If you’re not a party animal, the best time to visit Put-in-Bay is midweek when you’re more likely to encounter children begging for ice cream than the drunk weekend revelers the island has long been noted for.
On a recent visit, we checked out the newly redesigned and upgraded Aquatic Visitor Center which tells the story of Lake Erie, its benefits, uses and challenges. In addition, we were excited to see that it’s planted its entrance with native pollinator plants – and the bees were having a field day.
We also found many of those plants elsewhere including the Lake Erie Islands Nature & Wildlife Center, which has improved its forest path, added signage and built a new water feature to benefit the local wildlife. Unfortunately, Perry’s Victory & international Peace Memorial — the tall spire you can’t miss as you approach the island on the ferry — is closed for a couple of years of renovation. But the National Park Center is open with copious information about Admiral Perry’s role on Put-in-Bay in the War of 1812, as well as other national parks and the local ecosystem.
Ofc course, we made our annual visit to the Butterfly House at the Perry’s Cave Family Fun Center where you can sit on a bench and have butterflies land on you. The cave, where Perry’s men sequestered during the War of 1812, is also worth seeing at least once.
And we spent time walking the islands many wooded trails and enjoyed time at its two tiny beaches—the island isn’t known for beaches but it’s got a wealth of nature preserves. The story of Put-in-Bay has long been rowdies and roofies, but increasingly, its real story is its role in environmental restoration and education. If you have kids who care about climate change and the health of our ecosystem and our lake, take them to the island on a weekday. (There are also several great ice cream parlors and a terrific playground downtown in DeRivera Park.)
View the PHOTOSTREAM here.
