

Harbor North is Ohio’s oldest and largest sailing school. Learn the basics or take an advanced refresher course. You can also charter a boat for touring or fishing.

Insider Dining Tips: Marconi’s is an old-fashioned, family-style Italian restaurant. Berardi’s is great for breakfast, though it’s open all day. The Sandbar is by the beach and has delicious perch sandwiches.

Sandusky
Sandusky is justifiably synonymous with Cedar Point (www.cedarpoint.com), a 364-acre amusement park with 17 roller coasters. It’s been voted “Best Amusement Park in the World” for 10 years running. Soak City and Challenge Park are within the Cedar Point grounds as well.

Four Cedar Point resort hotels with outdoor pools, spas and beach access are located within a two-minute walk from the park. To avoid long lines, resort guests are admitted to the park one hour before the public.

In addition to Soak City, there are also a number of indoor water parks in the area, including Castaway Bay, a lush, 5-story structure with a wave pool, day spa, fitness center and a water roller coaster (www.castawaybay.com). Great Wolf Lodge is a year-round family resort with an indoor water park, outdoor pool, and kid’s crafts (www.greatwolflodge.com). Kalahari Resorts is America’s largest indoor water park with a day spa and outdoor pool complex.

History buffs should check out the Follett House Museum, with four floors of Civil
War prison camp exhibits, housed in an 1827 mansion with a widow’s walk. Another interesting location is the Merry-go-round Museum (www.merrygoroundmuseum.org). Watch carvers bring dilapidated carousel pieces back to their full beauty and ride on a completely restored Allen Herschel Carousel.

The area has several high-quality wineries. At Firelands Winery, you can see a slide show and take a tour to see how wine is made, browse the wine boutique, and taste the product. At Hermes Vineyards and Sand Hill Winery, you can enjoy a wine tasting and listen to live music on the patio on weekends.

If you want to get out on the water, there are daytime island-hopping cruises that depart Sandusky and include layovers at Kelleys Island and Put-in-Bay. The “Goodtime 1” also has evening cruises and party cruises in July and August to enjoy the sunset, with happy hour and entertainment (www.goodtimeboat.com).

Insider Dining Tip: Pick up hickory-smoked barbecue ribs from Famous Dave’s at Cedar Point Marina.

Port Clinton
“The Walleye capital of the world,” Port Clinton is a popular tourist spot and home to world-class fishing, boating, beaches, golf and sightseeing. Charming bed and breakfast lodgings, shops and restaurants line the lakefront. If the kids need some excitement, take them to Island Adventures, where they can play miniature golf, race go-karts, and play on the bumper boats.

The African Safari Wildlife Park includes exotic animals such as buffalo, zebras and giraffes on the 100-acre drive through safari preserve (www.africansafariwildlifepark.com).
 
Mon Ami is a full-service restaurant and winery known for its ice wine and port. Sit outside and listen to jazz while dining and tasting the local wines.

Insider Dining Tips: The best breakfast is at Ala Carte. Get there early or prepare to wait awhile. The Garden restaurant is situated in a Victorian home and is a favorite for dinner, and Jolly Rogers is known for its perch sandwiches. Toft’s is the place to go for ice cream.

Lakeside/Marblehead
Lakeside originated in 1873 as a faith-based summer resort and it’s since blossomed into the Chautauqua movement. It is still famous for its arts and educational adventures, and hosts many events in the 2,500-seat Hoover Hall. Lakeside has walking guided historical tours, beautiful Victorian homes and quaint art galleries.

Marblehead is home to the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the Great Lakes. You can tour the Marblehead Lighthouse and the keeper’s house next door, which was the residence of the first three lighthouse keepers (www.thekeepershouse.org).

Insider Dining Tips: The Peninsula is great for breakfast and makes boxed lunches to go. The Galley Restaurant has a perch special on Fridays.

Kelleys Island
In the western basin of Lake Erie, just north of Marblehead, lies Kelleys Island, the largest fresh water American island in Lake Erie with a reputation for being quiet and laid back. The natural scenery is breathtaking and perfect for hiking, biking or meandering in a golf cart (www.kelleysislandnature.com).

Tour the Glacial Grooves State Memorial, which is the finest example of glacial scouring in North America, formed about 18,000 years ago. Then visit the Butterfly Trail, which monitors regional butterfly populations and gives guided bird walks.

Rent a sailboat, pontoon boat or wave runner. You can go sea kayaking and explore 17 miles of irregular shoreline. Snorkeling and scuba diving around the shipwrecks in Lake Erie is a thrilling way to spend the day, and you can top it off with parasailing.

Insider Dining Tips: Kelleys Island Wine Co. is a fun place to unwind, play volleyball, toss horseshoes and sip wine. The Casino has live bands and great shrimp cocktail. The Village Pump is famous for its Brandy Alexanders, perch and lobster chowder.

Put-in-Bay
Located on South Bass Island is Put-in-Bay, a small resort village renowned for its fishing and nightlife. Although Put-in-Bay can get a little wild on summer weekends, there’s plenty of family entertainment as well. Ferries travel to the island every half hour from Catawba and Marblehead.

Take the tour train, a 55-minute narrated tour around the island that stops at Perry’s Cave Family Fun Center, Heineman’s Winery, and Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial. Perry’s Monument commemorates Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry’s victory over the British fleet during the War of 1812, and offers spectacular views of surrounding islands.

Tour Heineman’s Winery and Crystal Caves and see the world’s largest geode. The cave walls are covered with celestitie and the crystals are up to 18 inches long. (www.heinemanswinery.com).  

Insider Dining Tip: The Beer Barrel Saloon is home of the world’s longest bar at more than 405 feet, and features top-notch entertainment. The Boardwalk Restaurant has great views of the lake, fun Caribbean music and delicious lobster bisque.

Colleen D’Angelo is a contributing writer for Luxury Living Magazine.