Lake County Ohio Summer Bucket List
Where To Start Your Tour?
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Take a copy of the Summer Bucket List wherever you go!
Do it all this summer and experience all of Lake County, OH when you check off each adventure on our Summer Bucket List.
Planning a summer trip can be a daunting task and we want to make your weekend getaway the smoothest one yet! We went ahead and put together our Summer Bucket List, packed with things to do near Cleveland, OH in Lake County. Check out our top recommendations of some of our most popular attractions and destinations in our area; this way you can get to the beach, the wineries, the museums, and the trails that much quicker! Start your Tour of Lake County with some of our favorite spots below and get ready to share some unique memories with family and friends in an unpretentious paradise! Your Tour Starts Here!
Fairport Harbor Museum and Lighthouse
1)Watch the sun kiss Lake Erie with your toes in the sandy beach, or head to the clouds on the Lake Erie Bluffs Tower in Perry.
2. Catch a tour ride through our Fairport Harbor “beachtown” on a golf cart with a boozy milkshake from Fairport Harbor Creamery.
3. Find a historic lighthouse and climb to the top for a view of Lake Erie. Local’s Tip: Stop by Julbean’s for a fresh coffee and crepe before your visit!
Standing Rock Farms
4.Walk Ohio’s longest natural sand beach, Headlands Beach State Park, & maybe you’ll find some beach glass along the way.
5) Take a selfie with a Highland cow and then spend the night ‘glamping’ when you visit Standing Rock Farms.
6. Share a meal with your four-legged BFF on a Paw-some Adventure to a pet-friendly winery. Local’s Tip: Get tickets for Woof, Wag & Wine Trail and visit three wineries offering samples, snacks, signature drinks, and treats for the pups! Visit Cask 307, Grand River Cellars Winery & Restaurant, or Debonne Vineyards.
CRAVECLE Nikki & Harley on the Woof, Wag & Wine Trail
7. Visit Ohio’s Largest Estate Winery, Debonné Vineyards & sample award-winning wines, or dive into one of their world-class beers at Double Wing Brewery. Local’s Tip: Escape to the patio & enjoy the live music and a game of bocce!
8. Watch the fireworks light up the sky after a Lake County Captains baseball game. Request your winery guide today!
Emergent Tower at Holden Arboretum
9) Get your pass for the Ohio Distillery Trail, starting at Seven Brothers, Doc Howards or Lake Erie Distillery. Ask for a tour to get a sneak peak behind the scenes!
10. Share a beer and deep-fried pickles at the Carousel Barge on the Grand River at Pickle Bill’s and then dive into the Fisherman’s Catch with Lake Erie Perch and Walleye at Brennan’s Fish House across the street! Local’s Tip - Charter a Fishing Boat that morning for a chance to have your own catch cooked for you there!
11. Stroll the boutiques in the heart of Historic Downtown Willoughby when the streets fill with artists, performers, and crafters at the 2024 Willoughby Artsfest in July.
12. Explore Squire’s Castle, built in the 1890s, located in North Chagrin Reservation and then picnic on their lawn.
13) Kayak through the Mentor Marsh Lagoons and count how many different bird species you can see & hear in one day!
14. Discover a mansion along the shores of Lake Erie where you can stay the night at the boutique inn or relax on the patio with a glass of wine at Vincent William Winery.
15. Enjoy live music at a winery, restaurant patio, or even during our free community park concerts like Mentor Rocks every Tuesday! Local’s Tip: Go to TourLakeCounty.com/Events to find live music almost every day of the week from Madison and Perry, to Painesville and Willoughby.
16)Watch model miniature trains chugging through larger-than-life botanical displays at Holden Arboretum’s limited-time Pollinator Express. Local’s Tip: Don’t skip the chance to view Lake Erie from the top of the Kalberer Emergent Tower.
17. Attend Ohio’s largest outdoor free music festival at Painesville’s Party in the Park this July. Local’s Tip: Make a stop on the Taco Trail while downtown for a taste of authentic Mexican cuisine.
18. Pack a picnic and enjoy dinner on the beautiful lawn before watching a performance at Ohio’s premier barn theater, Rabbit Run Theater, one of Ohio’s last barn theaters, located on the shores of Lake Erie in Madison, OH!
Don’t forget to bring a picnic dinner to enjoy on the theater’s beautiful landscape and witness! A few of their upcoming performances including, Tuesdays With Morrie, The Music Man and Clue: On Stage. To learn more, check out their 2024 Summer Season.
Squire’s Castle
19. Experience a day of faith, family and fun--for FREE, at The FEST in Wickliffe. This one-day festival features more than just music - inflatables, rock walls & the Performance Dogs of Ohio.
20. Book an overnight at the Madison Holiday Inn and tour wine country in the Grand River Valley with their shuttle service.
21. Eat a ‘Homewrecker Hot Dawg’ at Scooter’s World Famous Dawg House! Don’t forget the fresh cut fries & vinegar.
22. Tour a President’s House from the 1800's when you visit the James A. Garfield National Historic Site.
23. Find your next Winery Weekend outfit at locally-owned Blank Boutique in Concord, OH plus some unique gifts to take home!
24. Fresh squeezed lemonade, funnel cakes, 4H, and competition await when you visit the Annual Lake County Fair!
Penitentiary Glen Wildlife Center
25.Book a wellness retreat and escape to the outdoor barrel sauna and serene hot tubs within the beautiful woods of Standing Rock Farms. Local’s Tip: Visit The Helicopter Daughter boutique before your stay for herbal teas and supplements, books & reflective journaling, and aromatherapy candles!
26. Meet the local farmers offering fresh fruits and vegetables at a Farmer’s Market in Mentor, Painesville, Madison, Eastlake or Willoughby or Pick-Your-Own Fruits at Patterson’s Fruit Farm.
27. Enjoy a relaxing day of tropical music, good food, drinks, & fun at the 1st ‘Harboritaville’ Jimmy Buffett Tribute Festival in Fairport Harbor.
Are you interested in joining our list of attractions in Lake County, OH? Email elyse@tourlakecounty.com to learn more about how to partner with the Lake County Ohio Visitors Bureau!