Gateway to Great Lakes adventures

We flew a Cessna 172 into Erie-Ottawa International Airport, dubbed the “Gateway to the Great Lakes Region,” in Port Clinton. It sits right off Lake Erie, so it often has gusty winds. However, the airport’s long, intersecting runways 18/36 (4,002 feet) and 9/27 (5,646 feet) provide welcome relief for minimizing crosswinds.

Pilots can taxi to park at two popular attractions based at the airport—the Liberty Aviation Museum and the old-fashioned, L-shaped Tin Goose Diner. The museum’s collection includes the Ford Tri-Motor, Canadian Car & Foundry Harvard IV, and World War II aircraft such as the North American B–25 Mitchell bomber, Consolidated Vultee PBY-6A Catalina, Grumman TBM Avenger, and Boeing PT–17 Stearman. The diner, attached to the museum, faces each intersecting runway so you can watch airplanes while you enjoy aviation-themed omelets, hot cakes, burgers, and shakes.

To explore attractions such as the African Safari Wildlife Park or popular Cedar Point amusement park in nearby Sandusky, arrange for a rental car through State Street Auto Sales. The company will drop off the rental at the airport and leave the keys with the FBO, making it easy for you to get on your way and explore the area for the day or longer.

The animals in the drive-through safari know you are coming with a large cup of food, and they wait patiently along the path for you to pull up to give them a snack. Alpaca, deer, elk, giraffes, zebras, and llamas drew cheers from our kids, but the giant American and white bison were the most memorable for our entire family (we were in a small economy car). Animal encounters such as riding a camel are offered in the walk-through safari. Some of the rumblings in the walk-through safari might sound prehistoric—the park includes a Dinosaur Takeover with 20 different dinosaurs. The robotic creatures came to life as we walked by, piquing our excited son’s curiosity.

The flight, lunch, and safari proved enough for our young family—our children fell asleep on the two-mile drive from the safari to the airport. But there’s plenty more to see and do in the area that will bring us back for multiple trips.

Cedar Point is just a 16-mile drive, and Put-In-Bay, Kelleys Island, Middle Bass Island, and North Bass Island are just a short hop by airplane. The farthest, North Bass Island, is about 12 nautical miles away and hugs the U.S.-Canada border in the lake. Put-In-Bay offers lots of family-friendly activities as well as fishing charters.

If you are flying in from Canada, the Erie-Ottawa Airport (PCW) is a U.S. Customs port of entry.

Many attractions in the area are only open seasonally, including the Tin Goose Diner, so check dates and hours of operation for the activities you want to do. Many open in early- to mid-May. Enjoy your visit—here’s to you and your crew feeling as delighted and exhausted as ours!