Visitors can explore the perimeter of the Glacial Grooves — measuring in at 400-feet long, 35-feet wide, and up to 10-feet deep — that were formed by an ice sheet that covered parts of North America about 18,000 years ago. DEBBIE JUNIEWICZ/CONTRIBUTED
The island is also home to Kelleys Island State Park, which offers hiking trails and a swimming beach as well as areas to camp and fish. The nearby North Pond State Nature Preserve, consisting of 30 acres of wetlands, is home to a variety of rare plants and animals and is one of the last natural marshes in Ohio’s western Lake Erie basin.
Getting around the island can be an adventure itself with bike, kayak and golf cart rentals available. Finish out the day with a visit to one of the island’s unique restaurants or the family-friendly Kelley’s Island Wine Co., which has plenty of outdoor seating and even a few farm animals.
Table of Contents
Watersports 101
The inviting Lake Erie waters are just waiting to be explored and what better way to do that than by kayak or paddleboard?
Take a paddling adventure with a view of Cedar Point and the Sandusky shoreline. DEBBIE JUNIEWICZ/CONTRIBUTED
Paddle & Climb – just steps away from Sandusky Bay – is one of the many places to start your aquatic adventure. Life jacket on and paddles in hand, it’s a short walk to the water’s edge and then you can create your own scenic journey. Paddle through the serene coves at Shoreline Park or take to the open water and paddle toward the towering Cedar Point coasters. With rates ranging from an hour to a full day, take as long as you like to enjoy the sights (www.paddleandclimb.com/).
If you’d prefer a planned route, try the Lake Erie Islands Water Trails guide with five circular paddling routes and associated public access points around South Bass, Middle Bass, North Bass, Kelleys Island, and the Catawba and Marblehead peninsula area. For information, visit www.shoresandislands.com/.
Animal adventure
While social distancing seems to have caught on with creatures of the two-legged variety, the four-legged friends you might encounter at the African Safari Wildlife Park in Port Clinton are another story entirely.
Getting up close and personal with a Scottish Highland Cow at African Safari Wildlife Park. DEBBIE JUNIEWICZ/CONTRIBUTED
Friendly alpaca and American Bison as well as a curious giraffe and zebra eagerly gobble up the lettuce and carrots from your hand at the drive-thru safari leaving smudge prints on your windows and smiles on your children’s faces. If you want more animal adventures, there is also a walk-thru safari and kangaroo, porcupine and tortoise feeding experiences.
For information, visit www.africansafariwildlifepark.com.
Nature exploration
From peaceful nature preserves to picturesque lighthouses, there is so much to explore.
The Lake Erie Wing Watch area — the shoreline region between Oak Harbor and Lorain – is among the country’s best areas for birding. From regal bald eagles to colorful warblers, the area is home to more than 300 bird species.
If fishing is your pastime of choice, you can get your fill on Lake Erie. Port Clinton is, after all, the Walleye Capital of the world. There’s more than walleye in the water as September is the best time for smallmouth bass while fall is ideal for yellow perch.
One of the most picturesque tourist attractions along the Lake Erie shores are lighthouses like this one in Vermilion. DEBBIE JUNIEWICZ/CONTRIBUTED
Some of the magnificent sites are manmade as the region is home to eight unique lighthouses — six of which can be viewed onshore. The oldest continually-operating lighthouse on the Great Lakes, the Marblehead Lighthouse is a postcard-perfect destination and one of the most photographed spots on Lake Erie. The Port Clinton and Vermilion lighthouses are both easily accessible as well. For more information and, even, a suggested lighthouse tour route, visit www.shoresandislands.com/.