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'Kids Fish Free Days' are Aug. 8-12
Kids can fish free on selected Lake Erie fishing charters in the Port Clinton area from Monday, Aug. 8 through Friday, Aug. 12, as part of a program sponsored by the Lake Erie Charter Boat Association, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife.
'Kids Fish Free' week planned
COLUMBUS -- Kids can fish free on selected Lake Erie fishing charters in the Port Clinton area from Aug. 8 through 12 as part of a program sponsored by the Lake Erie Charter Boat Association, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife.
Pittsburgh on the lake
By Bob Batz Jr., GENEVA-ON-THE- LAKE , Ohio -- "Can you smell it?" I had to ask that as my wife and I road-tripped across northeastern Ohio toward Lake Erie .
ERIC SHARP: Walleye hang around in Lake Erie
Lake Erie walleye fishing used to be fairly predictable. An annual migratory cycle brought millions of adult walleyes to the western basin off Michigan, Ohio and Ontario in March, when they began spawning runs up the Maumee and Detroit River systems and dozens of smaller tributaries.
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If you're a naturalist, come to the Lake Erie Wing Watch Weekend April 5 and 6. Enjoy seminars on eagles, hawks, warblers and butterflies; workshops on beginning bird watching and bird songs, and exhibits on bird watching hints and habitats.
For family fun try Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, which opens Sunday, May 4. Named "Best Amusement Park in the World" by Amusement Today for five years in a row, Cedar Point features the world's largest collection of roller coasters (16) and rides (68).
This year's coaster sensation is Top Thrill Dragster, the tallest, fastest roller coaster in the world. The Dragster launches forward, reaching 120 mph in about 4 seconds, zooms straight up 420 feet, rotates 90 degrees, climbs, then drops 400 feet straight down, twisting 270 degrees!
The 364-acre amusement park also features 26 rides and other activities just for kids, including award-winning musicals ranging from rock to PEANUTS(TM) spectaculars. Children under 48" tall get in for half-price, while children age 2 and younger are admitted free.
If water's your thing, enjoy 142 miles of shoreline that stretches between the quaint harbor towns of Vermilion, Huron, Sandusky and Port Clinton. Bays, beaches, marinas, docks and boats abound.
Some vacationers prefer Kelleys Island and Put-in-Bay, which can be reached by boat or plane. The Jet Express offers frequent departures from Port Clinton to Put-in-Bay, with children 12 years and under riding free. The Island Rocket ferry transports passengers from Sandusky to Put-in-Bay and Kelleys Island. The Goodtime I is a day-long, island-hopping cruise that departs from downtown Sandusky, stopping at both islands. Once on the islands, bicycles, golf carts and trams provide the primary means of transportation.
Charter boat fishing is popular on Lake Erie, with more than 1,000 licensed captains providing charters. Other fishermen may prefer fishing from the shore and piers. The lake teems with many species of fish, notably walleye, perch, and large and smallmouth bass.
The many shoreline parks and wildlife preserves attract naturalists, hikers and cross-country skiers. Bird watchers can observe 350 different species, including bald eagles, from spring through fall. Monarch butterflies stop on Kelleys Island during their annual migration in September.
There are lighthouses everywhere -- to look at, photograph or tour. Marblehead Lighthouse, the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the Great Lakes, is open for free tours throughout the summer. A replica of the Vermilion Lighthouse, built in 1877, stands on the grounds of the Inland Seas Maritime Museum, which traces sailing, shipping and shipwrecks on the Great Lakes. In contrast, the Huron Harbor Lighthouse is modern in design and surrounded by excellent fishing waters.
For rainy days the Maritime Museum of Sandusky offers tales of boating, shipbuilding and shipwrecks. Nearby in Milan are Thomas Edison's Birthplace and the Milan Historical Museum, featuring restored homes, a blacksmith shop and doll and glass collections.
On Labor Day weekend -- Aug. 30-Sept. 1 -- the Milan Melon Festival features a small-town parade, live entertainment, melon ice cream, carnival rides and games.
Overnight accommodations are plentiful, with hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, vacation rentals and campground sites located throughout the area.
Open year-round, Great Bear Lodge is one of many accommodations offering lodging and entertainment. Its five-story indoor water park -- the only one of its kind in Ohio -- is a family's delight.
For conventions try the Lodge at Sawmill Creek Resort, providing an 18-hole golf course, charter fishing and Wilderness Hall, a 16,. convention facility capable of seating 1,200 people banquet-style or holding a trade show.
The Sandusky/Erie County Visitors & Convention Bureau publishes the information-packed Buckeye North as a guide for lodging, recreational activities, shopping, dining, ferries and other island adventures. For a free copy of Buckeye North with discount coupons, please contact the visitors bureau at 1-800-255-ERIE.
Sandusky/Erie County Visitors & Convention Bureau, 4424 Milan Road, Suite A, Sandusky, Ohio 48870. Phone 800-255-ERIE; 419-625-2984. Fax 419-625-5009.
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