19 Best & Fun Things To Do In Sandusky (Ohio)

The city of Sandusky is an unsung gem in Ohio.

Lying along the Sandusky Bay, it offers guests a great time out on the water and on land.

These are 19 of the best and most fun things to do in Sandusky, Ohio.

1. Lagoon Deer Park

Lagoon Deer Park is a great place to interact with animals in Sandusky, Ohio.

At the Lagoon Deer Park petting zoo, you can interact with friendly deer, emus, peacocks, and sheep.

Going to Lagoon Deer Park is great if you’re looking for fun family activities.

Hours for the petting zoo vary and fishing varies based on the season.

There’s an adult petting zoo for $9 and a child petting zoo for $5.

Address: 1012 Martins Point Rd, Sandusky, OH 44870, United States

2 Castaway Bay

If you love waterparks, going to Castaway Bay is definitely one of the best things to do in Sandusky.

The awesome slides should thrill even the most experienced water park lovers.

The best part is that it’s an indoor water park, so you can go any time of year.

Between the slides, wave pool, and great Caribbean design, Castaway Bay truly has it all.

Address: 2001 Cleveland Rd W, Sandusky, OH 44870, United States

3. Maritime Museum of Sandusky

Maritime Museum of Sandusky appeals to guests of all ages, with exhibitions that show just how important ships have been in shaping history.

Some of the things to see here include exhibitions on shipwrecks, boat manufacturing, and ice harvesting.

They’re open every day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. except Monday.

Admission costs $7 for adults and $6 for children younger than 12 and seniors, ages 62 or older.

They’re also a Blue Star museum, giving lower admission to active military members.

Address: 125 Meigs St, Sandusky, OH 44870, United States

4. Firelands Winery

Considered among Ohio’s best wineries, Firelands Winery turns great local grapes into fantastic wine.

The Firelands name comes from Connecticuters, resettling in Ohio amidst the Revolutionary War, who had a love for wine-making.

The tradition has proudly continued, with Fireland wines having earned plaudits from plenty of wine lovers.

Current winery hours are Wednesdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m to 9 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Address: 917 Bardshar Rd, Sandusky, OH 44870, United States

5. Great Wolf Lodge

Another one of the greatest places to go if you’re into indoor water parks is Great Wolf Lodge.

While that’s not the only part of this Sandusky attraction, it’s definitely a huge selling point.

Other attractions at the Great Wolf Lodge are the Northern Lights Arcade, Build-A-Bear Workshop, and MagiQuest, which make this resort feel like an amazing fantasy realm.

Whether you want to blast off the water slides or try for an arcade high score, there’s so much quality stuff to do here.

Address: 4600 Milan Rd, Sandusky, OH 44870, United States

6. Follett House Museum

At Follett House Museum, you can get a great glimpse of downtown Sandusky and other areas.

The Follett House Museum does a remarkable job of compiling history within each of its four stories.

Situated in a Greek Revival-style house, this library-operated museum teaches about life for different people in Sandusky in the past.

This includes families, business owners, military members, and inmates.

There’s no cost to take a tour.

However, you will need to book ahead of time and have no more than six people in your group.

Address: 404 Wayne St, Sandusky, OH 44870, United States

7. Toft Dairy & Ice Cream Parlor

Among the top things to do in Sandusky is getting a frozen treat at Toft Dairy & Ice Cream Parlor.

In business for more than a century, Toft’s appeals to anyone who loves ice cream.

The Toft’s story starts not with an ice cream parlor but with a dairy.

This modest farm grew into a gargantuan operation.

However, even with the increased size, they’ve kept up their integrity.

Their milk is all sourced from local farmers, which makes their ice cream taste so much better.

Toft’s Ice Cream Parlor is open every day between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Address: 3717 Venice Rd, Sandusky, OH 44870, United States

8. Merry-Go-Round Museum

If you stop and think about it, a merry-go-round is a pretty fascinating thing.

How exactly did this attraction, of going around in circles on carved horses and other animals while music plays, become so popular?

The Merry-Go-Round Museum in Sandusky, Ohio goes into the fascinating history of the Merry-Go-Round.

Getting in is $6 for adult visitors, $5 for seniors, and $4 for children, between ages four and 14.

Address: 301 Jackson St, Sandusky, OH 44870, United States

9. Ghostly Manor Thrill Center

If you’re in Sandusky near Halloween and want spooky things to do at night, check out Ghostly Manor Thrill Center.

This complex offers spooky entertainment as you lurk through their haunted house.

Try your wits at the center’s Escape Room and enjoy some friendly competition at the arcade and miniature golf course.

It also has rollerskating, bounce houses, and a motion theater.

Address: 3319 Milan Rd, Sandusky, OH 44870, United States

10. Rusty Wallace Racing Experience

Have you ever wondered what it’d be like to be inside a NASCAR vehicle as it whizzes around a track at triple-digit speeds?

