Put-in-Bay, OH
Population: 138
There is no road to Put-in-Bay, so you'll need to cross the waters by taking one of the ferries or use a boat of your own. A popular summertime tourist trap, the locals milk it for everything it's worth. The 12 week season brings in over a million visitors throughout. Most people come for the bars and boardwalk, but the State Park and Perry's Memorial are worth checking out.
Get Out of the Golf-Carts' Way
I didn't come to the island to party like most people and soon grew jealous of the drunk tourists who were bumping their way down the Boardwalk. Because of the lack of cars, the local police gives out DUI's to golf-cart drivers instead. I'd love to come back with a large group some day, or even go back by myself in the fall or winter when the island isn't so jam-packed.
Put-In-Bay Candy Bar
"The Sweetest Bar in Put-in-Bay," and trust me there are a TON of Bars on the island. The island's tourist season is in full swing right now. between all the people, and their golf carts you'll be hard pressed to find your own space. Still, if you can push your way through the crowds stop by the Candy Bar for something sweet.
Chicken Patio - Half Chicken with Roll
The chicken is nothing to write home about, but the Patio is another story. There are 3-4 people behind the 20 yard grill pit at a time flipping chickens and slathering them in sauce.
Captain Buck & His Land Boat
Buck spends the off season down in Florida. However, during tourist season he and his buddies bring their land boats across the water and ferry people into the downtown of Put-In-Bay. The man is charismatic and always cracking jokes. He called out, "it's $2.50 a head, so that means $5 for you, my dude," me and my two heads threw him a fiver and road the asphalt waves into town. Buck believes that everything in life should be done to its fullest, no sense not having fun when you get to live like a captain and conquer the streets and seas. He's been piloting this ship for 20 years after retiring from the bed and breakfast he used to own back on the mainland.
While the woman at the visitor information building wouldn't consider Buck a "local," he was the closest thing to one I could find and pin down for a conversation. She said, "if people aren't working right now, then they are losing out on the largest profits of the year. Unfortunately, that means they generally wont have time to talk to you," she was right. Most of the people I talked to that day were seasonal workers, though some of them had been coming there for over 10 seasons.
The woman at the information building was a teacher at the local school system for over 30 years. She is very proud of the fact that the high school sends 90% of its graduates off to college. After the tourist season ends on Halloween the ferries close down and people have to come to and from the island using one of two airliners that fly from the Put-in-Bay airfield. During the tourist season supplies are shipped in via semis that have to ride the ferries like everybody else.
Put-in-Bay, OH
I go to the Indy 500 every year, and this almost topped it in terms of annoying drunks. However, I can't judge Put-in-Bay based off of the behavior of a few very very drunk people. That's why they came to the island. I will admit that some of my displeasure was probably seated in jealousy. Still, I wish I could have spoken to more locals about what the island is really like.
If you like to party (who doesn't?) take a trip to Put-in-Bay during the tourist season, especially on a Saturday, like I did. But if you're not one for crowds and loud drunks then i'd come in the middle of the week or during the off season. The plane ride there will be more expensive than the $14 round-trip ferry, but I'll bet you the difference is worth seeing the real island.