A Mini-Vacation: Put-In-Bay and Kelleys Island!

NOTE: I was provided free round trip ferry tickets for Put-In-Bay by Miller Ferry. I was also provided with free Perry’s Family Fun Center combo tickets. As always, all views are my own.

This weekend, B and I got to enjoy an island vacation getaway! Take a look at some of these awesome pictures – and guess where we were:

20130721_115639 20130720_171143 20130721_085011 b and me on top of monument

A tropical island paradise? Yup – if you haven’t figured it out by the title, we made the weekend trip to a few of the islands in Lake Erie. That’s right – for my non-Ohio friends and my family who have asked – there are islands in Lake Erie. Quite a few actually, and they are beautiful! Beaches, bars, restaurants, boats, history (they were part of the War of 1812!) and more, they made for a great mini-vacation for B and me.

This is a map of the islands. And the view of them.

We had originally planned on just spending the day on Put-In-Bay because I had gotten complimentary ferry tickets from Miller Boat Line and a family combo pack to Perry’s Cave & Family Fun Center – but when we went to the dentist on Monday, our plans changed. Our dentist is good friends with B’s parents and we spend New Years with them on occasion. He and his family also have a house on Kelleys Island and when they heard we were going to be on Put-In-Bay, they told us we were welcome to stay with them during our trip. So we changed our plans and got to enjoy BOTH islands – Put-In-Bay AND Kelleys. Here are some highlights from the trip:

Put-In-Bay

We've arrived! We walked across the island to get from Miller Ferry to downtown PIB (There's also a bus that's $2.50. We just felt like walking) — We’ve arrived! We walked across the island to get from Miller Ferry to downtown PIB (There’s also a bus that’s $2.50. We just felt like walking)

Perry's Victory & International Peace Memorial — We decided to visit Perry’s Victory & International Peace Memorial

It's an International Peace memorial. I learned that US and Canada have had more years of peace than any other countries that share a border! — It’s an International Peace memorial. I learned that US and Canada have had more years of peace than any other countries that share a border!

And the view on top of the memorial was AMAZING. I definitely recommend checking out the monument, going to the top for picture and then checking out the Visitors Center to learn more.

We had someone take a pic of both of us at the top of the monument. The sky and water was so blue!

We sweated a little playing mini golf at Perry's Family Fun Center — We sweated a little playing mini golf at Perry’s Family Fun Center. Each hole marker has a fact about the War of 1812 – it was pretty cool and educational!

B's a pro. He beat me by 5 strokes! — B’s a pro. He beat me by 5 strokes! He also got a hole-in-one on the first hole.

Loving the Butterfly House at Perry’s Family Fun Center https://t.co/cRHxLVdjpo

— Melissa Koski Carney (@koskim) July 21, 2013

Butterflies!

We cooled down in Perry's Cave. It's called that because Commodore Perry found the cave and the pool inside and used it for drinking water for his seaman during the War of 1812! — We cooled down in Perry’s Cave. The cave is 50+ feet below the ground and is pretty much always 50 degrees. It’s called that because Commodore Perry found the cave and the pool inside and used it for drinking water for his seaman.

We grabbed lunch and drinks at the Put-In-Bay brewery. I tried their Watermelon Summer Draft - it was actually pretty good! Too sweet to have more than one though. — We grabbed lunch and drinks at the Put-In-Bay brewery. I tried their Watermelon Summer Draft – it was actually pretty good! Too sweet to have more than one though. Oh and yes, those are girls in bathing suits walking across the street behind me. That’s a perfect visual explanation of Put-In-Bay 🙂

Our beers from the brewery. Kinda blurry/misty but the glasses say "Don't Give Up The Ship" which is on flags all over the island, just like the flag Commodore Perry hung on his ship! — Our beers from the brewery. Kinda blurry/misty but the glasses say “Don’t Give Up The Ship” which is on flags all over the island, just like the flag Commodore Perry hung on his ship!

Parade! Every Sunday the island has an antique car parade.

