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Getaway to Kelleys Island

By Betty O'Neill-Roderick
Ohio.com

Put an island in your life this summer with a family getaway to Kelleys Island. Although it is located just 4 miles off the Ohio coastline, this island is a world apart, and offers a vacation ambiance like no other. The pace here is more leisurely and relaxing, yet there's a plethora of activities for every member of the family.

Getting there is half the fun, the ferry boat to Kelleys Island leaves from the Marblehead peninsula, from there it's only a 20 minute ride to the island. As the boat docks be sure to notice the rare plant life hugging the coastline, clinging to the limestone that was exposed thousands of years ago by southward moving glaciers. Boats to Kelleys Island leave every hour, to reserve space for your family and your car call 419-798-9763.

Visitors can explore the island by bike or golf cart, both can be rented at the dock, or take long leisurely walks along the pristine shore. The Boardwalk on Ward Road winds through meadow and woodlands to the edge of the pristine North Pond Nature Preserve where guests can climb up a tower for a beautiful view of the entire area.

North Pond State Nature Preserve is a relatively untouched wetland area. The pond was formed as the lake receded from its ancient shoreline and the Preserve is one of the very few natural wetlands directly connected to Lake Erie. Birding is a big event here since the island serves as a stepping stone used by multitudes of migrating birds as they cross Lake Erie.

Be sure to visit the Glacial Grooves, the largest and most spectacular example of glacial grooves in the entire world. A self-guided tour explains how the grooves were formed during the ice age many years ago and also gives some island history. Inscription Rock State Memorial on the south shore has faint pictographs of men, birds and animals, carved by the Erie Indians 400 years ago.

Kelleys Island State Park is a great place for swimming with its 100-foot beach, as well as overnight accommodations on the family campground. Other accommodations abound on the island with cottages, bed and breakfasts and a new resort hotel, the Kelleys Island Venture Resort. This all-suite resort is perfect for families, and all suites have a patio or balcony with a view of Lake Erie. For more information visit www.kiventureresort.com.

There are several bed and breakfasts on the island, including A Water's Edge Retreat, which is modeled after a Victorian farmhouse. Amenities here include a hot tub, massages, and a 15-foot sailboat that's available to charter. For more information call 800-884-5143 or visit www.watersedgeretreat.com.

Family-friendly activities take place throughout the summer including a historical home tour on July 11, IslandFest on July 24-26; the Kelly Miller Circus will visit August 3 and 4, and an Outdoor Filmfest will take place August 7-9, 2009. For more information about Kelleys Island visit www.kelleysislandchamber.com.

Biking on Kelleys Island

Put an island in your life this summer with a family getaway to Kelleys Island. Although it is located just 4 miles off the Ohio coastline, this island is a world apart, and offers a vacation ambiance like no other. The pace here is more leisurely and relaxing, yet there's a plethora of activities for every member of the family.

Getting there is half the fun, the ferry boat to Kelleys Island leaves from the Marblehead peninsula, from there it's only a 20 minute ride to the island. As the boat docks be sure to notice the rare plant life hugging the coastline, clinging to the limestone that was exposed thousands of years ago by southward moving glaciers. Boats to Kelleys Island leave every hour, to reserve space for your family and your car call 419-798-9763.

Visitors can explore the island by bike or golf cart, both can be rented at the dock, or take long leisurely walks along the pristine shore. The Boardwalk on Ward Road winds through meadow and woodlands to the edge of the pristine North Pond Nature Preserve where guests can climb up a tower for a beautiful view of the entire area.

North Pond State Nature Preserve is a relatively untouched wetland area. The pond was formed as the lake receded from its ancient shoreline and the Preserve is one of the very few natural wetlands directly connected to Lake Erie. Birding is a big event here since the island serves as a stepping stone used by multitudes of migrating birds as they cross Lake Erie.

Be sure to visit the Glacial Grooves, the largest and most spectacular example of glacial grooves in the entire world. A self-guided tour explains how the grooves were formed during the ice age many years ago and also gives some island history. Inscription Rock State Memorial on the south shore has faint pictographs of men, birds and animals, carved by the Erie Indians 400 years ago.

Kelleys Island State Park is a great place for swimming with its 100-foot beach, as well as overnight accommodations on the family campground. Other accommodations abound on the island with cottages, bed and breakfasts and a new resort hotel, the Kelleys Island Venture Resort. This all-suite resort is perfect for families, and all suites have a patio or balcony with a view of Lake Erie. For more information visit www.kiventureresort.com.

There are several bed and breakfasts on the island, including A Water's Edge Retreat, which is modeled after a Victorian farmhouse. Amenities here include a hot tub, massages, and a 15-foot sailboat that's available to charter. For more information call 800-884-5143 or visit www.watersedgeretreat.com.

Family-friendly activities take place throughout the summer including a historical home tour on July 11, IslandFest on July 24-26; the Kelly Miller Circus will visit August 3 and 4, and an Outdoor Filmfest will take place August 7-9, 2009. For more information about Kelleys Island visit www.kelleysislandchamber.com.



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