Things to Do in Winter

Stay active this Winter with all the things to do at Shores & Islands Ohio. Explore Holiday festivals and events, cozy winter getaways, indoor activities, and delicious restaurants to get you through the colder months. Located a short drive from both Toledo and Cleveland, Shores & Islands Ohio is the premier vacation destination spanning across the Greater Sandusky, OH area.

Looking for places hosting Christmas Dinners?

Sandusky

Great Wolf Lodge
4600 Milan Rd. (US 250), 419-609-6000
Lodge dining is open to the public on Wednesday, Dec 25
Gitchigoomie Grill Buffet 2-9 pm, call for reservations (419-609-6000 ext. 693 or 622)
Adult: $39.99, Child (4-10 yrs.): $15.99, Child (3 yrs. and under): free
18% service charge and state sales added to all checks.
Christmas Eve open for dinner 5-9 pm.
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions Christmas Buffet
7000 Kalahari Dr. (off US 250), 419-433-5543
Dec 25, 1-4:30 pm in The Convention Center Kalahari Ballroom.
Reservations strongly encouraged.
Adult (13 yrs. and older): $65.99, Child (3-10 yrs.): $22.99, Child (2 yrs. and under): Free
*Subject to 24% taxable service charge and applicable sales tax. Gratuity included.
Red Lobster
4016 Milan Rd., 419-625-1122
11 am-9 pm
OH Taco
233 W. Water St., 844-373-2223
11 am-11 pm

Huron

Sawmill Creek Resort
400 Sawmill Creek Dr, 419-433-3800
The Miller’s Table, 4-8 pm, dining room and bar
Harvest Restaurant, 7-11 am, breakfast buffet
Creekside Market, call front desk to verify hours

Winter Activities

Castalia

Castalia State Fish Hatchery
7018 Homegardner Rd.
419.684.7499
Hours: Year-round Mon-Fri 8 am-3 pm; closed holidays
Rates: Free

Elmore

Elmore Historical Society
53 Ottawa St., 419.862.5118,
Schedule: By appt. only
Rates: Free

Huron

Riverview Lanes Bowling
125 N. Main St.
419.433.4258,
Schedule: Breakfast Wed-Sun 8-11am; Bowling: Mon-Tues 2-10 pm, Wed-Thurs 12-10 pm, Fri-Sat 12-11 pm
Rates: Game: Adult: $4, Senior: $3; Shoe Rental: $2.50

Huron Historical Society
Huron Public Library
333 Williams St.
419.433.5009,
Schedule: Wed 3-5 pm; or by appt.
Rates: Free

Old Woman Creek Visitor Center
2515 Cleveland Rd. (US 6)
419.433.4601
Schedule: Tues-Fri 9-4 pm
Rates: Free

Osborn MetroPark-Roger Johnson Nature Center
3910 Perkins Ave.
419.625.7783
Schedule: Tues-Sat 10 am-4 pm
Rates: Free

Marblehead

The Erie Social Shuffleboard Club & Bar
5686 E. Harbor Rd. (SR 163)
419.967.9191,
Schedule: Mon-Thurs 3-10 pm, Fri-Sat 12 pm-12 am, Sun 12-9 pm
Rates: Shuffleboard Court Rental: $25/hr., Tabletop Shuffleboard: $14/hr., Darts: pay as you play

Johnson’s Island Confederate Officers Prison
Cemetery
Gaydos Rd. (off Bayshore Rd.)
Schedule: Daily dawn-dusk
Rates: $2 fee for causeway to the island (Must use $1 bills or quarters, exact change)

Milan

Edison Birthplace
9 N. Edison Dr. (off SR 113)
419.499.2135,
Schedule: Nov-Dec 17, Fri-Sat 12-5 pm; Sun 1-5 pm, online reservations suggested
Rates: Adult: $17, Senior (60 yrs. and older) and
Student/Child (18 yrs. and under): $12, Child (5 yrs. and under): Free, Individual Military; active and retired with Military ID: Free

Milan Museum
10 Edison Dr. (off SR 113)
419.499.2968,
Schedule: Nov-Dec, Fri-Sun 12-5 pm
Rates: Adult: $12, Senior: $10 Child (5-17 yrs.): $8, Child (4 yrs. And under): Free

Port Clinton

Liberty Aviation Museum
3515 E. State Rd.
419.732.0234,
Schedule: Mon-Fri 10 am-4 pm, Sat-Sun 10 am-5 pm Rates: Adult: $14, Youth (6-17 yrs.): $8,
Senior (65 yrs. and older) & Veteran/Active Military: $12, Child (5 yrs. and under): Free

