The aptly named Pebble Beach on Catawba Island
Living so close to the water, I’ve searched for the perfect swimming spot. Now, perfect in my mind was formed by many years along Lake Michigan’s eastern shores, full of sandy beaches. But that’s a different lake.
Now that’s a (Lake Michigan) beach
So, I’ll be exploring different beaches up here and letting you know what I find.
Pebble Beach on Catawba Island
Kickin back on Pebble Beach … you can just see the edges of Kelley’s Island in the upper right of the photo
Locals had told me about Pebble Beach (aptly named), said the water was cleaner up there. So hubby and I went for a dip yesterday. It’s a small beach alongside the main road out to the Miller Ferry. It was pebbly, even a few feet into the water, but from there the bottom is nice and sandy.
Pebble Beach … with pebbles
There’s just a tiny little pulloff alongside Sloan road (just before it turns left towards the Miller Ferry or Catawba Inn, which often has great bands by the way).
See the rainbow peeking thru?
Head over to the Diary Dock for another kind of dip
We went for another kind of dip at the Dairy Dock
After a refreshing swim (the water was chilly!), we went for another kind a dip, an ice cream cone from the Dairy Dock, not far away. Although I’m not a big fan of Tofts ice cream (sorry, but I’m not!), I love getting a cone from the Dairy Dock then heading down to a little path by the Miller Ferry parking lot and sitting on the cliffs, watching the sunset. (Be careful getting out to the cliffs, there may be poison ivy growing nearby … and though I’m quite susceptible, it doesn’t bother me as long as I don’t brush up against it.)
Head towards the lake just beyond the Miller Ferry parking lot
Sneak thru the path onto the cliffs (watch out for poison ivy!)
Then pose for a photo with your ice cream cone
Finally, kick back and enjoy the scenery
We had a great time … and it was a cheap date (four bucks)!
Port Clinton Beach
View of the Port Clinton beach from the sandbar … Lake Erie is quite shallow and often there are sandbar islands where birds, dogs and people hang out
You may be wondering about the beach where I walk the dogs every day. It’s just a block from our house and it’s wonderful to be so near the water. But this beach, although there is a “public” area for swimming, is really more for wildlife than for beaching. For the most part, locals don’t go swimming there, I’m not sure why.
The beach along this strip is kept wild for migratory birds … don’t be surprised if you come upon a dead fish or two
Plus, for some reason up here, they don’t clean the dead fish off the beach … and that can be a little offputting for tourists (dogs, though are another matter … Max loves to roll in them if I don’t catch him in time!)
Our neighbors dogs storming the birds
In late summer, we just walk through the water along the sandbars
So, the Port Clinton beach and pier are great for walking and there is a nice sandy area for beaching … and lots of people do swim there. Because the lake is shallow, you can walk way out into the water.
Coming up: My favorite area beach!
2 comments Write a comment