Dont Give Up The Ship!
It’s summertime and you may be looking for a weekend getaway that won’t break the bank. Look no further, because Taking On Columbus heads to the ‘Key West of the North,’ AKA Put-In Bay.
Located on Lake Erie, Put-In-Bay is the main village on South Bass Island. Put-In-Bay was used as a military base in the War of 1812 by Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, and was crucial in winning the Battle of Lake Erie. It was in this battle that Perry raised his unique battle flag. It was a blue banner with the words “DONT GIVE UP THE SHIP” plainly visible. (Yes the apostrophe is supposed to be missing). These were the supposed last words of Perry’s dear friend, Captain James Lawrence, who was killed four months earlier. The Perry monument was built in honor of Commodore Perry and the brave men that fought in the Battle of Lake Erie. Forty-one years later a man named Joseph de Rivera bought the small island and began to develop the land. The park in downtown Put-In-Bay is therefore named after him. It was shortly after that Put-In-Bay started to become a tourist destination known for its recently developed vineyards.
For more information on Put-In-Bay’s historic past: https://www.putinbay.com/history.htm
Put-In-Bay often is cast as a party goers paradise. However, during the week it is home to many family friendly activities. I have been going up to Put-In-Bay three or four times every summer for many years now and it seems like every time I go, I discover something new. Whether you are looking for a mini family vacation, or an entertaining location for a bachelor/bachelorette party, Put-In-Bay is sure to delight.
There are two convenient ways to get to Put-In-Bay (or the island as I call it). First is the Jet Express. This is the fastest, and probably most convenient, way to get to Downtown Put-In-Bay. The Jet takes you right to downtown Put-In-Bay where most of the hotels are located, but it is the more expensive option. If you are willing to pay a higher price it can be worth it. Another option is the Miller Ferry. If you plan on bringing a vehicle, the Miller Ferry is the way to go! Personally, I ALWAYS use them and even though it is a little bit of a hike to get downtown, it is more affordable and just as enjoyable! They also have taxis that are $3 per person that will take you to your hotel or wherever you need to go once you reach the island. So, in the long run, it can be the more cost effective option.
If you have your own boat, you can tie it up to one of the public docks near DeRivera Park, or hook up to a mooring ball. If you are interested in taking your boat to Put-In-Bay, here is the Put-In-Bay public docking information website: http://visitputinbay.com/pib/getting-here/boating-dockage/
If you are looking to come via boat for the weekend, be sure to try and get to the island early because spots fill up quickly and they are issued on a first come, first served basis. Nonetheless, be sure to stop by because they just redid the docks a few years ago and they look very nice! Plus, the people watching is superb.
The most popular way to get around on the island is by golf cart. Many of the hotels on the island have their own golf cart rental. But if not, don’t fret! There are many places to rent a golf cart for the day or for just a few hours. Even some of the Islanders (Put-In-Bay locals) have their own golf carts. It’s the fastest and most convenient way to see the island.
The first part of the island you will most likely see is Downtown Put-In-Bay. I personally call Delaware Ave (The main road of Downtown Put-In-Bay) the strip because most of the bars and restaurants are on this one strip of road.
The main strip of Put-In-Bay is full of bars and restaurants with lively music and charming boutiques. My favorite bar on the island is called Beer Barrel Saloon, home to The Worlds Longest Bar.
I like it because there are so many places to sit, 4 different bars, and in my opinion they have really good bar food. The mac and cheese bites, fried pickles, and pizza rolls are to die for! And if that doesn’t get you, they also have the staple of all middle school lunches: Bosco Sticks. I haven’t tried their pizza yet, but I’ve heard it is delicious and is next on my list to try! During the day they typically have live music on their patio, and at night they have awesome bands. My favorite cover band, The Menus, play there all of the time and the other bands that play there are always entertaining! The bartenders are friendly and the crowd is always interesting! Be sure to stop by and have a drink at the world’s longest bar.
