Where To Go From Columbus, OH?

[Bucks45]

Re: Where To Go From Columbus, OH?

Just booked a place on Lake Charlervoix for the last week of June. Place sits on 3 acres and has a private beach with a dock with a lift. It just sounded really nice and was getting tired of trying to decide. The price is kind of high, but she discounted it about $600 from her normal summer weekly rate because I can only get six days. Just sounds like an awesome place, but will take 7-8 hours to get there.

I am going to try several of these other places mentioned in this thread though.

Charlovoix is incredible! You'll love it. I mentioned Walloon Lake earlier. They're only about 20 minutes apart. I have family up there. If you're interested pm me and I'll try to get you some local information.

 

[JimKW]

Re: Where To Go From Columbus, OH?

Just booked Saturday night at the Best Western in Marietta, OH. Totally based on this thread. Will let you know how much we enjoy it. It was only $80 for one night.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Where To Go From Columbus, OH?

I grew up in between Charlevoix and Petoskey on Lake Michigan, you will like the area I promise

The neat thing about Lake Charlevoix is that is connects to Lake Michigan, so if it's a calm day you can head out the channel into the big lake for a little cruise.

When the afternoon winds roll in just head back to the smaller lake. Great fishing in both, I caught a 16lb steelhead in Lake Charlevoix when I was 10.

Walloon is also a nice lake, great for waterskiing as it has three long legs to it that are like massive straightaways that are perfect for watersports.(it stays a bit warmer than the big lakes too).

Enjoy!

 

[JimKW]

Re: Where To Go From Columbus, OH?

The place I rented at Lake Charlervoix is all the way down the South Arm on the west side. Said it takes a quick 10 minutes to get up to the main lake.

 

[JAL51974]

Re: Where To Go From Columbus, OH?

I think i would stay clear of Lake Erie with your boat. Even Sandusky Bay would get rough and you don't have much bow to water clearance plus the open bow would be an issue. I took my bowrider up to Erie at Ashtabula last year and didn't enjoy it much due to the waves and it was a pretty nice day!

Joe

 

[maharg]

Re: Where To Go From Columbus, OH?

Norris in TN, Cumberland (there are some homes on the water), Laurel River lake in KY.

 

[airdvr1227]

Re: Where To Go From Columbus, OH?

Just booked Saturday night at the Best Western in Marietta, OH. Totally based on this thread. Will let you know how much we enjoy it. It was only $80 for one night.

Looks like a great place to spend a few days. Did you figure out where the nearest ramp is?

 

[Ron-O]

Re: Where To Go From Columbus, OH?

How about Seneca Lake, a few buddies keep their boat on the lake and love it?

http://www.senecalakemarina.com/

 

[JimKW]

Re: Where To Go From Columbus, OH?

I asked the guy at the front desk when I made reservations and he said there is one pretty close. Figure I'll go to the hotel first and get directions from them. Reveiws I read on the Best Western after making reservations do not sound good, but if it's too bad I'm only a couple hours from home. Actually they sound either good or very bad and nothing in between.

 

[airdvr1227]

Re: Where To Go From Columbus, OH?

I would think your room would be to cave in only. Should be lots of fun stuff to do on the river. I'll be interested in hearing how it goes.

 

[wildracing22]

Re: Where To Go From Columbus, OH?

Wow, I too am in Columbus and have just realized how many of us there are, I have been working on setting up a Facebook Fan page to organize boating events and raft ups. If any of you are on there and intersted in getting involved in organized boating get togethers please join the Midohio Raft up page of FB.. Hope to see some of you soon! Thxs, Wildboating

 

[JimKW]

Re: Where To Go From Columbus, OH?

Just got back from the trip to Marietta. It was fine. I don't understand why the Best Western got so many really bad reviews. I would not rate it a five star, but definitely not a one star either, which is what many have done. For $80 a night, staff and helpful as they can be and a place to dock my boat what more could I ask for? The room was fine with a refrigerator, two beds, a coffer pot and a microwave.

What really suprised my wife me was the fact that there was hardle anybody out on the rivers. We went out for about an hour around 8:00 am this morning and saw next to nobody, maybe two boats. Yesterday afternoon and evening there were a few out, but nothing like what I thought I would expect to find on Memorial Day weekend. The rivers were smoother than most any lake I have ever been on.

