*Please note: This is a partially sponsored post but all opinions are my own.
The older I get the more I am convinced the island life is the life for me! Fortunately for me, Lake Erie has several islands that are just a short boat ride away. Just over 4 square miles wide, Kelley’s Island might be one of the most charming of these islands. Formed by glacial action on limestone and dolomite, Kelley’s Island is a laid back, must see Great Lakes destination. It’s a unique mix of coastal town meets rural scenery. If you are looking for a slow paced island experience, then add this island to your destination bucket list!
My family and I had the opportunity to enjoy a quick 24 hour getaway to the island recently. It was everything I wanted and more! Visiting for a day is completely doable, but we loved the laid-back, casual vibe and could have stayed longer. Below I’m breaking down where we stayed, how we got around the island, where we ate, and more!
Accommodations: Kelley’s Island Venture Resort
Kelley’s Island is a small island but there are plenty of places to stay. We were graciously invited by Kelley’s Island Venture Resort to stay with them for a night. Situated right along Lakeshore Drive, the resort might indeed have some of the best views of the lake.
There are 31 guest suites available. We stayed in the Iroquois Suite, which is an upper level suite that sleeps up to six people. The main level includes a sitting area with a mini fridge and bar, central bathroom, and sleeping space with a queen size bed. The upper level includes a spacious loft that holds two queen beds and cozy sitting area. It was incredibly spacious for our family of four and the kids were delighted they each had their own queen size bed! The views of the lake and pool from our suite were truly incredible and we loved sitting on the balcony enjoying the views.
While we are chatting about the views, I must mention the exterior. The grounds of this resort were absolutely stunning! Rows of hydrangeas, bright florals, and a sunny yellow façade made for a very delightful experience. The upper level suites all include chairs on the balcony so you can sit outside and read and enjoy the lovely views.
Amenities at the hotel include fresh linens, free Wi-Fi, a gated family pool, a hot tub, lounge chairs, microwave, coffee machines, mini fridges, and on-site parking. I can assure you that the kids favorite part of the resort was the pool (and seeing Cedar Point from the balcony). Rob and I loved the complimentary pool towels and the dock along the water where we could enjoy a beverage and watch the sunset.
The resort does not offer a complimentary breakfast nor do they have any snacks, so you might want to bring some food or visit one of the breakfast places I chat about below.
*Please note: The resort sponsored our stay but all opinions are my own.
Transportation/Getting to the Island
Since this is an island, the easiest way to get there is by boat. We took the Kelley’s Island Ferry out of Marblehead. We found that to be the easiest and most cost friendly option. The ferry runs every 30 minutes up until 9:00 p.m. The ferry ride itself is only 20 minutes long. A round trip ticket is $24 for adults, $ $16 for youth, and free for ages four and under.
You can bring your car on the ferry and drive it around the island or you can do what we did and rent a golf cart (which is way more fun). There are a few golf cart rentals on the island. We used Seaway Marina Port to rent our golf cart. We paid for an all day/overnight cart and then an additional hour because we brought it back an hour later than it was due (which we arranged with the company beforehand). Our resort offered one parking spot per family so we could park our little golf cart there which was so convenient!
Another fun way to get around the island is by renting a bike! You could even bring your bikes over on the ferry (we saw a few people doing that) and bike around the island instead of renting a golf cart (although I’d make sure your kids are old enough to bike several miles).
Island Family Activities
We found there to be plenty of kid friendly activities around the island. Whether your family likes water activities (such as boating, kayaking and fishing), swimming, hiking, historical experiences, shopping, or fun dining, there are numerous opportunities for fun and summer memories. And if you are staying on the island for a few days, you can take a quick boat ride over to Put-in-Bay or Cedar Point!
Swimming/Beaches
Even if where you stay doesn’t have a pool like the resort, there are three swimming beaches. We took the kids to the State Park Beach and they loved it. The beach is pretty decent size and there were even families kayaking close to shore. You can also visit Scheele Preserve (which has a beach and 1/2 mile walking trail) or Rocky Beach (which is right next to the docking of the Kelley’s Island Ferry and has great views of Cedar Point!).
Glacial Grooves Geological preserve
One of the highlights of the trip (at least for me) was seeing the Glacial Grooves! If you aren’t familiar with this phenomenon let me take a minute to enlighten you. The Glacial Grooves are a geological event that occurred about 400 million years ago during the Devonian Age or “Age of Fishes.” They were created by the slow movement of a large glacier that is believed to have shaped the Great Lakes and Lake Erie islands! The grooves are 400 feet long, 35 feet wide, and up to 15 feet deep. The grooves provide incredible information about the direction and movement of the glaciers that shaped this region.
