Lorain County - Home to some of the best North Central Ohio Lake Erie beaches!

There is still plenty of time for summer swimming fun, and with the warmest water of any Great Lake, Lake Erie is an ideal beach location. Nestled in the north central shoreline of Ohio, Lorain County is home to some of the best beaches on Lake Erie. Whether you are interested in swimming, a family picnic, or simply sightseeing, Lorain County’s shoreline has it all. From Vermilion’s Main Street Beach in the The Harbour Town 1837 Historic District, to Veterans Memorial Park in Avon Lake, there is something for everyone. With so much to do, what are you waiting for?

Photo by Mark Teleha

Main Street Beach, located in the quaint historic downtown of Vermilion allows visitors to take advantage of the fantastic sunsets and lake views with their large observation deck located on the beach. The Vermilion Lighthouse and Inland Seas Maritime Museum provide an entire fun-filled day.

Lakeview Park stands as one of Lorain County’s most dynamic parks. With a beautiful stretch of sandy beach to go along with many amenities such as gazebos, picnic shelters, a playground, and a Bathhouse home to the popular Rose Café, this park is ideal for everyone. These 20 acres of lakeside land are also home to exciting recreation such as sand volleyball and lawn bowling. Stop by for spectacular sunsets and views of the Lorain Lighthouse or a look at the Historical Rose Garden, a landmark in Lorain County. Spend the night in Lorain and experience even more excitement. Grab dinner after a day at the beach at Jackalope Lakeside Bar and Rotisserie and depart from there on a Sunset Cruise. The opportunities are endless!

Century Park, located in Lorain is another great beach destination. Equipped with a snack bar, restrooms, showers, picnic shelters, grills, a playground as well as fishing access, you can’t go wrong!

Miller Road Park is yet another great location on Lake Erie’s Shore. This park’s 14 acres of land include a boat launch, fishing pier, gazebo, picnic pavilion, playground, restrooms, beachfront access to the lake including a handicap accessible ramp, and a ¼ mile walking path. During the summer it is also home to a summer concert series that is great for all ages. Spend the entire day and tour the historic Peter Miller House Museum located on the park premises.

Photo left: Courtesy of Holly Miller

 The Sheffield Lake Community Park and Boat Launch is one of Lorain County’s most exciting new additions. Thanks to recent renovations, a new handicap accessible fishing pier and a free two lane boat launch are available for everyone to enjoy. Complete with ample parking, a beautiful sandy beach, and tables and chairs close by; this is a park you can’t miss!

Photo courtesy of Sheffield Lake

Veterans Memorial Park is not only a beautiful beach, but it is also full of entertainment and history. With its lifeguard-staffed beach, this is an ideal swimming location. Also notable are its Veterans memorial, Lake House, historic Folger Home, and the Avon Lake Boat Club.

For those water enthusiasts who would prefer an indoor location, Splash Zone is perfect for you. This water park is complete with an indoor 8 lane pool, a tot lagoon, a 6,000 square foot outdoor pool with daring waterslides, outdoor concession stand, playground, fitness center, aerobic center, party room, and a field house with a three lane rubberized walking track and four volleyball/basketball courts. No matter the weather or time of year, Splash Zone is one of Lorain County’s most exciting and fun-filled adventure locations.

For more information on Lorain County, visit our website, email us at visitors@visitloraincounty.com, call us at (440) 984-5282, or find us on Facebook and Twitter. For more information on outdoor adventure in Lorain County, visit http://www.backroadsandbeaches.com/

Get Active in Lorain County-Indoor and Outdoor Recreation for the Whole Family

Looking for some sports action this summer? Lorain County has a large number of exciting sports venues and events perfect for spectators and athletes alike.

• Baseball: No offense to a certain professional baseball club just east of Lorain County, but there's no telling what the summer will be like as far as Major League Baseball is concerned. Luckily, there are other options:

• Lake Erie Crushers: In their first year as the Frontier League's newest expansion team, the Lake Erie Crushers beat out twelve teams from all around the Midwest to win the League's championship. All signs point to an equally successful second season. The Crushers play at the new All Pro Freight Stadium in Avon. Opening night is May 21! Click here for a complete schedule.

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• Lorain County Ironmen: The Lorain County Ironmen compete in the Prospect League, a Midwest summer league for the region's top collegiate players looking to gain experience and simulate professional baseball life. The Ironmen play at the Pipe Yard Stadium in Lorain. Click here for a complete schedule. Named after U.S. Steel, the Pipe Yard also hosts other local and regional ball teams throughout the season, including Oberlin College and local high school teams.

• Triathlons: Thanks to Lake Erie and its beautiful beaches, Lorain County is an ideal location for summer triathlons.

