Sunsets, picnics and lighthouses are just a few things you can enjoy when visiting Lake Erie in Cleveland, Ohio.

Start your visit atop the tower at Dobbins Landing. The elevator carries you 180 feet above Presque Island Bay where you can overlook the entire city and much of the harbor below . During the summer you can view the sailboat races and on a clear day, you can even see neighboring Ontario which resides 45 miles north.

Next, head over to the Erie Land Lighthouse, although it is not open for tours, visitors can enjoy the sweeping views of Lake Erie and the Presque Island State Park peninsula. Presque Island State Park is linked to Erie by a narrow causeway helping to form Erie harbor and is home to 2 lighthouses, sandy beaches and miles of hiking trails. In the winter, the crowds and traffic have practically vanished and the park is peaceful and quiet. A great landscape for photographing the scenery or taking up ice fishing on the lake.

Presque Isle is a beautiful place to go for anyone who loves the outdoors. There are designated swimming areas, which are large beaches, so you can sunbathe, play in the sand or go swimming. Lake Erie is also a great place for anyone who likes to fish or sail. For those who prefer to stay on the land, there are trails that go around Presque Isle that people may use to go for a walk, bike, or roller blade. It is also a nice place to drive, even if you do not get out of your vehicle.The road travels in a circle around the peninsula, so it's easy to know where you have been and how to exit. Enjoy a nice picnic and a glass of wine as you watch the sunset over the water.

Take a moment to check out the Presque Isle Lighthouse, built in 1872 and first lit on July 12, 1873. It is the second American lighthouse built on Lake Erie only second to Pierhead Light built in 1818.

Visit a piece of Lake Erie history, home to the US Brig Niagra, a recreation of the ship commanded by Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812. The ship sails the Great Lakes during the summer visiting several cities along the way. While in port, the ship is open to walking and sailing tours.

Nearby you'll find the Erie Maritime Museum, this lakeshore museum is dedicated to Erie's history as a Great Lakes port with emphasis on Erie's role in the War of 1812. The highlight of the museum is a tour of the US Brig Niagra.

After the British were defeated, Commodore Oliver H. Perry uttered the now famous words:
"We have met the enemy and they are ours- two ships, two brigs, one schooner and one sloop."

If you visit the Erie Maritime Museum, you will get a great history lesson about the Niagara, the Battle of Lake Erie, and Commodore Perry. You'll be able to tour the brig with admission, and if you plan ahead, you may be able to go for a sail out on Lake Erie. Contact the museum about a "day sail". It's an amazing experience.The Niagara is sometimes away from its homeport in Erie, so visit the website or call the museum before you go.

No matter what activities you enjoy, you are sure to find what you're looking for while visiting Lake Erie.

Learn more about this author, Juliet Winter.
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