The islands and shores of Lake Erie are often overlooked as a destination for fun, outdoor activities. Most people that live in the States are well aware of Lake Michigan. The same goes for everyone who lives by or has ever visited Niagara Falls, but then there’s Erie – a region sometimes referred to as “the other Great Lakes” so I figured it was time someone brought out her fair share of adventure!
Living close to Cleveland, OH has given me plenty of opportunities to visit Lake Erie. There are so many islands, beaches, parks… not to mention ice cream shops! Above all though, may favorite activity is to explore the local wineries. On that note, let’s begin there…
Lake Erie Shores & Islands Wine Trail
The northern region of Ohio is well known fir their unique wines. The flavor of the grapes grown here are different than those grown in other regions of the world such as California or Italy. The cooler climate brings a sweeter flavor that has turned into a category of its own. Ice Wine is specific to this region of the world because the grapes are left on the vine during the cooler months when frost covers the vineyards. The sugar in the grapes begin fermenting on the vines which then are picked to create a super sweet after-dinner wine. It is hard to pick my favorite winery along the islands and shores of Lake Erie but a couple of my recent favorites are Quarry Hill Winery for their fruit wines and The Firelands for their Reds. Click here to explore the trail and find your next favorite vintage!
Places to Stay
Now, with all that wine available, you will probably want to stay at a local hotel. There are many different resorts and hotels to choose from. I was recently at Hotel Breakers at Cedar Point and it was a fantastic resort! There were plenty of things to do around the property like and indoor pool and game room along with on-site dining, an ice creamery and Starbucks. The best part of the resort is that it is on the beach. There is a huge stretch of sand and the morning sunrise over Lake Erie was breathtaking! Bonus points that you can book your Cedar Point ticket at the front desk. Click here to browse local hotels around the islands and shores of Lake Erie and find your favorite.
Swimming
This area of the world has more beaches than you can count. There are also different places where you can rent jet skis and boats for a fun afternoon (or weekend) out on the water. Play at Kelly’s Island for a more remote experience or find your favorite spot in Put-In-Bay for a more lively experience. There are also camping areas along some of the beaches like at South Bass Island State Park and wildlife viewing at Magee Marsh Wildlife Beach & Crane Creek Estuary Trail. Click here for a list of beaches.
There are also a lot of fun water parks around the islands and shores of Lake Erie . From Cedar Point Shores to Great Wolf Lodge and Kalahari, the amount of water slides are incredible! If you need to update your wardrobe when you find your perfect swimming location, click here for some of my favorites.
Events
Lake Erie also has a ton of events throughout the year. From wine and beer festivals to fresh caught walleye tastings, there is always something to do. Lake Erie Jeep Rally? Yes please! Car shows, treasure hunts and art in the park can all be found. Don’t forget that there are boats like the Jet Express to get you over to a great island event for the day!
Plus, Now you can get weekly event updates on your Amazon Alexa! Just say, “Alexa, enable the what’s happening at Lake Erie skill.” Then each week, ask Alexa “What’s happening at Lake Erie” to hear some of the events taking place. Click here to see some of the upcoming events.
Webcams
If you can’t physically check out the islands and shores of Lake Erie right now, there are webcams around the different parks. Get a serene view of the lake from Catawba Island or just see if the Port Clinton City Beach has some open space for you to relax and watch the waves. Click here to view a few.