Island Fun

Island Fun

The Jet Express offers the most convenient Island-Hopping ferry service to Put-in-Bay, Ohio and Kelleys Island, OH. Featuring frequent ferry service, and Exclusive Late-Night ferry Service. When the sun goes down, the island nightlife heats up, and the Jet Express is there for your travel needs, providing the Latest Trips Off the Islands. You may choose to visit just one island or two, the choice is yours. Either way the Jet Express has you covered with frequent, reliable, Late-Night service to both Put-in-Bay and Kelleys Island, Ohio.

Put-in-Bay and Kelleys Island are the most popular islands attracting visitors for a Lake Erie island vacation or quick Island-Hopping day trip get-away. Put-in-Bay and Kelleys Island, Ohio has something for everybody, whether you are looking for family-friendly activities or want to hit the downtown for an exciting night out, plan your fun-filled visit today.

Put-in-Bay is a small summer resort vacation destination located on South Bass Island in Lake Erie's shallow western basin. Put in Bay has been a summer resort since the mid 1800's, thrived during the turn of the last century during the Victorian era when thousands of visitors disembarked from a half dozen different steam ships that anchored here. Put-in-Bay has not lost its appeal over the past 160 years and more than 750,000 visitors discover something to celebrate each year when they spend a day, weekend, week or more at Put in Bay, Ohio. There really is something here for everyone--history, fun activities for the kids, live entertainment, lots of shopping and a fun and relaxing atmosphere where everyone is on "island time". Put-in-Bay offers those interested in local, Ohio and American history a well spring of places to see and things to discover. Put in Bay is home to Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial, built as a symbol of the lasting peace between the United States, Great Britain and our northern neighbor Canada. Built in cooperation of nine states, the memorial opened to the public in 1915 and became part of the National Park system in 1936. Put-in-Bay also supports a 6,000-square foot historical society museum, a nature and wildlife center, an antique car museum, a butterfly house, an aquatic resource center, a historical home tour and a museum of island life. There are two caves to explore, a tour train that gives an hour-long narrated tour of the island and a family owned historic winery established in 1888 to tour. The adventurous can try parasailing, a round of golf on our 9-hole executive course, or a round of 18 holes on our championship miniature golf course, a rock climbing wall, kayaking around the bay, jet skiing, fishing, swimming, boating and bicycling.
Looking for entertainment? Put-in-Bay has some of the best entertainment in the region, some entertainers have been anchoring island venues for more than 20 years. You'll find nearly every musical taste. The Put-in-Bay Arts Council presents a series of evening entertainment every other Wednesday evening in July and August at the Perry Memorial and Put in Bay hosts two free symphony concerts each year. Put-in-Bay also hosts more than three dozen activities and events throughout the season, including Earth Day, Victoria Day, Founders Day, a golf tournament, an auction, a Mayfly Festival, Memorial Day, Historical Weekend, Oktoberfest and an island wine festival. Don't miss out on the fun of Put in Bay this summer. Spend a day with us and celebrate Island style.

Kelleys Island is located in the western basin of Lake Erie about four miles north of Marblehead and ten miles from Sandusky on the Ohio mainland. The entire island measures more than four square miles and is the largest fresh water American island in Lake Erie. A short drive from major cities makes Kelleys seem right next door, yet the Canadian Border lies only a few miles north of the island.

 

Remnants of the island's past can be seen throughout the island as the entire island is on the National Register of Historical Places. Tour the island by bicycle, golf cart, or stroll historic neighborhoods and view restored architectural styles, scenic treasures and natural wonders. The Glacial Grooves State Park is the largest and most spectacular example of glacial grooves left in the entire world. Walk the perimeter of this international study site to view a 400 foot by 35 foot wide gash of prehistoric glacial grooves scoured into native limestone bedrock by the advancement of the Wisconsin glacier 30,000 years ago.

 

Signs of the island's era as an Indian hunting ground remain on the Inscription Rock State Memorial. This flat-topped limestone boulder on the south shore of Kelleys Island has faint pictographs of men, birds and animals carved by the Erie Indians 300-400 years ago.

 

Fishing from various piers or boats will thrill you in the "Walleye Capital of the World". Island shops sell supplies and licenses, and will aid any angler as to the current "hot" locations and lure selection. Also perch, catfish, smallmouth and white bass are caught in quantity in their respective peak periods.

Constant lake breezes and small waves provide ideal weather conditions for jet-ski's, and sail or power boaters. As the quality and clarity of the Lake Erie waters steadily improves, shipwrecks from the 1700-1800's provide fun and excitement to both snorkelers and scuba divers.

 

Enjoy Kelleys Island natural beauty. Abundant waterfowl (heron, egrets, ducks, geese, sea gulls, and an occasional osprey or eagle) add to the island bird population (blue birds, hummingbirds, and migratory species in both spring and fall). Monarch butterflies feast in milk weed each September as they migrate to Mexico for the winter. White-tailed deer with fawns are seen grazing at dusk and dawn. Catch glimpses of rare species like the Lake Erie water snake or Kelleys Island salamander tucked among the rocks.

 

In the 800 acre Ohio State Park system on Kelleys Island, miles of self-guided nature and hiking trails can be explored. The North Shore Loop begins behind Glacial Grooves and follows the wild flower studded woods along the north shoreline. Discover fossils along the inactive east stone quarry, wetlands, and horseshoe lake while hiking the East Quarry Trail.

 

The modernized Kelleys Island State Park offers a sandy beach along the North Bay, a stone pier for fishing, a free double boat launching ramp, trailer parking, and 129 shaded camping sites, (no reservations). Group, rent a camp sites, and pet sites are also available. There are no electric or water hookups to individual sites. Several main shower houses are located throughout the park. Call 419-746-2546 for further information.

 

Kelleys Island is one of the stepping stones used by multitudes of migrating birds to cross Lake Erie. This 2800 acre island has 17 miles of shoreline and a 600 acre state park. Diverse habitats provide opportunities to see a large variety of birds, including h herons, ducks, hawks, shorebirds, cuckoos, woodpeckers, flycatchers, thrushes, vireos, warblers, and orioles. The island's board walk will provide easy access to the North Pond located in the state park.

The downtown area remains the heart of island activity. Browse amongst the unique gift and clothing shops. Enjoy miniature golf, a video arcade, or a seat in Memorial Park. No banks are on the island - although there are ATM machines located in the Island Market and the Village Pump. Several restaurants provide dining experiences inside or outside with a range from full continental cuisine to pizza or sandwiches. Weekends provide a variety of entertainment. Small groceries provide staples, incidentals, and snacks. Top off your stay with a hand-dipped ice cream cone or some fresh island fudge.