The kids and I boarded the Jet Express from Sandusky and headed over to Put In Bay. Our destination was just 45 minutes away, with a few stops in between and I was excited to see what Put In Bay was all about. In fact, Put In Bay has about 500 inhabitants (full time) and is a quaint island that let’s you get away from it all for the day.
Put In Bay can be uncovered by foot as a walking tour, by taxi, by bicycle or by golf cart. We love golf cart tours (if you remember our Ocracoke travel) so we were hoping this would be the same.
We got off in downtown Put In Bay (South Bass Island), walked through DeRivera Park, and headed to the best golf cart rental in Put In Bay.
Our destination was 234 Delaware Avenue, and suddenly we had traveled back in time and ended up at the Victorian, historic Park Hotel. Lavishly live travel out loud and find out where the best golf cart rental in Put In Bay can be found.
Best Golf Cart Rental In Put In Bay
You might wonder why I have tagged the Park Hotel as the best golf cart rental in Put In Bay and I am going to share the reasons with you. After traveling over to Put In Bay on the Jet Express, we had picked up some passengers along the way from Kelley’s Island.
The Jet Express had a number of people on it and everyone was headed to Put In Bay to spend the day. Miller Ferry was also dropping people off so you can imagine how busy it gets at the port right?
As you know, most people will just stop at the first place they see to rent a golf cart or a bike, because that is convenient. Standing in a line of any sort drives me a little crazy and of course, we just wanted to be on our way.
We kept on walking about 1/4 mile forward through DeRivera Park, and as we walked we took our ‘tourist’ photos. At the end of our path, we came upon the Park Hotel (also have to add I need to stay here, the kids want to stay here, it is so clean and the a/c feels great! )
Put In Bay
Put In Bay is actually a village that is located within South Bass Island and it has a lot of bars, restaurants, and history. If you plan on just bar hopping, then Put In Bay area is perfect for you by foot, because you can go from bar to bar without more than a few footsteps, all the way to the edge of town and end up at the Reel Bar as your Last Call or if you want Reel Good Food for the munchies brought on by the drinking.
Destinations To Travel To With A Golf Cart
You might think that it is all walkable and if adventure and getting sweaty are your thing, go for it. Been there, done it, and I prefer to drive and enjoy! Trust me walking is great but after a while, you just want to get from one side to the other.
We tried bikes but stopping to photo is a total PIA. Just being honest here and I stop a lot. So… not a great options.
Places you will take the golf cart to rather than walking: Perry’s Cave Family Fun Center, Heineman’s Winery, Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial, South Bass Island State Park and on roads that are not marked private where you will see a whole lot of beautiful houses.
Golf Cart Rental Put In Bay
Once you enter the Park Hotel you know you have come upon something special. History Lesson: this is a Victorian hotel built in the 1870’s. Truly it is a little piece of history for the area. The elegance of the reception area to the cleanliness of the bathrooms tells me all I need to know!
This is Phillip and he helped us navigate our way through some quick paperwork for the rental and then gave us the do’s and dont’s of golf cart driving on the island. My personal thanks to Phillip and the Park Hotel for use of the golf cart while we were in Put In Bay as you made our day easy!
Bonus For Rental At Park Hotel
You may not think it is possible but parking on the island is at a premium whether you are in a car or in a golf cart. Parking is so hard to come by, and I can tell you after circling the downtown area to shop in a souvenir shop it gets downright frustrating. We were here during the week, I can not even imagine weekends (sigh).
The Park Hotel has their own parking lot which truly makes it possible to conquer the downtown area with parking that is not just ‘for customers of….’ I hate that sign. So this sign was lovely and welcomed in my golf cart driving world!
There are destinations all over the island, some are about a 20-minute walk and some are a 2-minute walk. The thing about renting a golf cart is that you can get from place to place faster, without working up a sweat and dying from the heat index which is stifling in the summer.
Parking on the main street is not an easy task, but at most other areas it is a breeze. If you circle town enough (down by the water port) you will find parking. Just go around. Follow the parking rules. It may seem like common sense, but people do not listen and you do not want to lose that golf cart.
Park and Walk
We parked at the Park Hotel and grabbed some ice cream a block down in an alleyway. Shop at the Tee Shirt Shack right on Delaware Avenue. Hello to the best prices on tees anywhere in Put In Bay!. If you are a person that marks store destinations by bar locations: its next to the Round House Bar which is next to the Park Hotel!
Parking mattered as well when it was time for lunch, as we headed to the Reel Bar on the edge of downtown. I circled and circled until I could take it no more, and returned to the Park Hotel parking lot, parked my cart and headed a few streets over to lunch. (I forgot we had parking included)
From The Other Side
Depending which ferry you are coming in on, depends on which side of the island you will taxi to. You can walk here from Jet Express my personal Fav way to get here. I can personally tell you how busy it gets right in that area and weekdays by 2P it is busy.
4 or 6 Seater Golf Carts
We opted for the 6 seater because we had baggage that we hauled. Backpacks, camera bags, souvenirs all take up space and while we could have held them, we just buckled them up and let them take a ride as well.
Stopping And Enjoying
I love golf carts on islands because you can just stop and snap photos. If something catches your eye, you just back up and you can pull into smaller spaces. Sightseeing is easier as is access.
Put In Bay has so much on it and being able to take in lovely gardens to cool front patios that have built-in grills and patio seating is made possible when you take your time, navigate the roads and the neighborhoods.
Easy Rental Easy Return
I am not about paperwork or long lines. With kids its always easiest to take the path of least resistance. Today’s path was right to the Park Hotel. After a day of riding, park in their parking lot (hello to now searching for a parking spot to have to return the golf cart to)! Just head back to your transportation mode to get off the island. Hassle-free and again, easy.
Don’t stop at the first place you find to rent a golf cart, take the small walk from the port to the Park Hotel and you will have found the best golf cart rentals in Put In Bay. Make sure you call in and reserve ahead so you are sure to get a rental golf cart and that parking that comes with it! (trust me you will thank me later for this tip)
Lavishly live travel to South Bass Island out loud and seek out the best golf cart rentals in Put In Bay.
