South Bass Island, also referred to as Put-In-Bay, is a nature lover’s oasis. The water provides its own fun with fishing, boating, kayaking, and swimming, but the island itself is full of great activities as well. And the best part? You don’t have to break the bank to enjoy an island getaway!
A friend’s daughter and I pitched our tent and explored the island for three days and two nights. We had so many laughs and enjoyed everything the island has to offer. A few of our favorites included shelling, hiking, cruising in our golf cart, watching the sunset from our cliff side campsite, and of course, riding the ferry there and back. Read on for all the details to help make your trip fantastic.
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Getting to South Bass Island
Miller Ferries
Miller Ferries makes getting to South Bass Island so easy. There is a parking lot across the road for your car unless you want to take it on the island with you. I’d recommend not taking your car unless you are hauling a lot of things like camping gear. The island is very pedestrian and golf cart friendly. Miller Ferries hauls passengers, bikes, vehicles and campers. You will need to buy your pass at the ticket booth and then walk or drive onto the ferry. Once you are on the ferry, you can get out of your vehicle and walk around. The upper deck has benches to sit on, both enclosed and open air.
The ferry departs every half-hour. If you know when you’ll be coming back, you can purchase that ticket at the same time which will save you from standing in line twice.
Here is the full arrival and departure schedule as well as rates.
Miller Ferries 5174 E. Water St. Port Clinton, Ohio
Getting Around South Bass Island
E’s Golf Carts
Yea! You’re on the island. To walk from the dock to Put-In-Bay is quite a haul, so your best bet is to get a golf cart. If you had your car transported over, you still might want to consider getting a golf cart for at least part of your stay.
E’s Golf Cart Rental is the first place on the right as you exit the Miller Ferries area. They have a large field where you can park your car, if needed. Hourly and full day rentals are available.
E’s Put-In-Bay Golf Carts 2132 Langram Rd. Put-In-Bay, Ohio
Camping at South Bass Island State Park
If you are the camping type, staying at the South Bass Island State Park is a very economical way to enjoy the island. We reserved site 112 for its cliffside view of the water. It was stunning! I’d say it is the best tent site in the whole campgrounds. *Obviously, this may not be the best spot if you have little ones. Here is a PDF of the current sites.
Along with tent and camper sites, they also have yurts that can be reserved. There is a beach area, a playground and a small camp store. You can get your Ohio State Parks Passport stamped for two different parks at the office. Oak Point State Park is also located on the island. It is the smallest State Park in Ohio.
South Bass Island State Park 1523 Catawba Ave. Put-In-Bay, Ohio
What to See and Do on South Bass Island
Fishing, boating/kayaking and various water activities are pretty standard. For the sake of simplicity, I’m going to go over what you can do inland. Many of the activities are free.
Nature Preserves and Hiking
There are way more nature preserves on the island than I ever imagined. They aren’t huge, but they make for nice, short leisurely walks. I would recommend bringing a pair of binoculars because the birding is excellent on the island. Another plus is that the birds keep the bugs in check!
The Scheeff East Point Nature Preserve was our personal favorite. You can walk along the shore and find adorable little shells. It’s very relaxing to sit by the lapping waves and watch the sailboats float by.
Additional Nature Preserves on South Bass Island include:
- Victory Woods
- Gump Woods
- Massie Cliffside Preserve
- Cooper’s Woods Preserve
- Benjamin Woods Preserve
- Dodge Woods Preserve
- Jane Coates Wildflower Trail & Ladd Carr Wildlife Woods
Perry’s Victory International Peace Memorial
You will see a lot of U.S. flags as well as Canadian flags mounted around the island. There are a few British flags but not as many. The island played a large part in the War of 1812 and this memorial symbolizes the peace that is shared between the respective countries. It’s mammoth and can be seen from quite a distance. The memorial is located just east of the Put-In-Bay business district.
DeRivera Park
We found the DeRivera Park to be so stunning. It has a 1950s nostalgic feel to it with people milling around, having picnics and sitting on the benches looking out over the water. Located in between the main Put-In-Bay strip and the docks, you have all the people watching and boat watching you could ask for, if you so desire. There is a nice playground and a huge carving of Joseph DeRivera, the original entrepreneur/owner of South Bass Island. The park is perfect for playing cards, jumping rope, or reading your favorite book.
Lake Erie Islands Nature Center
We loved the nature center! The facility houses a multitude of mounted North American animals. One man’s lifelong quest for hunting, taxidermy and education has led to a collection that will educate all ages.
Recently, the nature center has added a turtle pond for rescued turtles, a bee hive that can be viewed safely from inside, and a bird feeding station. Over 30 different varieties of birds have been seen and the feeders have just been set up this summer. It’s ideal to have a Birds of North America book so you can identify all the varieties that fly onto the feeders.
