South Beach Resort Hotel Cottages & Marina

10/23/2026

Unfranchised Ep. 3 — a two-mile field trip from South Beach!
Red's Lakehouse is Marblehead's go-to for fresh Lake Erie perch — hand-breaded, fried golden — and wood-fired pizza worth planning a night around. Add a frozen flight built for sharing and live music at The Cove, and dinner plans itself.
Open Thu–Sun this fall · 9268 E Bayshore Rd, Marblehead
Photos: Red's Lakehouse
— Sophie

10/20/2026

The Lake Effect is here — and this weekend, the island says goodbye in costume.

COVER: Halloween at the Bay, Saturday! Put-in-Bay does Halloween a whole week early — taverns decked out, downtown full of costumes, live entertainment, one last big night. And it's the FINAL weekend of the island season: lodging and most bars close after this, so go now or wait till spring.

Also this weekend: Cedar Point's HalloWeekends runs Thu–Sun (Thu 6 PM–midnight, Fri–Sat 11 AM–midnight, Sun 11 AM–8 PM). Family fun by day — corn mazes, pumpkin decorating, trick-or-treating — and six haunted mazes after dark (separate pass). Closing day is Nov 1!

Sunday: the Wh***ey Light turns off at the Round House Bar (1 PM) — one last Sunday Funday and the official farewell to the island season.

Sophie's day-saving heads-ups: the last Miller boat off Put-in-Bay now leaves about 6 PM daily (the 7 PM late boats ended Saturday, Oct 10), and Jet Express wraps its season Oct 25. Plan your return before you go!

RESORT NOTICE: Your 2027 cottage week is going right now. Online booking doesn't open until January 1 — but the phone is open today: 419-798-5503. Deposit by November 1 — just 12 days away — and take 5% off your entire 2027 stay. Pay the balance by April 1 and that's another 5% — nearly 10% off the week, just for booking early. Nineteen cottages. One summer. Call now. — Sophie

See you out there!

10/16/2026

Friday night plans = handled, Tonight at Twin Oast Brewing on Catawba Island, it's Autumn at the Oast — and Fridays are the big night. Ten bucks gets you the Fall B**r Trail: a guided walk through the woods with four Twin Oast pours along the way, plus a souvenir tasting glass to keep. Walks at 5 and 7. Family Halloween movie on the outdoor stage at 5 (bring blankets), live music from Rob Samay at 6, s'mores kits, hot c***r, and 60 acres of glowing fall color. Only runs Fridays through Oct 30 — tonight's your night. Who's in?

10/13/2026

This week's Lake Effect leads with the big one: your Summer 2027 South Beach Resort cottage.

COVER: Book now, save nearly 10%. Deposit by November 1 takes 5% off your entire stay — pay your balance by April 1 and that's another 5%. Nineteen cottages, one summer. Call 419-798-5503 — the phone is open today. (Online booking opens January 1.)

Then get out this weekend:

Saturday: Sandusky's Witches Walk turns 15! Community parade, costume contests, a whole Witchy Village on Jackson Street Pier from 11 AM — and it's FREE. Named Ohio's best Halloween festival.

Also Saturday: The Great Skeleton Hunt on Put-in-Bay — 30+ skeletons hiding island-wide, with a prize waiting at a secret spot. Concierge heads-up: the last boat off the island now leaves at 6:00 PM (the 7 PM late boats ended Saturday), so plan your return before you go!

See you out there! — Sophie

10/11/2026

10/11/2026

"Family is not an important thing. It's everything." — Michael J. Fox

Some of the best family time doesn't need a plan — just a sunny deck, the lake, and nowhere else to be. Happy Sunday from the shore.

10/09/2026

This is Unfranchised — our new Friday series on the Lake Erie shore's independent food scene. Big-city plates, zero franchises.

Episode one: Beach Glass Lounge in Lakeside is throwing a clam-bake weekend, today and tomorrow. $45 gets you the bake, live music all weekend, and Dinner IPA from Maine B**r Company on the pour.

The detail that got me: the sweet corn comes from the Corn Lady Farm Market, right down the road. Clams, corn, cold b**r — that's the whole series in one plate.

My w**e picks if you go: Sauvignon Blanc (made for clams), Pinot Grigio, or a buttery Chardonnay.

Beach Glass Lounge · 5874 E Harbor Rd, Lakeside · (419) 573-6237. Tell them Sophie sent you.