The Top 5 Reasons to Visit Sandusky, Ohio Now
WRITTEN BY 5 REASONS TO VISIT® EDITORIAL STAFF
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 2022 • 4 min read
Located along the Sandusky Bay shoreline, Sandusky, Ohio is the “Best Coastal Small Town in America.” Home to world class amusement park, Cedar Point—Sandusky is known as Ohio's Water Park Capital with its year-round indoor water park resorts. Sandusky surprises with its beautiful parks, downtown architecture, and wealth of history, including its role in the Underground Railroad.
Image courtesy of Shores & Islands Ohio
1. THE SHOPPING
If you're one of those people who like to shop in the name-brand stores you know and love, you're in luck. If you're one of those people who revel in visiting one-of-a-kind boutiques and come-take-a-peek shops, you're in luck, too.
If you just love to shop, you are really in luck. Because Sandusky has shopping and more shopping, from specialty shops to malls. Sandusky, Ohio is a great place to find exactly what you're looking for and the thrill of the hunt.
2. THE ART
The Sandusky Cultural Center gallery provides educational and entertaining exhibits that stimulate an interest in the fine arts, a focus for multicultural awareness, and introduces complex issues and challenging concepts.
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The Sandusky Cultural Center continues a tradition of bringing to the gallery known and aspiring artists, tapping talent regionally, and frequently, nationally or internationally as well. Visitors are afforded opportunities to view and acquire images and objects in diverse media. The gallery is open to the public free of charge during scheduled events and hours.
3. THE COCKTAILS & CUISINE
Vita is an experience. Once you step foot into this 100-year-old former bank building, you feel as though are you standing on a market square in Italy. Visually, the original travertine marble that was imported from Italy on the floors and walls displays a look of grandeur. The stunning two-story windows welcome the sun shining through to brighten the room. For your artisanal cocktail fix, we recommend trying the Lavender Lemonade—concocted with Tito’s vodka, house-made lavender simple syrup and fresh-squeezed lemon.
Vita in Sandusky, Ohio
Vita specializes in simple, signature cuisine. Favorite dishes include Stone Dinners, which are chef-seasoned, then seared before being placed on a 500-degree stone. From there, it is taken to the table where the guest cuts and “cooks” the meat to their preferred temperature, Flatbreads from Margherita, Vegan Taco, Mixed Mushroom & Truffle Oil, and Gyro—featuring shaved roasted lamb, romaine, feta cheese, tomato, and house tzatziki, as well as Paninis and Wraps from Caprese Baguette and Tuscan Turkey Ciabatta to Turkey Avocado Ciabatta or a Caesar Wrap—featuring chicken, romaine, parmesan, house-made croutons, and caesar dressing.
Vita also offers a variety of local, domestic and imported beers and wines, as well as a market for groceries and gifts. Add in live entertainment on select weekends and a visit will create memories to last a lifetime. That’s what we call “Livin’ la vita Locale!”
4. THE GARDENS
Schedel Arboretum & Gardens is a 17-acre hidden treasure with unparalleled beauty and tranquility. Features include a Japanese garden, a kitchen garden with more than 80 varieties of ornamental hot peppers, a bonsai collection, water gardens, perennial gardens, and dozens of flower gardens featuring over 10,000 annuals. You’ll find many themed garden displays with unique presentations of plants and hardscapes designed to enhance the experience of appreciating nature. Some of those themed gardens were originally designed and built by the Schedel’s and based on their many experiences from all over the world.
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The Japanese Garden at Schedel Arboretum & Gardens includes many of the elements typically found in Japanese gardens. There is a 30 foot waterfall, stream, bridges, and torii gate—all are significant symbols in Asian culture. The Tropical Garden, located next to the Trellis Gallery, presents several varieties of banana trees, 20 varieties of elephant ears, pineapple, several types of lemon, lime, and pomegranate round out the display. You’ll also find a reflecting pool which is home to several varieties of water lilies, gold fish, koi fish, frogs, and turtles.
5. THE ARCHITECTURE
Sandusky is known for its intricate collection of limestone buildings and Greek Revivals. One of these is the Cooke-Dorn House, which was built for Eleutherus Cooke, Sandusky's first lawyer and a politician serving in the Ohio Legislature and U.S. Congress.
Image courtesy of Shores & Islands Ohio
The home was built in 1844 it features a large living room, spacious kitchen, bedrooms and a walk-through closet. It also features several interesting pieces of antique furniture from the nineteenth century.
WHERE TO STAY IN SANDUSKY, OHIO
No matter what the weather outside is doing, Great Wolf Lodge keeps the indoor water park fun flowing 365 days a year. Splash, swim and slide with the whole family, then dry off, and head into their adventure park to delight in dry-land attractions such as arcade games, our immersive MagiQuest adventure game, and more.
