A Refreshing Ohio Shores and Islands Weekend Itinerary

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Recently when I was on the hunt for a great girls trip destination within driving distance of a major airport, I stumbled on the towns surrounding Lake Erie. Just 45 minutes from Toledo, one hour from Cleveland, or an hour and a half from Detroit is Shores & Islands, Ohio.

This area along Lake Erie is home to a number of equally charming small towns, wineries, restaurants, and unique things to do – enough to keep busy for a whole weekend and beyond. It’s also perfect because it will suit whatever vibe you’re looking for for your trip. Want to relax by the shore? Have a party? Indulge in a foodie adventure? You can do it all! In this Ohio shores and islands itinerary, I’ll cover all the best things to do, where to stay, and most importantly, where to eat and drink!

Map of your Ohio Shores and Islands Itinerary

Itinerary for Ohio’s Shores and Islands

Before I dive in, I want to clarify some terminology for you. If you’re new to this area like I was, you may not be aware that the destination “Shores & Islands, Ohio” actually encompasses multiple cities and areas in this part of Ohio. For example, Shores & Islands, Ohio includes Port Clinton, Catawba, Put-in-Bay, Kelleys Island, and more! This region is guaranteed to have something for everyone, so as you’re planning keep that in mind.

Day 1: Discovering the Best of the Shores

I recommend flying into Cleveland because there are so many great things to see and do in the city if you have some extra time, like the Cleveland Museum of Art that I can’t stop thinking about. Plus, you’re already adjacent to Lake Erie, so the fun starts now! Rent a car from the airport and head west to Shores & Islands.

If you need some breakfast before making the drive, check out Brewnuts in Cleveland, a unique spot serving craft-beer infused donuts! I had their brown sugar pop tart donut and it was seriously delicious!

For your first day as you approach the area, follow OH-269 N to exit 125B toward S Danbury Rd and turn left on E Bayshore Rd, which you can follow around the Marblehead Peninsula.

Don’t miss the Marblehead Lighthouse, a picturesque and historic spot.

The lighthouse was completed in 1821 by Sandusky’s first stonemason and was built to mark the passage between Cleveland and Toledo on Sandusky Bay. You can take tours from noon to 3:30 pm from Memorial Day to Labor Day (the peak season for visiting Ohio’s shores and islands). Even if you miss the tours, the park surrounding the lighthouse is always open!

You can also see the lifesaving station and keeper’s house on the property as well as Lake Erie’s coast. If you’re lucky, you can even spot Cedar Point, Ohio’s craziest theme park!

If you’re looking for a smaller community to explore, Lakeside Chautauqua is worth a stop. Think cute seaside cottages, quaint bookstores, and slow-paced town squares and parks. One highlight is the lakeside path also called “Ohio’s most magnificent mile”! We also sat in their pedestrian-only street to play Tic-Tac-Toe with painted rocks. How cute!

To access this area during peak season, there is an admission and parking fee, which ranges from $3 to $30.

For lunch, head to Catawba to pay a visit to Twin Oast Brewing, which not only has stellar beer, but also a fantastic food menu with burgers, the best brussel sprouts, and wood-fired pizza. Not to mention, the property is incredibly beautiful with a waterfall, garden, and two large oasts (kilns for roasting hops) with fire pits and lounge chairs.

In the afternoon, explore Port Clinton, Ohio.

At Waterworks Park, you’ll find the Port Clinton Lighthouse and keeper’s house. This lighthouse has been around since 1833, although the structure was reconstructed in 1896 where the light itself was converted from kerosene lamp to electricity in 1926. You can tour the lighthouse on Saturdays from noon to 5pm from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Also in the park is a statue commemorating the keepers of the lighthouse as well as the Lake Erie Love sign, perfect for a photo opp!

Besides Waterworks Park, in Port Clinton, I loved walking through the main street area (Madison Street) where there are shops, restaurants, and in the evenings live music.  A couple blocks away is Veterans Park where you can see military vehicles and learn more about veterans in America’s wars.

If you need an afternoon pick-me-up, Coffee Express is a great choice with a delicious selection of homemade pastries and snacks. I loved their cinnamon brown sugar loaf!

Now is the perfect time to check into your hotel to freshen up for dinner. More on where to stay in the FAQ’s at the end of the itinerary.

Depending on your vibe, I have a couple recommendations.

First, for a nice sit-down restaurant, Ørchard Bar and Table was a standout! I had their Confit Chicken, which was cooked to perfection with the most delicious seasoning and garlic mashed potatoes.

