When you start to think about getting out of your own city, and day trips, start thinking about crossing state lines and borders. Some of the best times can be close to home and are driveable. As a traveling kind of gal, and being in my city too long is frustrating! So many of you are the same and driveable destinations are all the rage, especially during the fall and summer!
Driving to day trips is easy when destinations are less than 2 hours away and boast tons of fun. In fact, from my hometown, it takes me three hours to get to the locations I am about to share with you and I still go.
Get ready for 5 great day trip destinations close to Dundee, Michigan, Western Pennsylvania, and some parts of Indiana! Who’s ready for an amusement park, safari animals, a lighthouse adventure and Ferry ride? Pack up your car and let’s drive, it’s time to uncover fun close to home!
5 Great Day Trip Destinations Close To Dundee, Michigan
What exactly is the purpose of a day trip destination? In my opinion (and not the true definition), a day trips purpose is to get you out of the norm, far enough away from home base to let you enjoy the day without running into those you know. A day trip lets you get away from it all and experience something new and fun!
Maybe it’s an amusement park or a day at the beach, or time hiking. For each person, a day trip has a different meaning. For me, day trips are about going off the grid, signing off social media, and truly seeking something new and different to do! Which is the perfect way for me to share 5 great day trip destinations you may never have considered!
First things first, you gotta get there and that means in your car. I love riding in a Jeep
when I head out on adventures, perhaps that is why we own a few. Jeeps are great for all terrain! So, heading into our first adventure, you will see why a Jeep would be a great ride for this experience.
Head about 11/2 hours away from you towards Port Clinton, Ohio and suddenly a whole vacation world opens up. Marblehead, Ohio, Sandusky, Port Clinton, Put-In-Bay, Kelley’s Island and that’s not all!
1. The African Safari Wildlife Park & Marblehead
Port Clinton & Marblehead Ohio
Can you just see this happening while sitting in a Renegade? I can and we watched a couple behind us have way more fun than us. Their top was off, the animals came right up to them and they fed them the approved foods!
Talk about getting up close and personal to wildlife? You get to ride through the Safari Park and see the animals right at your door side. You never get out of the car and sometimes the animals won’t move. One thing though, you will get great photos and have a fabulous hour of fun!
You can fee the animals, photo and enjoy them as they cause all kinds of chaos and even lick your mirrors, yes that happened!
Since you are already on the land side and not the islands just yet, stop and enjoy the Marblehead Lighthouse and State Park. It’s possible to climb to the top and you can see Cedarpoint across the way!.
Speaking of which, Cedarpoint could be a day getaway too, if you like Amusement parks and coaster rides! It’s all in how you want to spend your day getaway. Or come back another day!
2. A Ferry Ride –Kelley’s Island
What if you want to Island hop while you are in the area, yeah that is a thing on the Lake Erie Shores! So, what do you do with your car? Bring it with you. This time we are heading on over to Kelley’s Island, so hop aboard and bring your car!
Sunsets are beautiful if you drive to the right spot. Kelley’s Island has a lot to explore for a day adventure so drive around! Here’s another piece of the island we love. You will too, because it is science history!
Glacial Grooves
and of course, if you are a lighthouse person, there are 3 stops from Port Clinton to Sandusky you want to take. Ready? This could be your day’s mission or the day tripping. Just go from lighthouse to lighthouse, they are well spread and great to photo!
3. The Kelley’s Island Lighthouse
Don’t get disappointed it is super small, I was almost taller than it, but, it’s a lighthouse and it counts if you are a lighthouse ambler like me. Check this one off your bucketlist!
4. Port Clinton Lighthouse
Port Clinton Lighthouse is the first. You can’t get in, but you can get to the steps and walk all over the pathway to the water and another ferry port, if you want to! But there’s a lot more to the area than that. What about Island Hopping?
5. Put In Bay
Get on over to Number 5, Put In Bay – it’s an island of fun for couples, families, friends, whoever, just go! On a brilliantly sunny day, this is what it looks like. In fact, one of my favorite ‘gotta get to spots’ is here. My happy place. Don’t ask me why but I am addicted to visiting once per summer!
These are just 5 great day trip destinations close to Dundee, Michigan, about 1 and 1/2 hours from you to here! Pack up and leave for the day, you will love this! ~ Dana
This is a sponsored post on behalf of a PR Firm. All content and images are my own!