Accommodation in Sandusky can be quite expensive in high season - it's not unheard-of for a standard motel room to cost $200-plus on peak weekends. The Coronado Motel , 4319 Venice Rd (tel 419/625-2954; $35-50), two miles west of downtown, is affordable, its clean rooms equipped with microwaves and fridges. Along the main drag of Cleveland Road (US-6), the Best Western Cedar Point at no. 1530 (tel 419/625-9234; $100-130) has a pool. Camping is available at the Bayshore Estates at 2311 Cleveland Rd (tel 419/625-7906) and at the Milan Travel Park just off US-80 at 11404 US 250 N (tel 419/433-4277), which has laundry facilities, free showers and a pool. Also in Milan , the Colonial Inn South , 12111 Rte-250 (tel 419/499-3403 or 1-800/886-9010; $75-100), is a recently refurbished family-owned motel. In Lakeside , a quiet Methodist retreat across Sandusky Bay, the Hotel Lakeside , 236 Walnut Ave (tel 419/798-4461; $75-100), offers decent, simple rooms at great prices.

For a good meal and live music in fun surroundings (there's an on-site waterfall), head for Margaritaville in Sandusky, at the junction of highways 6 and 2 (tel 419/627-8903).