Their cocktails were also fabulous! My friend got the Bee’s Knees, the most beautiful purple gin-based drink and I had the Orchard Lemonade with vodka and freshly-muddled berries. YUM!

Ørchard Bar and Table is just one of three entities where there is a cocktail bar called the Coop and a more laid-back restaurant and shop called Ørchard Farmstand. I recommend checking out the Farmstand, if you still want some great food, but with a less expensive price tag (although, I think it’s worth the splurge!).

If the sunset is calling, Dock’s Beach House Restaurant is a great choice where they serve up classic fried fish dishes.

Alternatively, try Sloopy’s Pizza for a family-friendly option near Madison Street’s live music.

Day 2: Exploring Put-in-Bay

For the full day that you have in Shores & Islands, Ohio, I recommend taking a ferry to one of the neighboring islands: Kelleys Island or South Bass Island aka Put-in-Bay.

Don’t forget breakfast, either at your hotel, or save it for your first stop once you’re on an island!

We visited Put-in-Bay, so for this itinerary that’s the one I’ll be discussing. Kelleys Island also looks like fun, so I don’t think you could go wrong with either one!

To get to Put-in-Bay, you can take either the Jet Express ferry or Miller Ferry.

Jet Express is a faster boat, but makes stops in Port Clinton, Sandusky, Kelleys Island, and Put-in-Bay. It costs $34 for a roundtrip ticket. Miller Ferry is slower, but it travels between Port Clinton and Put-in-Bay alone, so what it lacks in speed, it makes up for in its direct route. Miller Ferry tickets are $18 for a roundtrip passenger fare (without a vehicle).

We took Miller Ferry and the trip was about 20 minutes, one-way.

The first step you to take before exploring the island is renting a golf cart! We went with E’s Put-in-Bay Golf Carts where a 2-passenger golf cart was $55 for the full day. They also have 4-, 6-, and 8-passenger carts.

While you can drive your rental car onto Miller Ferry and around Put-in-Bay, I have to say a golf cart is SO MUCH FUN. I had never rode in let alone driven a golf cart, and it was just such a fun way to get around. When you have the open-air whipping past you, it’s so relaxing and you really feel like you’re living that refreshing lake life!

As far as breakfast goes, I’d go with Pasquales Café. While we had breakfast at our hotel back in Port Clinton, I would have picked this spot based on the restaurant reviews and menu!

Once you’re fueled up and ready to explore, Put-in-Bay has lots to do!

Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial is a massive, behemoth pillar that you can’t miss! It’s actually run by the National Park Service, so there are programs you can engage in. For example, taking the elevator to the observation deck or learning about the significance of the Battle of Lake Erie from a ranger.

Put-in-Bay is also a winery hub, so there are a number to choose from. We went with Heineman Winery because it’s also home to Crystal Cave, the world’s largest geode that you can actually go inside of!

I recommend going there early to book your tour as they can fill up. The combination tour ticket is $12 and includes tours of Crystal Cave, Heineman Winery, and a 5 oz tasting of one of their wines or grape juices!

If you have time to kill before your tour or are looking for another nearby activity, Chocolate Café and Museum is just down the road. The free museum has lots of interesting information about the history and production of chocolate as well as photo ops from pop culture’s best chocolate moments like Willy Wonka and I Love Lucy. Plus, you’ll see lots of chocolate-related memorabilia, like old chocolate boxes and tins.

Of course, you can’t go to the Chocolate Museum without tasting some chocolate. At their café, they have local favorite Toft’s Ice Cream flavors and decadent hot chocolate drinks.* I tried their buckeye hot chocolate (peanut butter and chocolate) and it was creamy and dreamy!

*Milk alternatives available.

When you’re ready for lunch, there are lots of fun themed restaurants back in the main part of town. Because it was overcast and a bit rainy, we went with Hooligans Irish Pub to indulge in some cozy Shepherd’s Pie and a pint of Guinness. It was some good stuff!

Also in town, I would have loved to try Fire House Pizza Company and their neighboring bar, Last Resort Engine Company, where the bar sits around and atop an actual fire truck!

For a cocktail, Mojito Bay looked like so much fun! They have 20+ mojitos on their menu and the bar itself sits in sand where instead of stationary seats, there are swings! A fun, beach party vibe, for sure.

While you’re around Delaware Street, be sure to explore the shops on the south end of the street and DeRivera Park on the north side. We loved Carriage House with boutique artisan goods and the Candy Bar where I may have walked away with a monster homemade rice crispy treat.

