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Where it's at
Nicknamed the 'Key West of the North,' Put-in-Bay
Island on Lake Erie has been attracting tourists
for over 100 years with its shopping, boating, fishing, nightlife,
and relaxed pace of life. Boaters flock to the island where
they find Lake Erie life with a twist of the Florida Keys.
Jimmy Buffet tunes drift out of bars and restaurants,
sandals and straw hats are the norm, and the pace of life
seems to glide along nice and slow. Not only is it a short
boat ride from the mainland, but it's surrounded by great
day trip ideas, like Cedar Point Amusement Park in
Sandusky and the other Bass Islands which offer
a more secluded camping holiday.
When to go to Put-in-Bay
Late spring and early summer are considered high season, where
temperatures can range comfortably from 65F to 75F. A summer
hotspot, Put-in-Bay hosts annual events like the Bartender
Olympics and the Barbershop Quartet concert every
July featuring harmonizing quartets from around the region.
Because the island grows considerably quieter during the winter
months, islanders and tourists celebrate Christmas
together every July 25.
Things to see and do in
Put-in-Bay
In addition to an extensive harbor where boaters can dock
for the week, the island offers an array of activities. With
few cars circulating the island, you can rent golf carts or
bikes at a decent price for the afternoon to explore quiet
neighborhoods and secluded beaches - perfect for swimming
and sunbathing.
Perry Peace Memorial
Throughout the war of 1812, Put-in-Bay Island served as a
base of operations for American Commandant Oliver Hazard
Perry. The Commandant drank fresh water from the caves
found on the island and it was from the harbor that Perry
sailed on September 1813 to defeat the British fleet in the
Battle of Lake Erie, a battle that initiated a successful
American counter-attack that drove the British out of Lake
Erie and into Canada. The American victory gave the country
and the United States navy a memorable slogan of positive
accomplishments, "We have met the enemy and they are
ours...," Perry wrote to the commanding American Navy
General.
Today, the Perry Peace Memorial, the nation's third
tallest monument, offers a bird's eye view of other Bass Islands
of Lake Erie. Modeled like a 352-foot granite Greek column,
the monument commemorates not only an important naval victory,
but a peace that has lasted over 150 years. In fact, the 3,987-mile
boundary between the United States and Canada in Lake Erie
is the longest unguarded international border in the world.
Each year in September the island celebrates this peace with
a parade and a performance by the Toledo Symphony Orchestra
at the Peace Memorial.
Daytrips to the Bass Islands
Frequent ferries allow you to island hop between some of
the other Bass Islands: Kelleys Island, the largest
American island in the Great Lakes region, features glacial
grooves carved in limestone 30,000 years ago and undisturbed
natural wildlife habitats; Pelee Island, just inside
the Canadian border, caters to quieter visits with secluded
campsites.
Daytrip to Cedar Point Amusement Park
Or for a change of pace, you could take a ferry to Sandusky,
Ohio, just a few miles away to ride some of the fastest, highest,
most terrifying roller-coasters in the world at Cedar
Point Amusement Park. Situated on a 364-foot peninsula
jutting out into Lake Erie, the park offers dozens of rides
for thrill-seekers. On a clear day, riders can even sneak
a peek at Put-in-Bay from the top of The Magnum's first
hill, standing 205 feet tall.
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