Sandusky and Ottawa counties are packed with potential day trips for families this summer. Try one of these if you're looking for a getaway that's just a short drive to your destination:
African Safari Wildlife Park
Address: 267 S. Lightner Road, Port Clinton
Phone: 800-521-2660
Website: www.AfricanSafariWildlifePark.com
African Safari Wildlife Park has been nominated as one of the top safari parks in the United States in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers Choice Awards.
2024:Port Clinton's African Safari Wildlife Park nominated as one of best in US
Put-in-Bay
Village website:www.villageofpib.com
The village of Put-in-Bay, on South Bass Island, in Lake Erie, has a lot of options, but the one the kids are likely to remember the most is the ferry ride over to the island. There are also a summer full of festivals, a lighthouse, parks and the Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial, which is the world’s largest Doric column.
Mull Covered Bridge
Address: 1515 County Road 9, Fremont
Phone: 419-334-4495
Website:lovemyparks.com/parks/mull-covered-bridge
Wolf Creek, in Ballville Township, features the 166-year-old Mull Covered Bridge. This “town lattice” truss type bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It's one of the last remaining covered bridges in Northwest Ohio.
White Star Park
Address: 925 S. Main St., Gibsonburg, OH 43431
Phone: 419-334-4495
Website: lovemyparks.com/parks/white-star-park
Swimming is fun for the whole family at Sandusky County's White Star Park, which was once a quarry. If you are a little more adventurous, learn to scuba dive together. There is a submerged plane and school bus “wrecks” to check out.
Vacationland in Ottawa County
Websites:PortClinton.com, shoresandislands.com
More than just downtown Port Clinton, the Lake Erie shore in Ottawa County is referred to as Vacationland, with bands playing, small walkable villages and touristy shops. Stop at the Great Lakes Popcorn Co. for a bag in any of more than a dozen flavors while checking out boats along the shoreline.
Hayes Museum
Address: Spiegel Grove, Fremont, OH 43420
Phone: 419-332-2081
Website: rbhayes.org
The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums is America’s first presidential library and the forerunner for the federal presidential library system. It is partially funded by the state of Ohio and affiliated with the Ohio History Connection.
Walleye fishing
Website: Shores and Islands
If you don't have a boat, or a favorite charter captain, there are lots of river-based options for attempting to catch walleye, the official state fish of Ohio. Both the Sandusky and Maumee Rivers have great walleye fishing opportunities that don't require a boat.
Local museums
Ottawa and Sandusky Counties have a variety of high-quality small museums that offer a local perspective on history that is tough to capture in the bigger city and national museums.
The Northcoast Veterans Museum in Gibsonburg is packed full of military history. Find it on Facebook.
Address: 411 North Main, Gibsonburg
Phone: (419) 680-3217
The Clyde Museum and General McPherson House features a historical collection that includes transportation, Native American artifacts, church history, education, pioneer- to industrial-era objects and information on famous people from the Clyde area, including author Sherwood Anderson.
Address: 124 W. Buckeye St., Clyde
Phone: 419-547-7946
Website: Museum and General McPherson House,,
Marblehead Lighthouse
Address: 110 Lighthouse Drive, Marblehead
Phone: 419-734-4424
The Marblehead Lighthouse Historical Society Museum,
The Wolcott House (The Keeper's House)
Address: 9999 E. Bayshore Road, Marblehead
Information: Email info@ottawacountyhistory.org.
The Marblehead Lighthouse is the oldestlighthouse in continuous operation on the Great Lakes. It is part of the Ohio State Park system.
419-332-2674
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