LAKE COUNTY

From beautiful beaches to boutique lodging, summer is a perfect time to explore what this part of northeast Ohio has to offer.

By Lisa Galek

Beaches

Known colloquially as Mentor Headlands, Headlands Beach State Park is the largest beach in Ohio. With over 3,500 parking spots and 35 acres of sand, weekends and holidays at this beach don’t feel overcrowded. Visitors can experience everything from local food trucks to an arts festival this summer. On an overcast or windy afternoon, watch kitesurfers on the lake riding giant wind-powered kites that pull them across the water.

“It’s poetry in motion,” says Gary S. Gerrone, Headlands Beach State Park manager. “It’s just amazing to watch them flying across the surface and doing various jumps and acrobatics.”

In addition to swimming and sunbathing, Headlands is an ideal site for bird-watching because of its diverse animal habitats. In the evening, summer sunsets are breathtaking, too.

“Any summer day is a vacation here,” says Gerrone. “It’s a great place to just be on the beach, next to a big, beautiful body of water. That’s a huge attraction.”

Not far away, travelers will find Fairport Harbor Lakefront Park. Compared to Headlands, this beach is smaller and nice for families with young kids.

“We’re protected by a harbor, so when other beaches are experiencing big waves, we have a better chance to have a little bit calmer water,” says Seth Begeman, chief of outdoor education for Lake Metroparks.

From Memorial Day through Labor Day, there’s a small fee for parking and the beach is open for swimmers. (Swimming is at your own risk when lifeguards aren’t on duty.) Because of the calm waters, popular activities include kayaking and paddleboarding. Bring your own or purchase an hourly rental at the park. Plan ahead by checking out the harbor webcam online.

“It will tell you exactly what’s going on,” says Begeman. “You can tell if it’s busy, windy or wavy.”

Boutique Lodging

In 2010, Carol Shamakian’s husband went to the grocery store. On the way home, he bought a decaying mansion, months away from demolition. After five years of construc- tion, their family opened Steele Mansion Inn & Gathering Hub in Painesville.

Today, the fully renovated 1867 home is a 16-room luxury hotel and event center. Guests enjoy a morning hot breakfast featuring scrambled eggs, bacon, potatoes and more seven days a week. Most Wednesdays and Fridays, there is a cocktail hour. Visitors can walk the mansion halls while sipping draft beers or local wine.

“It’s romantic. It’s lovely,” says Shamaki- an. “The world goes away when you’re here.”

Built in 1884, Homestead House Bed & Breakfast is in the heart of historic downtown Willoughby. Drive 20 minutes west, and you’re in downtown Cleveland. Travel 20 minutes east to spend the day visiting wineries.

“We’re a hub,” says Deanna Rowe, owner of Homestead House. “We’re so centrally located.”

The Italianate-style home has five guest rooms, each with an en-suite bathroom. Rowe was born in the South and attended culinary school in Paris, so her meals are a unique Southern-French fusion. A multicourse breakfast is served every morning — complete with a dessert like molten chocolate cake or peach cobbler.

“We want people to think of this as their home away from home,” says Rowe.

Interested in visiting Ohio’s wine country? His Majesty’s Bed & Breakfast in Madison is a Victorian-style home in the Grand River Valley.

“The reason everybody comes to our B&B is for the wineries,” offers Laura Shimko, co-owner of His Majesty’s Bed & Breakfast. Shimko and her husband offer person-