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Lake Erie is a perfect vacation spot for families! This list of Lake Erie vacation ideas will help you plan your next Ohio vacation on the Lake!

The shores of Lake Erie have been a favorite vacation spot for our family time and time again! Ohio’s Vacationland is a comfortable driving distance from our home in Columbus, Ohio and there are plenty of fun things for families to do!

If you’re looking for an Ohio road trip that includes beaches, fun parks and playgrounds, gorgeous scenery, family-friendly entertainment and even some educational opportunities, look no further. This list of Lake Erie Vacation ideas will be a great starting place to spark inspiration for your next trip!

Marblehead Lighthouse on the Marblehead Peninsula at Lake Erie — Marblehead Lighthouse

If an Ohio beach sounds up your alley, try Vermilion, Port Clinton or Lakeside. I’ve got lots more info about beaches in my post 7 Lake Erie Beaches You’ll Want to Visit This Summer! If an African Wildlife Safari is up your alley, check out the list of things to do near Sandusky!

boy driving a pretend boat in Lakeview Park playground in Port Clinton, Ohio — Lakeview Park in Port Clinton, Ohio

If the weather calls for indoor fun, check out the amazing indoor play area in Bellevue or spend a day at Castaway Bay! Geneva-on-the Lake is a cute lakeside town where you can swing through the trees on a Lake Erie Canopy Tour or enjoy food and games on The Strip along Lake Erie.

My family has enjoyed doing many of these things year after year! The beach at Vermilion is a place we ALWAYS visit when we go to Lake Erie! We always plan for lunch at Jolly Rogers in Port Clinton and we always take Miller Ferry to Put-in-Bay for a day of family-friendly fun! (Yes, Put-in-Bay CAN be family-friendly!)

7 Exciting Lake Erie Vacation Ideas for Families

Take a look at this list of family friendly Lake Erie vacation ideas and pick and choose activities that fit your family to plan your next Ohio vacation!

Many of the things on this list can be done within one vacation. In fact, ambitious families could potentially do a majority of these things in a full week vacation to Lake Erie!

1. Sandusky, Ohio

Did you know that this western part of the Lake Erie shoreline is officially called Vacationland? That sounds like some place I want to be!

If you're looking for an affordable and close Ohio beach vacation, you can find a lot of things to do on the shores of Lake Erie! This post features some of the most popular (and some of our favorite) family-friendly attractions in and around Sandusky, Ohio:

Click the link for 15 things to do with your family in Sandusky, Ohio!

2. Bellevue, Ohio

With an amazingly large indoor play area, and an extensive train museum, you can easily spend a day with your family in Bellevue, Ohio!

Bellevue is about 25 minutes from Sandusky and is a great place to spend a rainy day during your family vacation!

Click the link to get all the details!

3. Put-in-Bay, Ohio

Put-In-Bay is more than just a party island! There are plenty of things for families to do on the island making Put-In-Bay a great idea for a day trip or overnight trip with kids!

Perry's Cave Family Fun Center features lots of family-friendly attractions like mini-golf, cave tours,and a butterfly house!

The Aquatic Visitors Center and the Lake Erie Islands Nature and Wildlife Center provide educational and hands on activities for kids!

Click the link for 15 fun ideas of things to do at Put-in-Bay!

4. Vermilion, Ohio

Main Street Beach in Vermilion, Ohio is a place we visit year after year! Vermilion is a beautiful little town with unique lagoons, a nice beach and some really great restaurants!

Click the link to find out how to spend the perfect day at this Lake Erie beach in Vermilion, Ohio!

5. Castaway Bay

No matter the weather outside, it's always 82 degrees at Castaway Bay and your kids will love the indoor water park, arcade and bedtime stories with Snoopy!

There's a lot of fun to be had at Castaway Bay for adults, too! The hotel, waterpark and restaurants are all contained on the premises so you never even need to leave the indoor tropics!

Click the link to plan your trip!

6. Lakeside, Ohio

If you’re looking for a slow-paced and peaceful family vacation on the lake, make plans to visit Lakeside, Ohio, a perfectly picturesque town on Lake Erie where there is a little something for everyone in the family!

A daily pass is required to enter the Lakeside community which offers live entertainment, special speakers, a beach, outdoor pool, movie nights, a supervised playground and Ohio’s Most Beautiful Mile!

Click the link to see just how beautiful Lakeside truly is!

7. Geneva-on-the-Lake, Ohio

Geneva-on-the lake makes for a fun family vacation on Lake Erie! Geneva-on-the Lake is east of Cleveland, an adorable town right on Lake Erie.

Try out the Kids Adventure Course at Lake Erie Canopy Tours, play arcade games on The Strip, eat amazing donuts and enjoy a relaxing stay at The Lodge at Geneva-on-the Lake!

Click the link for all the details!

We’ve had a lot of fun exploring Lake Erie as a family and just looking through this list is making me want to go back soon! I hope this list has inspired you to plan a getaway to see it for yourself!