Catawba Island and the Ørchard on Catawba might not be smack in the center of Ohio’s Lake Erie shoreline, but each is a doable day trip from Northwest or Northeast Ohio and Columbus. You should know that there’s incentive to linger longer than you planned, like changing your mind about dessert, waiting until the music on our patio wraps up or a nightcap in The Coop. The next morning, there’s always the hope of a big catch on a sunrise fishing charter, the perfect day at a nearby beach, or checking out a new brewery. It’s hard to overstay your welcome in this vibrant region.

You wouldn’t be our first guest to turn a day trip into an overnight stay, or an Ohio mini vacation, so knowing where to rest your head is helpful. Catawba Island and the surrounding region has lodging options from familiar chains, to cozy independent guest houses, bed and breakfasts and campgrounds, for those who love to wake to birds chirping. So be prepared. Pack your jammies.

- off the vine -

a catawba island blog

1. First, VRBO and Airbnb are today’s popular online source for bookable rentals that have info on cottage rentals for groups of all sizes and interests. There are historic homes, cheeky little cottages, houses with lake views and others tucked into woods. Listings in Catawba, Port Clinton and Marblehead are just minutes from the Ørchard on Catawba.

2. Familiar franchises nearby include Holiday Inn, Fairfield inn by Marriott and Country Inn by Radisson. Plenty of parking and close to everything you want to experience the next day including Cedar Point and the ferries to the Lake Erie Islands.

3. Only 12 minutes from the Ørchard on Catawba is Port Clinton’s historic Island House Hotel, the area’s longest operating hotel filled with charm, history and close to Port Clinton attractions. Two night minimum on the weekends, but that gives you more time to explore the region.

4. Sixteen minutes to the east is the Red Fern Inn on Marblehead, a highly rated boutique guest house (former schoolhouse) featuring a winery and minutes from the ferry to Kelleys Island, East Harbor State Park (including a beach) and the historic Marblehead Lighthouse.

5. Charm and old world hospitality are standard at the Four Seasons Bed and Breakfast at Catawba Point. Minutes from the Ørchard on Catawba Island, the house has a panoramic view of Lake Erie. This is a fantastic venue for birdwatching, especially during migration season, plus year round siting of waterfowl species and bald eagles. 

6. More than an impromptu overnight stay, Marblehead’s Lakeside Chautauqua on the shores of Lake Erie is a 150-year-old historic community that feeds your spirit and mind with art, music, live performances and family activities. Only 15 minutes from the Ørchard on Catawba, Lakeside offers a variety of lodging options, including single-family cottages and a hotel. It requires some planning but worth the effort. 

Ørchard on Catawba is about an hour from Toledo and just over an hour from Cleveland. We’re on the way to the Miller Ferry and an easy stop whether you’re going or coming back. We are open daily at 8AM and invite you to join us for dining, wine, beer and cocktails, a wonderful shopping experience and a chance to enjoy the atmosphere of the grounds, from the orchard to the vineyard and all the feature we create to make your visit special. Visit us at 3350 NE Catawba Rd, Port Clinton, OH 43452.

7. If the great outdoors is for you, there are three Catawba Island campgrounds just minutes down the road from Ørchard on Catawba that offer seasonal camping options including RVs, cabins and tent camping and amenities including pools, playgrounds, activities and more. Check out Shade Acres, Cedarlane RV Resort, and Tall Timbers for the details. Nearby East Harbor State Park has sites for tent camping including primitive or electric hookups, as well as a resort lodge and cabins and a calendar of events to enjoy in and around the park.

Catawba Island and the Ørchard on Catawba might not be smack in the center of Ohio’s Lake Erie shoreline, but each is a doable day trip from Northwest or Northeast Ohio and Columbus. You should know that there’s incentive to linger longer than you planned, like changing your mind about dessert, waiting until the music on our patio wraps up or a nightcap in The Coop. The next morning, there’s always the hope of a big catch on a sunrise fishing charter, the perfect day at a nearby beach, or checking out a new brewery. It’s hard to overstay your welcome in this vibrant region.

You wouldn’t be our first guest to turn a day trip into an overnight stay, or an Ohio mini vacation, so knowing where to rest your head is helpful. Catawba Island and the surrounding region has lodging options from familiar chains, to cozy independent guest houses, bed and breakfasts and campgrounds, for those who love to wake to birds chirping. So be prepared. Pack your jammies.

1. First, VRBO and Airbnb are popular online source for bookable rentals that have info on cottage rentals for groups of all sizes and interests. There are historic homes, cheeky little cottages, houses with lake views and others tucked into woods. Listings in Catawba, Port Clinton and Marblehead are just minutes from the Ørchard on Catawba.

2. Familiar franchises nearby include Holiday Inn, Fairfield inn by Marriott and Country Inn by Radisson. Plenty of parking and close to everything you want to experience the next day including Cedar Point and the ferries to the Lake Erie Islands.

3. Only 12 minutes from the Ørchard on Catawba is Port Clinton’s historic Island House Hotel, the area’s longest operating hotel filled with charm, history and close to Port Clinton attractions. Two night minimum on the weekends, but that gives you more time to explore the region.












4. Sixteen minutes to the east is the Red Fern Inn on Marblehead, a highly rated boutique guest house (former schoolhouse) featuring a winery and minutes from the ferry to Kelleys Island, East Harbor State Park (including a beach) and the historic Marblehead Lighthouse.

5. Charm and old world hospitality are standard at the Four Seasons Bed and Breakfast at Catawba Point. Minutes from the Ørchard on Catawba Island, the house has a panoramic view of Lake Erie. This is a fantastic venue for birdwatching, especially during migration season, plus year round siting of waterfowl species and bald eagles.

6. More than an impromptu overnight stay, Marblehead’s Lakeside Chautauqua on the shores of Lake Erie is a 150 year old historic community that feeds your spirit and mind with art, music, live performances and family activities. Only 15 minutes from the Ørchard on Catawba, Lakeside offers a variety of lodging options, including single-family cottages and a hotel. It requires some planning but worth the effort.









7. If the great outdoors is for you, there are three Catawba Island campgrounds just minutes down the road from Ørchard on Catawba that offer seasonal camping options including RVs, cabins and tent camping and amenities including pools, playgrounds, activities and more. Check out Shade Acres, Cedarlane RV Resort, and Tall Timbers for the details. Nearby East Harbor State Park has sites for tent camping including primitive or electric hookups, as well as a resort lodge and cabins and a calendar of events to enjoy in and around the park.

Ørchard on Catawba is about an hour from Toledo and just over an hour from Cleveland. We’re on the way to the Miller Ferry and an easy stop whether you’re going or coming back. We are open daily at 8AM and invite you to join us for dining, wine, beer and cocktails, a wonderful shopping experience and a chance to enjoy the atmosphere of the grounds, from the orchard to the vineyard and all the feature we create to make your visit special. Visit us at 3410 NE Catawba Rd, Port Clinton, OH 43452.