Sandusky Guidebook
Amusement Park
Cedar Point is one of the best well known attractions of Sandusky. This massive park has activities for all ages. From large roller coasters, to smaller rides, children as young as 1 or 2 will be able to join in the fun. Cedar Point also has a water park on site.
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Cedar Point
1 Cedar Point DrCedar Point is one of the best well known attractions of Sandusky. This massive park has activities for all ages. From large roller coasters, to smaller rides, children as young as 1 or 2 will be able to join in the fun. Cedar Point also has a water park on site.
Kalahari resort is a good place to visit, especially on a rainy day. They have an indoor water park and arcade, as well as a couple restaurants and bars. It's about a 15 minute drive south of downtown Sandusky.
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Kalahari Resorts Sandusky
7000 Kalahari DrKalahari resort is a good place to visit, especially on a rainy day. They have an indoor water park and arcade, as well as a couple restaurants and bars. It's about a 15 minute drive south of downtown Sandusky.
Food scene
One of our personal favorites is Great Lakes Grinders. They have great grinders and you can eat by the water. There is also a play area for young kids. Great Lakes Grinders is about a 5 minute walk east along the shoreline from the Chesapeake Lofts.
Great Lakes Grinders
411 E Water StOne of our personal favorites is Great Lakes Grinders. They have great grinders and you can eat by the water. There is also a play area for young kids. Great Lakes Grinders is about a 5 minute walk east along the shoreline from the Chesapeake Lofts.
Volstead is a small speakeasy type bar the only allows a few people in at a time. There are lights outside indicating how many seats are available. 5 green lights means 5 or more seats, 2 green lights mean 2 seats, etc. Volstead makes excellent crafted drinks and is one of our local favorites.
16 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Volstead Bar
316 E Water StVolstead is a small speakeasy type bar the only allows a few people in at a time. There are lights outside indicating how many seats are available. 5 green lights means 5 or more seats, 2 green lights mean 2 seats, etc. Volstead makes excellent crafted drinks and is one of our local favorites.
One of the busiest restaurants in Sandusky is the Small City Taphouse. They have a great selection of Thai food, sushi, and craft beers. It's a very large place, but wait times can be 30-60 minutes so you may want to plan ahead for your stop. They do offer carry out, but even this can take a while. Taphouse is only about a 5 minute walk from the Chesapeake Lofts.
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Small City Taphouse
202 Columbus AveOne of the busiest restaurants in Sandusky is the Small City Taphouse. They have a great selection of Thai food, sushi, and craft beers. It's a very large place, but wait times can be 30-60 minutes so you may want to plan ahead for your stop. They do offer carry out, but even this can take a while. Taphouse is only about a 5 minute walk from the Chesapeake Lofts.
The Barrel House Saloon is a waterfront bar just a couple minute walk from the Chesapeake Lofts. It's a bit of a biker bar, but all groups are welcome. They typically have rock music. Please note, they only accept cash. There is an ATM at the bar. Food trucks commonly park outside the bar during evening hours.
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Jack Daniel's Barrel House Saloon
101 E Shoreline DrThe Barrel House Saloon is a waterfront bar just a couple minute walk from the Chesapeake Lofts. It's a bit of a biker bar, but all groups are welcome. They typically have rock music. Please note, they only accept cash. There is an ATM at the bar. Food trucks commonly park outside the bar during evening hours.
Quaker Steak & Lube in Sandusky is about a 5 minute drive from downtown Sandusky, and is famous for their wings. They are located on the water, and have great views from inside or outside.
14 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Quaker Steak & Lube
4900 Transportation DrQuaker Steak & Lube in Sandusky is about a 5 minute drive from downtown Sandusky, and is famous for their wings. They are located on the water, and have great views from inside or outside.
Tofts has been a local favorite ice cream parlor for many years. You can get ice cream by the cone or container to take back and eat later. They tend to be busy during popular hours, so please expect a wait. If you're just looking for some quick ice cream, Cobb's Drive-In is close and generally has a shorter wait.
20 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Toft Dairy Ice Cream Parlor
3717 Venice RdTofts has been a local favorite ice cream parlor for many years. You can get ice cream by the cone or container to take back and eat later. They tend to be busy during popular hours, so please expect a wait. If you're just looking for some quick ice cream, Cobb's Drive-In is close and generally has a shorter wait.
Sightseeing
The Jet Express is docked right outside Chesapeake Lofts, about a 2 minute walk east. The Jet Express can take you to Cedar Point, Kelley's Island, and Cedar Point and makes runs all day long. It's a very easy way to get to the islands and explore. They have a topside deck that is open air for spectacular views of Lake Erie. If the weather isn't ideal or you prefer air conditioning, you can sit in the large lower deck. Trips to Cedar Point take about 10 minutes, while trips all the way to Put in Bay can take up to an hour. Be mindful of the departure times (especially getting back to Sandusky).
