7 things to do on a Shores & Islands Ohio beach day

We all have experienced your typical beach day: lounge by the shore, toes in the sand, kids build sandcastles, splash in the water to cool off and have an all-around enjoyable and relaxing day by the lake. But there are so many different and fun ways to enjoy our beaches. What else can you do at a Shores & Islands Ohio-area beach? Here we break down some other beach options and where you can enjoy the fun. Fun and games While building sandcastles can be a blast, a bit of friendly competition can add a spark of fun to your day. At Nickle Plate Beach in Huron, there are sand volleyball courts, permanent corn hole boards and ping-pong tables. People can also rent bean bags and paddles from the Paddle Shack or bring their own. Paddle Shack also rents active group games, such as spikeball, kan-jam, ladder golf, giant yard pong, beach darts, sports balls and more. At Cedar Point Beach from July 18 to Aug. 17, enjoy nightly activities as part of Boardwalk Nights. When the sun goes down, the Cedar Point Beach and the boardwalk area of the park electrify with larger-than-life entertainment, over-the-top food and drink, games for the entire family, music and dancing, lights and sounds that inspire the best summertime dance moves, and more. Reel in the big one There are several local beach areas where fishing from shore is encouraged and many with dedicated fishing piers. So grab some bait and cast off. Beaches with fishing piers include Catawba Island State Park, Kelleys Island State Park, Mazurik Access, South Bass Island State Park, Lions Park and Nokomis Park. Visitors can even borrow fishing poles and gear from the Ritter Public Library in Vermilion and then head to Main Street Beach to try their hand at making a big catch. Hunt for treasure Lake Erie's greatest treasure, besides yellow perch and walleye, is beach glass. Sometimes known as sea glass, beach glass hunters especially enjoy hitting the beach in search of rare, weathered glass washed ashore by the lake current. Treasure-seekers often hit these beaches after a storm or particularly windy day. In addition to glass, hunters look out for marbles, pottery pieces, shells and lucky stones — the ear bone of the freshwater drum or sheepshead fish. Beaches known as hot spots for glass hunting include Magee Marsh, Scheeff East Point and North Pond State Nature Preserve. Take a hike Many beaches are in state parks or nature areas, which feature miles of hiking trails. Or you can take a nice gentle walk on a paved path or boardwalk nearby or leading to the beach. East Harbor State Park offers plenty of hiking and biking trails throughout its expansive park, many adjacent to the beach. Sherod Park and Lakeside Beach also offer paved walking trails near the beach. Sometimes the reward of a good hike can be the views. If you want a nice walk with a payoff of a beautiful, secluded non-swimming beach area, consider Sheldon Marsh or North Pond. Kiddie paradise What is more awesome for a kiddo than an amazing playground to climb and play on, accompanied by miles of sandboxes for digging and building? Many of the area's beaches also feature play equipment or adjacent parks, which can keep little ones entertained for hours. Beaches with playgrounds/parks include Lake Front Park, Bettinger Park/Lakeside Beach, Nickel Plate Beach, Port Clinton City Beach across from Lakeview Park and Sherod Park. Splash with fido A number of beaches offer pet-friendly areas or allow dogs on a leash. If you've got a dog who loves frolicking in the waves, take that furry babe to East Harbor State Park, Wakefield MetroPark adjacent to Main Street Beach, Kelleys Island State Park, Lake Front Park or Port Clinton City Beach. Don't forget to bring fresh water for drinking. Advanced water play Experienced swimmers can do the doggie paddle or float on their back, but advanced beach-goers know the fun of Lake Erie is enhanced with various watercraft rentals. Zoom around on a jet ski, paddle along the shoreline in a kayak or stand-up paddle board — some paddle boards even hold a whole group let the wind in your sails with a sunfish sailboat or take a power boat out for a day on the lake. Jet ski rentals are offered at Cedar Point via North Coast Parasail. Jet skis can also be rented from Bayview Watercraft Rentals and taken out to the sandbars in Sandusky Bay, or customers are allowed to enjoy their private beach. Kayaks and paddle boards can be rented at Lakeside Beach, Cedar Point, Waterworks Park/Port Clinton City Beach via North Coast Beachfitters and Nickle Plate Beach via the Paddle Shack. Extra-large paddle boards are also offered at Nickle Plate. North Coast Beachfitters at Waterworks Park in Port Clinton also has large water hammocks, water pads and swim platforms offers Sunfish sailboats are offered at Lakeside Beach, and power boats can be rented at Cedar Point. Enjoy a bird's-eye view of the beach with a parasail from North Coast Parasail at Cedar Point. Safety first No matter what you do with your beach day, be safe. Heed all posted warnings and check out the Ohio Department of Health's beach guard site for posted bacteria advisories, especially before or after weather systems move through the area. Always be aware of your surroundings and weather conditions, since most beaches are "swim at your own risk." Sometimes, the beach is best enjoyed from ashore. With so many fun ways to make the most out of your day at the beach, shouldn't you start planning your beach days now? Check out all of the Shores & Islands Ohio area beaches at shoresandislands.com. The lake is calling.