Next to Beer Barrel is Mr. Ed’s Bar and Grille. They have an amazing pulled pork mac and cheese (I really like mac and cheese if you haven’t noticed). Mr. Ed’s also has live music during the afternoon and at night it can be a fun place to dance and watch live bands. Right above Mr. Ed’s is The Green Room. It is basically a second story patio with a nightclub vibe. It too is an excellent place to people watch.
Also on this main strip of Downtown Put-In-Bay is Frosty’s Pizza and Bar. Frosty’s always has cute shirts for sale and an ice cold beverage waiting for you. In the mornings they serve breakfast and I swear it is the best breakfast on the island (I may be biased, but it is so good). I typically like thin crust pizza, but everyone I know loves Frosty’s pizza. It’s a tradition for frequent visitors to get Frosty’s pizza at least once a summer. In the back they have a fun patio with a burrito bar where you can make your own burritos, nachos, tacos, and more! These burritos put Chipotle to shame (sorry Chipotle, I still love you). I’ve also heard that Frosty’s has great Bloody Marys. So be sure to check it out!
Right next to Frosty’s is my favorite boutique on the island, Country House. Put-In-Bay has many wonderful shops where you can find clothes, bags, and souvenirs, but Country House is my absolute favorite. Country House has so many delightful decorations and knick-knacks. I always end up buying something from there whenever I visit. Whether they come in clutch when I forgot to pack jewelry, or they have a cute uplifting sign that I need in my life, Country House is always a must see. Not to mention the women who work there are so sweet. Plus they have Vera Bradley bags in there. And who doesn’t love a good Vera Bradley bag?
Another popular food spot on the main strip is Chicken Patio. My Mom absolutely raves about their chicken and would eat it everyday if she could. They cook wine basted chicken on a huge grill that is 21 feet long. The corn on the cob and potato salad are to die for! The portions are huge, so come ready to eat!
Next to Chicken Patio is The Roundhouse, or Roundys as the locals call it. As its name hints, it is round on the outside. The Roundhouse has some incredible history to it and a must see when traveling to Put-In-Bay. On any given weekend, you can find the infamous Mike “Mad Dog” Adams entertaining the masses with his music and comedy from 2pm–6pm.
Farther down the road is the home of Put-In-Bay’s only country western bar and restaurant, T&J’s SmokeHouse. I have only been to T&J’s a handful of times, but it is always a blast! Be sure to ride the bull for me. (My Mom says I’m not allowed)
Other honorable mentions are Reel Bar, Put-In-Bay Brewing Co., The Boathouse, and Goat Soup and Whiskey! Reel Bar has one of the best lobster rolls I’ve ever had (it’s a newer menu item). Put-In-Bay Brewing Co. is always on my list of places to go for dinner, Boathouse has some awesome bands that play at night, and The Goat has some of the best food on the island. One thing is for sure: you will never go hungry at Put-In-Bay!
Speaking of being hungry, there are two places that any newcomer to the island MUST visit. The first one is The Boardwalk.
With the Upper Deck and the Main Deck, your food and drink options are almost limitless! The Main Deck is home to the infamous lobster bisque! Full of lobster chunks (they use 36 lobsters in every batch), it’s the best lobster bisque you will ever have. Also be sure to get it in a bread bowl! It will be worth the calories, I promise! The Boardwalk has beautiful lakeside views no matter where you sit and food options for the whole family (they have great corn dogs)!
Another MUST is Cameo Pizza. Imagine this: it’s late night, you have been dancing all night and running around to see all of the different bands on the island. Then you realize you’re starving and are in need of some late night food. Well look no further because Cameo Pizza is the best late night pizza on the island (in my opinion). They can get fairly busy at night, but the pizza is worth the wait, I promise! Any time I am up at the lake, I always get Cameo at least once.
There is much more to do at Put-In-Bay besides eat, I promise! During the week the island can be pretty family friendly! One fun attraction is Perry’s Cave Family Fun Center. With activities like The Butterfly House, the Perry’s Cave tour, and The War of 18 Holes Mini golf, your family is sure to have an entertaining afternoon!
If you or your kids are history buffs, there is Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial and museum to visit!