Lake Erie Islands Nature Center (there is a small fee to go through the exhibits) 255 Meechen Rd. Put-In-Bay, Ohio
Heineman’s Winery and Crystal Cave
This is a two for one destination. You get a tour of the wine making process and history of the winery as well as a tour down into the depths of the Crystal Cave. The winery grows many of their grapes on the island, offering 30 different bottles to choose from. They also have ice wine – wine made from frozen grapes.
The cave tour will take you down a flight of steps. As you descend into the earth, you will start to see the change in the ground’s texture. We found the crystal formations to be so fascinating. The cave isn’t very large, but it’s quite a sight to see the crystals jutting out in all different directions.
Heineman’s Winery and Crystal Cave 978 Catawba Ave. Put-In-Bay, Ohio
South Bass Island Lighthouse
This may be something you’ll want to see as soon as you get off of the ferry and get your golf cart because of its close proximity to the western part of the island. The house is no longer in use, but the grounds are open to the public every day. There are nice historical boards to read as you walk around to give you a deeper insight into when the lighthouse was used and the stories of the keepers throughout the years.
The property is so peaceful. It’s a perfect spot to sit and color in your lighthouse book, read or gaze out at the passing boats.
South Bass Island Lighthouse 2368 Langram Rd. Put-In-Bay, Ohio
Perry’s Cave
Although this cave is located just across the road from the Crystal Cave, it is quite different. It is much larger and instead of crystals it has stalagmites and stalactites. The large ones were cut off and sold years ago, but smaller ones are starting to form. The cave has an interesting history. Both caves make a great option to get out of the heat or rain. You might want to wear a hat if you don’t like water droplets surprising you every so often.
Gem mining, rock wall climbing, and putt-putt are available. The Butterfly House is located next door.
Perry’s Cave 979 Catawba Ave, Put-In-Bay, Ohio
Where to Eat on South Bass Island
Whether you’re here for the fresh fish or you just want ice cream, there’s a place on the island that has you covered. Even packing your picnic basket and heading to the park is a perfect way to enjoy a meal.
Reel Bar
With a rustic, nautical charm, indoor and outdoor seating, excellent service and delicious food, the Reel Bar is a must for your dining Bucket List. Their outdoor patio has umbrellas to ward off the heat and mounted heat lamps to take off the chill on cooler evenings.
Our dishes included a BLT Caesar Salad and their new Heirloom Tomato Salad. Both were as fresh as could be and tasted amazing. The heirloom tomatoes are grown locally which makes it all the better. I added shrimp to my salad, which a highly recommend. A few of their menu items that I’m looking forward to trying on my next visit include: Street Tacos, Lobster Roll, Lake Erie Walley Sandwich, Lake Erie Perch and Reel Ribs. Yum!
Reel Bar 461 Catawba Ave. Put-In-Bay, Ohio
Chocolate Café
For your morning brew or for an afternoon pick-me-up the Chocolate Café offers deliciously rich drinks. My morning choice was their Café Mocha which is a blend of their house hot chocolate and coffee mixed, topped with whipped cream and a cherry. They also offer a full line of gourmet chocolates and ice cream. There is a small chocolate museum that gives you insight on the cholate making process and a history of the company.
Chocolate Café 820 Catawba St. Put-In-Bay, Ohio
The Goat Soup and Whiskey
Located on the second story above the Chocolate Café, The Goat is fine dining in a casual atmosphere. The perch tacos came recommended to me, and for good reason. We also ordered the perch sandwich which actually was enough fish to feed two people. Seasoned fries rounded out the plate for a very filling lunch. Their Biergarten is open throughout the afternoon in the shaded front lawn. Multiple picnic tables and a bar lend themselves to relaxing and socializing in the shade of the trees.
The Goat Soup and Whiskey 820 Catawba St. Put-In-Bay, Ohio
The Boardwalk
I will have to say, this restaurant has the best view on the island for dining. Located on the upper deck, right beside the boat docks, the outdoor seating allows you to have magnificent views of the water, wildlife and boaters. Known for its lobster bisque, I would have been foolish not to try it. I opted for the bread bowl version and both the bisque and the bread were made to perfection. No skimping on the lobster either, which is just how I like it.
The Boardwalk 341 Bayview Ave. Put-In-Bay, Ohio
As with any vacation destination, a person can stay as busy or as idle as they would like it. We stayed on the island for three days and two nights and were busy the entire time checking everything out. For such a small island, the activities are numerous. I look forward to hearing about your island adventures as well.
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Looking for more places in Ohio to explore? Click on the following articles for inspiration: Belmont County, Miami County, Morgan County, and Tuscarawas County