• 24th Annual Summer Spring Triathlon/Duathlon, Lakeview Park: Triathlon - 1/4-mile swim, 14.3-mile bike, 5K run. Duathlon - 5K run, 14.3-mi bike, 5K run. Click here for details and registration. (NCN Racing)
• 5th Annual Findley Lake Triathlon/Duathlon, Findley State Park: Triathlon - 1/4-mile swim, 14.3-mile bike, 5K run. Duathlon - 5K trail run, 14.3-mile bike, 5K trail run. Click here for details and registration. (NCN Racing)
• Vermilion Harbor Triathlon/Duathlon, Linwood Park: Spring Triathlon - 750m swim/5K run, 20K bike, 5K run. Olympic Triathlon - 1500m swim/5K run, 40K bike, 10K run. Click here for details and registration. (HFP Racing)
  
  
  
  
• Running Races: Not into the whole triathlon thing? Here are some races that don't require you to get wet:
  
  

• Fish Festival 5K Race and One Mile Walk: Located in Vermilion during the Festival of the Fish, this race will take place June 19th. Details here.
• 7th Annual Park-2-Park Half Marathon & 5K: June 20th at the French Creek Nature Center in Sheffield. (NCN Racing)
• 5th Annual Columbia Station Half Marathon Run & Inline Skate: June 27th, beginning at Copopa Elementary School in Columbia Station. (NCN Racing)

• Back Roads and Beaches Multi-Sport Route: If you're training for one of these triathlons, or just enjoy challenging and picturesque bikes rides through the countryside, we encourage you to utilize the award-winning Back Roads and Beaches Multi-Sport Route. The route features scenic, low-traffic roads and bike paths that lead riders through some of Ohio's best landscape, while also highlighting some of the area's most relevant history, culture and arts and cutting edge environmental initiatives. Click here for a map of the route.

• Vermilion-Lorain Water Trail: Beginning along the shale cliffs of the Vermilion River in Brownhelm Township, the 27-mile paddle trail winds down the river before entering Lake Erie in Vermilion. Once in open water, the trail heads east and follows the shoreline to Lorain where it enters the Black River. Heading upstream, paddlers will pass the U.S. Steel Mill before the trail ends at the Bur Oak Area of the Black River Reservation. Different segments of the water trail cater to different experience levels. Click here for a map.

• Lakeview Park: Comprised of 20 acres of gorgeous, beachfront property, Lakeview Park is one of the city's most well-known summer recreation areas. The park has ample accommodations for volleyball, lawn bowling, and of course, swimming. Visitors often remark on the Historic Rose Garden and the view of the Lorain Lighthouse. In addition to triathlons, Lakeview also hosts the East/West Volleyball Open, July 24-25th.

• Findley State Park: This popular state park is located in southern Lorain County south of the historic Village of Wellington on State Route 58. Over 900 acres of woodland are available year round for hiking, biking, picnicking, fishing, kayaking, paddleboating, and camping enjoyment. In addition, Findley is equipped for disc golf and volleyball. On June 19th, bring the kids on out for the park's Youth Fishing Derby.

• Oberlin College: Nearby Oberlin College boasts an impressive array of athletic facilities, including the Phillips Recreation Center. Phillips and the surrounding grounds accommodate athletes interested in tennis, soccer, baseball, basketball, and swimming. For more information on the facilities available and usage restrictions, visit the Oberlin College Athletics website.

• Oberlin Splash Zone: Splash Zone, Oberlin's aquatic complex, consists of an 8-lane indoor pool, a tot lagoon, a large outside pool with two 24 ft. water slides and other water toys, a playground, a fitness room, an aerobics room and a party space. As of fall 2009, Splash Zone introduces its new field house, containing four basketball/volleyball courts and a three-lane walking track.

• Golf: The county features several quality courses including:

• Bob-O-Link Golf Course: 36 relatively flat and well-kept holes in Avon.
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  Columbia Hills Country Club: A private country club with 18 challenging holes.
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  Forest Hills Golf Course: An intermediate course in Elyria maintained by the Metro-Parks, featuring the "most difficult hole in Lorain County, number 7." Set up a tee time online here.

For rainy days:

• Lorain Sports Hall of Fame: Interested in the history of sports in Lorain? The Lorain Sports Hall of Fame is dedicated to the preservation and display of Lorain'f rich sporting history. Check out the website for details and hours.

• Rebman Recreation: 48 lanes perfect for open bowling, league bowling, tournaments, birthday parties and other special events. Rebman Recreation is located on Oberlin Road in Lorain.

For more information on sporting opportunities in Lorain County, check out the Visit Lorain County website and check our online events calendar for newly added sports events. To plan a sporting event in the county, visit our sports marketing page.

To request an Adventure and Visitors Info Guide to Lorain County, click here or call 1.800.334.1673.

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