Things to do in Sandusky
Cedar Downs at Greentree
Ohio's first off-track gaming and entertainment establishment where you can bet on live horse races from tracks around the country, at such noted venues as Churchill Downs, Gulf Stream, Santa Anita, Saratoga, the Meadowlands, and many more. With food, cocktails, bowling, billiards, and arcade games available, Cedar Downs features fun, food, & horseplay for the entire family. Open daily, year-round, from noon until the last race after midnight. Private party facilities are available for groups. Call 419-626-6761 for more information.
1935 Cleveland Road, Sandusky, OH
Cedar Point Amusement Park
Cedar Point amusement park/resort has been providing quality entertainment for more than 130 years. The historic amusement park offers the most rides (68) and roller coasters (14) on the planet. Add in a sprawling sandy beach, gigantic 18-acre water park, family activity complex, four resort hotels, marina, RV campground, games, merchandise shops, live entertainment, restaurants, and special areas just for kids and you have a complete vacation destination. Visit our Camp Snoopy; a family play area based on the world-renowned PEANUTS comic strip characters. It features seven rides, including a 38-foot-tall roller coaster, Woodstock Express, which children and adults can ride together. PEANUTS Playground and Kiddy Kingdom also feature rides and attractions for the little ones. Located on a Lake Erie peninsula, Call 419-627-2350 for more information.
Eleutheros Cooke House
Sandusky is known for its collection of limestone buildings, including this Greek Revival example. It includes a ruby and cranberry glass collection, antique furnishings, garden, greenhouse, and gift shop. Open April December and by appointment only January March. Call 419-627-0640 for more information.
1415 Columbus Avenue, Sandusky, OH
Firelands Winery
The whole family will enjoy their visit to Firelands. Experience the complete winemaking process, multi-media presentation, and sample award-winning wines and grape juice. The Gift Shop has many unique items, plus you can purchase wines by the bottle or case. Open year round. Call 419-625-5474 for more information.
917 Bardshar Road, Sandusky, OH
Follett House Museum
Tour a 1830s home filled with Victorian house wares, toys, clothing, and furnishings. This museum has Civil War artifacts from the nearby Johnson's Island Confederate Officers Prison. Open April December and by appointment only January - March. Free admission. Call 419-627-9608 for more information.
404 Wayne Street, Sandusky, OH
Ghostly Manor
Sandusky's newest Haunted House, located inside the Skate world roller skating rink on the west side of U.S. Rt. 250. We are a non-stop, very high startle event that contains the latest in "Haunted House" technology. Special attention has been taken to detail in every room. Ghosts lurk in every corner as you wander through the old mansion. See if you can make it through all 17 rooms as the Ghostly Manor's spirits come alive and reveal your deepest fears. Nightmares become reality. We guarantee to scare the toughest of visitors. Recommended for ages 10 and older. Open mid-June - end of September; Friday & Saturday 8pm - midnight; October Friday - Saturday 7pm midnight; Sunday & Halloween night 7 10pm. Call 419-626-4467 for more information.
3319 Milan Road, Sandusky, OH
Glacial Grooves
Located adjacent to the Kelleys Island State Park Campground and Public Beach on the north side of Kelleys Island, these Glacial Grooves are the finest example of glacial scouring and scoring in North America and probably the world. The example shown here at about 430 foot in length, 15 foot deep, 35 foot wide and is only a small sample of the grooves that at one time extended into the lake. The remainder of the grooves was quarried, burned to make lime, and sold for limestone.
Great Bear Lodge
Ohio's only indoor watermark resort with 271 luxury suites, a 33,000 sq. ft. indoor water park, two restaurants, 100 game arcade, two gift shops, fitness room, and Cub's Cabin children activities. Bear Track landing features seven water slides, five pools, two whirlpool tubs, and a four-story tree fort. Waterpark use if for registered guests. Pick-A-Day Pass is available for the public during the fall and winter months. Call 419-609-6000 for more information.
4600 Milan Road, Sandusky, OH
Inscription Rock
This large limestone rock is on the south shore of Kelleys Island just east of downtown. The remains of at least two Native American villages were found very near the rock. The 32 x 21 surface of the rock is covered with one of the finest examples of aboriginal art in the Great Lakes region. Known as a petroglyph, no one is sure what the unusual drawings depicted. The most widely accepted theory is that the large rock was used as a "message stone" where various Native Americans would make drawings noting that theyd been there, how the hunting or fishing had been and/or where they were headed.
Lagoon Deer Park
Pet and hand-feed deer and see over 200 exotic animals. Feed the hungry fish or, for a fee, fish in a stocked lagoon. A gift shop features Native American items. Picnic areas are available. Open mid-April to mid-October. Call 419-684-5701 for more information.
1502 Martins Point Road, Sandusky, OH
Maritime Museum of Sandusky
Explore Sandusky's rich maritime history through local artifacts, photos, and maps, view displays of Lyman Boat Works, local passenger boats and freighters, and many other boats built in Sandusky. Also visit the nautical gift shop. Open Tuesday Saturday/ May - Labor Day; Friday - Sunday after Labor Day - April. Call 419-624-0274 for more information.
125 Meigs Street, Sandusky, OH
Museum of Carousel Art & History
Affordable family fun! Ride into history on an antique carousel, enjoy visiting with wood carvers as they create new carousel horses, listen to the familiar music of band organs, take a guided tour, and learn about the art and history of carousels. Exhibits change annually. Visit our unique carousel-themed items in the museum gift store. Open daily Memorial Day - Labor Day; weekends only in January and February; and Wednesday - Sunday all other times. Group tours offered by appointment. Located at the corner of U.S. Rt. 6 and Jackson Street. Call 419-626-6111 for more information.
Prehistoric Forest and Mystery Hill
Prehistoric Forest includes a forest filled with 15 life-sized dinosaurs, a 40-foot waterfall, an erupting volcano, and an archeological site. Take great photos of exotic animals. Experience Mystery Hill and defy the laws of nature in this hands-on attraction! Visit the gift shop, arcade, miniature golf, and playground. Call 419-798-5230 for more information.
8232 East Harbor Road, Sandusky, OH
Underground Railroad Tour
Because of its location on Lake Erie, the number of railroad lines, the Huron and Vermilion Rivers, and the Milan Canal, Erie County was a leading Great Lakes Port and a major terminal on the Underground Railroad. Since historic records on this topic are rare and many sites have been destroyed, only a few of the remaining sites and people influential in this movement have been highlighted in a brochure dedicated to the nameless ones, slave and free, who were vital to this movement. Call 1-800-255-ERIE for more information.
Veterans Home Museum
Take a walk back in history at the Veterans Home Museum in the historic I.F. Mack building. Featured are exhibits and a Research Library, which span the country's wars and conflicts from the Civil War through the Gulf War, as well as the 1886 Ohio Soldiers & Sailors Home Era. The museum proudly houses the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame and displays memorabilia of those inducted. Open daily 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day. Free. Take Columbus Ave or St. Rt. 250 (Milan Rd.), in Sandusky, to Strub Rd. The entrance gate is halfway between the intersections, on the north side of Strub Rd. The I.F. Mack Bldg. is on the access Carr Rd., there is an old cannon on each side of the bldg. and a W.W.II artillery field piece is across the street by the ball diamond. Call 419-625-2454 for more information.