LAKES ONTARIO AND ERIE FERRIES

Warm weather has been side stepping into the Great Lakes and the ferries are running to our favorite islands.
I've always thought that a vacation trip that begins and ends with a boat ride is likely to be very, very good.
Here's the deal on ferries to islands, described in "Islands:Great Lakes Stories" in Lakes Ontario and Erie.
Coming up in the next few days will be the ferry info for the other lakes and islands. Yes, including Mackinac.

LAKE ONTARIO

Toronto Island Just a brief trip from downtown Toronto, this island (or islands, rather) is one of the best places for families with young children that will also charm adults. Ultimately, you will want to move there.

Ferries to Toronto Island's Centre Island, Ward's Island (at the east end) and Hanlan's Point (at the west end) run about every half hour from terminal at the foot of Bay Street, just to the west of the Harbour Castle Hotel. Round-trip Fares $6.50 (Canadian) for adults; $4 for students under age 19 or folks over 64; $3 for under age 14 and Free for age 2 or younger. Detailed info from the City of Toronto

LAKE ERIE

Lake Erie Islands Here you can find almost anything you want for an on-the-lake vacation -- South Bass Island with Put-In-Bay is a bit of Key West North for boaters with lots of fun bars and restaurants; Kelleys Island is more of a laid-back family place with a fine beach and camping area and Middle Bass Island is so peacefully quiet, it's almost comatose. Fishing everywhere is generally good.
Miller Ferries from Catawba to Put-In-Bay about run about every half hour. One-Way Fares $6 for adults; $1.50 for ages 6-11; free for ages under 6; $2 for a bike, $15 for a car or motorcycle.
From Catawba to Middle Bass Island ferries run about every two hours. One-Way Fares: $8.50 for adults; $3 for ages 6 to 11; free for under 6; $3 for a bike; $19 for a car or motorcycle.
Jet Express runs the speedy boats from Port Clinton and Sandusky to Put-In-Bay and Kelleys Islands.
The fast ferries run about every 45 minutes from Port Clinton to Put-In-Bay and then on to Kelleys Island. One-Way Fares: For adults $12 to PIB, $16 to Kelleys; for ages 6 to 12 $2 to PIB, $6 to Kelleys; age 5 and younger free; bike $3 to PIB AND $4 to Kelleys. No cars.
Jet Express ferries run about every two hours from Sandusky to Kelleys and on to Put-In-Bay, One-Way Fares for adults $12 to Kelleys, $16 to PIB; for ages 6 to 12 $4 and $5; age 5 and under free; bike $3 and $4.
Kelleys Island Ferry from Marblehead to youknowwhere runs about every half hour. One-Way Fares: $8 for adults (over age 12), $6 for seniors; $5 for ages 5 to 11; free for ages 4 and younger; $14 for a car; $8 for a motorcycle and $4 for a bike.

PELEE ISLAND
This is a tranquil Canadian spot on Lake Erie where islanders live much the way the did 50 or 100 years ago, making their living farming and to a lesser degree fishing with a longstanding affection for Americans. This is not a Disneyesque Put-In-Bay where every business struggles to entertain visitors, but you can have a fine, easy-going time fishing, boating and swimming from some fine beaches. Restaurants are few but generally good.
Pelee Island Ferries You can take the big boat or the small boat. The Ontario Ferries big boat is the Jiimaan which through most of the summer runs two to four times a day (more on weekends)through much of the summer from Leamington/Kingville to Pelee Island. The smaller ferry, the Pelee Islander runs an extended route from Leamington/Kingville to Pelee Island and on to Sandusky. Prices are the same for both ferries. One-Way Fares Leamington-Pelee Island are $7.50 for adults, $3.75 for ages 6 to 12, $6.75 for seniors, $3.75 for a bike, $8.25 for a motorcycle and $16.50 for a car.
The run between Sandusky and Pelee Island is $13.75 for adults, $3.75 for ages 6 to 12, $11.25 for seniors, $6.50 for a bike, $14.50 for a motorcycle and $30 for a car. To go between Leamington and Sandusky might be a good way to get around Lake Erie without the long, long drive. One-Way Fares are $21.25 for adults, $10.50 for ages 6 to 12, $17.50 for seniors, $10.25 for a bike, $$22.75 for a motorcycle and $46.50 for a car.