Did You Know You Can Go Island Hopping in Ohio?

An Adventure-Packed Island Visit

Sandusky, Ohio is well-known by thrill seekers because of the record-breaking thrill rides at Cedar Point. Undoubtedly, the amusement park is a must-see destination for any die-hard rollercoaster fan. What many don't know though, is that just beyond the boundaries of the adrenaline-fueled destination, is the hidden treasure of a small group of islands. We chose to visit Put-in-Bay.

How to Get to Put-in-Bay

It turns out that transportation from Sandusky to the Put-in-Bay is fairly simple. You can park your car right at the boat dock (metered or free parking) in Sandusky and catch the 45-minute boat ride to the island of your choice. There are a couple of options for getting to and from the island: Miller’s Ferry and Jet Express.

We opted to ride with Jet Express because it docks where we wanted to spend the majority of our time on the island (downtown). 

Perry’s Monument

Put-in-Bay has a lot of history that you are greeted with that immediately. 

Perry's Monument, which stands an impressive 352 -feet in the air, is the first thing 

you will see.

Take the elevator up and you will then be standing on the tallest open-air observation deck in the National Park Service. In fact, the column is one of the tallest monuments in the U.S.A. The Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri; the San Jacinto Monument near Houston, Texas; and the Washington Monument in Washington D.C. are the only ones listed as being taller.

A note to consider,  you do have to take just under 40 steps, to get to the elevator. 

A park ranger is then on hand to answer any questions. The views are astounding, allowing you to take in not only Lake Erie and some of its islands but the Ohio mainland as well. On a clear day, you can  see nearby islands in Ontario (Canada) as well as parts of Michigan (United States).

The monument itself is also a memorial to honor those who fought in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812, and to celebrate the long-lasting peace between Britain, Canada and the US. Six soldiers are buried beneath its stone floor, 3 British and 3 American. The names of soldiers who were hurt or killed are carved into the walls on the inside of the rotunda.  

Detailing the construction of the tower

 at Perry’s Monument.

The construction of the tower, and how the materials were shipped and moved on the island is really quite interesting, and it’s detailed in the Visitor’s Center. The granite was shipped via barges to the island. This was no small thing because we are talking about a tower that weighs 18,400 tons. A small railway laid specifically for the project moved the stone from the dock to the Put-in-Bay construction area.

Celebrating a longstanding peace agreement between the 3 countries.

The history of the war is fascinating and the benefits from it are still felt today, as it allowed Americans to take control of Lake Erie, and prevented the British from penetrating middle United States. In the end it was also pivotal in the peace treaty reached, and so many years later we still have an alliance with Britain and Canada.

“We have met the enemy and they are ours…”

-Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, September 10, 1813

As noted by the National Park Service, “From the beginning of the war, the British dominated Lake Erie, but in the spring of 1813, American commander of naval forces on the lake, Oliver Hazard Perry, arrived to challenge British supremacy. Perry established a base at Presque Isle, Pennsylvania, and his crew of shipbuilders frenetically built a fleet of American warships from scratch.”

“The ensuing naval engagement was ferocious. Perry’s flagship, the Lawrence, was badly damaged, and his crew suffered 80 percent casualties. Perry abandoned ship and rowed to the largely unscathed Niagara to resume the fight. Ultimately, Perry’s counterblows forced Barclay to surrender his entire squadron— something that had never happened in British naval history.”

Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry

A statue of Perry is in the Visitor’s Center as well. He was a mere 28-years-old when he won the battle, but already had 14 years of military experience under his belt, as he was appointed a midshipman at age 14 (some accounts say he was even a year younger).

How to Travel Around Put-in-Bay

After our visit to the monument, we set about to explore the island. You can walk

 (though it would be hard to see the whole island this way) rent bikes, get a moped,

 or even drive (though I’ve heard it’s expensive to bring your car over on the boats).

 We opted to rent a golf cart for the day. There are signs to let you know which

 businesses rent them out, or if the ferry brought you over, you can get one

 immediately when you disembark. 

