While you are visiting Ohio's Vacationland and lodging with McKenna's Inn Bed and Breakfast, there are many choices for activities and entertainment nearby. This page lists but a few.

One of the most popular activities that our guests enjoy is visiting one of the nearby islands in Lake Erie. South Bass Island and Kelley's Island are the most frequently explored. Some of our regular guests make it a tradition to enjoy one or the other. South Bass Island is home to the famous village of Put-In-Bay which holds a great deal of fascinating history from the Battle of Lake Erie during The War of 1812 to the relics from the Hotel Victory - one of the most impressive buildings from the end of the victorian period. The weekend nightlife at Put-In-Bay is legendary as is the spectactular scenery and the summertime sense of island je ne sais quoi.

Kelley's Island, much larger, but with a somewhat quieter personality, is an excellent day-long visit. You may enjoy the state park beach (one of the best around), the winery, glacial grooves, a hike on the north loop trail, or just a walk from the ferry dock to the village center to enjoy a cocktail at The Casino. Part of Erie County with ferry service from Marblehead, Kelley's Island has its own interesting history and distinctively quaint charm.

A short and lovely forty minute drive along the Portage River will take you to Elmore and to one of the hidden gems of Northern Ohio, Schedel Gardens. More than seventeen acres of gardens and varied habitats provide an impressive array of specimen plants. Additionally, thousands of annuals, all manner of perennials, flowering shrubs, and a variety of animal life make for a colorful and memorable visit from spring to fall.

Some like it a bit more exciting, and that's just fine. A trip to Cedar Point Amusement Park will undoubtedly bring a sense of satisfaction to those with the 'adrenaline addiction'. Voted the world's best amusement park many times, Cedar Point does not disappoint. With 15 roller coasters, Soak City, carousels, live shows, dozens of food choices, thrill rides, tranquil rides, spinning rides, water rides, and other options from parasailing to miniature golf, Cedar Point most definitely fits the bill for a big day of fun. Only a short drive away in Sandusky, Ohio.

Guests who never dreamed that they would enjoy it have raved about African Safari Wildlife Park. Located just ten minutes away, it is a really fun activity for grownups as well as children. Bison, alpaca, elk, camels, warthogs, giraffes, and many other animals are part of the drive-through entertainment at the preserve. Park is in full operation from late May through early September.

Guests who enjoy birdwatching find McKenna's Inn to be an ideal choice. Not only is the inn close to some of the best state parks and refuges for spring and fall migration, but the woodlot surrounding the inn can occasionally be brimming with warblers and other migratory species. The Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge and Magee Marsh are only 30 minutes away while East Harbor State Park is 'just around the corner' in Danbury Township (15 minutes). Catawba Island has its own 'Cedar Meadows' nature preserve which is a scant 2 miles away.

Standing tall at the rocky point of the Marblehead Peninsula and only 12 miles away is the famous Marblehead Lighthouse. The oldest lighthouse in continuous operation on the Great Lakes, it was built in 1822 and has one of the best views of the islands, the peninsula, and on a clear day, the Cleveland skyline! (yes, you can climb the iron stairs to the top on weekday afternoons in summer and on the second Saturday of the month May through October).