New locations, new flavors, same beloved holiday tradition!
Get ready to sip, savor and celebrate! Cozy-cocoa season is just around the corner, and the Lake County Hot Chocolate Trail is returning for another year of festive fun. Launched by Tour Lake County in 2024, the trail invites residents and visitors to explore Lake County, discover local favorites and support the coffee shops, cafés and small businesses that make our community so special. What began as a fun way to enjoy the season, has quickly become a cherished holiday tradition!
The enthusiasm for the trail continues to grow! During the 2025 trail, participation grew by more than 50%, welcoming approximately 2,800 registrants and generating 4,000 check-ins between November and February. Participating businesses each recorded between 100 and nearly 500 check-ins, demonstrating how this seasonal favorite encourages visitors to venture out, discover new destinations and show some extra love to Lake County businesses.
This year, there’s even more to love! The trail is expanding to 21 locations, up from 17 last year, with participating businesses stretching from Wickliffe to Madison Township and everywhere in between. Along the way, cocoa lovers can discover some of the county’s newest coffee shops and restaurants, including Ana’s Attic in downtown Painesville and Bonito de Café in Mentor.
Of course, no Hot Chocolate Trail would be complete without a little extra indulgence! Participating locations are serving up creative, signature and specialty cocoa creations guaranteed to make spirits bright. Warm up with the Turkish Hot Chocolate at Blu Bee Café or explore the specially curated menu of hot chocolate offerings at Couchland Coffee. With so many unique flavors and cozy stops to explore, there’s a new reason to sip your way across Lake County.
Getting started is easy: simply download the digital passport to your smartphone from Tour Lake County’s website or by scanning the QR code at participating locations. Then, scan the unique QR code at each participating location to check in and earn points. Every stop brings you one step closer to earning a limited-edition #TourLakeCOcoa mug! Visit ten locations or accumulate 1,000 points to earn your mug, available for pickup at Tour Lake County’s offices in downtown Painesville.
Elyse Downie, Tour Lake County’s Events & Engagement Manager, enjoys putting the trail together each year and is looking forward to engaging with visitors throughout the season. “It always brings me great joy seeing how a cup of hot chocolate can bring out such excitement and nostalgia this time of year. Our participating businesses are always blown away with how many visitors that stop by, ready to check-in and explore the trail!”
Consider the Lake County Hot Chocolate Trail your invitation to make memories, discover hidden gems and turn a simple cup of hot chocolate into a holiday tradition! The trail kicks off Wednesday, October 28, and runs through Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2027. Download your FREE digital passport, round up your favorite trail companions and sip your way through Lake County this season!
For more information, the complete list of participating locations and to download your digital passport, visit www.tourlakecounty.com/hotchocolatetrail.
About Tour Lake County
Tour Lake County is a 501c6 nonprofit and is the official destination marketing organization for Lake County, Ohio. Follow on Facebook, Instagram for the latest on travel and tourism in Lake County. For more information contact Tour Lake County at 440-975-1234 or visit tourlakecounty.com
