Put-In-Bay: Ohio's 'Key West' getaway
Located near Port Clinton, Put-In-Bay is one of Northeast Ohio’s most well known tourist hot spots. Made up of several small islands in the great Lake Erie, Put-In-Bay is an island retreat during the summer and fall months that invites visitors with its prime location and getaway feel.
Visitors can get to the island by private boat or through several local passenger ferries. The most popular are the Jet Express and the Miller Ferry.
A trip to the islands usually means leaving your vehicle behind, since it's much easier to get around there on foot or in rented golf carts. Depending on the ferry you choose, the trip from the main land will usually take 15 to 40 minutes.
Once you arrive at the famous ‘Key West of the North’, a variety of entertaining activities are available. Restaurants and pubs, shops, hotels and resorts, campgrounds, museums, various festivals, concerts, monuments, caverns and beaches await on the Bay.
Imagine reclining on your favorite beach chair under the hot summer sun, sipping a tropical beverage and listening to Lake Erie’s waves caress the shoreline. Put-In-Bay is an unlikely oasis for those who want to treat themselves to a tropical-like getaway without the expense of heading south.
The island hosts an array of annual festivals and events, including the popular Put-In-Bay "Christmas in July" weekend, held on the third weekend in July each year.
If you love Christmas but hate the cold weather and snow, you’ll feel right at home on the Bay during this special weekend. The entire island gets in on the fun and Christmas decorations adorn the backdrop while the restaurants serve holiday-style food.
A Christmas parade and outdoor festival is held each evening under the holiday lights. This is a weekend that is meant for the grownups, as lots of festive alcoholic drinks are served.
The island is officially open for the season the first week in April through Halloween. For more information on Put-In-Bay activities, click here.
- by LeeAnn Mullen, Cleveland Reporter for HelloMetro
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