Kelleys Island is in Lake Erie, about a mile north of Marblehead, and can be seen from the iconic Cedar Point. Kelleys Island is full of vacation homes and campsites, and it’s the perfect place for a weekend getaway. Kelleys Island has ample beaches for vacationers and islanders alike. It’s perfect for going to the beach without traveling to the ocean. I recently visited Kelleys Island, and I want to tell you about my impressions of the island.
Getting Around
To get to the island, you have to drive to Marblehead and get on Kelleys Island Ferry. The ferry is relatively cheap, eleven dollars for adults, and automobiles are eighteen dollars each. Dogs ride for free, along with children under four, and discounted fares for seniors and minors. After boarding, it’s just a short 30 minute trip to the island. The ferry does close on days with inclement weather and high winds, so plan accordingly.
After reaching the island, you can either drive your car or explore the island on foot. If you don’t mind a little exercise, I would recommend exploring on foot. Kelleys Island has a lot of natural beauty that is easy to miss, from the birds to numerous historic landmarks.
Exploring the Island
I chose to explore the island on foot and I was not disappointed. Once leaving the dock area, I went straight for Inscription Rock. With over 100 carvings from the Native Americans who inhabited the island before settlers, this rock is one of Kelleys Island’s most historic landmarks. Inscription Rock was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. After taking some pictures with the inscriptions, I turned north and walked through the shopping district.
While it was rather touristy, the shopping district offered ample restaurants and stores to choose from for food and souvenirs. After exploring the island, I took some time to eat and explore the shops and bars, and I was not disappointed by the variety and activities available.
Once I walked past the shopping district, I walked along the main road on the island’s west side, past several gorgeous vacation homes. Golf carts were the preferred mode of transportation, and they zipped by along with the occasional car. I turned east and began to make my way to East Quarry when I came across a sign that said Lilac Walk. Eager to give my hiking shoes a workout, I turned down the small hiking path. The trail split off and joined together several times, but eventually, I was struggling to find the path at all. I thought that if I continued east I would eventually hit the East Quarry trails, but when the path continued along the very edge of a cliff, I decided to turn back.
After that little adventure, I continued east until I reached the North Pond Nature Preserve. I decided to give up on visiting East Quarry as my foray onto Lavender Path cost me too much time. I walked through the much better-marked nature preserve, home of the Lake Erie Water Snake, an endangered species that lived in the preserve. The North Pond is also prime birdwatching during migration season in the spring and fall. Birds rest at the pond during the arduous flight over the Great Lakes. The pathway extends over the water making for an exhilarating and refreshing walk. Plenty of frogs made their home in the pond, and they made their presence known from splashes and croaking. I kept my eyes peeled for the endangered snake, but the water had too many plants on the surface to see for into the water, and I didn’t catch any sunning themselves on the path.
After exploring the beautiful pond, the preserve had a path that took me straight to North Beach. Families played, people docked their boats, and even some canoes showed me an idyllic beach for families to explore and play. I walked westward, following the shoreline, and listened to the sound of laughter as I made my way towards the glacial grooves in Kelleys Island State Park. I walked through the state park campsite, which was completely booked. Reservations to stay on Kelleys Island have to be made well ahead of time. The campsite has docks, plenty of picnic areas and was right on North Beach, a great place to stay for those wanting to bring their boats and do some swimming.
Once I was through the state park campsite, it was just a five-minute walk to the glacial grooves. The Glacial Grooves, giant carvings from when glaciers receded from Ohio, are the best example of glacial grooves in the world. Many foreign visitors come to Kelleys Island just to see these grooves, and it’s the attraction the state park was made around. A tour of Kelleys Island is not complete without seeing this unique phenomenon that draws in people from around the world.
Once I explored the historic grooves, I made my way back south along the main road to the shopping district. I stopped in for lunch at Captain’s Corner and ate some signature Lake Erie Perch, the restaurant’s main draw. It was delicious but pricy. Like most other islands, Kelleys Island has to import its food and supplies, and the higher prices are passed along to consumers. While it wasn’t cheap, it was delicious, and the fresh perch hit the spot. I explored the shopping arcade and bought some ice cream for dessert. Several unique bars and shops dotted the area, and I regret I wasn’t able to explore them all.
Heading Out
It was mid-afternoon, and the wind was beginning to pick up. I was nervous I might get stuck on the island with no place to stay, and had a long drive home, so I decided to call it a day and rode back to Marblehead on the ferry. However, I find myself planning to go back, and explore the rest of the island. There were many places I didn’t have time to visit, such as East Quarry, the Monarch Winery and Butterfly Box, Kelleys Island Wine Company’s Cellars, Scheele Preserve, and the southeast part of the island.
Planning Your Trip
If you want to visit Kelley’s Island, I would recommend taking a weekend getaway. Either rent one of the vacation homes, a campsite, or a cabin. Be warned you should plan and book well in advance, Kelleys Island is popular. As an alternative, you can stay in Marblehead and take the ferry to the island. Take your time to explore and enjoy the island and its many nature preserves and historic landmarks.
I would recommend Kelleys Island to any Ohioan looking for a nice weekend getaway. This beautiful piece of history has visitors from all over the world, and with good reason between the glacial grooves and nature parks. Kelleys Island is also extremely dog-friendly and has plenty of activities for families, a great place to visit in the spring, summer, or fall.
If you’ve visited Kelleys Island, comment down below about your trip, if you’re planning to visit write what you’re most excited about. Happy travels!
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