Best Soy Candles — Island Sham Farmhouse

At this Sandusky candle shop, you can blend more than 200 fragrances into a custom scent and choose a vintage or eclectic vessel to make it your own.

Best New View — The Galley

Dine just feet from the water at The Galley, a new restaurant with sailboat views, a big patio and an approachable menu.

Best Pancakes — Sandusky Bay Pancake House

Stack up pancakes, local ingredients and a playful coffee creation at this Sandusky breakfast favorite.

Save the Date to Create

Search for your next upcycle project at these fall markets and craft fairs across the Lake Erie region.

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Best Island Tiki Cruise — Put-in-Bay Floating Tiki

A six-passenger tiki boat brings laid-back cruises, island views and vacation vibes to Lake Erie.

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Best Tea Time — The Helicopter Daughter Tea & Wellness Co.

Karen Hadden’s small-batch teas in Mentor offer a flavorful way to slow down, reset and reconnect.

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Best Plunge — Saunagoose Cleveland

A new Scranton Peninsula retreat brings Scandinavian sauna culture and cold plunges to Cleveland’s Flats.

Best Tiny Bookstore — Millie Magoo’s & The Fine Print

Head to Lakeside Chautauqua for a charming new bookstore filled with good reads, mahjong sets, puzzles and plenty of reasons to linger.

Best Chef — Darian Bryan

From Jamaica to Buffalo, Chef Darian Bryan is serving bold, vibrant flavors at three distinct dining experiences.

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Best New Food Truck Park — Linwood Landing

Food trucks, live music, cocktails and lakefront sunsets make Linwood Landing a lively new gathering spot in Vermilion.

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Best Buzz — Strawberry Shots at the Groove Bar & Grill

Kelleys Island’s iconic strawberry shots have drawn visitors for more than 30 years — and they’re still made to order, berry by berry.

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