Sat 7/4 @ 10PM

If you’d like to get out of the city and celebrate July 4 in a resort setting, there are many options, including at two of northeast Ohio’s most popular getaways, one to the east, the other to the west.

Take the ferry out to Put-in-Bay for Boom at the Bay. You can spend the day at the islands bars and restaurants, catching live music before heading outside for the fireworks over Lake Erie at 10pm. You can watch from downtown’s DeRiviera Park or from the spacious grounds of the Perry’s Victory & International Peace Memorial. Keep in mind it’s a weekend and a long one at that, and Put-in-Bay really pops on weekends. The Jet Express ferry has late trips, but the Miller Ferry does not. So plan accordingly.

If you’re more of a daytripper or like a more family-oriented environment head out to Geneva-on-the-Lake where you can spend the day cruising the strip, playing mini-golf, ziplining and eating unhealthy but delicious vacation food. Then head out to the Municipal Golf Course where there will be food tricks and bounce houses starting at 5pm; a pre-fireworks concert at 6:30 and fireworks at 10pm. You can stay over of course if everything’s not booked already, but you can also drive home — no ferry. It’s free.