PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF PRESQUE ISLE STATE PARK
Most Cincinnatians have done the beach. In fact, we’ve done a few beaches, and probably have our go-to spots along the Carolinas, or in Florida, or other eight-to-12-hour drivable trips that all our family and friends tagging along will love. But when it comes to choosing a beach destination, we might be looking in the wrong direction. This year, my family of seven peeked north and found an unforgettable long weekend trip that might just replace our annual trip to Myrtle Beach.
WHERE TO STAY
We loaded up the camper and our five kids under 8 and headed to Erie, Pennsylvania, to Presque Isle State Park. I left with this massive number of humans and their gear, but with no expectations for what Erie might hold. I’d never been there and didn’t even realize how beautiful the lake would be compared to our local murky-water hangouts. I was pleasantly surprised.
The cross-Ohio drive was a bit grueling, but there was a convenient and surprisingly delicious stop at Sheetz. The wide variety of made-to-order food the gas station giant is known for made it a great lunch spot. Pleasing a big family with wildly differing tastes is often impossible, but Sheetz made it happen. After arriving at Presque Isle Passage campground, we were greeted with a black sky and an impending tornado warning. Not a great start for a family in a camper, on what was supposed to be a beautiful beach vacation. But the campground itself featured a pool, a cute gift shop, and a variety of stationary rentable campers to give camping a go if you don’t have your own.
WHERE TO EAT
Luckily, the storm passed quickly, and we hunkered down with takeout from Flagship City Food Hall. This is far from your typical food hall—again, all kids were satisfied thanks to the wide range of food from ramen to pizza to Dominican food my husband declared “heavenly” and a variety of desserts.
For dinner, head to Sara’s Restaurant. We did have to contend with some seriously determined bees who wanted our breaded fish dinners and burgers, but we couldn’t blame them. The outdoor atmosphere makes the restaurant a destination in itself. If you opt to stay at the nearby campground, your campers can easily head over to Sara’s for an ice cream to beat the heat.
WHAT TO DO
After the weather returned to sunny and beautiful next to the lake, our next stop was Scallywags Pirate Adventures. This is no basic pirate boat outing. It is a full-on theater performance, complete with a double-decker ship and a snack bar (they offer boozy tours without kids too). Just as you think the boat ride is just going to be a scenic view of the lake with some kid-friendly entertainment, a second boat comes up alongside yours, with a pirate who “attacks” the main boat with water guns. The kids still talk about it long after it’s over.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY PRESQUE ISLE STATE PARK
We also headed to Presque Isle State Park, which features at least 11 beaches with calm and shallow waters, as well as restaurants, concessions, and real stretches of sand—not like the “beaches” we might find around Cincy’s lakes. The water was as see-through as we’d been promised, and our stroller full of things was no problem with a long, accessible runway that led from the parking lot to the water. Our kids didn’t want to leave once they discovered the Beach 11 Nature Playspace, a playground made from things like boulders, stumps, and fallen trees, on the way out.
That was about all our kids could handle on this visit. But next time we hope to explore Waldameer Amusement Park & Water World, Tom Ridge Environmental Center, Asbury Woods Nature Center, and Play Port Arcade and Family Fun Center. Looks like it will be a while before we head back to Myrtle Beach with all of these yet-to-be-explored opportunities to the north.
AMONG THE TREETOPS
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY CHRIS MCLELLAND AT MOHICAN MEDIA
Rent a treehouse or farmhouse for the ultimate outdoor escape. If you want a layover on your way to Erie, you can make a stop overnight at the Mohican Treehouses in Glenmont, Ohio, between Mt. Vernon and Wooster, outside Loudonville. Stay in a real treehouse hovering above the ground, or rent a farmhouse refurbished to accommodate lots of guests, and make use of the nearby land for exploring, campfires, and outdoor activities. Makes for a much more interesting break in the trip than a basic hotel.
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