Things to do & places to visit in Sandusky, Ohio, United States

Thrill seekers will have no trouble getting their kicks in Sandusky, home to the world-renowned Cedar Point Amusement Park, boasting 17 roller coasters, plentiful children's attractions and carousels. Outside the park, the city entices travelers with its sandy white Erie shores, stunning coastal trails, mysterious Seneca Caverns and numerous refreshing water parks. The downtown waterfront boasts historic architecture, charming boutiques and unparalleled views over Lake Erie.

Sandusky city in Ohio, United States. Timezone: America/New_York, current date and time: Saturday, May 04, 2024, 19:06.

Top things to do (21)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Escape Rooms by Frankynicky (42 reviews)
- Tesla Escape Room is designed VERY well!
Saturday: 12:00 PM - 10:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Escape Games

NO SPOLIERS! We played as a group of six: two adults (late forties/early fifties) and four teens. Four of us have played eight other Escape Rooms around the US. Some escape rooms fall into the trap of solving lock after lock after lock, which becomes repetitive. This is NOT one of those. The Tesla game was well-thought-out, with a believable storyline and surprises. We are looking forward to trying their Eighties room soon. See more..
5.0 The Fabulous Female (5 reviews)
- Great Shopping place for ladies
Saturday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Speciality & Gift Shops

Apparel, accessories, jewelry, and gifts for Fabulous Females of all ages. Leading brands like Brighton, Vera Bradley, Nora Fleming, Gingersnaps, and Comfy USA. See more..
5.0 Son Rise Marina (1 review)
- A marina that sets the standard in class!
Spent More than 3 hours Marinas
We've been traveling aboard our boat for the last 4 months. As you might imagine, we've stayed at a lot of great marinas. Our standards are pretty high. However, Son Rise blew the competition out of the water! From the moment we arrived we could tell Son Rise was a special place. Despite its size, they make every customer feel known, and important. The attention to detail is unparalleled! The docks are clean and very well kept, along with every other inch of the marina from the parking lot to the swimming pool. Son Rise offers many extra amenities such as: a community room with coffee available 42/7, beautiful, clean bathrooms and shower facilities, huge indoor heated storage, a large pool and a nice laundry room. The entire marina is gated making it very secure. Our family was extremely impressed with the friendly and kind attitudes of everyone at Son Rise. It obviously starts with the Manager, Tim, and trickles down through the staff and even the other customers. My daughter even mentioned that Son Rise was exactly like Disney World. It magically looks perfect- though you never actually see the effort that goes into maintaining it so well. Son Rise has set the bar for how all marinas should be! We will absolutely be back. See more..
4.5 Cedar Point (9.187 reviews)
- Not Thrilled by the Thrill Rides but that's my issue, Cedar Point truly offers a lot for those who aren't faint of heart
Saturday: 11:00 AM - 12:00 AM Amusement & Theme Parks • Water Parks

More than just an amusement park, Cedar Point features hotels, restaurants, beautiful grounds along with an impressive variety of thrill-rides. See more..
4.5 Ghostly Manor Thrill Center (331 reviews)
- Worth it. Just do it.
Amusement & Theme Parks

Multi Attraction Family Entertainment Center. Featured on The Travel Channel's "Best Places I've Ever Been." Experience the scariest haunted house you will ever encounter, ride the fastest virtual roller coaster in Ohio, experience a one-of-a-kind interactive 3D blacklight mini golf journey, bounce houses, an indoor play area or get your heart pumping some more with a whirl around the skating rink. Special Events in October (Lake Eerie Fear Fest) December (Winter Wonderland Walk Through) and in September (Lake Eerie Zombie Mud Run). See more..
4.5 Merry-Go-Round Museum (262 reviews)
- Small but wel worth a visit...
Speciality Museums

This museum contains genuine craftsman works of art. The old carved and intricately painted merry go round animals are truly beautiful pieces. a ride on the carousel in the middle of the museum is included in the cost of the visit. A visit wont take a long time but is well worth a stop. See more..
4.5 Firelands Winery (124 reviews)
- Changes = Different, NOT Better
Saturday: 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM Wineries & Vineyards

Firelands Winery was founded in 1880 under the name Mantey Vineyards and has been producing high quality wines ever since. Join us at the winery in Sandusky Ohio and see what we are all about. There is a self guided tour that allows you to see the different aspects of production from an interesting perspective, a tasting bar where you can try a selection of our world class wines, and several intimate seating areas where you can share a bottle of wine with friends and family. All in all Firelands Winery is a great place to spend an afternoon. See more..
4.5 Cinemark Stadium Theatre (62 reviews)
- Great theater, great location!
Saturday: 11:15 AM - 10:45 PM Movie Theaters

This is our go to movie theater. We live about 25-30 minutes away but it is worth it (we have two other theaters closer). It’s a great price, seats don’t hurt, concessions are decent, has a lot of variety and multiple times for convenience. It is also in a great location. Very pleased with this theater! See more..
4.5 Toft's (43 reviews)
- A local treasure
Saturday: 8:00 AM - 11:00 PM Speciality & Gift Shops

