The Perry Memorial and the mooring field at Put-in-Bay.

Put-in-Bay is often referred to as the Key West of Lake Erie and the comparisons are quite appropriate, at least during the summer months. If you’re boating in western Lake Erie, you should probably visit Put-in-Bay at least once just to say that you’ve experienced it. If your main reason for owning a boat is to get away from the crowds and enjoy the peace and quiet of a secluded anchorage, you may not be interested in returning. If however, you enjoy the energy and diversions of a true party town, Put-in-Bay may become a yearly destination.

If you only have a day or two to spend, Put-in-Bay is a worthy destination on its own. If you’re looking for a week-long excursion, Put-in-Bay can make up one third of the iconic American boating vacation of Put-in-Bay, Kelleys Island, and Sandusky Bay, each of which is reviewed separately in our guides.

Technically, Put-in-Bay refers to both the little town in the center of South Bass Island and the sheltered bay that gave it its name, but the phrase “Put-in-Bay” is often used as a term of convenience to describe anywhere on South Bass Island (let’s face it, it’s just a lot more fun to say). The island’s popularity with recreational boaters is explained by the fact that it contains one of the few all-weather harbors on Lake Erie. Many people choose to come to the island by ferry or airplane, but many arrive by private boat and the village provides a number of amenities for visiting cruisers.

The bay itself features a large public mooring field on the western end, serviced by a boat taxi, and a number of public and private docks along the downtown waterfront. The eastern half of the bay is a large anchorage, but the bottom consists mainly of smooth rock and holding is poor. Offshore, at the mouth of the bay, is little Gibraltar Island and the Stone Laboratory, which is owned by Ohio State University and not open to the public.

Put-in-Bay features an almost endless array of bars and restaurants and an assortment of diversions for both kids and adults. During the boating season, the island hosts an almost weekly schedule of special events, including the legendary “Christmas In July” festival that is by far their most popular. A calendar of events, in addition to other information for planning your trip can be found at the Put-in-Bay web site.

By day the village is very family-friendly, with an atmosphere something like that of an amusement park minus the roller coasters. The town’s complexion changes somewhat after dark and things get a bit bawdy as the bar crowd takes over the town. Excessive drinking is tolerated, if not outright encouraged, so be prepared to deal with this less attractive (and much more entertaining) side of human nature.

South Bass Island is dominated by the massive Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial. This 352-foot stone column is simultaneously a monument to America’s most important naval victory of the War of 1812, a memorial to the soldiers and sailors (on both sides) who died during it, and a major navigation beacon, visible throughout a large part the western lake.

Two ferry lines provide transportation to the island. Miller Boat Line operates a standard car and passenger ferry from Catawba Island on the mainland and lands at the Lime Kiln dock on the southern end of the island, at which point bicycles or golf carts may be rented or, for a couple bucks, a bus is available to shuttle visitors into town. The Jet Express runs a high-speed, passenger-only ferry from Sandusky and nearby Kelleys Island and delivers its passengers directly to the downtown waterfront.