9 Fun Summer Destinations in Lake County - Ohio Magazine
Lake Erie Beaches
If you had stood at what is today Headlands Beach State Park over 200 years ago, you would have been standing in Lake Erie. Prior to 1827, the area was underwater, but the construction of a breakwall at the mouth of the Grand River led to the beach’s formation.
Today, Headlands Beach is Ohio’s largest, spanning over 35 acres of sand and 4,000 feet of shoreline. The uniquely created environment supports dunes, coastal marshes and woodlands, providing habitats for wildlife, as well as a perfect destination for visitors seeking beachfront fun, opportunities for bird-watching and other outdoor recreation. Summer highlights include events like sand sculpting on July 12, with world-class artists crafting enormous sand creations over the course of the week. Just a short drive away, Fairport Harbor Lakefront Park — part of the Lake Metroparks system — offers additional on-the-water fun and gets busy as temperatures rise.
“We know that on a Tuesday, if it’s 85 degrees, we’ll be very busy,” says Paul Palagyi, executive director of Lake Metroparks. “Once it hits that 90-degree mark, then our parking lot is full, and people are parking up in the village. There’s a big difference between 85 and 90.”
This summer brings a new swim area for dogs, as well as the usual swimming, sunbathing and other beach activities. Last year, phase one of a path, which will eventually connect Painesville Township Park to Fairport Harbor, opened to the public. This summer, phase two continues, with the goal of adding 1,000 more feet of trail by autumn.
Also located along the lake, Willoughby’s Osborne Park is undergoing a major shoreline improvement project, with the first phase set to be complete in December 2026. The $9.3-million project aims to improve public lake access at the 46-acre park by building a cobble and sand beach, as well as creating accessible pathways, viewing areas and cascading steps down to the waterfront, transforming the park into a destination.
“We just see this as a great opportunity for our community,” says Tom Thielman, economic development director for the city of Willoughby. “It’s just going to be a feather in the cap for Lake County and for the shores of Lake Erie.”
Wineries
Driving down the quiet road to Madison’s Vincent William Winery feels like escaping to a remote lakeside retreat. And there’s a good reason for that. The 16,000-square-foot lakeside manor was originally intended to be a private home before the plans fell through and owner Michael Profeta purchased it in 2015.
After working on the structure for eight years, he transformed it with his own personal vision and touches — from the Italian-inspired speakeasy in the basement to the handcrafted wooden accents that decorate the winery’s interior.
“I’m not trying to become an award-winning winemaker in the region,” Profeta says. “[I’m] just trying to make some good wine, give people an experience and leave something for my kids.”
Opened in 2024, the space features an elegant dining room and bar, an open kitchen, a spacious outdoor patio overlooking Lake Erie, rooms for overnight stays as well as a spa and a pool and hot tub, which are open for hotel guests.
Another recent addition to Lake County’s Grand River Valley region is Fossil Creek Wine, which brothers Kevin and Don Jacobson founded in 2019. (They are also the ones who designed and constructed their winery’s rustic tasting room that opened in 2024.) Located on a 14-acre property close to where the siblings grew up, the winery pulls from the pair’s childhood memories of exploring the area and searching for fossils along the creek bed.
The exterior of the tasting room features a two-story deck that overlooks the surrounding woods and ravine. Visitors can relax outside while enjoying locally produced wines, including the winery’s own German-style riesling, as well as small plates and appetizers.