Erie County: Museums, Nature, and Ferry Connections

Erie County offers several points of interest to help you plan your trip: Cedar Point in Sandusky, museums about the region’s history, parks and natural areas, and ferry connections from downtown Sandusky.

Getting There and Planning Your Trip

You can reach Erie County via the Ohio Turnpike, State Route 2, State Route 4, and U.S. Route 250. If Sandusky is on your itinerary, Cedar Point and several museums are among the places to visit there. For other interests, the natural areas, trails, and historic sites described here can help guide your trip planning.

Museums and Ferry Connections in Sandusky

Cedar Point is located in Sandusky. The Sandusky History Museum in the Follett House documents the history of Sandusky and Erie County; exhibits on four floors tell the story of Sandusky. The Follett House also includes the Widow’s Walk, a rooftop observation walkway. From there, you can see downtown Sandusky and Sandusky Bay. Access may depend on operating conditions.

The Merry-Go-Round Museum offers a different focus, with hand-carved figures, historic band organs, and rare artifacts about the history of American carousels. The museum was established in 1990 in Sandusky’s historic former post office. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Maritime Museum of Sandusky explores passenger shipping, commercial fishing, ice harvesting, and boatbuilding. Other topics include Ohio’s wetlands, shipwrecks, and Sandusky’s role in the history of the Underground Railroad. Visitors can board Lyman boats and view other watercraft on display; these opportunities may depend on operating conditions.

Jet Express ferries depart from downtown Sandusky for Put-in-Bay, Kelleys Island, and Cedar Point. Crossings take between five and 45 minutes. Routes and crossing times may vary by season, so check the current schedule before your trip.

Parks, Nature, and Trails

Erie MetroParks maintains 14 public parks and recreation areas with more than 30 miles of trails in total. Eagle Point is designated as a stop on the Lake Erie Birding Trail. From the observation platform, you can watch bald eagles, ducks, and other waterfowl. The Joseph Steinen Wildlife Area protects 155 acres of freshwater marshland and adjacent upland areas.

At Castalia Quarry MetroPark, panoramic views of Sandusky Bay and the Lake Erie Islands come together with a geological feature: the park contains fossils that are 400 million years old. A different river landscape defines Coupling MetroPark, which lies on an undisturbed floodplain of the Huron River. In early spring, Virginia bluebells can be seen along the river from the trails.

The nature preserves also offer different points of interest. Sheldon Marsh State Nature Preserve encompasses 465 acres of Lake Erie shoreline with a diverse mix of habitats. Old Woman Creek State Nature Preserve is protected both as a State Nature Preserve and as a National Estuarine Research Reserve.

For a comparison of trail lengths, two very different options are available: James H. McBride Arboretum has about half a mile of paved walking paths around Parker Lake. Edison Woods MetroPark has approximately six miles of forest and prairie trails. The arboretum is home to more than 200 species of flowers, trees, and shrubs; its horticultural and naturalistic landscape features support education, enrichment, and recreation. Horseback riding is permitted at Edison Woods, the only park in the system where it is allowed.

Osborn MetroPark offers hiking trails and the Discovery Trail. A nine-basket disc golf course is located in the park’s northern meadows. At Hoffman Forest MetroPark, grassy trails wind through old-growth forest and stream habitats. Seasonal fishing is available there in Old Woman Creek with a valid fishing license. To take in views of the Huron River, walk along the Huron River Path and look out over the river from the Kara Deering Bridge.

Kelleys Island has many restored homes, numerous examples of which are more than 150 years old. This adds a glimpse of historic homes to the island’s nature and museum attractions. When planning, you can weigh these different interests: museum exhibits, trails and nature watching, or a ferry crossing each offer a different focus for your trip.

Discover more destinations: Sandusky, Vermilion, Huron, Brown County, Belmont County, Lorain, Gallia County, Allen.

For the broader travel overview: Ohio.