Ottawa County Museum
126 W. 3rd St.
419.732.2237
Rates: Free
Schedule: Labor Day-Memorial Day Wed 12-3 pm; or by appt., call 419.967.5533

Star Lanes at the Harbor Bowling
311 Buckeye Blvd.
419.734.1001,
Schedule: Wed-Thurs 5-10 pm, Fri 5 pm-12 am, Sat 4 pm-12 am, Sun 2-8 pm
Rates: See website for rates

Oak Harbor

Magee Marsh Visitor Center
13229 SR 2
419.898.0960,
Schedule: Mon-Fri by chance, or by appt. Please call
Rates: Free

Ottawa National Wildlife Refuse Visitor Center
14000 SR 2
419.898.0014,
Schedule: Wed-Sun 10 am-4 pm
Rates: Free

Vermilion

Pence Lake Erie Lanes
4523 Liberty Ave. (US 6)
440.967.5260,
Schedule: Tues-Sun; call for hours
Rates: Call for rates

Vermilion History Museum
727 Grand St.
440.967.4555,
Schedule: Mon-Sat 10 am-2 pm
Rates: Adult: $5, Senior and Veteran: $4, Child (10 yrs. and under): Free with adult admission

Sandusky

Adventure Play
5500 Milan Rd. (US 250), Unit 274A
adventureplayohio.com
Schedule/Rates: Opening soon, check website for details

Cedar Downs/Cedar Lanes/Cedar Links/Lazer Runner
in Cedar Corner Hotel & Entertainment Complex
1935 Cleveland Rd. W (US 6)
419.626.6761, 800.654.3364, cedarcorner.com
Schedule/Rates: Year-round; call or see website for hours/rates

Cedar Point Sports Center Adventure & Arcade
2701 Cleveland Rd. (US 6)
419.609.5644, cpsports.com
Call or see website for rates and schedule

Cinemark Stadium
behind Sandusky Mall, 4314 Milan Rd. (US 250)
419.621.1380, cinemark.com

Clubhouse No.3 Sport Social
220 E. Water St
419.502.0298, facebook.com/ClubhouseNo3
Schedule: Mon-Thurs 4-10 pm, Fri-Sat 2 pm-12 am,
Sun 11 am-9 pm
Rates: Call for rates

Escape Rooms by Franknicky
in Historic Hubbard House
134 E. Adams St.
920.372.2731, franknicky.com
Schedule: Fri 6-9 pm, Sat 12-9 pm, Sun 4-9 pm. Online
reservations required.
Rates: $27.78

Follett House Museum
404 Wayne St.
419.625.3834, sandusky.lib.oh.us
Hours: Now-Dec 31 Sat 1-4 pm, Jan-Mar; appt. Only
Rates: Free, donations accepted

Great Wolf Lodge Water Park
4600 Milan Rd. (US 250)
800.641.9653, greatwolf.com/Sandusky
Schedule: Call for rates, hours, and waterpark day pass availability

Ghostly Manor Thrill Center
3319 Milan Rd. (US 250)
419.626.4467, ghostlymanor.com
Schedule: Sun-Tues 12-5 pm, Wed-Thurs 12-8 pm, Sat 12-8 pm
Rates: Haunted House: $11, Roller Skating: $7,
Lazer Maze: $3, Hologate VR: $7, Escape Room: $23, Mini Golf: $7, XD-4D Theater: $7, Bounce Houses: $7, Play Area: $3. See website for more options, including combo passes

Kalahari Resorts & Conventions
7000 Kalahari Dr. (US 250)
419.433.7200, kalahariresorts.com/ohio
Schedule: Call for rates, hours, and waterpark day pass availability

Maritime Museum of Sandusky
125 Meigs St.
419.624.0274, sanduskymaritime.org
Schedule: Now-Dec, Fri-Sun 10-4 pm
Rates: Adult: $8, Child (under 12) and Senior (62 yrs. and older): $7, Family: $19, Group: $5, Museums for All: $3 (up to 4 people with SNAP/EBT Cardholder)

Merry-Go-Round Museum
301 Jackson St. (off US 6)
419.626.6111, merrygoroundmuseum.org
Schedule: Sept-Dec 31, Wed-Sat 11 am-4 pm,
Sun 12-4 pm
Rates: Adult: $8, Senior (60 yrs. and older): $7,
Child (4-14 yrs.): $4, Child (4 yrs. and under): Free

Noble Axes
in Marketplace at Cooke, 127 E. Market St.
419.502.1245, nobleaxes.com
Schedule: changes seasonally, call or check website
Rates: $30/person/hr., $20/person/1/2 hr.

