Anyone have any good destinations with in 3-4 hours of Ohio for a combo of biking or hiking between wineries or distillery's?
looks like there is a biking trail around Traverse city Michigan.
https://www.grandtraversebiketours.com/leelanau-wine-trail-bike-tour.html
also looks like some biking burbon trail options.
https://www.bourboncountryburn.com
What other good options are there?
Drinking and bicycles in Ohio pretty much sums up The Islands in one short phrase.
Heavier on drinking and lighter on biking with zero hiking would be Put-in-Bay.
Heavier on the biking and hiking and less on the drinking (but still ample) would be Kelley's Island. So, for that reason, I'd more recommend Kelley's. Leave from Marblehead ferry and take over your bikes (leaving your car on the main-land.) Once on Island, make your way out to The State Park, with it's nice sand beach. Take in The Glacial Grooves and generally hike around that rocky area. The island is mostly rock and as such there are two quarries on the island. The older quarry is now a park. There are hiking and Mt bike trails around that quarry.
Once back to the main land, just 1 mile from the Ferry is the Marblehead Light House, the oldest continuously working light house on all the Great Lakes.
In reply to John Welsh :
Good idea. I didn't think about that. I don't think I've been to Kelly's island.
Here's a pretty good Kelley's Island video:
Only 5 miles off shore, but like going really far away. From the North end of the Island, at the State Park, that little tiny, uninhabited island you see is, Middle Island; the most southernly point of all of Canada.
One note about the video and word to the wise of anyone going to the Islands...Be Careful of the Golf Carts!!!!.
The popular thing to happen is the bicycle cop pedals a little harder to get in front of your cart and he pulls you over. Most common is being pulled over for someone not wearing a seat belt (which is clearly visible with no doors.) Or, pulled over because rear passengers stand up while the vehicle is moving. Net result of the stop = FULL DUI just like driving a real car!
3-4 hours will put you into the Niagara on the lake area in Canada if you have a passport, riding from winery to winery is very popular there with lots of options and your money is magically worth more when you cross over!
Traverse Springs has some bike/winery options.
Just North of there, is my more personal stomping grounds where you can find the paved Little Traverse Wheelway. Twenty Six miles of asphalt paved bike path connecting the 3 quaint towns of Charlevoix, Petoskey, And Harbor Springs mostly following Lake Michigan. Amazing area! If you do go that way, I'll recommend you hike up Avalanche Mountain at Avalanche Park in Boyne City, MI to see the great view of the 14 mile long Lake Charlevoix. There are MTB trails at that park too.
View from top.
Amazing in the fall too:
While in the area, also look up The Lavender Farm. A favorite of my wife's.
In reply to adam525i :
Oh nice. We actually had our honeymoon there many years ago, I forgot it was that close.
In reply to John Welsh :
I bet my wife would like the lavender farm as well. It is just closer to 5 hours. Which for a weekend seems like a lot of driving.
Yeah, Its gonna be 5 hours-ish to get there but if you've never been to the area, I promise it is worth the travel. On the plus side, its all MI interstate so 80mph will be the minimum flow of traffic.
Kelley's Island could be a day trip for ya.
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