No matter the time of year visitors flock to the shores of Lake Erie in Ohio for long weekends and extended family vacations. Lake Erie extends through several states and makes up one of the Great Lakes that extend all the way to Canada. On the eastern side of Ohio sits the popular town of Geneva-on-the-Lake. From boating and swimming to hiking and biking, a vacation in this area includes a lot of chances to get outdoors and explore. All along the shores of Lake Erie, there are small towns with various activities to enjoy. Here’s a quick peek at the top 10 Geneva-on-the-Lake vacation rental locations.
1. Geneva-on-the-Lake
Choose a condo on the lake or a residential home with a lake view when you select a vacation rental in Geneva-on-the-Lake. Wake up each morning to enjoy a breakfast out on the deck and watch the sunrise over the lake before the kids wake up. Stop by the Old Firehouse Winery for a wine sampling and to learn a little more about wine production. At Adventure Zone Family Fun Park, take the kids to play mini golf, bumper boats, and go-karts.
2. Conneaut
Drive east toward the border of Pennsylvania and the town of Conneaut with its casual and laid back attitude. Learn more about the town’s history and connection to the railroad industry at the Conneaut Historical Railroad Museum at a train station. At Raccoon Park, you and the kids can wander around the shore of Lake Erie and enjoy a picnic at the sheltered picnic area. In the winter months, ride your bike out on the ice from here.
3. North Madison
To the southwest of Geneva-on-the-Lake sits the small lake community of North Madison, where you and your family can spend your day’s boating, biking, and fishing. Try your hand at kite boarding or water skiing out on the lake. Take a day to check out the largest estate winery in Ohio at Debonne Vineyards. After learning more about the art of making wine, sample reds and whites to find your perfect match and buy a couple of bottles to serve with dinner back at your vacation rental.
4. North Perry
Escape the crowds at some of the largest towns along Lake Erie when you stay in North Perry, but still enjoy all the exciting lake activities from boating and water skiing to canoeing and paddle boarding. Enjoy the paved trails by bike or on foot along with the sculpture garden at Lake Shore Reservation Lake Metro Parks. This lake front park encourages visitors to spend a day fishing and bird watching and has a dedicated picnic area so your family doesn’t need to leave for lunch.
5. Fairport Harbor
Find the ideal vacation rental along the shores of Lake Erie in Fairport Harbor, where you can find easy access for your personal boat. Pack a picnic and your beach towels for a day of playing in the water at Headlands Beach State Park and take a stroll out to the lighthouse in the late afternoon. Learn more about life on the Great Lakes and the history of the area at Fairport Marine Museum, located in the lighthouse.
6. Mentor-on-the-Lake
Moving west from Geneva-on-the-Lake, enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the lake anytime of the year until you reach the lake front community of Mentor-on-the-Lake. Each July, watch in awe when this town hosts the Mentor Super Boat Grand Prix. In addition to boat races, the town comes alive with family fun activities and vendor booths. Fill your days fishing, boating, canoeing and biking around this small friendly town where the locals always try to make you feel welcome.
7. Timberlake
Slow down and take life a little less seriously with a vacation rental in Timberlake. It has a selection of modest vacation rentals a couple of blocks from the shores of Lake Erie. Take a stroll through the residential streets in the evening, and hop on a bike to ride around town during the day. Load up the kids in the car and drive over to the East Lake Pier for some fishing and to watch the boats out on the lake.
8. Lakeline
Just a couple of minutes west from Timberlake, your family can find a quaint and comfortable vacation rental in Lakeline. Many of the rentals are in converted larger homes that feature spacious apartments or town homes that fit modest budgets. Take the kids out on the lake for a day of fishing or just spend time reconnecting as you enjoy an evening stroll together.
9. Willowick
Along the edge of the lake, several high-rise condos offer nice family digs for your trip to Lake Erie in Willowick. Take the kids to Newport Beach, where they can wade in the water while you catch up on your reading list. In the summer months, Dudley Park offers a community pool where you can cool off and play in the water before stopping at one of the local restaurants for a bite to eat.
10. Euclid
Euclid sits just off Interstate 90 and from the shores of Lake Erie where you can see the city of Cleveland in the distance. Check the schedule and take one of the guided walks along the paved loop at Acacia Reservation to hear more about the local flora and fauna. Find out who in your family can bounce the highest at Sky Zone Highland Heights, an indoor trampoline center.