There are plenty more things to do in Put-in-Bay to fill your day including visiting Lake Erie Islands Historical Museum, South Bass Island Light (the island’s lighthouse), the Put-in-Bay sign for a photo op, Kimberly’s Carousel (opened in 1917!), Lake Erie Islands Nature and Wildlife Center, and even a bunch of nature trails!

If you’re looking for more places to party, The Roundhouse Bar always had live music and even brings up members of the audience to participate. Beer Barrel Saloon has the world’s longest bar and Fat Fingers Piano Bar has live music! Put-in-Bay Brewery and Distillery is a fun space with great drinks and flights. Finally, The Keys is the perfect spot for a lake view, especially gorgeous during sunset, where you can sip on a Caribbean inspired cocktail.

Once you’ve had your fill, head back to the ferry to return to Port Clinton.

For dinner, I recommend Gideon Owen Wine Company with a diverse menu in an adorable space complete with an indoor firepit, patio with twinkling lights, and ivy-covered stone building. I had a margherita pizza, but the highlight was the flourless chocolate torte, which was perfectly decadent without being too much. My friend got a wine flight for $18. We also both loved their walleye bites, which we had to try because walleye is one of the most popular local fish!

Day 3: Soar Before You Fly Home

Before you return home, there’s still a few activities to do! For breakfast, head to Tin Goose Diner, a classic stainless-steel restaurant that operated until the early 2000s. It was fully restored in Cleveland then moved to its current location at the Liberty Aviation Museum! It will make you feel like you were transported back to the 1950s immediately with red leather booths and Buddy Holly blasting from the music system.

The breakfast is perfectly classic as well. Be sure to try the hash brown stars!

Don’t miss the Liberty Aviation Museum right next door, which houses an impressive collection of historic planes belonging to both civilians and the military. They also offer flights in some of their planes and helicopters, so check their events page for details! We saw their B-17, called the Yankee Lady, in action when we were there on a Saturday.

Tickets for the museum admission are $12 per person with military and AAA discounts.

Finally, if you have time before you need to head back to Cleveland, I recommend a water activity, such as kayaking, SUP, or even a boat cruise. Portage River Paddling Company has rentals for water sports and even axe throwing, gemstone mining, and farm animals. For a cruise, the best way is to hire a boat charter! Some options are Lake Erie Sailing Charters and Blue Sky Charters.

That concludes this fun itinerary for Ohio shores and islands area! You’ve gotten a taste of Port Clinton, Catawba, Marblehead, Lakeside Chautauqua, and Put-in-Bay! If you have more time, consider exploring Sandusky and/or Kelleys Island. Keep reading for more travel planning help!

When is the best time to visit Ohio shores and islands?

This area actually has a season that welcomes visitors, which is Memorial Day through Labor Day. That means that if you visit outside that time, things could be closed, prices could change, and hours may be shortened.

I recommend planning a visit in that window to be sure all the things you want to do are open and available. While it can get crowded, it helps to book things online ahead of time including golf cart rentals and ferry tickets.

We visited just days after Labor Day and it really felt like a ghost town in some spots. Not to say I didn’t still love it, just that they really do shift to locals only past the summer season.

Where is the best place to stay and base yourself in?

I personally stayed at the Fairfield Inn and Suites in Port Clinton. The hotel was right on the water and the free breakfast was better than expected with a full oatmeal bar and milk alternatives. If you have Marriott points to redeem, this is a great option.

Another idea is to stay at one of the small inns along Madison Street in Port Clinton, like the Island House.

Finally, if you want a getaway that feels secluded, I would definitely choose Lakeside Chautauqua because it was littered with the most adorable cottages! It felt like we were in an entirely different area because the community is so quaint. There is a parking permit required to visit during peak season, so be sure to pay upon entry if a pass is not included in your stay.

How to get around Shores & Islands, Ohio

A car is definitely necessary. Not only is it located 45 minutes minimum from a major city, but each city along Ohio’s shores is a 15 minute drive from the next.

A car gives you the flexibility to drive the Marblehead Peninsula and up through Catawba, which is also pretty spread out.

Parking is readily available, so no worries there.

On the islands, while you can drive your car on the ferries and then around the island, it really is so much more fun to rent a golf cart for the day!

How much does it cost to spend a weekend along Lake Erie?

Thank you to Shores & Islands, Ohio for hosting me on this trip! As always, all opinions are my own. If you need more planning resources for this destination, check them out!

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