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Jet Express
101 W Shoreline DrThe Jet Express is docked right outside Chesapeake Lofts, about a 2 minute walk east. The Jet Express can take you to Cedar Point, Kelley's Island, and Cedar Point and makes runs all day long. It's a very easy way to get to the islands and explore. They have a topside deck that is open air for spectacular views of Lake Erie. If the weather isn't ideal or you prefer air conditioning, you can sit in the large lower deck. Trips to Cedar Point take about 10 minutes, while trips all the way to Put in Bay can take up to an hour. Be mindful of the departure times (especially getting back to Sandusky).
The Merry-Go-Round museum is a nice indoor activity that is only a few minutes walk from the Chesapeake Lofts. Hours can vary by season, so check in advance, but they do have a working Merry-Go-Round and some historical Merry-Go-Round items.
30 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Merry-Go-Round Museum
301 Jackson StThe Merry-Go-Round museum is a nice indoor activity that is only a few minutes walk from the Chesapeake Lofts. Hours can vary by season, so check in advance, but they do have a working Merry-Go-Round and some historical Merry-Go-Round items.
City/town information
Kelley's Island is a quick 15 minute ride via the Jet Express (docked just outside of Chesapeake Lofts to the east). You land right in the middle of the city where a few restaurants and bars are right on the water. The Casino (it's not an actual Casino, that's just the name) and PortSide are both waterfront dining/bars. There is also the Village Pump (famous for their frozen Brandy Alexanders) and Caddy Shack Square (which has put put, ice cream, etc). Most of the restaurants/bars are relatively child friendly during the day hours. You can also rent a golf cart and cruise around the island. Some top spots to visit if you do so are the glacial grooves (large grooves cut by glaciers many years ago), and on the far west side of the island is the Kelley's Island Brewery, which has a very large outdoor seating area, outdoor bar, and overlooks the water. Our family visits Kelley's Island several times a year.
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Kelleys Island
Kelley's Island is a quick 15 minute ride via the Jet Express (docked just outside of Chesapeake Lofts to the east). You land right in the middle of the city where a few restaurants and bars are right on the water. The Casino (it's not an actual Casino, that's just the name) and PortSide are both waterfront dining/bars. There is also the Village Pump (famous for their frozen Brandy Alexanders) and Caddy Shack Square (which has put put, ice cream, etc). Most of the restaurants/bars are relatively child friendly during the day hours. You can also rent a golf cart and cruise around the island. Some top spots to visit if you do so are the glacial grooves (large grooves cut by glaciers many years ago), and on the far west side of the island is the Kelley's Island Brewery, which has a very large outdoor seating area, outdoor bar, and overlooks the water. Our family visits Kelley's Island several times a year.
We go to Put in Bay quite often as a family (including our two year old). While this is known more of as a party island, there are still things for kids to do.
One of our favorite spots is the Crew's Nest, which has some excellent pools for adults and kids (including slides and rock walls), as well as a small pool for very young kids. Indoor and outdoor bars, and indoor and outdoor eating areas. The outdoor eating area has a play area for young kids, while still being in view while you are eating. It's a private club, but they typically allow for purchase of guest passes during the week. Call in advance for details and to ensure there are no limitations or special events.
For adults, the main downtown strip has a lot of bars featuring all kinds of live entertainment nightly.
The park in the center of town has a large play set for kids. Just across the street from the park is the BoatHouse restaurant. They have a decent selection of food and is kid friendly during the day. We visit there often.
Another favorite is "The Keys", which is also right by downtown. This is a waterfront dining place, but they also have a great selection of frozen drinks. This is another spot we almost always visit.
And we can't forget the Boardwalk. This is a large waterfront dining establishment downtown, with great views of the water and known for the lobster bisque, lobster, and crab.
135 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Put-in-Bay
We go to Put in Bay quite often as a family (including our two year old). While this is known more of as a party island, there are still things for kids to do.
One of our favorite spots is the Crew's Nest, which has some excellent pools for adults and kids (including slides and rock walls), as well as a small pool for very young kids. Indoor and outdoor bars, and indoor and outdoor eating areas. The outdoor eating area has a play area for young kids, while still being in view while you are eating. It's a private club, but they typically allow for purchase of guest passes during the week. Call in advance for details and to ensure there are no limitations or special events.
For adults, the main downtown strip has a lot of bars featuring all kinds of live entertainment nightly.
The park in the center of town has a large play set for kids. Just across the street from the park is the BoatHouse restaurant. They have a decent selection of food and is kid friendly during the day. We visit there often.
Another favorite is "The Keys", which is also right by downtown. This is a waterfront dining place, but they also have a great selection of frozen drinks. This is another spot we almost always visit.
And we can't forget the Boardwalk. This is a large waterfront dining establishment downtown, with great views of the water and known for the lobster bisque, lobster, and crab.