Island advice needed

Bringing the family (wife and two kids)up and staying at East Harbor Campground Aug. 9-12th. I wanted to give them a taste of Erie and the islands. Fishing will not be the primary goal, although I would like to put a few lines out from time to time. My goal was to do a little boating to and around the islands and then stop off and do a little sight seeing or have lunch or dinner. The same could be said for Sandusky bay or any of the Harbors. Can anyone give me any advice on where to dock, what to see, and maybe a place to land for a good meal. I have spent a few trips these past few years fishing on Erie, but have never spent any time doing the sight seeing deal. We will be in an 18' Lund, so not sure what the docking situations are like.

West Bay on Kelleys, decent food, beautiful location and atmosphere. Just pull your boat in, and dock. No calls, no charges for dockage. Go around to the North side of Kelleys to the beach at the state park.

Don't forget the glacial grooves. Go downtown and get a golf cart and explore the whole island. South Bass is too busy for me. It wasn't too bad before the Beer Barrel burnt down. Kellys is way more laid back

You can dock at the Casino (no radios just pull up) or Port side, radio 68, or Seaway radio channel 80. West Bay dock is free but unattended. The Keys at PutnBay usually has an open small dock for your Lund, good place for kids. Radio 79 Keys Dock Master.

we have had lunch or dinner at "the keys" last 3 years now. Great experience and food each time. Now that I know they have a dock, I might try it next time.
thank you,
Rickerd

Thanks everyone for all of the ideas. Were looking forward to the trip.
How is Sandusky Bay, Johnsons Island and Marblehead lighthouse area. Is there anything to boat too, eat, or see over in that area?
How is put in bay on the weekends... too crazy for kids? Is friday better then saturday for there?

Put in bay can be crazy sometimes, special event weekends are worse. We had our kids 3 and 5 over a few weeks ago. We docked at c dock, less busy than b dock. C dock is straight in as you enter they bay. There is also a state park dock, on the west side of the harbor, have to walk a little to down town.

We rented a cart, went saw the caves, butterflies, put put, ate some pizza.

Bring bumpers sometimes you have to raft off.

Water is deeper coming up the west side of the island as compared to east side. But if coming up west don't cut the norther corner too tight there is a shallow spot there too

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Originally Posted by branhamautomotive

There is also a state park dock, on the west side of the harbor, have to walk a little to down town.

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Is the state dock free?

Last year the state dock was $15.00 I think. After 7:00 you have to pay another fee to stay overnight.

Im sure there is a fee to dock just don't know what it is

Here is other dockage indo
https://www.visitputinbay.org/docks/