Our 2013 Family Day Trip to Put-in-Bay – Part 2

**Spring is here! Check out my family’s trip to Put-in-Bay in the summer of 2013.

Our Day Trip to Put-in-Bay – Part Two

If you missed my first post on our Family Day Trip to Put-in-Bay you’ll definitely want to read that first!

Once we stepped foot on Put-in-Bay, I knew we were in for an amazing day!  The weather was perfect, the cloudless sky was the brightest shade of blue, and the kids were bubbling with excitement.  My oldest exclaimed, “Mom, is this a real island?”.

When we got off the Jet Express, we quickly found the shuttle that took us a short drive to the Train Depot.  This was included in our Island Fun Pack, and since it was our first visit to the island, I instantly relaxed knowing that everything was taken care of. We got to the Train Depot, hopped on the train, and were excited to see what our first adventure would bring.

The Island Fun Pack includes many of the islands highlights and is perfect for those who are considering a day trip to Put-in-Bay!  While the Tour Train is a one-hour narrated tour the island, you have stop off privileges at many popular spots.  With the tram stopping by each scheduled stop every 30 minutes, it’s easy to catch the train when you are ready to go to your next destination. The Island Fun Pack includes vouchers to:

• Miller Boat Line or Jet Express
• Perry’s Cave
• War of 18 Holes Miniature Golf
• The Butterfly House at Put-in-Bay
• Antique Car Museum
• Heineman Winery & Crystal Cave

Once we were on our way, I was able to sit back and really take in the island. As we rode through the downtown area we were amazed by the amount of options that this little town can offer. We passed by many quaint shops that were brimming with customers, as well as many restaurants with a variety of food to choose from.  My boys were especially excited to see both a playground and a carousel located in the center of town!

While we were there on a Friday, I didn’t see one hint of the boisterous crowd that I was warned about from friends.   This sleepy little town may turn into a party spot for adults on the weekends, but  I found that it was PERFECT for families during the weekday!

As we drove out of town and into the residential areas, I was taken back by what a beautiful town Put-n-Bay is.  Each house we drove by was  cuter than the one before and you could see what pride the owners took in their property.  Throughout the train tour I really enjoyed the information given by the train tour guides.  These friendly and knowledgeable drivers share all about the history of the island and surrounding areas as well as unknown facts and little gossip.

Put-in-Bay Aquatic Visitors Center (FREE)

The first stop we got off at was the Put-in-Bay Aquatic Visitors Center. While only opened seasonally and on certain days of the week, it is FREE to the public.  Housed in a former state fish hatchery, this  center has six aquariums filled with Lake Erie fish and turtles, hands-on exhibits, FREE fishing for kids and much more.  Since my kiddos have never fished before it was a real treat, even if we were a little skirmish watching the helpful staff member put a worm on the end of the fishing pole!   Keep in mind that this area is not part of the Island Fun Pack but is a stop on the Tour Train (on days that it is open).

Our next stop was the Perry’s Cave Family Fun Center.  This area is home to Perry’s Cave, The War of 18 Holes Miniature Golf, The Butterfly House, Fort Amaze’n, Gemstone Mining, Antique Car Museum, and more. With so much to do, we spent most of our day here.

The Butterfly House (included in the Island Fun Pack)

We chose to visit the The Butterfly House in this area and my mom and I were really looking forward to it.  Before heading inside, we took the opportunity to sit on the big rocking chairs on the front porch and enjoy a snack that I had brought with us.  We enjoyed the peaceful grounds in this area that are covered in beautiful flowers and plants.  It really made me wish that I had more of a green thumb.

While walking to the back of the building we were able to browse through their 5000 sq. ft. gift shop that is full of garden gifts, glass and crystal butterfly figurines, and jewelry. Of course my boys headed right to the toys!

The Butterfly House at Put-in-Bay is a 4000 sq. ft. aviary filled with hundreds of butterflies and beautiful flowers. When they created this space they really took time to focus on the details  with benches to sit on, a large gazebo to relax in, and many secret paths to explore.  With the bushes and flowers being so low to the groun,d it was easy to get up close with the butterflies in their natural environment.   There is no time limit, so you are welcome to stay as long as you’d like and can even re-enter if you wish.