Kelleys Island

Kelleys Island parade! https://t.co/ap4qgkgVe7

— Melissa Koski Carney (@koskim) July 20, 2013

After the parade, we walked to downtown and enjoyed some live music at the Casino. And this view - talk about peaceful! — After the parade, we walked to downtown and enjoyed some live music at the Casino. And this view – talk about peaceful!

B then got a quick sailing lesson! Sadly (for the boat) there wasn't too much wind. — B then got a quick sailing lesson! Sadly (for the boat) there wasn’t too much wind.

I'm happy to be on mini-vacation. And on a sailboat on Lake Erie :) — I’m happy to be on mini-vacation. And on a sailboat on Lake Erie 🙂

afternoon sailing lesson https://t.co/TV649PMJI3

— Melissa Koski Carney (@koskim) July 20, 2013

After sailing we went to the beach. I went swimming in the Lake for a while and caught some late-afternoon rays. Yes, I take selfies. But B goofs off in the background so technically it's not a real selfie right? — After sailing we went to the beach. I went swimming in the Lake for a while and caught some late-afternoon rays. Yes, I take selfies. But B goofs off in the background so technically it’s not a real selfie right?

The next morning B and I got up early and went for a short run around the island. We stopped to admire the glacial grooves that are on the island

Of course I made B take a picture of me during the run. It seems to me that I wear that shirt running a lot. That's me in front of one of the many the Kelleys Island quarries. — Of course I made B take a picture of me during the run. It seems to me that I wear that shirt running a lot. That’s me in front of one of the many the Kelleys Island quarries.

This is way more pictures of B and me together than we usually get on a weeklong vacation!

All in all it was a GREAT trip and a perfect relaxing weekend that I definitely needed. I can’t believe I haven’t been to these islands sooner – I’ve lived in Cleveland nearly 6 years and I’ve never made the trip! I hope we’ll be back soon. Thanks again to Miller Boat Line for the free tickets!

Some cool things I learned on the islands:

The Perry Monument is taller than the Statue of Liberty, but not taller than the Washington Monument.
Sailing is difficult. If B wants to learn, we’ll need a few more lessons.
I may get seasick on sail boats. Hopefully not …. but it’s not confirmed yet.
Vacations are better with parades. Two parades in one weekend makes for a GREAT vacation. And parades are better with candy.
From 9-10 a.m. Put-In-Bay is pretty quiet and peaceful. After that it got loud and much more crowded.
Put-in-Bay’s population is estimated at 450. The majority of island residents are in the tourism industry and 63% of them are of German descent. Put-in-Bay School’s Class of 2011 had 13 students, the largest class Put-in-BaySchool has seen since 1975. Can you imagine that?!
Kelleys island is about four by two miles and is the largest freshwater American island in Lake Erie.

Some questions for you:

Have you ever been to Put-In-Bay or Kelleys Island? If yes, what’s your favorite place on the island(s)?
Did you know that Lake Erie had islands you could visit?
Do you like beaches or do you prefer other types of vacations? I love beach vacations! Give me some sand, sun and water and I’m good to go.
How big was your high school class? Mine was just about 500 students. I can’t imagine 13!
Have you ever been in a butterfly cave? Did you study butterflies in school? I remember a butterfly unit where we each had our own caterpillars and watched them turn into butterflies. It was pretty cool. Much cooler than the mealworm unit!
Do you know how to sail?

3 responses to “A Mini-Vacation: Put-In-Bay and Kelleys Island!”

LeoNard Thompson

July 22, 2013

I am from Cleveland, and I made several trips there as a child and teen. Your post’s narrative and photos being back GREAT memories. I am definitely going to experience it as an adult, thanks for reminding me how great it is!

Jill Bauer (@JillBauerLESI)

July 23, 2013

Melissa! Glad you finally got over to visit the Lake Erie Shores & Islands! You’ll be back now, I’m sure.

1. Melissa (I Crashed the Web)
  
  July 23, 2013
  
  Yes, I definitely will. I hope to now be able to take at least a mini-vacation on the islands once a year!

I Crashed The Web