Crane Creek State Park

Most people don’t think «beach» when they think of the midwest. However, from Toledo, our great Lake Erie is only about a ½ hour drive. While most people seem to converge on Maumee Bay State Park during their visit to the south shore of the lake, I myself prefer Crane Creek State Park.
Upon turning onto the road leading back into the park, you will immediately be surrounded by well-​managed wetlands. Great Blue Herons, Bald Eagles, and Egrets make this their home, while countless song-​birds pass through on their migrations. In fact, Magee Marsh, immediately adjacent to Crane Creek is crowned by birders as one of the best places in the country to go bird watching.
After the slow drive through the wetlands, you will reach the beach. I love the beach here for numerous reasons. Foremost, the water, when tested annually by the EPA, is found to be significantly cleaner than the water at Maumee Bay. Also, when looking out across the water at Crane Creek, the only things to be seen are far away tree-​ridden islands. At Maumee Bay, doing the same thing presents the beach-​goer with a distant view of the factories and refineries lining the other side of the bay. Not pretty, not picturesque, and not what I want to look at during a day of relaxation. Another great aspect of Crane Creek is the huge trees lining the beach. They provide ample shade for the sun-​protection conscious, and underneath their canopy one finds ample picnic tables and barbecues for use.
After maxing and relaxing on the beach, you can choose between a stroll on the «bird» beach or on the boardwalk through the wetlands. The bird beach is so-​named because anything besides walking is prohibited by humans in an effort to preserve a waterfront area for the birds. The only drawback here is that the nuclear power plant Davis Besse looms in the distance on the way out the out and back trail. Bummer, huh?
The boardwalk is a great choice for a walk, and it takes you through various ecosystems before ending on the side of an enormous lily-​pad pond. It’s beautiful here when the water lotuses are blooming.
Crane Creek really is one of those jewels of a place. It’s never terribly crowded, the water is inviting, and the sand feels oh so good between the toes.