Travel along with me to Put In Bay – golf cart required!
There are two dozen islands in the West Erie Basin. Some are tiny and unoccupied. A couple are private. A bunch belong to Canada (the international border is in the middle of Lake Erie.) And a handful of islands are tourist destinations, part of Ohio. All were formed by a retreating glacier.
I know this because of a geology lecture at the Put In Bay town hall. It was free and they served appetizers. But we had to vacate the room at 8pm because Bingo was scheduled that night.
South Bass Island is just 3.7 miles long and 1.5 miles wide, but it’s the second largest in Lake Erie. The only town is Put In Bay, and that name gets casually applied to the whole island. You get here by boat. There’s no bridge or tunnel. So hop aboard your yacht and sail over. Or take the ferry like the rest of us slack-jaws.
It’s a little island. There’s really no place to park other than at your cottage, condo, or campground. So renting a golf cart is the smart mode of transportation.
This trip I got asked repeatedly, “Where’s your husband?” Don’t know why people were so curious. A woman traveling solo is not that unusual anymore. But folks really seemed concerned. Guess I looked helpless that week?
Cruising downtown you’ll find a central district with restaurants, bars and little shops. I skipped most of that, skirting around the popular tourist haunts in search of quieter spots. Although the Boardwalk’s lobster bisque was worth fighting the crowds.
Some vacations I like to channel Greta Garbo: “I just want to be alone.” Solitude is not a punishment. Not everything has to be a major event or sensory overload. There’s value to tranquility.
Poking around the odd corners of the island there were plenty of nature trails and lookout points to contemplate.
In the middle of the island, visible from everywhere, is Perry’s Monument – the world’s largest Doric column. It commemorates Commodore Perry’s victory over the British navy, right here at Put In Bay, during the War of 1812. And it symbolizes the peace treaty with our good neighbors in Canada.
You can tour the top of Perry’s Monument for a fantastic long-range view.
Perry’s battle cry was “Don’t Give Up The Ship‘ – the dying words of his captain. It’s the trademark of the island, and not a bad motto to live by.
Exploring the island’s interior there’s acres of vineyards and a couple of good wineries.
Historic homes and cottages plus new mansions and condos fill the shoreline. But much of the water access is marked Private and No Trespassing and NO GOLF CARTS! I can appreciate their reluctance to share the view with unwashed masses, but it’s still disappointing to be shut out of the best scenery.
A boat would be a good way to tour the island. There’s fancy marinas in the bay. And a couple of not-so-fancy public docks.
By the end of the week I’d run out of places to trespass, so it was time to pay for a tourist trap. Spent $12 to stand in the hot, humid Butterfly House only to find out most were asleep that afternoon. A lone Queen Owl butterfly made an appearance and latched onto my purse like it wanted to escape with me. I could almost hear its tiny voice: “Help me!”
Perry’s Cave was another paid tour. Small, but worth it to spend twenty minutes underground just to cool off.
One last sunset…
Next up – a tour of Kelleys Island. Stay tuned!
2 comments
I’ve always heard people say they were headed to Put In Bay (although, I’ll admit, it sounded like they said “Puddin’ Bay”) but had never headed that way to see if myself. Thanks for saving me the trip, Richie! Great variety on the photos, as usual!
Puddin Bay – I like that!