Put-in-Bay is the Harbor with big restaurants and night-time entertainment in bars. They have a big field of mooring balls with very good ferry boats to take you ashore and back to your boat as well as plenty of docks. There are a number of tourist sites on the island you can see with rented bikes or golf carts. We enjoy getting there from time to time. Kelly's has several marinas near the smaller downtown, and as mentioned is more laid back. There is a fine anchorage on the north side of the island for south or west winds. Middle Bass, has an excellent marina, and several anchorage locations.
North Bass is totally undeveloped. Peele Island's Scudder Marina on the north end (immigrating to Canada - easy to phone in with passports but you need to be sure of a place to check back in to the USA.) Peelee has good anchorages on the north and south ends. There are great beaches on the west side, and a winery near the south end is a great bike trip from Scudders. You can rent bikes, and there has been taxi service.
Other anchorages in the US bays include East Harbor, and Johnson Island or the sand spit of Sandusky Bay. Cedar Point Marina offers access to the Cedar Point beach and amusement park, and a number of restaurants.Sandusky has a number of marinas, some restaurants, and a fun merry go round museum.
Vermillion is an easy half day sail to the east and has a lively and pleasant set of restaurants along its river.
We are comfortable sailing the Lake Erie Islands for weeks at a time. Lots to do and see, and lots of quiet anchorages. Some, like the spit of Sandusky Bay, and the north side of Kellys can be crowded on a good summer weekend.
We know the folks at Harbor North, and I would charter with them, except our boat is based in Sandusky Bay. There have been charter operations in Sandusky, but I'm not aware of any currently operating.
