Lake Erie Shores on the Great Lakes Circle Tour - Only 6,500 Miles!

Although a surprising fact, the highways and roads circumnavigating a perimiter around the Great Lakes in the American Midwest cover 6,500 miles - about twice the width of the United States! Many of us are unaware that a route completely around the Great Lakes exisits, besides the fact that it is so long.

I first heard about The Great Lakes Circle Tour in 2003 on a visit to Michigan, were the streets in the towns near Lake Huron supported bright green and white signs indicating its path. What fun!

Each of the five lakes can be toured using these routes, or a complete tour of all five at once is possible. A great summer would be spent driving around the bays and inlets, stopping at islands, visiting historical sites, dining on diverse cuisine in the towns along the way, and writing it all up for publication. The trip could rival Alton Brown's enchanting book Feasting on Asphalt, occurring all along the Mississippi River. And the Mississippi is only 2,320 miles long!

In this Hub, we'll look at the attractions and towns along the shores of Lake Erie in Ohio and Pennsylvania, a distance of about 300 miles.

Ohio's North Shore of Lake Erie can be divided into two parts: Toledo eastward to Lorain, and Lorain to Conneaut. The Ohio Turnpike toll road runs along the lake at a short distance, but traveling along Ohio Routes 2 and 5 brings travelers closer to the water and through the small and large towns along the way.

The complete Lake Erie Circle Tour covers 680 miles. The AAA-suggested route is from Detroit, Michigan (where you can visit the shores of Belle Isle first) to Toledo, Ohio eastward across the state, across a short portion of Pennsylvania, where you might see the Northern Lights some nights at Presque Isle, up through New York to Niagara Falls, and across the Peace Bridge to Ontario Province, Canada. From there, Ontario Highway 3 runs along the shore of Lake Erie all the way back to the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit.

Toledo is a major gateway city into Canada via Lake Erie, with its large harbor and Maumee Bay. The Bay is also part of the Maumee Bay State Park Lodge and Conference Center nearby, the state's newest state park. The new park offers outdoor sports and activities all through the year, along with dining and a wonderful view of Lake Erie. From Toledo, the park is reached via I-280 S. and Cedar Point Road.

Adjacent to the state park are Mallard Club March Wilderness Area and Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge. A number of outdoor activities are offered in these area, including beaches all along the Lake Erie Shore at intervals from Maumee Bay to Conneaut in the East.

Taking Cunty Road 204 south to State Route 2, travel east to find Metzger Marsh Wildlife Area, Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, Magee March Wildlife Area, Turtle Creek Bay, and Big Sand Bay located in a large cluster together.

Continue to follow State Route 2 eastward to the city of Port Clinton. At this point, Lake Erie is to the north and the large Sandusky Bay is to the south. Port Clinton is at the western end ogf a peninsula that offers a number of harbors and at the eastern end, Lakeside Daisy State Nature Preserve. A number of islands are located in Lake Erie at this point, seen as tourist attractions and also used as research facilities by Ohio universities. Islands include Catawba Island, Marblehead, Kelley's Island, Put-in-Bay on South Bass Island, and Middle and North Bass Islands. Pelee Island is just to the northeast, across the Canadian border in the lake.

Lake Erie and its islands were the site of many water battles during wartime, and especailly during the War of 1812, after which 10,000 American prisoners were incarcerated in the horrid Dartmoor Deport prison in England for years after they were to be released. Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial was built on Put-in-Bay to remember those who fought in the Battle of Lake Erie (War of 1812). This monument is a Doric column of 352 feet near the Canadian border and underneath are buried three American and three British officers killed in this battle. A visitor's complex is full of information and re-enactors are on hand to show tourists parts of the battle that occurred in 1813 wth Perry's ship's flag inscribed "DON'T GIVE UP THE SHIP." Suffering great damages, Perry captured the whole group of six British ships in this battle.

