☃️25 Lake County Things To Do In Winter 2025
Eat, Drink, and Be Cozy This Winter!
Experience 25 things to do in winter right here in Lake County, Ohio! Enjoy outdoor adventures snow-covered landscapes, ice wine tastings, snowshoeing, cozy beverages, and 11 charming towns! Local parks and trails transform into winter wonderlands, offering peaceful escapes while the Grand River Valley wineries offer warm fireplaces and decadent tastings!
Where will you start your winter tour in Lake County?
Lake Erie Bluffs
Lake Metroparks Farmpark
1) See the Ice Sculptures
Enjoy jaw-dropping ice sculptures, live carving demonstrations and fireside s'mores and cocoa, plus winter-themed activities, photo opportunities and so much more.
Penitentiary Glen Reservation
2) Visit a COOL Waterfall
Some of these cascades are easily accessible, while others require a bit of a hike to view! Find the list.
📸by Chris Frisbie
Vincent William Wine
3) Lake Front Romantic Getaway
Experience the winter on Lake Erie at Vincent William Wine! Enjoy elegant rooms with private bathrooms, plush linens, and stunning winter lake views.
Snowshoeing
4) Try Snowshoeing
Experience something new this winter with the whole family and go snowshoeing at one of the four locations right here in Lake County! Lake Metroparks offers visitors opportunities to snowshoe on a variety of terrain throughout the park district.
Laurello Vineyards
5) Sample Ice Wine at the Ice Wine Festival
Join the wineries of the Grand River Valley: Debonné Vineyards, Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, Grand River Cellars Winery & Restaurant, Laurello Vineyards, Cask 307 Winery plus South River Vineyards and Red Eagle Distillery for an afternoon of ice wine sampling perfectly paired with appetizers for $10 at each location.
Fairport Harbor Creamery
6) Embrace the chill with the coolest Ice Cream in Lake County!
Try Fairport Harbor Creamery’s unbelievably delicious ice cream! Try their sampler and choose 4 unique flavors.
Mentor Ice Arena
7) Enjoy Ice Skating
The Mentor Ice Arena is open year round and offers something for everyone who enjoys skating.
Chapin Forest Reservation
8) Go Sledding
Sledding is one of the most popular winter activities in our parks! Sledding hill locations include:
Harpersfield Winery
9) Share a Glass With A Fireplace
Within a 10-mile radius you’ll find the area’s finest boutique and estate wineries, where you can sip and sample award-winning Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, and our region’s famous Ice Wine.
Julbeans Coffee and Crêpes
10) Grab a Seasonal Drink
Julbeans Coffee and Crêpeis an unique and itty bitty coffee shop serving espresso based drinks, teas, and crêpes.
Headlands Beach State Park
11) Catch An Icy Sunset on Lake Erie
Lake Erie is lovely all-year long, but there is something eerily beautiful about the lake during the winter! Bundle up and catch a sunset on the lake!
Arabica Coffee House
12) Finish The Hot Chocolate Trail
Sip your way through this sweet expedition! For participants who visit at least 8 out of the 11 featured locations, they'll earn a #TourLakeCocoa mug
The Helicopter Daughter Boutique
13) Stock Up With Self-Care Items
Helicopter Daughter believes in helping others create meaningful moments and experiences through thoughtfully curated gifts.
Self Care + Wellness Boutique + Gift Shop + Event Space
Lake Metroparks Farmpark
14) Experience Maple Sugaring Weekends
Visitors enjoy a wagon ride to the Woodland Center to witness the process of producing maple syrup as sap is collected from 1,000 taps through a network of tubing and pumps. Follow the steps from collecting and boiling sap to producing maple syrup and candy.
Coco Locos- Willoughby
15) Start the Lake County Taco Trail
With over 20 family-owned taquerias and restaurants to choose from, the Lake County Taco Trail pass helps you celebrate the county’s Hispanic community! Explore each destination, challenge yourself to try bold flavors, and savor the authenticity of every Taco Trail location!
Lake Metroparks
16) Explore The Trails
Lake Metroparks offers 39 diverse parks and maintains more than 60 miles of trails throughout Lake County.
Standing Rock Farms
17) Book Your Stay at a Rustic Winter Cabin
Adventure through snowy landscapes, feel the crisp winter air, and make the most of the season by staying in a beautiful, rustic cabin at Standing Rock Farms.
Downtown Painesville Organization
18) Spend and evening at a Wine & Chocolate FUN-raiser
The Annual Wine & Chocolate FUN-raiser is shaping up to be the most delicious event of the season! Pairings from Grand River Cellars, Debonne Vineyards, and Cask 307 will be perfectly matched with decadent treats from Buckeye Chocolates.
Ferrante Winery & Ristorante
19) Attend the Ice Wine Experience
Be among the first to sample our first ever, Bourbon Barrel Aged Ice Wine! Tour the Cellars with Winemaker Nick Ferrante or Assistant Winemaker Dominick Ferrante and sample our newest released Ice Wines!
Cask 307
20) Attend the Valentine's Day Love Opera with 5-Course Dinner
Celebrate Love with a romantic live vocal performance intertwined with a 5-course dinner. Ticket price includes your first drink of the evening.
Grand River Valley
21) Hop on the Winter Warmer Wine and Cocktail Trail
he Winter Warmer Wine & Cocktail Trail pairs comforting foods with wines from four local wineries, along with a mini cocktail from Red Eagle Distillery and Black Door Tavern. For just $7 at each participating location, guests can enjoy unique offerings at each stop.
The Holden Arboretum
22) Go on a Guided Hike
Experience the wonders of the woods on a guided hike through one of Holden Arboretum’s preserved natural areas.
The Willoughby House
23) Book Your Stay at the Willoughby House and Explore Historic Downtown Willoughby
Winter at Willoughby House is a sight to behold. Indulge in the quiet beauty of the season and let the charm of the historic inn warm your soul. Enjoy lunch or dinner at their onsite restaurants, Julia’s 1902!
Stella’s Art Gallery
24) Go On An (art)venture at Stella’s
Enjoy high quality artwork and sign up for various classes with local artisans.
Fairport Harbor
25) Book Your Summer Vacation in Lake County!
It’s never too early to start planning your travel plans! Check out some of our curated itineraries that highlight top attractions, accommodations and culinary hot-spots!
Are you interested in partnering with us? Email elyse@tourlakecounty.com to learn more!