Day Trips are wonderful ways to learn about local spots without committing your entire vacation to one area. Plan a weekend or mid-week stay with us combined with a local day trip – we’ve got some great ideas for you!
Our lovely, peaceful village of Milan is the perfect base of operations for several day trips around Northern Ohio. We’re going to give you some great ideas over the next few months, but we’ll start with a real treat- a trip to Put-In Bay! The island season starts in April, but you’ll want to make your plans early to ensure a fun and relaxing time.
If you’re not from Ohio, you may not have heard of this great little island in Lake Erie. Put-In Bay is only 2 miles by 4 miles, but it packs in a lot of bang for your day trip buck. Here’s a sample itinerary for you:
1- Start the day with a delicious home-made breakfast after a great-night’s sleep at Angel Welcome Bed and Breakfast.
2- Make the 20 minute drive from Milan to the Sandusky Downtown Docks. Park your car in the free Jet Express Ferry to Put-In Bay. A round-trip fare is $39.50 for adults (AAA & AARP Discounts: $2.00 off ). Trips start at 9am and continue until the last ferry departs Put-In Bay at 9:15pm.
3- Take the fun ferry ride to the island and pick up your pre-reserved golf-cart. You can also reserve bikes or Mo-Peds, whichever you prefer.
4- First stop – Perry’s Cave. This amazing underground cavern was discovered by Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry in 1813. An underground lake, stalagmites, stalactites,and cave pearls, along with knowledgeable and engaging tour guides make this a no-miss attraction. After your tour, stay at the center for a round of mini-golf and a visit to the Butterfly House.
5- Next, another cave tour at Heineman Winery’s Crystal Cave. You can see beautiful crystals in the world’s largest geode. After the tour, enjoy a wine-tasting in the Wine Garden.
6- You’re probably ready for lunch after all of that touring! Put-In Bay offers a variety of restaurants and pubs to satisfy your cravings. Choose from Italian to BBQ to casual American fare – you can even try a swim-up bar!
7- After your lunch, visit Perry’s Victory & International Peace Memorial, honoring those that died in the Battle of Lake Erie. You can tour the visitor’s center, go to the top of the 352 foot memorial for an incredible view of the lake, islands and shoreline, and depending on when you are there, enjoy special events like camp cooking demonstrations or firing demonstrations of reproduction flintlock muskets.
8- Next is a stop for wine tastings and tours at the Put-In-Bay Winery, including a tour of the beautiful Italinate residence, the Doller House, and the Island Life Museum to learn about how people lived on the island, both in the past and now.
9 – Now it’s time to shop! Put-In Bay offers many shops and stores to pick up souvenirs of your island trip, candy and fudge, clothing, art, jewelry, and more!
Now, choose from dinner on the island, or a ferry trip back to Sandusky for even more dining choices, followed by a quick drive back to the inn for a comfortable night’s sleep. We think you will love this day trip, and look forward to telling you about other fantastic Ohio attractions!