People don't often consider Put-in-Bay a place for family fun, but you would be surprised at the wide range of activities that provide a good time for the entire family. Best of all, the fun starts even before you step foot on the island.
Miller Ferry
Begin your journey to Put-in-Bay aboard Miller Ferry. Miller Ferries provide the only service for both passengers and vehicles to Put-in-Bay and Middle Bass Island.
They also offer the lowest fares and free parking if you are not taking your vehicle to the island. The staff of Miller Ferry is fun and knowledgeable, and do all they can to ensure that visitors enjoy the 20-minute scenic ride to Put-In-Bay.
Once you get to Put-In-Bay, grab a golf cart and go. E's offers great golf cart rentals and is located a short walk from where Miller Ferry drops you off.
Perry's Cave Family Fun Center
Your first stop with the fam should be Perry's Cave Family Fun Center. This place has it all and you can literally spend the entire day here. They offer cave tours, mini-golf, rock walls, gem stone mining, butterflies and more.
The Perry's Cave tour takes you below ground to explore a limestone cave that is over 200 feet long and lies 52 feet below the island. There are 20 minute guided tours that take place every half hour. Learn all about the cave, how it formed, and it's rich history with the wonderful, and quite funny, tour guides.
A must-see when visiting Perry's Cave Family Fun Center is the Butterfly House. This fully enclosed garden is home to 50 different types of butterflies from all over the world. Walk among them and take in their beauty as hundreds fly around you. Don't be surprised if a few even land on you.
For those who enjoy mini-golf, the War of 18 Holes Mini-Golf is an entertaining 18-hole mini golf course that is perfect for kids, and adults, of all ages.
The course is amid waterfalls, streams, and tons of beautiful plants and flowers. At the start of each hole, you can learn some facts and history about the War of 1812.
Another fun attraction at Perry's Cave Family Fun Center is Fort Amaze'N, a challenging maze that the kids will love. As you walk through the maze, there are 4 letters you need to find and punch in on your "passport." Once you find all of the letters, you then need to find your way out. If you complete the maze, you win a prize. Finish the course in 5 minutes or less and you win a climb on the rock wall.
Speaking of the rock wall, the one at Perry's is 25 feet tall. There are four sides to the wall, all ranging in difficulty from easy to hard levels.
The four sides also allow for visitors to race against one another. When you are ready to slow things down a bit, try out the gem stone mining at Perry's Cave Family Fun Center. You can pan for real gems, minerals and fossils at the mining sluice. A chart is on site so you can identify all the different gems that you discover, and the best part is that the gems you find are yours to keep.
Lake Erie Love
If you want to spend some time in Lake Erie, Put-in-Bay Watercraft Rentals has everything you need. You can rent stand-up paddle boards, kayaks, wave runners, and even power boats. They also offer sightseeing tours of Rattlesnake Island and Millionaire's Row. Reservations can be made online at pibjetski.com.