🌷Season to Bloom: Lake County Spring Bucket List 2026
Ready, Set, Spring!
Welcome back to the blossoming flowers, the sounds of nature, sunny skies, and the color green. Spring reminds us of rejuvenation and renewal after the solitude and slowness of winter. Plan your stay and taste and tour your way through Lake County’s top dining spots or Grand River Valley wineries. Discover the perfect retreat with a wilderness sauna at Standing Rock farms, partake in the annual Ice Wine Festival, or chase waterfalls and rivers in over 39 Lake Metroparks!
This spring, dust off those hiking boots, fishing poles and kayaks and enjoy the season with the Lake County, OH Spring Bucket List!
Take a copy of the Spring Bucket List wherever you go!
Lake County Captains
1) Spring at Holden Arboretum feels magical, with vibrant colors and fragrances as gardens bloom with daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths.
Local’s Tip: Join the ‘Magnificence on the Mountain Hike’, offered monthly in March and April, for a guided 2-mile hike through the preserved natural areas, learning about the historic use of Little Mountain.
2) Play Ball! Lake County Captains’ Home Opener is April 2nd. View the Lake County Captains Promotion schedule online.
3) Experience the 23rd Annual Ice Wine Festival this March when you visit 7 wineries and distilleries in the Grand River Valley. Enjoy featured ice wine-infused appetizers, wine pairings, signature cocktails, pop-up shops, and souvenir glasses. Festival Saturdays feature live-music, ice carvings, cellar tours, makers markets to shop, and more!
Local’s Tip: Sign up for one of the Ice Wine Progressive Dinners with Debonne Vineyards, Cask 307, and Grand River Cellars, visit the ICED OUT Wine Bar at Ferrante Winery & Ristorante with signature food, drinks & decor, or go behind the scenes with cellar tours offered at Ferrante Winery & Ristorante and Grand River Cellars.
Fellow Birders
By: Mentor, OH
4) Follow along and visit 11 Lake County stops on the ODNR Lake Erie Birding Trail, and don’t forget to share your pics with us on socials #TourLakeCountyOH
5) Bounce around like the Easter Bunny on the popular Bunny Hop Wine & Cocktail Trail in the Grand River Valley! Sip on delightful wines while nibbling on scrumptious Spring appetizers and desserts. With six fabulous wineries and distilleries to explore, including Grand River Cellars, Debonne Vineyards, and Cask 307, your taste buds are in for a hopping good time!
Local’s Tip: Make it a weekend and reserve an Overnight Package that includes shuttle transportation and free breakfast from area hotels, including the Holiday Inn Express Madison
Ice Wine Festival - Debonne Vineyards
6) Treat Mom to a fabulous shopping spree or snag her the ultimate gift at Helicopter Daughter & Blank Boutique!
Local’s Tip: Visit Helicopter Daughter for one of their Spring events, such as ‘A Most Agreeable Affair — a Jane Austen–inspired sip & shop’, and be sure to follow Blank Boutique on socials for pop-up sales!
7) Eat tacos and traverse the Lake County Taco Trail by visiting over 23 family-owned taquerias and restaurants to earn a t-shirt and maybe even win FREE Tacos for a Year!
Local’s Tip: Visit May 3rd and make it a weekend of tacos, margaritas, and heritage at the Cinco de Mayo event presented by HOLA.
8) Get your pass for the Ohio Distillery Trail, starting at Seven Brothers Distilling Co., Doc Howards or Lake Erie Distillery.
Local’s Tip: Ask for a tour to get a sneak peek behind the scenes!
9) Celebrate Earth Day out in nature with a hike at the North Chagrin Reservation amidst the scenery of Squire’s Castle, or visit Lake Metroparks Penitentiary Glen Reservation for a full day of FREE activities for all ages!
10) Sip and bubble along the Sparkling Bubbly Trail in the Grand River Valley with Sparkling Wines and Small Plates at four locations, or get out on the Wine and Bloom Trail offered two weekends in April and May, featuring small plates and wine samples from locations such as Baci Winery, Ferrante Winery, Kosicek Vineyards, Laurello Vineyards, and M Cellars.
Vincent William Wine
11) Shake off the winter blues with a weekend at Standing Rock Farms, including visits with their Highland Cows, relaxation time in the outdoor barrel sauna, and serene wooded views from private hot tubs at each cabin.
Local’s Tip: Visit the nearby wineries, including Fossil Creek Winery and Laurentia Vineyard & Winery, to enjoy brisk patio days and live music on the weekends.
12) Visit Patterson Fruit Farm, right outside the County lines, but worth the drive! This 7th-generation farm comes to life in Spring when you can watch the apple blossoms bloom and embrace the beauty of the season. Then visit the year-round Farmer’s Market to enjoy freshly-made donuts and local meats and produce.
13) Plan ahead and book your summer escape to the lakeside views at Vincent William Winery & Boutique Inn. Vineyard strolls, lakefront sunsets, and gourmet eats await you along the shores of Lake Erie.
KidShow - Great Lakes Mall Mentor, OH
14) Gather the kids and get to the Great Lakes Mall for the 27th Annual KidShow on Saturday, March 21st. The event is free for all attendees, both parents and children. From music, twirling, singing, and dancing, the KidShow features entertainment that’s great for the whole family!
15) Find the luck of the Irish in Downtown Willoughby and say cheers with green beers and authentic Irish cuisine throughout this historic downtown district.
Local’s Tip: Explore over a dozen locally owned restaurants, bars, and boutiques, each featuring their own unique bites, sips, and styles. Did you know there are over 1,100 parking spots within 2 -3 blocks of the center of Downtown Willoughby?
Are you interested in joining our list? Email elyse@tourlakecounty.com to learn more about how to partner with Tour Lake County!