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Lake Erie Love for our 25th Anniversary

This year we celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary with some Lake Erie Love.  We were really wanting to make the occasion special, yet we are still in the middle of a pandemic.  So we set out on the safest adventure we could create in a COVID-19 world.

 

Preparations

 

 

We began the adventure with a trip to one of our local favorites – Grandpa’s Cheese Barn.  This is a favorite tourist attraction in Ashland, OH.  They carry all kinds of cheese, plus other goodies and trinkets that you don’t want to pass up if you’re in the area.

We got some Asiago Parmesan cheese spread for crackers and some chunks of mixed cheese with trail bologna for snacking on later.

 

 

 

Lunch

 

Next, it was off to our traditional anniversary meal – Red Lobster in Ontario!  The day we got married, this is where we ate.  And for each of the 25 years since then, we’ve shared a meal at Red Lobster to commemorate the occasion.

The restaurant was definitely doing its part to help slow the spread of COVID-19.  They have really pared down their menu options – but there’s still plenty to choose from! – and the menus are printed on disposable pages.  They have tables with signs that say “Do Not Use”, and everyone we saw was wearing a mask.  Even the napkins were disposable here, which is a change from their usual cloth ones.

They did seem to have some supply issues due to the pandemic.  They were out of several items.  But both the hostess and the server made sure we knew ahead of time of the shortage, so it made choosing what we wanted easier right upfront.

 

I never feared that the food would be unsafe because restaurants – especially ones with the reputation of Red Lobster – are used to complying with food safety regulations that make the local health department happy!

Port Clinton, Ohio provided Lake Erie Love

 

 

 

 

Our first destination was Port Clinton, Ohio, on the shores of Lake Erie.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We arrived at our hotel – The Fairfield by Marriott – about an hour later.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everything about the place was clean and well taken care of.  The service desk clerks were extremely friendly and helpful.  My husband took care of check-in, but as soon as I walked in the door, they were wishing me a happy anniversary!  They recommended several places to eat, including directions to the restaurants.  And they did it all with a smile!

Safe Practices

Further exploration of the hotel and grounds just confirmed how much they are doing to be clean and safe.

 

 

The front desk area had reminders to stand back while registering and checking out.  The workers did not wear masks, but since it was possible to maintain distance, it still felt safe.  And it allowed us to see their warm and welcoming smiles!

Keys get dropped into a bin on the counter when you are through with them.  So check-in and check-out are touchless and distanced.  No worries there.

 

 

 

 

 

All the chairs had been removed from their eating area and signs placed on the tables saying you can’t sit in this space right now.  But there were tables and chairs out on their patio that could be used to enjoy the view while you are eating.  The breakfast they will be offering now is just grab-and-go bagels, donuts, etc. wrapped in plastic wrap, plus some fruit and yogurt.  So that was a little disappointing for a breakfast enthusiast like me!  But I do understand why they can’t have the buffet they would probably offer right now.

 

 

When the sun goes down …

We spent the rest of the evening enjoying the sunset.  There were several people on the walkway behind the hotel, but all seemed to be doing a good job of distancing.  Many were fishing.  Boat traffic was pretty much non-existent, maybe due to COVID-19, but also because the lake was pretty choppy when we first arrived.  Small whitecaps would make sailing smaller boats quite rough.  The weather was perfect for watching the sunset though!

 

 

There’s just something SO relaxing about sitting by the edge of the water.  I hate being IN the water – I swim like a rock! – but I really enjoy being around it and watching the movement, smelling the unique lake scent, and feeling the soft breeze.  There’s a deep sense of peace that can only be found at the water’s edge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

That’s the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Plant to the right of the sun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And that’s the moon in a gorgeous sky.

 

 

Lake Erie Love, Day Two

Day 2 began with a beautiful sunrise, though the sun was quickly covered with clouds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Port Clinton Lighthouse

The clouds kept the temperature from getting too hot as we enjoyed the park that surrounds the Port Clinton Lighthouse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Jet Express returned from the islands while we were there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marblehead Lighthouse – more Lake Erie Love

Next, it was on to the Marblehead Lighthouse.

As their website describes,  the lighthouse was built in 1821, and “is still standing strong as the oldest lighthouse in continuous operation on all of the Great Lakes. Gracefully set on the rocky limestone shore of Lake Erie, this beacon and its adjacent Keeper’s House became an Ohio State Park in 1998.”

We did not have the opportunity to climb the steps inside the lighthouse or to visit their museum, due to both being closed during the pandemic.  They are scheduled to be opened up again by early July.

 

The views are breathtaking, and you can see South Bass Island (home of Put-in-Bay & Perry’s Monument), Kelley’s Island , and Cedar Point in all of its colorful glory.

 

 

 

 

The park is also breathtaking, with lots of trees and plenty of benches to relax on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are many signs throughout the grounds that give the history of the Marblehead Lighthouse, as shown here by my lovely assistant!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We did see a lot of wildlife while we were at the state park.

The positive in this pandemic

We drove along the lake toward Sandusky, not wanting to leave the peaceful atmosphere.  Any other time, this area is filled with tourists, often too frantic to really enjoy their surroundings.  So if we look for the positive in this pandemic, it would for me be the absence of crowds and unnatural noise.

Do you have a favorite water-side place to relax?  Drop me a comment and maybe my next trip will be to YOUR favorite spot.

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