Photography by John Rees

The Great Lakes are packed full of special gems for boaters. Among them are the more than 20 islands scattered across the shallow western end of Lake Erie. These islands have played a part in America���s history for well over 300 years. One of the best known is South Bass or Putin-Bay. It was here that Oliver Hazard Perry set-up his base of operations during the War of 1812. Perry���s defeat of the British Fleet under Robert H. Barclay gave the U.S. Navy the memorable slogan, "We have met the enemy and they are ours."

A monument commemorates Perry���s victory, which is visible from miles around. Put-in-Bay was also a popular location for American Indians as evidenced by the troves of arrowheads and stone axes that still appear on a regular basis. The French fur traders and explorers who made regular visits during the late 1700s created the first charts of the islands. They originally named settlement Pudding Bay, since it resembled a pudding bag.

Settlers came to the islands to practice agriculture with varying degrees of success. In 1843, Philip Vroeman became the first permanent settler in Put-in-Bay. He remained there until his death 68 years later. Eventually, Put-in-Bay became a major summer resort area with numerous hotels and spas serviced by a continuous fleet of steam excursion ships, some carrying more than 1,500 passengers.

Today, Put-in-Bay on South Bass Island continues to thrive as a summer destination. Whether you spend a long weekend or a week, Put-in-Bay is ideally suited to family boating. South Bass Island is the second largest of the American Islands and is located just off the coast of Port Clinton, Ohio. It is easily accessible from Port Clinton, which offers numerous public launch sites and scheduled ferry service. It is also a short, 35-mile run by water from the mouth of the Detroit River. For those who wish to fly, the airport is located one mile south of the village of Put-In-Bay. Island Airlines runs a scheduled flight service between Port Clinton and Put-In-Bay. As an interesting tidbit, Island Airlines flew one of the last operating Ford Trimotor airplanes on this island route until the mid-1970s.

Once you arrive, dockage is available at the Public Marina or any one of several private marinas. The downtown public marina has three large docks. Two docks are operated by the Village of Put-in-Bay and the DeRivera Park Trust operates one. Current rates are $1.40 per foot with an additional $5.00 fee for each PWC and tender whether in the water or on a platform. These docks also have mandatory rafting rules due to the volume of boats in the summer, especially on holiday weekends. Oak Point State Park, located on Peach Point, also offers public dockage. The dockage is paid on the honor system but boaters must register immediately upon arrival.

Private dockage is available at the Boardwalk Dock; Fox���s Dock, Miller Marina and the Put-in-Bay Yacht Club. Rules and availability vary with each marina so calling ahead is recommended. Eighty-one moorings are also available through the Put-in-Bay Township Port Authority and are available to yachts under 52 feet. The Boardwalk Water Taxi provides unlimited shuttle service between the mooring field and the dock from 8a.m midnight, Sunday through Thursday and from 7a.m-1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. The Village also operates a public shower in DeRivera Park for boaters.

Once the family yacht is safely tied up and battened down, it���s time to see the 1,382-acre island. One good way to do so is by renting a golf cart, bicycle or moped. Delaware Golf Cart and Bike Rental is located in the heart of town just a short distance from the public docks.

At the top of the must see list for any first-time visitor is the Perry Victory and Peace Memorial rising 352 feet above Lake Erie. Built between 1912 and 1915, the Perry Memorial is the most prominent feature of all the Lake Erie Islands. The rotunda at the base of the memorial contains the remains of three American and three British Officers killed during the historic battle of Lake Erie as well as a commemoration of Perry���s ships and the Americans that were killed or wounded.

Downtown Put-in-Bay looks over the municipal docks and contains enough gift shops, boutiques, clothing stores and fine restaurants to occupy the entire crew for at least a weekend if not more. More than 25 restaurants and pubs offer food selections from traditional Great Lakes walleye and perch dinners to Caribbean fare at the Blue Iguana. Or maybe you���re in the mood for lobster, king crab and other fine seafood at Book���s Seafood. Other restaurants offer traditional burgers, chicken cooked a variety of ways, pizza and prime rib. In short, the island offers cuisine to satisfy any hungry sailor.

For boaters looking for a good nightlife, many Put-in-Bay taverns will entertain patrons with well-known local musicians. For those interested in the arts, the Put-in-Bay Arts Council sponsors numerous stage productions during the season. Other activities include a Spring Classic Car Show, several boat races and regattas, the Put-in-Bay Chamber Five Iron Golf Classic held at Saunders Resort, the Barber Shoppers concert and the popular annual Bartender Olympics held at the Roundhouse Bar.

In the fall the island hosts the Island Wine Festival. The Lake Erie Islands are well known for their quality wines, and during October, wineries from across the U.S. attend the festival with samples of their finest vintages for the public to sample. Visitors should check the Put-in-Bay Chamber of Commerce Web Site for a complete list of all the islands scheduled season activities.

In addition to shopping, fine dining and entertainment, visitors may take advantage of numerous other attractions such as the Antique Car Museum or the Butterfly Museum at Perry���s Cave. Perry���s Cave is a large cavern with a stream running through it. Legend says that Perry obtained his drinking water from this underground stream and its temperature stays at 50 degrees all year.

A trip to Put-in-Bay is not complete without a visit to the Heineman Winery on Catawba Avenue. The Heineman Winery was founded in 1888 by Gustav Heineman and produces a variety of fine wines made with Catawba, Concord and Niagara grapes. The Lake Erie Islands support several wineries because of the ideal soil conditions, a long growing season and the tempering effects of Lake Erie. Heinemans provides a delightful garden where visitors can sample the various wines. The hardest part may be is deciding which vintage to take home. The winery also has the distinction of being built on top of Crystal Cave, which is believed to be the world���s largest geode, or crystal filled cave. On a hot summer day, the cave offers the perfect opportunity to cool off while enjoying a tour of a truly unique natural attraction.

Many historic sites and buildings provide experiences to visitors that make Put-in-Bay entertaining and educational, justifying repeated visits year after year. Whether you are looking for a great place for a family vacation or the excitement of lively companionship with other boaters, a visit to Put-In-Bay should rank high on anybody���s summer itinerary.

The Put-in-Bay Chamber of Commerce website is www.putin-bay.com. This is an excellent resource for planning your trip to a unique destination port.