Each week, we'll be featuring a place of interest around Cleveland, site of Gay Games IX in 2014. Cleveland, Akron, and Northeast Ohio are great places to visit, and are also great places from which to experience some of the finest destinations in the USA and Canada.
Cleveland is a great city on a great lake. This week we're featuring some particularly lovely lakeside towns, including favorites from BudgetTravel.com.
Fairport Harbor, Ohio
Lake Erie
Fairport Harbor offers one of the most beautiful natural settings of any coastal community on the Great Lakes. This charming harbor town is perched on the bluffs above the mouth of the Grand River and overlooks two historic lighthouses and one of the finest public beaches in Ohio. Just 30 miles northeast of Cleveland, this special destination is an easy day trip or a great place to start an exploration of the eastern shore of Lake Erie.
Adding to its allure, this quaint and quiet village is an undiscovered treasure, mainly known by yachtsmen and fishermen seeking a protected gateway to the heart of Lake Erie. Photographers, painters and historians come to be inspired by the beauty and the diverse story of this working harbor town. Families from the region who have discovered Fairport’s safe, clean and fun-filled lakefront come to enjoy a classic day at the beach.
This historic landing place of the French explorer LaSalle has become a gateway destination for many who seek Lake Erie’s quiet pleasure of a sunny day on gentle sands, the adventure of a boat ride on open water, or an easy chair and a glass of wine from one of the Grand River Wine Regions’ many Lake County, Ohio vintners.
Fairport’s culture has been historically shaped by the demands of a working port. Great Lakes shipping still comes and goes regularly past the picturesque breakwater lighthouse, and the Finnish (see the Finnish Heritage Museum), Hungarian and Slovenian families who have given Fairport its welcoming European feel still celebrate their heritage in their way of life.
More info HERE
Leamington, Ontario
Lake Erie
Leamington is Canada's tomato capital, and a good deal more.
Return to nature and be captivated by Leamington’s environmental uniqueness including Carolinian forests, rare and endangered species, beautiful lakeside parks, and the spectacle of the annual bird and butterfly migrations at Point Pelee National Park, or conservation areas Hillman Marsh and Kopegaron Woods.
With an almost endless summer you can kick back and relax. Play a few holes on our great golf courses; cast a line for some terrific sport fishing; tie up at our award winning marina; trek our miles of trails or build your dream castle on our sandy beaches.
Our marina has undergone a $2.5 million transformation including new docks, patio and play areas for the whole family to enjoy. Summer concerts and special events take place nearly every weekend at the marina, and you can rent the pavilion for your events too. Be sure to shop in our historic Uptown or other thriving commercial areas.
Pay a visit to the Arts Centre, get a visitor’s pass to the Kinsmen Recreation Complex, or just enjoy the beauty of our sunsets at Seacliff Park which has been reinvented with new paved pathways, mood-setting lighting, picnic area and an awesome splash pad.
Healthy living is easy here. We are famous for the many roadside fruit stands that offer everything from apples to zucchini. Our greenhouses provide fresh produce virtually year round; and of course tomatoes are king and are celebrated annually at the Tomato Fest. In Leamington we take being fresh seriously!
Our cultural diversity makes Leamington distinctive. Regardless of where you are you will be struck by the influences of multiple cultures…language, music, art, religion, food and events all celebrate our treasured heritage. Accommodations are plentiful; so plan to stay awhile.
More info HERE.
Watkins Glen, New York
Seneca Lake
The Finger Lakes region of New York State has developed a reputation for wine, especially crisp whites. Three wine trails wind around the long, narrow bodies of water that give the region its name, carved out millennia ago by retreating glaciers. A good place to start is the handsome town of Watkins Glen, at the extreme southern tip of Lake Seneca—within easy driving distance of 35 different wineries producing good Rieslings and Chardonnays.
If that sounds too highfalutin, head to Watkins Glen International, a racetrack that hosts NASCAR every August; in September there's a classic-car grand prix featuring machines dating back to the 1930s.
Exploring the lake is easy, as several companies offer cruises. You'll feel the wind in your hair on the deck of the sleek sailboat operated by Seneca Sailing Adventures. It holds just six passengers, and leaves twice a day for three-hour cruises.
If you're a hiker or mountain biker, try Finger Lakes National Forest, between Seneca and and Cayuga lakes, where 30 miles of trails pass through gorges, ravines, and woodlands. Keep an eye out for birds like the red-tailed American kestrel. Kids can get close to tamer animals—goats, sheep, turkeys, and other relatively mellow farm dwellers—at the 175-acre Farm Sanctuary. Rent a canoe or kayak at Summit to Stream Adventures, which also leads guided tours through the Queen Catherine Marsh, an 882-acre wetland.
More info HERE.
Ephraim, Wisconsin
Lake Michigan
In a nod to the area's Scandinavian roots, the small town of Ephraim has many lakefront restaurants that still host nightly fish fries, a tradition brought here by immigrants from Norway. The combination of freshly caught lake fish, onions, and red potatoes is served up in style at the Old Post Office Restaurant, where cooks scoop the fish from cast-iron kettles heated over an open fire in the backyard.
At dusk, take in one of the best sunset views from the deck of Scuppers, a red-sailed boat captained by Tom Schroeder of Bella Sailing Cruises, which operates out of South Shore Pier. Captain Tom can ferry you across Eagle Harbor to see the squat Eagle Bluff Lighthouse at Peninsula State Park, celebrating its centennial this year. For more active pursuits on the water, Door County Kayak Tours leads six daily lake tours from Egg Harbor, which include a brief kayaking lesson and transportation to and from the point of embarkation.
Rainy-day fun for the whole family can be had at the Hands On Art Studio; kids can make their own jewelry or paint ceramics.
Where to refuel Since its founding Ephraim has prohibited the sale of alcohol, so the only microbrew you'll find is the homemade root beer at Wilson's Restaurant and Ice Cream Parlor. Have it blended into a "frosty" with vanilla ice cream.
Where to stay In the historic district, the white clapboard Eagle Harbor Inn is the kind of place where guests relax in Adirondack chairs scattered on the lawn. .
More info HERE.
Newport, New Hampshire
Sunbapee Lake
Sunapee Lake is quintessential pastoral New England, with a handful of beaches made for swimming and a revolving lineup of outdoor concerts all summer. Its focal point is the lively marina scene at Sunapee Harbor; other highlights include the Fells Historic Estate & Gardens, an 84-acre estate with gardens dating back to the early 20th century.
Where to Refuel: One Mile West specializes in New England favorites like Atlantic haddock fish and chips; try the signature Brook Rd. BLT, which adds pepper-crusted sirloin to the tried-and-true bacon-lettuce-tomato combo.
Where to Stay: Dexter's Inn's estate-like grounds are immaculate, with an outdoor pool, tennis court, and views of the lake.
More info HERE.