A number of festivals, Civil War re-enactments, and cruises are available from Port Clinton's historic waterfront districts.

Returning to Route 2, travelers can cross Sundusky Bay and proceed to Cedar Point Amusement Park via State Route 6 that goes through Sandusky. On the west side of Sandusky is Lions Park with a substantial amount of beach at the shoreline at Sandusky Bay.

The causeway entrance to the Cedar Point park along State Route 6 is on the other side of Sandusky is also near Pipe Creek Wilderness and Wildlife Areas. Cedar Point increases its rides and attractions every year, but always offers re-enactors that portray daily life in eary Ohio settlements. The last time I visited the park, I watched a woman that spun yarn from her long-haired dogs. Her finished knitted garments were good quality, warm, and very attractive.

Leaving this area, resume travel on State Route 6 to find Sheldon Marsh Nature Preserve. At the Juncture of State Route 6 and Township Highway 122 is located Bowling Green State University Firelands Campus. Stay on Route 6 through Huron, Ohio and its shopping districts. The route proceeds to Old Woman Creek Nature Preserve and eastward past several beach area to Vermillion, Ohio and the City of Lorain.

Continuing eastward on State Route 6, travelers find Avon Lake, Ohio. This is my favitre area on the lakeshore, becuase its public libraries have enjoyed massive reconstruction. On my last visit to the main branch, I sat on a couch at a picture window facing the lake and watched sailing ships and freighters.

Continuing on Route 6 takes visitors though additional beaches, small towns, and parks to Cleveland OH, the home of the Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame. The waterfront is full of seafood restaurants with a fresh catch every day.

Take the Route 2 and I-90 parallel through a number of small towns and beach areas from Cleveland to Ashtabula, passing by the large Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland. Mentor Marsh State Preserve is north of Painesvlle, Ohio. Several state preserves and Fairport Harbor are attractions here. Geneva State Park runs right up to the shoreline at Geneva-on-the-Lake. At Asthabula, drivers can take 2 and I-90 to Route 11 North to find Route 531 running very close to the shoreline, if they wish. This will take you all the way to the last town on Ohio on Lake Erie: Conneaut.

The US Government sold some of its lighthouses by auction in 2011, including Conneaut Harbor West Breakwater Light. New owners will likely develop it into more of a tourist attraction. Ohio's Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Light in Painesville was also auctioned in Summer 2011.

This area of Lake Erie, on into Pennsylvania, is widely known for its wineries. Conneaut is also a bicycling city and cycle groups invite visitors to join them any time. In addition, Conneaut is known for its alpaca farms that invite visitors to see the animals and yarn preparation.

An amazing number of wineries continue to develop across the state line from Conneaut. Ohio and Pennslvania share tourism form Conneaut Lake and Conneaut Lake Park as well, although these are approximately 30 miles inland from Lake Erie. The Pepsi Cola company helps the park with grant funding to improve its midway for historic preservation of the site.

Pymatuning State Park is fewer than 5 miles west of the amusement park and another good place to see.

Take Route 5 out of Conneaut and continue all the way to the far Pennsylvania state line. Between Conneaut and Erie, several nice views of the shoreline and some beach fronts are visible, as well as sailboats and freighters on the lake. Approximately 2.5 miles outside of Erie PA, you'll find Peninsula Drive and if you turn left, it will take you to Presque Isle.

The entrance causeway is a wide boulevard full of natural landscaping and native trees, one of the loveliest I have seen. It takes you out into Lake Erie to a beach and camping area among several small lakes. You can drive completely around the perimeter of this area and back out to Route 5. This will take travelers through Erie PA, with its historic Union Train Station and other attractions, on through Lawrence Park and Shades Beach Park South and on to the New York state line where Route 5 as East Lake Road becomes West Lake Road. Before you reach New York, you'll stop at North East, Pennsylvania, whose largest employer is Welch's. The town is known for its grapes today and fruit has always been its supporting economy.