SOUTH BASS ISLAND

RICH WITH HISTORY and rocking with entertainment, South Bass Island offers something for everyone. Ferry service to Middle Bass Island allows you to explore more. From kayak tours to waterfront dining destinations and plenty of free ways kids can take in the island, here are some highlights you’ll want to build into your itinerary.

TIE UP. Put-in-Bay’s downtown public docks A and C offer daytime and overnight stays, as does DeRivera Park B dock. A quarter-mile west is Peach Point in Oak Point State Park. You may be required to raft off up to four boats in public dock spaces, so plan ahead with extra bumpers. Also on the west side of the harbor, Crew’s Nest provides both daily and overnight dockage in a clean, quiet atmosphere that’s perfect for families. There are multiple options if you’ll be a regular on Put-in-Bay, but a membership to Park Place Boat Club is worthwhile for preferential access to docks at The Boardwalk and The Keys, says Peter Huston, project manager of the Great Lakes Islands Alliance and an island resident. Park Place is next to the C dock.

WATERFRONT EATS. Soak in the sunshine and feel the lake breezes at The Boardwalk, an island staple since 1985 with a harbor view that’s “up close and personal — waterfront and center,” The Boardwalk’s Sara Booker Sheehan says. It’s known for lobster bisque and a menu that goes from casual burgers to upscale cuisine. Join in the family-friendly sunset flag ceremony, nightly from Fourth of July to Labor Day. Patriotic music fills the harbor as the flag is lowered.

“Everyone stands at attention,” Booker says. “It’s a moving experience to see everyone honoring the flag. And at the end, everyone blares their horns and we have a nautical salute.”

For a Caribbean vibe, check out The Keys and try conch fritters or Mahi tacos. While there, kids can decorate a piece of driftwood at one of the painting stations. The Keys preserves the pieces and hangs them in a growing art installation. “People come back year after year to find their piece of driftwood,” Booker says.

Cool off with a cone at Dairy Isle on the way to Perry’s Victory & International Peace Memorial.

EXPERIENCE THE HISTORY. If you’re a Put-in-Bay first-timer, your first stop must be the Battle of Lake Erie memorial honoring those who fought in the epic battle when “hero of the Great Lakes” Oliver Hazard Perry led a fledgling American fleet to victory against the Royal Navy of Great Britain. The memorial also celebrates the long-lasting peace among Britain, Canada and the U.S. Take the elevator to the top of the 352-feet Doric column — views for miles.

Experienced boaters might cruise toward West Sister Island, about 10 miles off the southeast coast of South Bass. There, a buoy maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard marks the spot where Perry claimed victory. “If you are interested in the island boating scene, the Lake Erie Islands Historical Society has great pictures and memorabilia dating back to before 1900,” Huston says. A combination of established and rotating exhibits showcase winemaking, Victorian hotels, the ice industry and more. “It’s a wonderful immersion into the history of the islands.”

WINE DOWN. Heineman’s Winery opened in 1888, capitalizing on the island’s ideal grape-growing conditions. Today, it still produces a variety of reds and whites. Kids can explore the Crystal Cave, which houses the world’s largest geode and crystals up to 3 feet in length. The Put-in-Bay Winery on the Dollar House Estate offers harbor views and an exhibit that explains the winemaking process.

PADDLE THE COAST. Kayak the Bay offers personalized tours if you call ahead — or you can paddle a sit-inside or sit-on-top vessel for up to two hours. For more experienced paddlers, the South Bass Island Kayak Rendezvous in June is the premier kayaking gathering on Lake Erie. Beginners can take a ferry to the island and paddle the Put-in-Bay Harbor, and there are miles of coastline for intermediate paddlers. The adventurous can begin their rendezvous at the mainland and cross between islands.

LAKE ERIE, CLOSEUP. The Aquatic Visitors Center offers hands-on science activities, live lake species, research exhibits and a look at how the historic hatchery operated. Children under 16 can fish for free at the pier with borrowed gear and some bait provided by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).