FAMILY TRAVEL
— by Deborah Williams
morning of September 10, 1813, when
a lookout spotted six British vessels to
the northwest, past Rattlesnake Island.
Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry issued
a flurry of orders and made preparations
to sail forth to engage the British. He
first hoisted his battle flag inscribed with
these words: “Don’t Give Up the Ship.”
Before the day ended, Commodore
Perry had defeated and captured a Brit-
ish squadron of warships and secured
control of Lake Erie for the United
States. It was a decisive victory against
the world’s greatest naval power and a
turning point in the war.
Ohio’s Lake Erie Islands Offer Warm
Weather Getaways for Families
S
andusky, a lakefront city
an hour west of Cleveland,
is probably best known to
roller coaster fans as the home of Cedar
Point Amusement Park. It bills itself as
the roller coaster capital
of the world, and its 18
world-class roller coast-
ers draw visitors from
near and far.
It is the second old-
est amusement park
in North America and
boasts hotels, inns,
campgrounds, a mile-
long Lake Erie beach, a
waterpark, restaurants, a
marina — even wave runners and para-
sailing.
Beyond Cedar Point there is another
nearby world of islands that draw visi-
tors looking for quieter pursuits. The Jet
Express ferryboat stops at downtown
Sandusky and Cedar Point, providing
service to a group of Lake Erie islands
that offer ideal warm weather getaways
for families.
These islands have it all: a low key
vibe with golf carts for transport, beach-
es, water sports, a National Park Service
Peace Memorial, resorts, hotels, camp-
grounds, unique geological formations,
and wineries.
22 WNY Family April 2019
There is an old-fashioned summer
resort feeling on the islands. Few cars,
no traffic, time to slow down and step
back to a simpler time — perfect for
families. These islands have become
Ohio’s
summer
playground.
Riding outside
on our ferry, it was
easy to spot our
destination: Put-in-
Bay, a small village
on two mile square
South Bass Island,
14 miles from San-
dusky.
A
352-foot
tall memorial column towers over the
marina. It is the most prominent fea-
ture of Perry’s Victory and
International Peace Memo-
rial that was established to
honor those who fought in
the Battle of Lake Erie dur-
ing the War of 1812, and to
celebrate the long-lasting
peace among Great Brit-
ain, Canada, and the United
States. The Doric column is
just five miles from the lon-
gest undefended border in
the world.
But the world was quite
different at dawn on the
“We have met the enemy and they
are ours,” Perry said in a dispatch to
Gen. William Henry Harrison.
During the summer season, hands-
on children’s programs are offered daily
and cover topics from natural sciences
to history. Check in the Visitor Center
for times. Children are also invited to
become a Junior Ranger. Pick up the
free Junior Ranger activity booklet in
the center. Once children complete the
activities they take an oath to protect the
parks and nature. Park rangers also offer
regular programs.
On weekends there are regular mus-
ket firing demonstrations conducted by
rangers attired in War of 1812 uniforms.
“Many visitors are surprised to
learn about the War of 1812,” explained
Rob Whitman, who has served as a park
ranger since 2007. “It is somewhat of a
forgotten war between the better known
Revolutionary War and the Civil War.
Kids really like the musket firing and the
view from the top of the memorial.”
The Visitor Center offers art, exhib-
its and artifacts from the Battle of Lake
Erie. A 15-minute film
covering the history
of the battle is shown
throughout the day. Af-
ter climbing 37 steps
at the Peace Memorial,
an elevator takes visi-
tors to the tallest open-
air observation deck
in the National Park
Service. On a moder-
ately clear day the ob-
servation deck offers a
panoramic view of the
Lake Erie islands and