Plan a Last Minute Summer Getaway to Marblehead Ohio Along the Shores of Lake Erie

Marblehead is a small village along Lake Erie in Ohio, and it’s the perfect vacation destination for a short summer getaway.  This village offers beautiful lakefront real estate allowing for plenty of boating, fishing, swimming and views of some of the oldest lighthouses in the Great Lakes (US side.) You’ll find small indie gift shops, enjoy local cuisine and top notch restaurants, and numerous historic attractions.  Whether you’ll be taking a romantic getaway for two, or planning a family trip with the whole crew, there are so many things to see and do we can guarantee you won’t be bored for a second.

For the History Buff

Merry-Go-Round Museum is housed in a former post-office, and now chronicles the history of this nostalgic carnival and amusement park ride. You can even take a ride on a historic 1939 Allen Herschell Carousel and peruse the gallery of historic artifacts.  It’s a very fun, relaxed atmosphere and a great pit-stop to break from the summer heat.

Maritime Museum of Sandusky is a historic museum and education center highlighting boat building, ice harvesting, commercial fishing, historic shipwrecks, and more. Perfect for families thanks to its interactive and hands-on displays and exhibits.

Kelleys island historical association is a small local history museum highlighting local history, and offering educational books as well as unique personal gifts. The grounds house a historic 1866 stone church and 1888 parsonage (the gifts shop) which have both been restored and preserved.  You’ll get to see local artifacts from the 1700s to 1800s, fossils, and learn about local Native American Culture. 

Cooke-Dorn House Historic Site is a three story Greek Revival style home built in 1844. It was the final home of one of the first settlers of Sandusky, and its first lawyer, Eleutheros Cooke. Inside you’ll learn about early Sandusky settlers and history, explore unique antiques and historic decor, and learn what it was like to live during the nineteenth century. Best of all, it’s a free museum to attend!

Marblehead Lighthouse is located in Marblehead Lighthouse State Park, and the grounds house a historic lighthouse history museum, the Keepers House and Lifesaving Station, and a historic waterfront with beautiful views of South Bass Island, Cedar Point, and Kelleys Island. You can climb up the 77 steps to the top of the lighthouse, and join in on the Lighthouse Scavenger Hunt game.

Liberty Aviation Museum is chock full of detailed dioramas depicting famous war photos, houses a full-sized PT boat, and numerous aviation-related artifacts and historical items and documents. It’s also got a great diner on site to grab a bite to eat at the Tin Goose Diner!  On special occasions there are live events with interactive entertainment.

Get a Little Fresh Air with Beautiful State Parks, Nature Trails, and Beaches

If you’re looking for free family fun, you can check out Free Adventure Lab Geocaching! Explore different locations with geomarkers, leave a note or treasure, and take one for yourself, and then log it in your Geocaching journal!

Enjoy a day out at the stunning state parks and wildlife preserve areas: MArblehead Lighthouse State Park, East Harbor State Park, James Park, Meadowbrook Marsh, Lake Point Park, Lucien Clemons Park. And if you’re traveling with pups in tow, you will love the Bark Until Dark Dog Park area!

If you’d like to do some birding, fishing, nature photography, or hiking, we’ve got you covered, too. Check out the Dempsey Wildlife Area, Great Egret Marsh Preserve, Lakeside Daisy Preserve, James Park, Shoreline Park.  You can also book a charter at Tibbels Marina & Charter Service, Erie Express Fishing Charters, and more.

Take a dip in the water at Lakeside Beach, North Swimming Beach, and even bring your canine companions over to the East Harbor State Park Dog Friendly Beach!

For the Thrillseeker and Amusement Park Enthusiast

Summer vacation would not be complete if it weren’t for some fun theme parks and waterparks to visit! Cedar Point Shores Waterpark is 18-acres of incredible waterslides, water attractions, swimming, and a lazy river.

The Watering Hole Safari and Monsoon Lagoon Waterpark features an incredible tree house for kids, a two-story water slide tower, a swimming and splash pool, swim-up tiki bar for adults, and a lazy river; plus there’s a multi-level go-kart track, bumper boats, gemstone mining, an 18-hole miniature golf course, an on-site arcade, and a walk-through safari zoo. 

The African Safari Wildlife Park allows you to get up-close and personal from the comfort of your vehicle as you drive through this 65-acre preserve and zoo. You’ll get to watch the animals roam in the great outdoors and be able to feed some of the critters from your hand!

For Those Seeking a Little R & R

Visit one of the many local wineries in the area and sample a flight or catch one of their special events, including: Chateau Tebea, D&D Smith Winery, Firelands Winery, Mon Ami Restaurant and historic winery, and Heineman Winery. You can also take the Wine Trail via the Goodtime-Lake Erie Island Cruise and enjoy a little respite from your usual vacation fare.

You can book a day of rest and relaxation at Spa Catawba for some body-therapy services, massages, personal wellness therapy, and an on-site cafe.  Check out the House of Healing for some restorative therapies and couples massages.

Looking to putt around a little bit instead of walking around museums and nature parks? Good news for you, there are more than one dozen different local golf courses to choose from! 

Got a place we’ve left off our guide to Marblehead Ohio? We’d love to hear from you! Let us know in the comments on our social media and we may just feature your suggestion in a future blog post update!

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