This Road Trip Will Give You The Best Ohio Beach Day You’ve Ever Had
Are you dreaming of summer adventures already? If you’re like most Ohioans, you likely are—and that’s perfectly OK.
Just because Ohio isn’t situated along any ocean shores, that doesn’t mean you can’t have the ultimate beach day right here in Buckeye State. Lake Erie is our own special sort of ocean here, and the north coast sights are highly underrated. This summer, take a day to enjoy some of the best coastal sights, restaurants and beaches. We’ve mapped out some of our favorites for you to try:
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The total trip only takes about an hour of driving time, giving you plenty of time to enjoy each stop and soak up the sun. To view a Google Map in a separate tab or window, click here.
We recommend kicking off your day trip with a visit to this beautiful coastal park, centered around Marblehead Lighthouse. The oldest lighthouse in continuous operation on the United States side of the Great Lakes is a beautiful sight to behold. Since 1822, this lighthouse has been an active aid-to-navigation. Today, you can tour the lighthouse for a small fee, observe the museum in the keeper's house and picnic on the grounds of the park.
For what's arguably the best ice cream in the Lake Erie area, stop on your way through Port Clinton at Toft's Ice Cream Parlor. (You can thank us for this stop later.)
Who says you can't enjoy ice cream before lunch? With gourmet burgers and tacos, live entertainment and scenic views of Cedar Point Amusement Park and Lake Erie, you couldn't ask for a better waterfront dining experience than Dockside Cafe in Sandusky.
"A Great Lake Place," the town of Huron is a gorgeous lakeside town in Erie County that's picture perfect for a beach day. With several parks, boating culture and public beaches, there's plenty of outdoor recreation here.
While you're in Huron, you'll definitely want to visit Nickel Plate Beach. You'll find it on Nickel Plate Drive, just off of Tiffin Avenue. Note: There is a $5 parking fee and Beach Water Quality Testing is conducted by Erie County Health Department, with results posted on Erie County Health Department Beach Monitoring website under "Huron River East."
April is the Ohio staff writer for Only in Your State. She is an Ohio native with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. With more than 10 years of writing experience and a background in news reporting for Ohio newspapers, she's published pieces in multiple print and online publications. When she's not on deadline or chasing after her toddler, she's hunting for hidden gems in Ohio or getting lost in a good book.
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