Kelleys Island, OH

Kelleys Island sits about four miles off the coast of Marblehead in Lake Erie, offering a quiet, scenic island lifestyle. Home to around 250 year-round residents, the compact island is known for its historic homes, limestone shorelines, and the famous Glacial Grooves. Most people get around by golf cart or bicycle, and sprawling state parkland gives the whole community an open, peaceful feel.

ATTRRmhermen / CC BY-SA 3.0

Daily life here is closely tied to the water and the seasons. Residents travel to and from the mainland on the Marblehead ferry during the warmer months, turning to local air services when winter ice sets in. Families are served by Kelleys Island School, a unique public school that educates kindergarten through twelfth-grade students under one roof. Summer brings energy and seasonal visitors to local shops and restaurants, which then gives way to a calm, tight-knit community in the colder months.