Well, your high-speed fantasy can become a reality when you’re in Sandusky.

Visit the Rusty Wallace Racing Experience for top entertainment at top speeds.

These are legitimate NASCAR vehicles, fashioned with motors likely more powerful than every car you’ve ever owned.

You can choose between riding along with a trained driver or handling the wheel yourself.

For fun at top speeds, come to Rusty Wallace Racing Experience.

11. Community Foundation Preserve at Eagle Point

A massive component of the massive Lake Erie Birding Trail is the Community Foundation Preserve at Eagle Point.

Come at the right time, and you can have a whole new appreciation for birds.

The best time to see birds at Eagle Point is during migration in the spring.

However, you can see great birds throughout the year here.

Address: 3435 Cleveland Rd W, Sandusky, OH 44870, United States

12. Sandusky Segwave Tours

A nice day in Sandusky shouldn’t be wasted inside.

However, walking around on foot can get a little tedious.

That’s why we recommend going on a Sandusky Segwave Tour.

These tours let you see different important parts of Sandusky via Segway.

For a couple of hours, you’ll be wheeling around, taking in their different parks and getting excellent views of Sandusky Bay.

Address: 107 Columbus Ave, Sandusky, OH 44870, United States

13. Goodtime Lake Erie Cruise

To really see the splendor of Lake Erie and immerse yourself in all kinds of fun, take a ride with Goodtime Lake Erie Cruise.

This is a Sandusky experience ideal for romance and family thrills.

They’re a family-operated company, and cruises are offered between May and October.

Buy tickets online so you can guarantee a spot on an awesome cruise.

Address: 109 W Shoreline Dr, Sandusky, OH 44870, United States

14. Lions Park

A wild feline isn’t going to pop out and devour you at Lions Park.

Instead, it offers lots of free things to do in Sandusky.

Lions Park is especially nice to visit in the warmer months.

In addition to its waterfront location, there’s also a splash pad and places to fish.

Lions Park is open between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. each day of the week.

Address: 533 Winnebago Ave, Sandusky, OH 44870, United States

15. Sandusky Speedway

The Rusty Wallace Driving Experience takes place at Sandusky Speedway.

If you don’t feel like being inside a racecar but are still looking for some high-octane fun, get tickets to a race.

It’s especially exciting if you’ve never seen a car race before.

Races usually occur between April and October.

Adults are charged $12 for admission and children, ages six to 12, are charged $5.

Address: 614 W Perkins Ave # 1, Sandusky, OH 44870, United States

16. Kalahari Resorts Sandusky

At Kalahari Resorts Sandusky, you can find another fantastic waterpark.

As with others on this list, this is an indoor waterpark.

Not only that, but this is the biggest indoor waterpark in the entire state.

Outdoor water excitement can also be found at Kahalari Resorts.

Safari Outdoor Adventure Park features some quality slides.

Whether you’re inside or outside, you’re sure to have some aquatic enjoyment here.

Address: 7000 Kalahari Dr, Sandusky, OH 44870, United States

17. Cedar Point

Theme park devotees hold Cedar Point in the highest of esteem.

Cedar Point’s coasters are so revered, the park is known as the “Roller Coaster Capital of the World.”

Among their coolest coasters are Steel Vengeance, GateKeeper, and Blue Streak.

Cedar Point offers excitement of the highest order.

It first opened in 1870 and is still an amazing park today.

Get yourself to Cedar Point so you can see and ride more rollercoasters than you can possibly imagine.

Address: 1 Cedar Point Dr, Sandusky, OH 44870, United States

18. Air 1 Airboats

Airboats are propeller-guided water vessels, and Sandusky gives you a great chance to experience them.

With Air 1 Airboats, you can cruise down Lake Erie in a very unique way.

You’ll also be near Cedar Point, in case you want to knock two experiences off your itinerary in one day.

A Coast Guard-certified captain leads these tours.

Tours are available between early May until Labor Day.

Rides are $50 for adults and $45 for children, ages 10 and under.

Address: 2312 River Ave, Sandusky, OH 44870, United States

19. Eleutheros Cooke House and Garden

Eleutheros Cooke House and Garden is another awesome place for a Sandusky history lesson.

The first lawyer to work in Sandusky, Eleutheros Cooke, built this house in the 1840s.

It went through many owners over the years and had to be rebuilt from the ground up.

Today, it’s operated by the Ohio Historical Society, and they’ve done a great job of honoring its legacy and the city as a whole.

As mentioned, they don’t charge any admission.

However, you can definitely show your appreciation by donating to the Ohio History Connection.

Address: 1415 Columbus Ave, Sandusky, OH 44870, United States

Start Planning Your Trip To Sandusky

Sandusky, Ohio has lots of great attractions.

From indoor waterparks to Lake Erie experiences to magnificent parks, it’s got everything you need to put a smile on your face.

If you’re with your family, you’re sure to give your kids the time of their life too.

Happy travels!