Travelers find great fishing, a lively party scene, bird watching, photography opportunities, gourmet dining, and natural beauty on Ohio’s northern border.
Boating and fishing are two of Ohio’s most exciting and popular activities, and nowhere in the state are there more opportunities to enjoy them than at Lake Erie. Places to launch boats of all types are easy to access, and there is a wide selection of fishing charters from which to choose. Lake Erie is best known as The Walleye Capital of the World, but perch, catfish, and bass are also plentiful and popular with anglers.
Proprietors of bait shops and marinas are friendly, helpful, and always happy to assist visitors with information about the best places to fish and the best tackle to use. Fishing off the rocks near Marblehead Lighthouse yields white bass, catfish, and more. Anglers fish in the shadow of the picturesque lighthouse while standing in shallow waves that wash over the rocks. They can purchase the most popular local rig for this kind of fishing, a large weighted bobber with a tiny tube lure on a three-foot dropper, from most local bait shops.
For party fun, visit Put-in-Bay
For the liveliest party scene in the area, visitors will want to make the rounds at Put-in-Bay. Gift shops, restaurants, bars, music, and a fun seaside ambiance make this a great stop for people who want to see and be seen, meet new friends, and enjoy a drink or two. Golf carts and bicycles are available for rent, so it’s easy to leave cars behind on the mainland, cross to the island on a ferry, and still have transportation to all the island’s attractions.
Wineries provide a more relaxed environment for drinkers and diners. Surprisingly good and affordable local wines are available for tasting. Of course, wine lovers will want to purchase a few bottles to enjoy at home.
Sample local walleye and perch
For the most mouth-watering Lake Erie dinner, a visit to Mon Ami Restaurant and Historic Winery back on the mainland in Port Clinton for the fried walleye dinner is in order. After dinner, diners will be sure to enjoy browsing in the wine and gift shop.
For those who prefer to catch their own, the area offers fish cleaning services. Anglers can fish beautiful Lake Erie, have their catch professionally filleted, and then retire to one of the local campgrounds for a fish dinner cooked over a campfire.
Bird watchers and photographers find plenty of interesting sights
Bird watchers can see gulls, herons, ibis, cormorants, ducks, geese, and more in the area. Bald eagles have even been spotted nesting not far from Port Clinton. In addition to birds, photographers will find interesting subjects, including boats, lighthouses, and spectacular sunrises and sunsets on the water. Lake weather creates cloud formations and lighting conditions that result in spectacular photographic opportunities.
Visitors to Kellys Island can view the fascinating glacial grooves, a natural formation where bedrock has been sculpted by Pleistocene glaciers to create a remarkable record of ice scouring the earth’s surface. Eighteen different kinds of fossils are identified along the walkway around the glacial grooves.
Lodging to fit every budget
Comfortable lodging of all sorts is available along the Lake Erie coast, including bed & breakfasts, budget hotels, campgrounds, and cabins. The lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake offers luxurious accommodations, including wine country tours and a variety of packages for seasonal visits and romantic, wine-country getaways.
