{"id":8061,"date":"2014-01-24T12:41:42","date_gmt":"2014-01-24T17:41:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dougbardwell.com\/db\/?p=8061"},"modified":"2017-11-19T10:42:54","modified_gmt":"2017-11-19T15:42:54","slug":"kelleys-island-secret","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dougbardwell.com\/db\/kelleys-island-secret\/","title":{"rendered":"Kelley\u2019s Island \u2013 the secret is out"},"content":{"rendered":"

Now\u2019s the time to make your plans for a summer getaway to Kelley\u2019s Island, Ohio.\u00a0 Largest of the American islands in Lake Erie, this destination is about to get even more popular.<\/p>\n

Nominated as one of the 15 finalists in the Budget Travel <\/i>\u201c2014 Coolest Small Towns<\/span>\u201d contest, thousands of readers are about to discover one of the best kept secrets of Ohio\u2019s North Coast.<\/p>\n

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Previously, northern Ohioian\u2019s would slip over to the island easily on a 20-minute ferry ride and enjoy swimming, fishing, biking and shopping. With a half-dozen cute shops and the same number of restaurants, it was a great place to spend a day, a weekend or longer. Trust me, there\u2019s nothing finer than relaxing on an island with a fresh Lake Erie perch sandwich and a cold brew.<\/p>\n

A wide variety of lodging is available from B&B\u2019s to cottages, homes or condos. Four marinas serve the island should you have your own boat.<\/p>\n

With lots of ways to have fun, you better make your plans early\u2026before everybody else gets in on the action.
\n\"Fun<\/span><\/p>\n

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History<\/b><\/p>\n

Kelley\u2019s Island first popped up as a tourist destination around 10,000 B.C. when the glaciers carved its famous \u201cgrooves\u201d from a Devonian limestone ridge. Without the Internet, people didn\u2019t discover it until years later.<\/p>\n

[National Geographic video on the formation of the groooves<\/span>.]<\/center>The earliest records of modern human history date back to the early 1600\u2019s when the island was inhabited by at least two Erie Indian villages. With the coming of the Iroquois in 1665, all the Erie were eliminated.<\/p>\n

The first white settler was a Mr. Cunningham who lived here from 1800 until 1812. During the War of 1812, the US Military used the island as a look-out post.<\/p>\n

The island became the property of the Connecticut Land Company in 1817 and was subdivided into 13 parcels. By 1833, the Kelley Bros of Cleveland had acquired all the parcels and began to develop the island; establishing the first industries of wine-making, logging, quarrying, fishing and fruit growing.<\/p>\n

Getting here<\/b><\/p>\n

\"Jet<\/p>\n

Two ferries service the island. Kelley\u2019s Island Ferry<\/a> runs spring through fall from Marblehead, OH and the Jet Express<\/a> runs from Sandusky, OH. Private pilots can also fly to the island which has a small public airport.<\/p>\n

Getting around<\/b><\/p>\n

Bike rentals are available from:<\/p>\n