SHORES & ISLANDS

Island Hopping

From quiet, pristine beaches to opportunities for kayaking and hiking, Ohio’s Lake Erie islands offer a great day trip or weekend getaway. South Bass Island, Kelleys Island and Middle Bass Island are all accessible via local boat lines. Each island has a different vibe, and ferries that run between them make it possible to hop from one to the next.

South Bass Island is home to Putin-Bay, known as the Key West of the Midwest. The bustling island is packed with attractions and has a downtown full of restaurants and bars. Put-in-Bay’s most recognizable feature, visible from the mainland on clear days, is Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial, which rises 352 feet above the island. This monument commemorates the Battle of Lake Erie that took place nearby during the War of 1812 and the lasting peace between the United States, Canada and Great Britain. For a fee, an elevator takes visitors to the observation deck for breathtaking views of Lake Erie and the islands. Inside the nearby visitor center, travelers can learn about the pivotal U.S. victory on Lake Erie led by Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry.

South Bass Island’s neighbor to the east, Kelleys Island, is Ohio’s largest Lake Erie island, measuring 4 miles long and 2 miles wide. Kelleys Island offers a qui- eter vibe and a downtown area with a few restaurants, bars and shops. One of the island’s biggest draws is Glacial Grooves Geological Preserve, a national landmark showcasing grooves that were carved into the island’s limestone by glaciers more than 18,000 years ago.

“It’s a part of natural history that we rarely get to see the direct evidence for in such a dramatic way,” says Bill Kennedy, an archaeologist with the Ohio History Connection. “When you see this, you can appreciate the immense power of the glaciers to really scour the rock and shape the stone. It’s a fascinating site.”

The Ohio History Connection and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, who oversee the site together, recently completed major upgrades to the preserve. It is now fully accessible, with an observation platform and an interpretive trail where visitors can learn about the grooves’ geology.

To the north of South Bass Island sits Middle Bass Island, the smallest and least developed of the three islands. Middle Bass’ most iconic feature is the historic Lonz Winery site, which dates to 1866. Today, the now-shuttered business is part of Middle Bass Island State Park. The state of Ohio restored the winery’s stately facade and displays exhibits in the wine cellar where visitors can see artifacts found on the property and learn how wine was made here. The state park includes the soon-to-be restored Lonz family mansion, kayak rentals, a large marina, a primitive campground and a beach.

How to Get to the Islands

Here are the boat lines that can take you to and between the Lake Erie islands.

To South Bass Island

Jet Express high-speed passenger ferry jet-express.com

Miller Boat Line car and passenger ferry millerferry.com

To Middle Bass Island

Miller Boat Line car and passenger ferry millerferry.com

To Kelleys Island

Kelleys Island Ferry Boat Line kelleysisland ferry.com

Jet Express high-speed passenger ferry jet-express.com

Between South Bass Island and Kelleys islands

Jet Express high-speed passenger ferry jet-express.com

Between South Bass and Middle Bass islands

Sonny-S passenger ferry middlebassferry.net