On the Northeast side of Downtown Put-In-Bay is Perry’s Monument; honoring the brave soldiers that fought in the Battle of Lake Erie and commemorates the long standing peace between Great Britain, The U.S. and Canada. A few hundred yards away from the monument is a small visitors center/museum. Be sure to go in! It is small, but contains so much history about the Battle of Lake Erie. They even have small replicas of the ships that fought in the battle. Between the historical artifacts, the statue of Commodore Perry, and the gift shop, it will be a fun, free treat to escape the heat for a bit. I’ve been several times and still love visiting. After that, be sure to head up to the top of the monument. Admission to the top of the monument is $5.00 for adults and kids under 15 get in free! You get a beautiful view of the island and it is quite an experience actually getting to the top of the monument.
If you are looking for a tour of the island, then stop by the Tour Train! It is a fun way to see the island while getting a history lesson. It’s not as good as the Mann Tour (the tour I give my friends who haven’t ever been to the island ;) ) but it is always interesting.
A hidden gem of Put-In-Bay is Stonehenge. No, not the mysterious standing stones in England, but a historic house that gives you a look at what life on South Bass Island was like during the 1800s. You can do a self guided tour of the stone farmhouse, the wine press cottage, the wine cellar, and the beautiful grounds around the house. It is one of my favorite places to visit on the island and a unique place to take the family.
Another fun location for the entire family is Adventure Bay. It has a fun pool area called the Sand Bar, an arcade, go-karts, bumper boats and so much more! I wish I had nieces and nephews to bring here because I would have just as much fun as they would.
Aside from the family friendly attractions, there are also many adult activities on the island. Like I said before, South Bass Island became known for its vineyards. The Vineyard, Heineman’s Winery, and Put-In-Bay Winery are the most popular vineyards/winerys on the island.
The Vineyard was established in 1984 and is also a bed and breakfast. I have never stayed there, but the rooms are well priced and the whole house is full of antique furniture. It is very quaint and a cute place to stay.
Heineman’s Winery was founded in 1888 and is known for its sweet wines. One of the famous island wines is called Pink Catawba. As the title suggests, it is a very sweet pink wine. Also located near Heineman’s Winery is the Crystal Cave. It was discovered in 1897 and is the world’s largest geode! Where else can you enjoy a Crystal Cave tour, along with Wine tastings?!
The Put-In-Bay Winery was opened in 2009 and has a winery exhibit. Tours are $10 a person and the tour lasts around 35 minutes. You are able to try 5 different types of wine and the tour ends in the gift shop where you are able to purchase wine by the bottle.
Aside from the vineyards, the island has many other places where adults can have fun. The island is home to several pool bars such as Mist, Splash, Sand Bar, Blue Marlin and Dizzy Lizard. Almost all of the bars and restaurants open during the day are also open at night, and two ‘night clubs’ open up around 9 pm. Almost every bar and restaurant only allow people 21 and up after 6pm, so Put-In-Bay may not be the best weekend get away for young adults who have not turned 21 quite yet.
Sunday’s tend to be a quieter affair, but be sure to stick around until at least 2:30pm if you can because every Sunday the island has an antique car parade that people of all ages are sure to enjoy! Another good place to go on Sundays is The Keys. The Keys is the northern most bar on the island and offers amazing perch sandwiches and frozen drinks such as rum runners. If Coffee is more your forte, the Village Bakery and Sandwich Shoppe (located next to the visitors center) makes a mean chai latte and is my go to place for coffee on the island.
There is so much I wasn’t able to mention, but you should go and discover South Bass Island for yourself! Put-In-Bay is a phenomenal place for a weekend getaway or a quick family vacation. I for one consider the island almost a home away from home. While there, you truly are on island time and it can be just the relaxing weekend you need. South Bass Island holds a special place in my heart, and if you get a chance to visit, I bet it will hold a place in your heart too.
“DONT GIVE UP THE SHIP”
Informational Sources:
https://www.nps.gov/pevi/learn/historyculture/battle_erie_detail.htm