This is the home of Tofts’ ice cream, a local brand that is synonymous with Ice Cream around this area and has a lot of great and unusual flavors. This is the main location and they have a neat indoor Ice cream shop/ malt shop area with a retail selection as well. They have smaller ice cream shops in the area, but this one is definitely the best! See more..
4.5 Sandusky Speedway Motorsports Park (29 reviews)
- Great experience for my dad
Saturday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Auto Racing Tracks

Got this for my dad for his birthday. We arrived about 45 minutes early for his appointment but they let us right in. He went straight over to the dressing area and got a fireproof suit and helmet. He did the side by side 5 lap ride along. They actually did about 8 laps. When we went to check his video card that we purchased, it hadn't recorded so they offered us money back or another ride to get a video. He chose another ride, he loved it. Everyone was very nice and helpful. Definitely recommend. See more..
4.5 Follett House Museum (14 reviews)
- Great find! Wonderful staff and very enjoyable mansion tour / local museum
Speciality Museums

This was a last minute add-on for our weekend stay in Sandusky. The staff was very welcoming and helpful, essentially we had a one hour personal guided tour through the 4 story Limestone Mansion! There is nice variety there, with a lot of period pieces of local significance from the 19th and 20th centuries - Artifacts from the Follett family and other local residents of their time, Sandusky area memorabilia (including Cedar Point), WWI and WWII exhibits, Civil War section including information on the nearby Prison Camp on Johnson's Island. On a warm day they will let you walk up onto the roof to enjoy the Lake Erie view (too cold on April 1st). The kids enjoyed the "Widow's Walk" spiral staircase! But above all, can't say enough about our guide, she was simply a delight and very kind and understanding of our young children! For a free tour, what a find! Highly recommend the visit, and a donation to support this fine little gem of a museum. See more..
4.5 Eleutheros Cooke House and Garden (10 reviews)
- Step into the Fifties
Historic Sites

This home is lovely, inside and out. Looking at the outside, I imagined a much different interior than the Fifties theme I found inside. The tour guide, Ed, was amazing and provided an indepth overview of the property and furnishings inside the home. Well worth a stop if you're in the area and interested in history, architecture or antiques. Or if you're just nosy and want to see what the house looks like. The tour is free, though donations are appreciated. If you can visit during November-December, the home is decorated beautifully for the holidays. See more..
4.5 Star Lanes (7 reviews)
- A gem in Sandusky, OH
Spent 1-2 hours Bowling Alleys

24 Bowling lanes with state of the art scoring system. Available for open play, league play, parties and group events. Call for group rates. Full service bar and restaurant serving award winning pizza. Arcade and full service pro shop. See more..
4.5 Holy Angels Catholic Church (7 reviews)
- Lovely Place to Visit
Spent 1-2 hours Churches & Cathedrals
Beautiful piece of architecture, with wonderful stained glass. Pretty decorations for Easter. We felt welcome and enjoyed the sermon. Sorry-photos taken did not come out... See more..
4.5 Battery Park Marina (6 reviews)
- Battery Park Marina Corn Roast with Akron Power Squadron.
Saturday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Parks

Marina is clean, the people are friendly and helpful. I would go back with my boat again. Dock hand was helpful. See more..
4.5 Soda Pop's (4 reviews)
- Nostalgic
Saturday: 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Speciality & Gift Shops

Soda Pop's is your one stop shop for all your favorite retro candy including chocolate, gummies, salt water taffy and more! Soda Pop’s also has hundreds of vintage glass bottle sodas like Frostie Root Beer, Faygo flavors and Orange Crush. Visit our nostalgic back room that has vintage and retro toys, games, antiques and collectibles you remember from your childhood and all of it is for sale! You’re never too old to feel like a kid again and Soda Pop’s in downtown Sandusky, Ohio on Lake Erie is just the place to visit for fun and free memories! See more..
4.0 Kalahari Waterparks (1.435 reviews)
- 2nd Visit During Covid; Zero Tolerance Policy
Saturday: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Water Parks

Join us for 174,000 square feet filled with Wet. Wild. Fun. At the Midwest's Largest Indoor Waterpark. Water you waiting for? Come splash! Waterpark included with your stay or Day Passes available! See more..
4.0 Great Wolf Lodge Water Park (438 reviews)
- We can Check this Great Wolf Lodge Off Our Bucket List; 5 Visited
Water Parks

Everything was nice. The rooms were clean, beds are great to sleep in, food is good and game room has plenty of choices for every age group. Bowling was fun, as well. This resort is more designed for younger children. There is definitely room for improvement ~ swim areas ~ need larger swimming pool and larger lazy river (rocks with waterfalls coming down in various areas of the lazy river ~ both inside and outside areas, some larger slides and increase hours to swim. Otherwise, everything was great See more..
4.0 Lagoon Deer Park (175 reviews)
- A hidden gem of Lake Erie!
Saturday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Zoos

