Tour Train

Tour Put-in-Bay the most fun way possible, with the Put-in-Bay Tour Train. This bright and cheery train choo-choos throughout the entire island, passing all the best Put-in-Bay attractions along the way. Stop at one of the many Put-in-Bay bars and then hop on the next train that comes by every 30 minutes. The open air trolley makes it easy to take in those lake breezes and sunny summer days on this one hour guided tour. As a result, you get to take in all the things to do in Put-in-Bay while sitting back and enjoying the island life!

Boarding the Tour Train

Purchase tickets at the Downtown Bus terminal at the corner of Delaware and Toledo Avenue. This is right in the heart of downtown making it easy to grab breakfast or lunch at one of many restaurants. However, the hard part is choosing which Put-in-Bay restaurant to eat at! Delicious options include the Village Cafe and Bakery, The Boathouse Bar and Grille, and Pasquale’s.

The train is pulled by Jeep. During the tour the driver shares their wealth of information. Learn all about the history of Put-in-Bay and the various points of interest you pass by. Perfect for first timers to Put-in-Bay or true fans of the island.

Scheduled Stops

The train stops at several popular attractions during the tour including:

• Perry’s Cave and Family Fun Center
• Heineman’s Winery
• Perry’s Victory and International Peace Monument
• Lake Erie Island Nature and Wildlife Area

It’s all about the journey not the destination, or so they say. The tour guide gives detailed information about Put-in-Bay’s important role in the War of 1812 and the Battle of Lake Erie. Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry and his small squadron of troops sailed from Put-in-Bay harbor to the defeat the British troops during this battle.

This was a true turning point for the War of 1812. Prior to Perry’s victory, national morale was at an all time low. Thanks to his and his troops bravery, the American people had hope again and we went on to ultimately defeat the British.

Tour Guide Attractions

Heineman’s Winery is the oldest winery on Put-in-Bay. It is also the only island winery to practice “vine to wine” practices. This means they only sell wine they make using grapes in their vineyard. Purchase wine at their gift shop to enjoy with dinner after the tour. Heinman’s is unique in the fact that they were the only winery to survive Prohibition. This was due to the Crystal Cave on their property. Home of the largest geode in the world, the winery switched from winemaking to tour guides and rode out that pesky problem of Prohibition.

Put-in-Bay really is an ecological wonder. The Lake Erie Island Nature and Wildlife Area hosts a full schedule of special programs devoted to the natural beauty of this island. Topics include Tree Identification, Frog Pond Search, and Monarch Butterflies.

Perry’s Cave and Family Fun Center contains so many fun things to do under one roof it is positively mind boggling! From mini golf to a rock wall, it is easy to spend the whole day here. Make sure to visit Perry’s Cave, another indication of the fascinating landscape of the island.

Perry’s Victory and International Peace Monument is both a testament to peace between nations and a landmark for Put-in-Bay. This 352 feet Doric Column is the first thing people see while journeying to the island. Just one more thing that makes this island so special!