Lake Erie covers almost 10,000 square miles of surface and is 241 miles long. Cleveland and Toledo serve as ports to this great lake, offering a harbor spot for industrial ships. In Ohio alone, Lake Erie spans almost the entire northern border, making it a well-known and popular vacation and weekend destination.

Geneva-on-the-Lake, Sandusky and the Erie Islands are several notable locations tourists tend to visit during the summer. Swimming, boating and fishing are three activities synonymous with the area, and Geneva State Park features a marina, swimming, camping facilities and a golf course. The area of Erie has grown commercially over the past several decades, and a number of wineries have cropped up in the region, in part due to the optimum climate for vineyards.

Put-in-Bay, located on South Bass Island, Kelley's Island and Catawba Island are summer spots for Clevelanders and other locals to kick their feet up and spend a weekend at the beach. The Bass Isles, two of which are purely vineyards and a winery, and Kelley's Island are accessible by a ferry services from Marblehead, Catawba Island and Port Clinton. Put-in-Bay and Kelley's Island are largely frequented by college students and recent grads in search of a little summer fun but there are also residents of these tiny islands who get year round supplies from the mainland via the sky and the sea. Both islands have state parks, wineries, and Put-in-Bay even has a cave for touring. Of course, there is swimming, fishing, and boating included as well.