Kelleys Island, one of the area’s Lake Erie islands, offers shopping, dining, vacation homes and golf carts. (Credit: Ken Drenten)

By Ken Drenten

For years, the Sandusky area has been not only the state’s vacationland, but a major tourism hub for the entire Midwest.

Sandusky, founded in 1824, is the county seat of Erie County. The Sandusky micropolitan area, which takes in a population of about 125,000, has a wide variety of parks, farm markets, ice cream shops, wineries, historic sites, museums, unique places to eat, drink and shop, and venues to enjoy the arts and music.

I lived in the Sandusky area for about two short years, working for the Sandusky Register newspaper. At that time, I was a young reporter covering news in the towns of Bellevue, Clyde, Milan and Kelleys Island. During my short time there, I was able to only scratch the surface of everything there is to do – and that was a long time ago. I’ve returned many times, and every visit has been enjoyable.

A heron waits patiently for a fish along the Lake Erie shoreline of Cedar Point Peninsula. (Credit: Ken Drenten)

Named the Best Coastal Small Town in America, Sandusky is designed like the hub of the spokes of a wheel, and is the center of an area that has a huge variety of vacation options, including:

• Cedar Point Amusement Park, the roller coaster capital of the world that has been entertaining guests for 150 years. The Sandusky area also has a staggering array of lodging options, from huge indoor waterpark hotels to quaint coastal cottages and motels.
• South Bass Island and Put-in-Bay, the Key West of the North Coast that also marks an historic War of 1812 battle.
• Kelleys Island, offering elegant Victorian-era vacation homes and a laid-back island atmosphere.
• Vermilion, founded in 1837, a picturesque “Harbour Town” with a public beach and handsome residences with boat slips on the Vermilion River.
• Port Clinton, the bustling Walleye Capital of the World, with beaches, fishing charters, island ferries, shopping and entertainment.
• Huron, founded in 1821, offers fishing and boating, championship golfing, canoeing and hiking, and much more.
• Catawba Island, East Harbor State Park, Lakeside and Marblehead offer camping, fishing, beaches, Ohio’s most picturesque lighthouse, unique shopping and more.
• Numerous small towns and cities are located just a few miles away from the shores of Lake Erie, including Norwalk, Milan, Bellevue and Clyde, each offering one-of-a-kind experiences.

Vermilion Lighthouse overlooks Lake Erie at the city’s public beach area. This video shows a short stretch of Route 6. (Credit: Ken Drenten)

Aside from a day at Cedar Point or a fishing charter, here 10 great ideas to enjoy what this area has to offer:

1. Take a ferry ride over to Put-in-Bay or Kelleys Island. I prefer Kelleys Island; it’s much less frenetic than Put-in-Bay and has lots of attractions to offer. Be sure to try the perch at The Village Pump, and rent a golf cart to explore the island!
2. Visit the 1821 Marblehead Lighthouse at Marblehead State Park. Visiting the park is free; lighthouse tours are offered monthly for a fee.
3. Walk or bike ride along the Vermilion River in midtown Vermilion to the city’s beach on Lake Erie, then get a treat at Big Ed’s Main Street Soda Grill, Granny Joe’s Ice Creamatorium, Ednamae’s Ice Cream & Cafe or Romp’s Dairy Dock.
4. Sample some flights at the area’s many wineries, including Firelands in Sandusky, Heineman at Put-in-Bay, Paper Moon in Vermilion, Quarry Hill in Berlin Heights, and others.
5. Go to the top of the 352-foot Perry’s Victory & International Peace Memorial and get a 360-degree panoramic view of the Lake Erie islands.
6. Take a leisurely drive exploring the Lake Erie Coastal Trail Scenic Byway. In Erie and Ottawa counties, the route generally follows Route 2 and Route 6.
7. Visit the Maritime Museum of Sandusky and the Merry-Go-Round Museum in Sandusky.
8. Visit the Thomas Edison Birthplace Museum in Milan and the Mad River & NKP Railroad Museum in Bellevue.
9. Visit Lakeside Chautauqua, the unique, historic, faith-based community on the shores of Lake Erie. Entrance fee is charged during summer months.
10. Bring your birding binoculars and explore nature preserves such as Sheldon Marsh, Pipe Creek, and Old Woman Creek; end your day with a delicious ice cream treat at Toft’s Dairy Ice Cream Parlor in Sandusky.

This video features the rocky shoreline of Lake Erie at Marblehead Lighthouse State Park.

Depending on where you live and what you want to do, the Sandusky area can offer a daytrip, a weekend getaway or an entire week’s or more worth of entertainment.

Read more: Kelleys Island is Ohio’s unique Lake Erie getaway – July 16, 2024

It’s a great time to take a dip at a Lake Erie beach – June 24, 2024

Marblehead Lighthouse: Two centuries of protection on Lake Erie – June 27, 2023

Ken Drenten is creator and editor of Dusty-Tires.com, a travel blog for out-of-the-ordinary places in Ohio.

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