The entire family loved this experience. There is a small portion of the limestone bedrock that the kids can touch and spend a few minutes looking for fossils. Don’t miss this adventure!
mini golf/putt-putt
One of the activities on our family’s summer wish list was taking the kids putt-putting! Luckily for us the island had a quick and beginner friendly 18 hole mini golf experience. You can buy an all day pass to play for $10 or a one time pass for $7. And right next door to mini golf you could find some refreshments like ice-cream or a drink at the Sand Trap Tiki Bar.
inscription rock
We didn’t have the opportunity to stop at the Inscription Rock, but next time we will as we are a family that loves and values history! The Inscription Rock is a large limestone boulder that has petroglyphs carved into its surface. These inscriptions were made by Native American tribes of the Lake Erie region. Historians believe the inscriptions are less than 1000 years old. Historians also believe the markings and drawings provided notes about fishing, hunting, and future destinations. So cool!!
additional activities
In addition to some of the cool activities listed above, the island provides eco tours that allow you to learn about the island’s rich history. There are also opportunities available for kayaking, boating, fishing, bird watching, biking, and hiking. There is a historical museum, campgrounds, shopping, an arcade and so much more. Check out the full list of things to do here.
Island Dining
Dinner
There are a handful of places to eat on the island. We chose to eat dinner one night at the Kelley’s Island Wine Co. This is a wonderful place for kids! They have a spacious outdoor seating area that includes a playground, horse shoes, cornhole, volleyball, and a small farm with chickens. The food was pretty tasty as well. We ordered burgers and pizzas and were happy with our experience!
Breakfast
For breakfast we rode over to the adorable Kelley’s Island Coffee Company. There were plenty of baked goods (donuts, muffins, scones) to choose from, as well as a breakfast sandwich. The coffee was delicious and much needed!
Lunch
For lunch we knew we wanted waterfront viewing. Dockers was recommended to us so that’s where we decided to go! It’s situated right along the marina and you get a nice view of Cedar Point (so the kids were kept entertained while we waited for our food). Rob and I each had a grilled chicken club sandwich (no bread for me though!) and we were happy with our choice. The restaurant did have mostly seafood options like lobster rolls, spicy island shrimp, and crab cakes. (Please note there is a not a kids menu but they did offer to make us buttered noodles, mac and cheese, or a hot dog for the kids.)
Other restaurants we considered were Island House, Captain’s Corner, The Casino, and The Villa Eatery and Bar (which was located right across the street from the KI Venture Resort.
What I Wore
On The Ferry
Like I mentioned previously, we chose to take the Kelley’s Island Ferry out of Marblehead. The ferry ride is only about 20-30 minutes. Seating is mostly outside and in the sun so be sure to pack sunscreen! I knew it would probably be windy so I wore my off the shoulder matching set that I made. I wanted something cute but with shorts and this little matching set was perfect for the ride over. I styled it with my Quince crossbody, Quince Leather flats, small gold hoops, and a coastal blue beaded necklace (similar linked here from a small business!).
To Dinner at the Kelley’s Island Wine Co.
I was the only one in my family to change for dinner (no surprise there!). I just wanted to wear something fresh so I wore my palm tree maxi dress that Rob got me for my birthday a few years ago. I paired it with slide sandals, small gold hoops, my Shore Society lobster claw, and my Quince leather crossbody.
To Watch the Sunset
The kids wanted to swim after dinner and the sunset time was rapidly approaching so I just kept on my dress from dinner but grabbed my Erie and Anchor Lake Erie sweater (similar style) to throw over my shoulders- which I’m glad I did because it was a bit chilly by the water!
Exploring the Island
We had planned out what we wanted to see on the island the night before and I knew nothing was going to require strenuous activity. I wanted to look cute but also be comfortable so I wore this coral maxi dress I bought secondhand. I styled it with slide sandals, my Quince crossbody, my starfish earrings, and my favorite tortoise shell sunglasses. The only time I regretted this choice was when we were playing putt-putt (which honestly wasn’t on our planned agenda) because I did get quite with a long dress!
Conclusion
I am sure there is much more to Kelley’s Island than what I’ve mentioned here. We crammed in as much as we could in a 24 hour period with two little kiddos. Overall we had a lovely experience and will for sure be making this an island we visit every summer. If you’ve been to Kelley’s Island and have more activities or places to eat, please reach out or share them in the comments section!
Slainte,
Shannon
Special thanks to Kelley’s Island Venture Resort for sponsoring our visit!
A Dash of Solt 