Perry’s Cave (included in the Island Fun Pack)

With the weather heating up we chose to head below to Perry’s Cave.  This cave lies 52 feet below the surface of South Bass Island in Lake Erie. The cave is 208 feet long by 165 feet wide and stays around 50° year-round. Since this was my boys first time in a cave, they were super excited to explore.

While inside, we were able to view stalactites and stalagmites on the cave’s ceiling and floor as well as see a rare underground lake. Since this lake is so clear, it’s much deeper than it appears. We loved Perry’s Cave.  The amount of time (about 20 minutes) was perfect and the cave was well lit so there were no worrys about my little ones being scared.  I was also very impressed with our tour guide who was both funny and knowledgeable.

War of 18 Holes Miniature Golf (included in the Island Fun Pack)

Next up on our family day trip to Put-in-bay was the War of 18 Holes Miniature Golf course.  This miniature golf course is not only nestled under a canopy of shade trees, but also boasts of a covered bridge and waterfall cave.  At each hole you can even learn a historical fact about the War of 1812 and Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry’s role in the victory of the Battle of Lake Erie.

While my boys are only 3, 5, and 7 they enjoyed this activity so much they wanted to complete the whole course.  Since there were many others on the course as well that day it did take us quite a while, but I was happy to see them having so much fun!

The Antique Car Museum (FREE) The Antique Car Museum is another FREE activity to check out in Put-in-Bay.  Since it’s located in the Perry’s Cave Family Fun Center area, it’s also a stop on the Tour Train. This small museum only took about 10 minutes to look around in, but my family liked seeing the rare Model Ts and vintage snowmobiles.

Heineman’s Winery and Crystal Cave (included in the Island Fun Pack)

Located right across the street from Perry’s Cave Family Fun Center are Heineman’s Winery and Crystal Cave.  While this is a stop on the Tour Train, it’s close enough if you’d rather walk.  When you tour Heineman’s Winery and Crystal Cave, you’ll snag a glass of wine or grape juice.

The Crystal Cave was discovered by accident when in 1897, workers found it when digging a well for the winery 40 feet above.  With the cave walls covered in a blueish mineral called celestite and with crystals ranging from 8 to 18 inches long, the Crystal Cave is the world’s largest geode.  This cave is much smaller than Perry’s Cave must. It’s truly a sight to see.

Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial (Visitor Center – FREE/Monument- $3 for adults, 15 and under FREE

The last stop on the Tour Train was the Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial.  This memorial was built to honor those who fought in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812, and to celebrate the long-lasting peace between Britain, Canada, and the U.S.

Located on the grounds is the Perry Memorial Visitor Center, which is FREE to the public.  This building offers a 15-minute movie on the War of 1812 and the Battle of Lake Erie, as well as a display of artifacts.  While we looked around the Visitor Center, we couldn’t wait to head to the top of Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial.

The Doric column of this memorial rises 352 feet over Lake Erie and is only 5 miles from the longest undefended border in the world.  To get to the top of this monument, you’ll need to first climb 37 steps to the elevator, which will take you to an open-air observation deck 317 feet above Lake Erie.

Once at the top, it was so fun to get a bird’s eye view of this gorgeous island.  The helpful workers were able to point out all the surrounding islands as well as give us a ton of information all about the history of the monument and island. While the entry isn’t included in the Island Fun Pack, entrance for the Memorial is only $3 for adults, and kids ages 15 and under are FREE!

Put-In-Bay is Perfect for Families!

Our family had an amazing time on our first family day trip to Put-in-Bay.  I can’t wait to go back next year to explore this island even more! I think the Island Fun Pack is a fabulous deal and a great way to explore South Bass Island!  I loved the convenience of the tour tram and how you pay a discounted rate once and yet can play all day! Also, since kids 6 and under are FREE you’ll save even more.

While we were at Put-in-Bay for over 7 hours, we barely touched all the fun things to do at Put-in-Bay.  I can’t wait to go back! I’d love to explore the adult side of the island with the hubby and without the kids.

Before you plan your day trip to Put-in-Bay, stop into the Lake Erie Shores and Islands Visitor’s Center in Sandusky, Ohio (they also have a second location in Port Clinton).  If you are looking for any information regarding the Shores and Islands area, this is the place.

All opinions are my own.  A huge thanks to Lake Erie Shores and Islands for setting up our trip and providing us Island Fun Pack vouchers for this review.