SANDUSKY GETAWAY
Holiday sights, family delights, history and so much more
SANDUSKY – The beaches may be icy and the roller coasters quiet, but the Lake Erie shore can still be a delightful destination, especially during the holiday season.
Many travelers may think of the lake strictly as a warm-weather destination, but a quick getaway to Sandusky, which has experienced a renaissance in recent years, can be a relaxing and even romantic diversion from the stress of holiday planning, decorating, and figuring out what to do with Aunt Edna's fruitcake.
Even with beaches and theme parks closed for the season, Sandusky visitors will still find an engaging downtown district filled with holiday spirit, as well as fresh shops, restaurants and entertainment venues. And while the museums and historical sites are, fortunately, not as fresh, they're a whole lot of fun.
Whether your Sandusky holiday getaway is a couple's weekend or a family day trip, the Merry-go-round Museum (301 Jackson St., www.merrygoround museum.org) is a must-see.
The museum, which has been operating for more than 30 years is quite simply, a delight for anyone young at heart or open to a bit of old-fashioned whimsy.
Although the museum's historic home was originally the main Sandusky post office, its semi-circular Greek Revival facade seems designed specifically for a carousel.
And the heart of the museum is a fully restored Allan Herschell carousel, populated with a menagerie of antique and new animals: horses, of course, but also an amusing assortment of other creatures including a dog, frog, zebra and – my mount of choice – a very personable ostrich.
The museum also contains dozens of other historic carousel animals, many of them more than a century old. Visitors can sometimes watch as volunteer museum carvers demonstrate carving and restoration techniques used on the museum's own collection as well as pieces brought for restoration by private collectors.
As a bonus, each evening through the end of the year, the museum's exterior will dance and glow with a brilliant light show set to traditional Christmas music. And those lights are just a tiny fraction of the sparkling decorations that light up the entire downtown district during the holiday season.
One exhilarating way to take in the whole pageant is aboard a holiday light tour with award-winning Sandusky Segwave (107 Columbus Ave., sanduskysegwave.com). Guests ride Segway scooters, a fun way to get around no matter the surroundings.
The guided tours leave the company's downtown office and weave through the sparkling courthouse lawn and Washington Park, down Columbus Street past magnificently decorated private homes, and back to the giant live community Christmas tree standing at Schade-mylander Plaza on the waterfront.
Visitors looking to do some last-minute holiday shopping will also find many interesting boutiques and shops in
downtown Sandusky.
Anyone who happens to be looking for a present for me (or someone my age) will find an amazing variety of 1970s, '80s, and '90s nostalgia to choose from at Soda Pop's, 209 W. Water St., nestled among the picturesque and historic Water Street storefronts.
I also wouldn't mind Santa stopping next door at Sandusky Wine Merchant, 211 W. Water St., which sells fine wine, beer and wine by the glass and is operated by longtime Columbus restaurateur and wine expert Kevin Bertschi.
At 223 W. Water Street, the boutique Hotel Kilbourne provides comfortable accomodations in a historic building with lake and city views – ideal for a cozy, romantic December stay.
For more shopping, dining and entertainment, stop by the Marketplace at the Cooke (133 E. Market St., www. facebook.com/marketplaceatcooke/). In addition to boutiques and restaurants, the indoor venue includes Noble Crafts, a tavern that specializes in craft beers and also offers axe throwing, duck-pin bowling, Skee-ball, pinball and board games.
Finally, history buffs should consider a visit to the Maritime Museum of Sandusky, (125 Meigs St., www.sanduskymaritime.org) less than a 15-minute walk from the county courthouse.
The museum is a great place to learn about the city's rich maritime history. Exhibits including boat-building, passenger ferries, local Underground Railroad connections, commercial fishing and — appropriately enough for a holiday visit — the city's history as the onetime ice-harvesting capital of America.
For more information about everything to see and do in Sandusky, visit Lake Erie Shores & Islands at www.shoresandislands.com.
Steve Stephens is a freelance travel writer and photographer. Email him at sjstephensjr@gmail.com.