When up at the Lake Erie Shores and Islands, the obvious choice for many is to take the ferry over to Put-In-Bay. Don’t get me wrong; PIB is beyond fun and is full of character. I absolutely love it. However, when I’m looking for a little change of scenery or perhaps a slightly-less party atmosphere, Kelley’s Island is where I love to go.
Like South Bass Island (the island that Put-in-Bay is on), Kelley’s is a limestone glacial island in Lake Erie but is significantly larger geographically. It might be the quieter of the two islands but don’t let that scare you; there is plenty of fun to be had on Kelley’s Island! While many people take a few days to spend ample time on the island (there are plenty of vintage camps around), I think it’s totally fine to do one day there.
Getting there.
There are a few ways to get to Kelley’s but the easiest from the Port Clinton area is to take the Kelley’s Island ferry from Marblehead, which only takes about 30 minutes… I love the ferry because of all the cool things you see along the way! Another option is from Sandusky on the Jet Express. Obviously, if you’re a boater, you can take your own boat too (there’s docking in the downtown area). Finally, apparently some people take planes over there and there are services for it, but I don’t have any personal experience with any of them.
Getting around.
Like Put-In-Bay, the best way around the island is by golf cart which can be rented at the ferry dock or downtown. If you take the Kelley’s Island Ferry from Marblehead, you can bring your car with you but I frankly think that a golf cart enhances the experience. I’ve also seen people rent or bring bike or motorcycles which are also solid options.
Eating.
There aren’t a ton of restaurants on Kelley’s and none of them are “fine dining.” However, we have found some good gems throughout the years.
- Peepers (BBQ)
- The Sand Trap (uhhh mazing chicken terraki sandwich)
- Caddyshack (the pizza is surprisingly good)
- West Bay (anything)
- The Casino (anything)
Things to Do
Like Put-In-Bay, the main activity on Kelley’s tends to be imbibing but unlike Put-In-Bay, the drinking crowd is more family-friendly. There are a few places that are 21+ but most are welcome to any and all ages (even if drinking is strictly STRICTLY 21+)
Putt Putt
There’s an adorable, retro putt putt course right downtown that I love.. It brings back so many memories and I highly recommend it 🙂
Drinking
Some good places to grab a beverage are:
- Village Pump (The Brandy Alexanders are uhhh mazing)
- The Casino (great water views)
- The KI Cantina (try the spicy margarita)
- The Kelley’s Island Winery (great outdoor space)
Ice Cream
All of the ice cream places are downtown… Just make sure it says Toft’s Ice Cream on it–that’s a local favorite.
Glacial Grooves
The Lake Erie Islands were formed from glaciers and the Glacial Grooves shows how! They’re *very* interesting if you’re in to geological history and seeing the grooves is free. Make sure to read the signs.
It’s no secret that I love Lake Erie and all it has to offer. Kelley’s is a well-kept secret that’s quickly gaining popularity… Perhaps you can check it out this summer!
