Pretending you’re a tourist on your own stomping grounds is a fun way to see Northeast Ohio in a new light while also giving your wallet a breather.
Check out these gorgeous beaches, ledges and islands that make it feel like you and Toto are not in Ohio anymore. Stay near; get lost.
Beaches
Edgewater Park – Cleveland
Stretching across 147 acres, Edgewater Park features 9,000 feet of swim beaches (for dogs, too) a fishing pier, yacht club, boat ramps, rentable pavilion, picnic spots and grills. It’s perfect for a quick, casual dip, summer stroll, sunbathing or casual gathering with friends and family.
Geneva-on-the-Lake – Geneva
Geneva is lit like the Fourth of July all summer long. Ohio’s first summer resort, Geneva-on-the-Lake has been a favorite family vacation spot for generations. Aside from the boating, fishing, swimming, camping, cottages, motels and homes available, the entertainment strip is loaded with amusement rides and nightlife. Hit a bucket of balls on the golf course or kick back at the winery. Any way you choose, this little resort will make you forget you’re close to home.
Headlands Dunes State Nature Preserve – Mentor
Lake County’s Headlands Dunes State Nature Preserve, adjacent to the Headlands Dunes State Park (which features Ohio’s largest natural sand beach), is one of the last of its kind in Ohio. Here you can frolic among the collection of striking and specialized plants and animals. It’s a great place to find your Zen and appreciate the quiet.
Cedar Point Beach – Sandusky
Ohioans are lucky enough to drop in at Cedar Point for the thrilling rides whenever we feel like it. But how often do we take advantage of the gorgeous beach it sits on? The often-overshadowed beach is available exclusively to the amusement park, Soak City Waterpark, Cedar Point Resort guests and platinum pass holders. Stay on-site at Cedar Point’s Hotel Breakers and boogie out to the beach for parties, music, games and fireworks.
Ledges
Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park – Garrettsville
Nelson Ledges State Park is 167 acres of mossy crevices, rocky trails and soaring rock outcroppings all under a canopy of trees. Don’t confuse it with the noisier and privately-owned Nelson Ledges Quarry Park next door. That park has a swimming area, a campground and notoriously rowdy concerts throughout the summer.
At the quieter state park on state Route 282 a few miles north of Garrettsville in Portage County, you’ll find quiet pathways through slender slips in the rocks, thick patches of ferns and a small creek to explore.
Whipp’s Ledges – Hinckley
Geology fans, listen up. This is one of the few spots in Northeast Ohio with exposed sandstone ledges of Sharon Conglomerate. This is a thick, almost pure quartz sandstone from the early Pennsylvanian Age that formed about 310 million years ago. Grab a permit and get busy rock climbing and then refuel and relax in one of the nearby picnic areas.
Ritchie Ledges Cuyahoga Valley National Park – Peninsula
This is another terrific place to see Sharon Conglomerate. An ultimate spot to hike, take the trail around the ledges to connect to a longer set of trails in the Virginia Kendall area. When it reopens, you can also schedule a ranger-led hike around the ledges to catch the inside scoop.
Islands
Kelleys Island State Park Beach – Kelleys Island
Comprising a whopping 677 acres, Kelleys Island State Park spreads across the shores of the 2,800-acre Kelleys Island, which is known as Lake Erie’s Emerald Isle. It’s a marvelous spot to rent a kayak or gaze at nature. This Isle is famous for its exceptional archaeological, ecological and geological features. Nature lovers unite. Relaxation lovers, get comfy.
South Bass Island State Park – Put-In-Bay
South Bass Island is home to Put-In-Bay but there’s more to enjoy aside from the party scene and nightlife attractions Put-In-Bay is known for. The 33-acre South Bass Island State Park is an oasis of beaches, wooded areas and campsites. After a day at the beach, hop on down to one of the two wineries to enjoy wine tastings and tours.