Wife was great with the boat too. She drove it up to the hotel from the loading area while I drove the truck and trailer up. Then she drove it back when we were ready to leave and I said just give it a try on loading it up on the trailer and she did it. First she got off just a little and I said just back out and give it another try. She was just a little off and that could have been cause I had the trailer in a little too far and the bunks did not pull it straight. I just hooked the winch on it pushed it out a little by hand, lined it up and cranked it in perfect. She even said to the people over on the dock, this is my first time, not bad was it?

 

[JAL51974]

Re: Where To Go From Columbus, OH?

Thanks for the Marietta report. I bet it would be a lot more crowded later in the season when the river pool reaches a normal level. With all the rain we have had the total pool must be high....was there much floating debris in the river? Usually tree limbs, whole trunks this time of year that can do a lot of prop damage if you are not careful.

Joe

 

[airdvr1227]

Re: Where To Go From Columbus, OH?

Thanks for the report. Any debris problems in the rivers? How about places to pull up and get a drink or a bite?

 

[JimKW]

Re: Where To Go From Columbus, OH?

There was some debris, but not real bad at all. I swerved to miss tree branches, but nothing major.

No real place to pull up and get a drink or food. There is a docking area right where the Muskingham feeds into the Ohio where we docked and walked into Marietta. On Saturday afternoon there were plenty of places to eat, but on Sunday morning only one place and it looked too expensive for my budget. Probably could not dock more than six or seven boats there either.

Next time we will probably enter the Muskingham further up stream and boat down through the locks, but I need to figure out where the channel is before I attempt that.

 

[escs]

Re: Where To Go From Columbus, OH?

I have a Crownline 180BR and live just north of Columbus, OH. I want to take a one week vacation with the boat and stay at a house or cabin on a nice lake with a dock. I am willing to drive up to eight hours, but four to five hours is better. I have been looking at Lake Barkley/Kentucky Lake area, but now I'm thinking of possibly some place in Michigan, but not sure where. I don't want to be out on real rough water or even the possibility of rough water.

One place I really like is Deep Creek, MD where we used to go when we owned a boat in the No. Va. / DC area. To rent there now is just so darn expensive though and would really like to find some place different.

Any suggestions?

lake erie , putnbay, especially around the holidays, comfort inn , get up early for the doughnuts and coffee, when the lake is calm, take the boat out, enjoy the views and sunrise and sunsets, save the time of traveling and enjoy the natural beauty of the shores of erie. many places to camp and lodge but the best deals will be during the weekdays and barter a little bit , but comfort inns have a free meal deal, 50 dollar deal going on now. Just get a place for putting your boat in , get up early and enjoy the best ohio has to offer.

 

[JimKW]

Re: Where To Go From Columbus, OH?

Heading up to Lake Charlevoix in Michigan this Sunday for six days. Seems like it's been forever since I made the reservations. I will be able to hook up to the internet while I'm there so I will report on the place once I get settled in.

 

[capt sunshine]

Re: Where To Go From Columbus, OH?

I can recommend Lake Monroe which is a little over 4 hr drive from Columbus. It's located about one hour south of Indianapolis outside/near Bloomington, Indiana. The lake is over 10,000 acres and is really nice. Has a large hotel overlooking one of it's marina's. My wife and I stayed there for about 4 days last August. We live a little south of Columbus. Good luck with your search and happy boating mate.

 

[JimKW]

Re: Where To Go From Columbus, OH?

HOLY CRAP THIS IS ONE NICE PLACE!

Ok the weather has not been very good at all and the place we are staying is not nearly what it was advertised to be. But the lake is awesome! It is huge, but the weather has been bad making the lake very rough. We were the only boat on the lake yesterday and it took forever to go about 10 miles. Heading back out on the boat.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Where To Go From Columbus, OH?

In the morning is usually the best time to head out on the big lake if you are interested...the afternoon winds come in almost every day around 1-2pm.

Have you checked out Round Lake yet? It's the smaller lake between Lake Charlevoix and Lake Michigan.

Enjoy the trip, hope you can hook into some nice fish up there too