Come and walk amidst a land of enchantment- as you stroll through the park you will be greeted by animals of all nations. You'll feed them by hand, and they'll follow you through the park. Pet these animals from Europe, Asia, South and North America, and Africa. You won't want to miss our NEWEST additions- over 75 new babies born each year! Take a break from the lake. Fish with us in our calm, cool, shaded lagoons. Fish brought in regularly, including catfish, bullheads, and carp. Also, largemouth bass, crappies, rock bass, and bluegill propagated on property. See more..
4.0 Goofy Golf (112 reviews)
- Always enjoy our time at Goofy's
Saturday: 10:30 AM - 10:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Game & Entertainment Centers • Miniature Golf

Always a fun stop when you have very active preteens! Grandma, Mom and three preteens had the run of the place and enjoyed every minute. The staff are fantastic, grounds are clean and safety concerns are addressed in a caring fashion. Love their golf, but the cats are where they wanted to be. First-time drivers and with instruction, were driving like pros in no time :D Oh, joy....just try taking them back to the farm...:D See more..
4.0 Maritime Museum of Sandusky (63 reviews)
- Educational and fun for a wide age range of kids
Saturday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums

Discover the rich maritime heritage of the Sandusky Bay Area at the Maritime Museum of Sandusky. Through our interactive exhibits and educational programs, you can learn about boat building, ice harvesting, commercial fishing, shipwrecks, wetlands, Sandusky's role in the Underground Railroad, recreational boating, commercial shipping, passenger boats, the Battle of Lake Erie and more. See more..
4.0 Sports Force Parks (29 reviews)
- 14U girls softball tournament
Sports Complexes

The facility was great and the way it was run was top notch. Clean dugouts except for the sunflower seeds that aren't allowed. We were able to find areas to warmup and they have a couple batting cages to use as well. They even tried to adjust schedules to help teams out. We were ther for a 14U softball tournament and the girls loved it and the ability to go to Cedar Point as a team. This was our first time there and plan on going back again. There were a lot of options in between games and even a grab and go if not a lot of time to wait for food. My only complaint is the play and stay requirement. I wish this would only be a suggestion or there would be a lot more choices. It is always more money then finding a hotel on your own. See more..
4.0 Skateworld (20 reviews)
- Best Skating Rink Around!
Amusement & Theme Parks

This is the best roller skating rink to take the whole family to. From very little ones to the older kids, they all can have fun here. What's even better is if your little one isn't too sure about roller skating, they can use a scooter instead! My son loves that he can ride a scooter while me and my daughter roller skate. Highly recommend! See more..
4.0 Shoreline Park (11 reviews)
- Nice view
Parks

After dropping my family off at Cedar Point, I found this little park. It was the perfect place to sit for a little while. I enjoyed the breeze and watching the boats and birds in the area. It has nice views of the lake, the marina, and Cedar Point. It's a small Park with several benches in different areas, a couple of nice wooden bridges and a picnic shelter that could be used for a large group. There was also a food vendor selling Grinder's. I didn't sample the Grinders so cannot comment on that. See more..
4.0 Ohio Veterans Homes Military Museum (5 reviews)
- Worth a look
Spent 2-3 hours Military Museums

Very cool grounds and history of our Veterans. The place is filled with history of all the major wars to current. See more..
3.5 Castaway Bay Waterpark (452 reviews)
- Nice renovation but didn’t do finishing touches
Water Parks

Only available to overnight guests. Please see http://www.castawaybay.com/ for more information. Castaway Bay features 237 hotel rooms and suites including family-oriented layouts with bunkbeds, a 38,000-square-foot indoor waterpark loaded with water activities for all ages, 6,000-square-foot state-of-the-art arcade, all new Castaway Play entertainment center featuring escape room, blacklight mini-golf and mini-bowling, a craft and child activity center, onsite restaurants, fitness room, retail shops, adjacent marina and space for private birthday parties. Our rooms and suites feature large porthole windows, many of which featuring a view of the bay, flat screen television, free wireless internet, microwave and mini-refrigerator. Also, many rooms have access to adjoining rooms - perfect for extended families or large groups looking for a hotel near Cedar Point. See more..
3.5 Pipe Creek Wildlife Area (13 reviews)
- Perfect
Nature & Wildlife Areas

Youre wont miss the common terns nesting in this wetland, and you might even see a bald eagle fishing in the marsh. See more..
3.5 Cedar Point Sports Center (4 reviews)
- Money grab
Sports Complexes
Cedar Point Sports Center is an elite sports and events venue in Sandusky, OH. Our facility is built with the athlete in mind, where the thrill of victory is our inspiration. We are a modern, yet inviting atmosphere where winners play. Whether we are hosting a large tournament or team practice, each event is carefully executed with optimal skill and excellence in mind. See more..
2.5 Sandusky Mall (15 reviews)
- Typical mall
Shopping Malls

Nothing bad, nothing good, just a typical mall with the typical stores. Fun children’s area. We will probably stop again. See more..
Everwild Spirits (0 review)
Saturday: 12:00 PM - 10:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Distilleries

Modern Craft Bourbon Distillery, Lounge & Tasting Room See more..