Lake County, Cleveland’s neighbor to the east, has a little bit of everything. Looking to stroll in a quaint coastal town? Head to Fairport Harbor for our Lighthouse Museum, Main St. boutiques, or some great beaches. You can also head to Historic Downtown Willoughby, home of the beloved Willoughby Brewing Company, and other mom-and-pop shops for those unique antique and vintage options.
Our yearly events include Historic Kirtland’s American Bus Association “Top 100 Events in North America” international nativity exhibit, Vintage Ohio wine festival, Village Peddler, Ohio’s Largest Free Music Festival – Party in the Park, and Beachfest – the coolest event on Ohio’s longest beach. If you are interested in all the hundreds of events that are hosted in Lake County every year, visit www.lakevisit.com and click on “Events.”
Even though we are Ohio’s smallest county (with 70% of it actually in Lake Erie), our county offers a diversity that reaches from bustling Main Street suburbs to sprawling farms and nurseries.
In our Eastern Lake County, we host one of the largest nursery regions in the nation along with the Grand River Valley Winery District making Lake County the 2nd Best Place to Farm in the United States. In our Central Lake County, with its woods and rolling hills it is the perfect place to take in nature. Holden Arboretum, the nation’s 13th largest public garden with over 3,600 acres features acres of forest and maintained gardens for your hiking/strolling pleasure, and the national headquarters for the Herb Society of America offer a quiet retreat into nature. Headlands Beach State Park and Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve are also popular outdoor destinations, or you can check out Lake Metroparks’ Lake Erie Bluffs and working farm at Lake Farmparks! If you are interested in history, make sure to visit the James A. Garfield National Historic Site in Mentor, part of the National Park Service. In our Western Lake County, we welcome you to the Lake County Captains Stadium and a wide variety of shopping, nightlife, and exquisite dining options.
Need a guide? The Lake County Visitors Bureau is located in downtown Painesville across from the historic courthouse. The staff is more than happy to help you plan your next trip, or you can visit our website for more information and to request your free Visitors Guide.