Put-in-Bay Candy Shoppe

The charming stores aligning the walkways are fun to explore. The candy shoppe was full of old-fashioned sweet treats popular in my youth. There were some surprises as well, such as lollipops that had crickets or other insects embedded inside of them (no thank you). We filled up a box with saltwater taffy; it is always a favorite when we are in the Great Lakes Region.

Put-in-Bay has Underground Adventures

Our next stop was Heineman's Winery and Crystal Cave. The shop where you buy your tickets to both had some great souvenirs for sale, including various sizes and styles of split geodes.

Geodes encased for display inside of the waiting area for the winery and underground cave adventures. So many different types and sizes of geodes were on display. All of them were quite fascinating, to say the least.

Crystal Cave: The World’s Biggest Geode

A ladder takes you underground to what they claim is the world’s largest geode (yes,

 you are walking inside of one huge rock). There are celestine crystals up to 3ft.

 in width lining the walls and ceiling. 

This experience alone is reason enough to visit the island. A natural marvel, this is a cave

worth seeing. It is a little chilly here because it is underground, so you might want to

wear something with sleeves or bring a jacket.

Heineman’s Winery

Once we resurface from the underground crystal cave, we sat for a few minutes in the

winery waiting area and enjoyed some grape juice (you can opt for wine). 

When everyone from the line was back up and ready to move forward, we started our 

tour of Heineman's. This is a working winery that has been in business for over 135 years.

Wines and Grape Juice made on site

This is a working winery that has been in business for over 135 years. 

Antique winery equipment

Clearly things have come a long way in terms of making, bottling and storing their products. Everything is electronic now including the capping, but we did get to see a conveyor line that reminded me of Laverne and Shirley (old TV show), along with some antique winery equipment.

Perry’s Cave

Directly across the street from Crystal Cave and Heineman’s was Perry’s Cave

Family Fun Center. This area allowed you to again, explore the underground via a 

visit through Perry's Cave. This cave is 52 ft. underground and boasts a fresh water 

lake.  The lake rises and falls with the tides of Lake Erie, but is still deemed to be

a bit mysterious since nobody knows how the fresh water and the Great Lake are

actually connected.

Children’s Area

After the underground cave adventure, there are plenty of areas to rest and play. Fort A_ Maze’N, an area where the kids or kids-at-heart can try to find their way out of the structure. Record your time going in and coming out so you can see how long it took you  to find your way. There is also a butterfly house, mini golf, 'gold mining,' a rock wall, a snack shop and a souvenir store. 

Skip's Antique Car Barn

This antique transportation museum was a captivating journey through the past.  Showcasing vehicles from a bygone era, including a remarkable John Deere Stagecoach,  it offered a vivid glimpse into how far transportation has evolved. The collection featured  everything from vintage cars to a charming popcorn wagon, and even a unique snow  blower resembling a mini truck.

Returning to the Mainland

If you are only staying for the day, it will probably be time to head back to the downtown

area where you can enjoy the festive nightlife area or grab some dinner before heading

back to the mainland via the Jet Express. One thing you do need to do is make sure you

get your tickets for the ferry at the window prior to departure. This is super simple, but

necessary (for boarding). You have the option to choose your departure time when you

first purchase your tickets to the island, or you can decide later, to maintain flexibility. In

our case, we were not certain what the weather was going to be like in the late afternoon 

so we opted for the latter approach.

Plan Your Visit to Put-in-Bay!

Our trip to Put-in-Bay was nothing short of amazing and for our next visit, we are planning to make it a full weekend getaway by booking a hotel. There’s still so much more to experience! A word to the wise: accommodations book-up fast, so reserving your stay well in advance is non-negotiable.

If you’re in or around Sandusky, Ohio, and looking for a unique adventure, I highly recommend hopping on a boat and exploring the islands—especially Put-in-Bay, where we chose to spend our time.

Who would have guessed you could go island hopping in Ohio? It’s truly a hidden gem waiting to be discovered!