Top Things to do in Put in Bay
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What to do and see in Put in Bay, Ohio (OH): The Best Budget-friendly Things to do
Discover the best top things to do in Put in Bay, United States including Freshwater Charters, South Bass Island, Perry's Victory & International Peace Memorial, Lake Erie Islands Historical Society, Kayak the Bay, Put-in-Bay Winery, Butterfly House, Aquatic Resource Center, South Bass Island Lighthouse, Heineman Winery.
Restaurants in Put in Bay
1. Freshwater Charters
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 39 reviews
Located on the island of Put-in-Bay, Freshwater Charters offers the opportunity to go out and catch the big Walleye, Perch and Bass. Locally owned and operated by Capt. Cliff Fulton, Freshwater Charters can be your one stop Lake Erie destination. Get out and see the islands, experience the lake up close and catch the big one. We offer customized fishing charters to accommodate 6 people or less.
2. South Bass Island
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 355 reviews
Theres plenty to see at South Bass Island, such as the Marblehead Lighthouse, the Cedar Point Amusement Park, and the William Perry Monument, and its fishing opportunities cant be beat, especially if you're fishing for Walleye and Perch.
Reviewed By Wayfairing_Man - Buffalo, United States
In September 2018, my wife and I spent a relaxing day at Put-In-Bay, Ohio, which is on an island in Lake Erie just north of Port Clinton/Catawba Island. Put-In-Bay/South Bass Island struck me as a mini-version of Mackinac Island except cars are allowed here. Some ferry lines to Put-In-Bay shut down in September which is why we took the Miller Ferry over to the island as pedestrians. Transit time was around 20 minutes. Do note the dock locations for the Ferry lines in Put-In-Bay as the Miller Ferry Dock there is around 2 miles to the center of town while another Ferry Line has a Dock within walking distance of the town. Regarding the Miller Ferry, they have gift shops and restrooms at both of their docks. Their fares seemed reasonable to me and they operate on a first come, first served basis. Note-Consider printing out the restaurant/lodging/things to do discount coupons on their website. On the mainland, Miller has 5 free parking lots with Lot 1 being the closest to their loading dock followed by Lots 2 & 3 which are west of the dock on Water Street. There is also a pay parking lot near the dock which during peak travel times you may have to use. Miller transports a limited number of cars and even bicycles, but gives priority to walk on pedestrians if space becomes a factor. On our trip over, there were two eighteen wheeler trucks that consumed most of the parking spots available on the ferry. Do note Miller's vehicle guidelines particularly on roundtrip restrictions between the mainland and the island. Ok, you're now at the Miller Ferry Dock at the south end of Put-In-Bay. To get around the island and depending on your lifestyle, you can walk, jog, rent a bike near the dock, rent a golf cart near the dock or you already have your car and are ready to go. Personally, I'd pass on bringing your car over (unless you're staying for a bit) and apply the car ferry fee to a bike or golf cart rental. The car option just doesn't give you the same up close island experience. As we wanted to see as much as we could within our allotted time, have some protection against inclement weather and have a spot to store my wife's shopping purchases, we opted to rent a golf cart for the day (instead of being charged by the hour). Plus its fun to tool around in a golf cart and feel a fresh breeze in your face. After getting a golf cart, our first stop was to visit the nearby South Bass Island Lighthouse and see some views of Lake Erie. We then travelled on Langram Road for around 1.5 miles and peeked into a General Store and got some refreshments. We then travelled another mile to the intersection of Catawba and Delaware. From this intersection, we were able to walk around and hit the various shops, boutiques and restaurants in this quaint town. The tree covered town park starts at this same intersection and contains public restrooms. As it was September, many shops had end of summer sales going on. Just northeast of town is the (Commodore) Perry’s Victory & International Peace Memorial and visitor's center managed by the US National Park Service. Tour$ are available including access to the monuments observation deck which is 317 feet above Lake Erie. We visited a winery on Bayview and another one on Catawba for wine tastings. We passed by at least three neat outside bars. One had a Tiki Hut theme. Another had a Margaritas theme. Beware of the Chocolate Cafe. If you go in, you won't come out empty handed. Kids might like seeing Perry's Cave, the Crystal Cave, the Butterfly House or the Carousel on Delaware Street. My wife and I rounded out our day by driving our golf cart around the outer fringes of the island and taking in the views. We came across several grape vineyards and unique homes. In short, we enjoyed our day trip to Put-In-Bay.
3. Perry's Victory & International Peace Memorial
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 869 reviews
Rising 352 feet above Lake Erie, this monument commemorates an American victory during the War of 1812.
Reviewed By 416larryt - Terre Haute, United States
Learned History of the Lake and island. Major Ship battles and a nice 15 minute video. Great view from the tower and the guides gave us some more about the History
4. Lake Erie Islands Historical Society
5. Kayak the Bay
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 100 reviews
Kayak the Bay, Ltd. has single and double sit-in and sit-on-top kayaks in downtown Put-in-Bay, Ohio in Lake Erie. Gibraltar Island is only a few minutes paddle away with extraordinary limestone cliffs and coves. You can take an easy paddle in the harbor and paddle up to the 3rd tallest national monument, Perry's Monument, or follow the west shore to the Benson Ford (this has been on MTV's Unusual homes)or paddle over to Middle Bass Island and a walk around the old Lonz Winery with the glacial grooves in the back of the property. A paddle east will take you to East Point where you can get a great view of Middle Bass Island and Ballast Island or get out and have a picnic. Pull up and walk the beach Our kayaks are for getting in between the cliffs and rocks-they are very stable. Great for beginners and experienced kayakers. We give instructions on where to go depending on weather and your skill level. We can accommodate large groups and can personalize custom Sunset Tours or any kind of tour with a guide for your group.
6. Put-in-Bay Winery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 229 reviews
Reviewed By BonnieBee3
While having a glass of wine (I chose Concord and my husband selected Blackberry), we relaxed at a table in the grass while people-watching and water-gazing. The wines were so delicious, we each had a second glass. They were a perfect midday adult treat for us before exploring more of Small Bass Island!
7. Butterfly House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 243 reviews
Reviewed By 861lisamarief
This is a splendid place to spend an hour or more. The garden is lush and the butterflies are gorgeous! Worth the price of admission.
8. Aquatic Resource Center
9. South Bass Island Lighthouse
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 120 reviews
Reviewed By julieg6918 - Milton, United States
My husband and I had a fun time walking around the grounds and reading the informative plaques. It would've been nice to tour the inside as well but even seeing the grounds was worth the stop.
10. Heineman Winery
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 463 reviews
Put-in-Bay's Only Winery.
Reviewed By SCT0808 - Youngstown, United States
My wife and I went here. We did the cave tour for $7 each and it came with a free glass of wine. The winery is kind of like an old saloon style inside. Great tasting wine , bought two awesome pepper jack beef sticks also for $2 a piece. The cave crystals were very cool to see too although it was small down in the cave.
