Having lived in Ohio most of my life, I was surprised I had never heard of the Lake Erie Islands when a friend asked me if I wanted to spend a long weekend exploring Put-in-Bay. Curious to learn more about this popular Ohio vacation spot, I found that Put-in-Bay is a town on one of the thirty-three islands that make up the Erie Islands archipelago. The three most visited in Ohio include Kelleys Island, South Bass and Middle Bass islands off the shore of Port Clinton.
The drive was nearly three hours from Dublin so we checked into the Sleep Inn on OH-53 to drop off our luggage and have lunch. We found this great Mexican place next door and had a couple of drinks and tacos at Casa Las Palmas. Just over 10 minutes and we reached the parking lot to catch the ferry, courtesy of Miller’s Ferry, which dropped us off at the island. We had the option to walk or wait for a bus to drive us into town, so we chose the bus for a $2 fee.
The bus dropped us off at the edge of town where we immediately recognized its charm as we found ourselves at the corner of Main Street and Langram Road. Deciding to reach the pier, we made our way through the large tree-filled lawn. To our right I noticed a large Doric column out of the corner of my eye which looked more like a Washington DC monument than an Ohio memorial.
We had some drinks at the Boardwalk and then wine at Put-in-Bay Winery overlooking the lake taking in the boats docked in the harbor. It was the perfect day to slip into the nearby bars for a drink and bar hop the afternoon away.
A long sidewalk arrives at the base of the tower which connects downtown Put-in-Bay to East Point. We arrived at entrance within minutes from the pier and paid the $10 entrance fee. With sunny skies and miles of visibility, I was looking forward to reaching the top.
We boarded the elevator to reach the platform with 360 degrees of breathtaking views. Sailboats and speedboats dotted the crescent shaped harbor.
A closer look at the peninsula that rounds out the moon-shaped edge of the island, shows beautiful homes with gorgeous views of Lake Erie’s clear water.
The monument was named after Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry who fought against the British in the Battle of Lake Erie. With his famous motto, “Don’t Give Up the Ship”, Perry took control of Lake Erie, which helped win the War of 1812.
A map of the site where the war took place has been engraved in steel on the observation deck. Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial was first built in 1915 to represent the long-lasting peace between the United States, Canada and Britain. Standing 352 feet above Lake Erie, it is the tallest Doric column in the world.
The copper rotunda at the top of the tower is decorative and stylish. In memory of those who fought in the battle, the names of Perry and the six soldiers who lost their lives are commemorated on its walls. The bodies of the six have been buried under its rotunda.
Standing 47 feet higher than the Statue of Liberty, Perry’s Memorial is the only international peace memorial in the US National Park System and ranks high on my list of things to do in Put-in-Bay.
Have you visited Put-in-Bay, one of Ohio’s Lake Erie vacation spots? What were some of the activities that are on the top of your list? I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below and wishing you many Happy Travels!
What to See and What to Do:
Perry’s Victory and International Peace Monument
93 Delaware Avenue
Put-in-Bay, Ohio 43456
Telephone: 419 285 2184
Where to Stay:
Sleep Inn, Port Clinton
947 OH-53 N
Port Clinton, OH 43452
Telephone: 419 732 7707
Where to Eat:
Casa Las Palmas
4000 E Harbor Light Landing Drive
Port Clinton, OH 43452
Telephone: 419 734 6593
What to Read:
- Put-In-Bay books by Robert Adamov
Photo Guide for Put-in-Bay:
- Perry’s Victory & International Peace Memorial, Put-in-Bay
- Front entrance gate at Cedar Point
- Glacial Grooves, Kelleys Island
- Inside Crystal Cave, Put-in-Bay
- Sunset from West Bay, Kelleys Island
- Lake Erie Love signs, Nickel Plate Beach, Huron and Waterworks Park, Port Clinton
- “Greetings From” murals, Port Clinton and Vermillion
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