Sandusky Cultural Center
in Sandusky High School, 2130 Hayes Ave. (SR 4)
419.625.1188, facebook.com/sanduskycc or sanduskyculturalcenter.org
Hours: Sun-Fri 1-4 pm only during Exhibitions. Call or check website for full schedule. Closed on school holidays and “snow days”
Rates: Free

Tilt Studio
in Sandusky Mall
4314 Milan Rd. (US 250), Ste. 400
419-541-2131, tiltstudio.com
Schedule: Mon-Thurs 10 am-10 pm, Fri-Sat 10 am-11 pm, Sun 11 am-8 pm
Rates: Call for rates

Twin Star Sandusky (Sandusky Star Lanes)
2097 Cleveland Rd. (US 6)
419.626.2413, twinstarcenters.com/sandusky
Schedule: Mon-Wed 5 pm-12 am, Thurs-Fri 5 pm-1 am, Sat 4 pm-1 am, Sun 1-6 pm
Rates: See website

Underground Railroad Self-Guided Tour
A free copy of the self-guided brochure with map can be obtained from: Shores & Islands Ohio Welcome Centers:
125 E. Water St., Sandusky, 419.625.2984 or
770 S.E. Catawba Rd. (SR 53), Port Clinton
419.734.4386

Neighbors

Bellevue

Historic Lyme Village
5001 SR 4 (off SR 113)
419.483.4949,
Schedule: See website for special events

The Jungle Junction Play & Party Center
at Bellevue Recreation Dept., 110 Cherry Blvd.
419.484.5532,
Schedule: Sat-Sun 12-6 pm, Tues, Thurs,
Fri 11 am-6 pm
Rates: Adults and Child (2 yrs. and up): $5,
Child (1 yr. and under): Free

Fremont

Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums
at Spiegel Grove, 1337 Hayes Ave.
419.332.2081,
Schedule: Open daily through Dec. 31:House and
Museum, Mon-Sat 9 am-5 pm, Sun 12-5 pm; Research and Library, Mon-Sat 9 am-5 pm; Jan-Mar closed Mon and Wed. Open only Mon, Jan 19 9 am-5 pm
Schedule: One-day Museum and House. Adult: $20, Teen (13-18) $10, Child (6-12) $5, Child (5 and under) Free. One Day Only Adult Museum $13. Go online for special events

Toledo

Toledo Zoo
2 Hippo Way
419.385.5721,
Schedule: Daily, 10 am-4 pm; zoo closes at 5 pm
Rates: Adult (12-59 yrs.): $31, Senior (60 yrs. and older): $28, Child (2-11 yrs.): $28, Child (under 2): Free

Cheers Trail

Warm-up in one of the many wineries, breweries, and distilleries in the area. Pick-up a Cheers Trail brochures, along with directions, at the Shores & Islands Ohio welcome centers.

Ice Fishing

An ice fishing directory is available at the Shores & Islands Ohio welcome centers and includes information on winter lodging, bait stores, island transportation, safety tips, and a list of licensed ice fishing guides.

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Cross-Country Skiing, Ice-Skating, Sledding, Snowmobiling

We have a list for that! Please contact a welcome center today!

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Winter Events & Holiday Festivals

Find events in the Greater Sandusky area to stay active this winter and discover all that Shores & Islands Ohio has to offer!

DTN - HI - Events - Great Lakes Audio Visual

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Party Like it’s 2025! New Year’s Eve Celebrations in Shores & Islands Ohio

As 2024 winds down, Shores & Islands Ohio offers an array of New Year's Eve parties and celebrations, perfect for ringing in the new year with excitement. From lively waterfront festivities to intimate… Learn More

Christmas Coop at Orchard Farm Stand ceiling

3 min. read

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry! Holiday Pop-up Bars in Shores & Islands Ohio

Ready to enjoy some ho-ho-holiday cheer? What better way to embrace the “spirit” of the season than by visiting a local Christmas pop-up bar? These temporary winter wonderlands transform ordinary… Learn More

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‘Tis Better to Give than to Receive: Giving Tuesday in Shores & Islands Ohio

As we enter a season of thankfulness and giving, we think of all the great organizations in Shores & Islands Ohio that make our communities unique. Whether you are looking to contribute on your own behalf or… Learn More

Cozy Winter Getaways in Ohio

Getaway this Winter with one of our hotels, bed and breakfasts, or lodging packages to help curb cabin fever and keep you active during the colder months.