2014 May/June

Chef Tracy Winkworth of The Belworth House in Waterford, Ontario, shares her favorite way to start summer.

Mead — also called honey wine — is enjoying a resurgence around Lake Erie as winemakers look beyond the grape and turn back to what ancient Greeks called the “nectar of the gods.”

It used to be a brothel, but when Nikki Lloyd and Ryan Whaley set eyes on the red brick building in Sandusky, Ohio, they saw only potential. Now, it’s a place where they live, work and serve drinks from a new speakeasy-style bar.

This is the time of year to leave work at five, let the dust bunnies multiply and chase fun. For some, that means thrills like trying a new ropes course, striking a warrior pose on a paddleboard or taking part in a zombie mud run. For others, it’s chilling to Tchaikovsky with a glass of wine, going on a firefly walk or spending an afternoon picking peaches. Whatever your definition of a good time may be, now is the time to have it. Here are 35 trips, outings and events to take you from now until …  well, there’s no reason to even think about that yet.

A look back at one of Lake Erie's most beloved summer resorts and how it began.